In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the Rams are highlighting the diverse AAPI experience through the voices of our employees.
This year's series kicks off with Employee Experience Coordinator Sasha Carter.
For Sasha Carter, her daily drive comes from her family – especially the longstanding support from her grandparents and parents, as well as their journeys.
"My family is my motivation to exceed my personal goals, my rock when I'm faced with uncertainty or chaos," Carter said. "My grandparents immigrated from the Philippines to the States with their kids and my parents have invested so much in me and my passions. I hope to one day be able to give back to them and thank them for their endless support. While my grandmother may not be with us to see what I achieve in my adult life, I hope to continue the life she dreamt."
Today, that backing has led her to the Los Angeles Rams, where she currently serves as Employee Experience Coordinator. Carter has been with the organization for a year, moving into her current role after spending the first six months of her tenure as an Employee Experience Intern.
In her current role, Carter is responsible for supporting employees throughout their time at the Rams. The bulk of her time is spent on recruiting, onboarding and welcoming new employees, as well as assisting the Employee Experience team on big projects and analyses.
"The culture at the Rams has allowed me to continue learning something new everyday and I'm excited to be a part of the team," Carter said.
Relationships are at the core of successfully carrying out those duties, and building those with coworkers is Carter's favorite part of her job.
"I enjoy learning about our new and current employees and extending a helping hand wherever I can," Carter said. "The Employee Experience team has shown me that we can be helpful resources and listeners for the staff at the Rams. As we continue to connect with our coworkers, we'll be able to continue to collaborate at a higher capacity and create a memorable experience for our community."
If connectivity is crucial to her job, the same can be said when it comes to learning more about and showing support of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
Becoming better allies, according to Carter, starts with being curious because of the many different cultures within the AAPI community and their rich histories to be learned.
"Asking questions and having honest conversations with others in the AAPI community is a great start to becoming an ally who will support and advocate for those in the community," she said. "Through listening and learning, allies can help amplify the voices within the community to enact positive and impactful change."
Additionally, trying new foods is not only a way to show support, but also to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, according to Carter.
Food is one of the best ways to get immersed in a new culture, it's often a window into how the community has persevered over time. Sharing a meal with those in the AAPI community can be a great way to learn some of the traditions of AAPI culture. Eat at an AAPI owned restaurant, visit an AAPI inspired gallery/museum, and most importantly have fun with friends and family!"
Carter said Filipino culture has taught her how to live life vibrantly, especially because of family gatherings.
"Every family gathering is filled with amazing food, humor, and music," Carter said. "There is always multiple conversations going on at one time and anyone is welcome to chime in at anytime, although usually interjecting with a joke."
Filipino culture has also instilled core values that she continues to carry with her.
"Filipino culture is also very family oriented which has allowed me to see the importance of leaning on each other during the good and the bad," Carter said. "We even extend this value to those outside of our families too, our friends being called aunts, uncles, and cousins because we treat each other as family. Creating a life in the States was a challenge for my grandparents, and has fueled our passion which continues to push us to work hard in everything we do. Whether working towards a promotion or finding a new path in life, my family has taught me to give my best effort to the task at hand and that they'll be there every step of the way. Growing up in this atmosphere has encouraged me to share these traditions with other areas of my life, friends and coworkers."
Carter also said similar shared experiences make the AAPI community a great support system. Although every culture and every family within that community is different, she said there's often a similarity between comfort foods, family values and personal interests.
"As someone who is mixed race, the AAPI community has allowed me to connect with other individuals who are also mixed race," Carter said. "These connections in the AAPI community have given me a better understanding of how to embrace all cultures of my background."
