# data[].attributes.body
Michael Omi (he/him/his) is Professor Emeritus of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the co-author, with Howard Winant, of Racial Formation in the United States (Third Edition, 2015), a groundbreaking work that transformed how we understand the social and historical forces that give race its changing meaning over time and place.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Carnegie honors 20 ‘Great Immigrants’ in 2025, including eight from Asia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Carnegie Corporation of New York has announced its 2025 list of “Great Immigrants,” honoring 20 individuals who have made significant contributions to American society.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Unleash Your Potential with OneWorld Now Leadership! Hey there, high schoolers! Are you ready to make a real impact on the world and become a...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Centering Asian American & Pacific Islander Voices with Fishtank ELA - Fishtank Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with powerful texts highlighting the experiences, cultures, and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders across Fishtank ELA units.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
CLASSROOMS, LIBRARIES & TRAININGS

Bring our documentaries to your school or organization. Purchase the DVD, stream from your server, or stream via GOOD DOCS.

Browse Films

HOST A PUBLIC SCREENING

Use our collection of documentaries to kickstart important conversations by hosting a public screening at your school or organization.

Book a Screening

GOOD TALKS SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Bring our filmmakers to your school or organization for a GOOD TALKS screening and Q&A. In person and virtual options available.

Meet Our Filmmakers

FUNDRAISE WITH OUR FILMS

Book a GOOD RAISER, charge admission to your screening, keep the profits. For community groups and non-profit organizations.

Sign up to get updates about new releases and our collection

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Bring our documentaries to your school or organization. Purchase the DVD, stream from your server, or stream via GOOD DOCS. Browse Films Use our collection of documentaries to kickstart important conversations by hosting a public screening at your school or organization. Book a Screening Bring our filmmakers to your school or organization for a GOOD TALKS screening and Q&A.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Education Leadership for Thriving Youth and Communities

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Up until 2020, Anna Wong had gone her entire adulthood in Los Angeles without ever facing blatantly racist abuse for being Asian. After COVID-19 hit, she was accosted twice in six months.

The first time, she was browsing an aisle in Bed Bath & Beyond when a white, 30-something woman suddenly yelled: "Six feet away from me, you Chinese witch!" A shaken Wong left the store, the woman still yelling after her. The second time, Wong was walking her dog when a passenger in a car-a young Hispanic man-screamed at her "Thanks for ruining the world," followed by an ethnic slur.

"The first, second year of the pandemic, I do distinctly remember thinking ... I was very nervous to go out," said Wong, who did not report the incidents to police. "Am I going to draw attention to the fact that I'm Asian?"

It seemed unfathomable she was facing such anti-Asian vitriol nearly a century after her aunt, pioneering movie star Anna May Wong, dealt with constant racial discrimination.

It was five years ago this month that pandemic-fueled abuse of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders became so frequent-reports spiked 35% from March 2020 to the end of 2021-that a reporting center was formed. Stop AAPI Hate legitimized fears of a concurrent pandemic of xenophobia. The group's data prompted national legislative action, including the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, and galvanized advocacy among young people within the Asian American community.

New concerns five years on

Five years later, Stop AAPI Hate is receiving fewer incident reports yearly but they're still happening by the hundreds and are likely an undercount. Now, those still fighting anti-Asian hate are worried it will only intensify in a political climate of immigration crackdowns, English-only mandates and bans on DEI initiatives.

During President Donald Trump's first term, many partially blamed him for framing COVID-19 with racist language. Trump said his remarks were "not racist at all." Now, there is concern not just about hate but erasure of Asian American and Pacific Islander history and culture. For example, this month the Pentagon mistakenly took down web pages honoring Japanese American servicemen.

"What's the opposite of diversity? It's segregation or re-segregation," Manjusha Kulkarni, Stop AAPI Hate co-founder, said, referring to Trump's policies so far. "They want to put us - people of color, women, LGBTQ-sort of back in our 'place,' which means not with access to jobs or housing or ability to celebrate our holidays."

The genesis of Stop AAPI

Kulkarni, executive director of the AAPI Equity Alliance, Cynthia Choi of Chinese for Affirmative Action, and San Francisco State University professor Russell Jeung came together in 2020 after a Los Angeles teen of Asian descent was assaulted at school. They solicited accounts of hate acts from victims, even those not legally hate crimes. They received a barrage.

"The first thing we need to know and understand is how big of a problem is this," Kulkarni said, adding that she will be eternally grateful that people responded. "That helped us to know what was going on."

Besides federal hate crimes legislation, Stop AAPI Hate's data led to the passing of three California bills. These included expanding civil rights protection in public spaces and studying hate-driven harassment on public transit. They've also attempted social media campaigns like "Spread AAPI Love," the opposite of their moniker.

Even though the pandemic has abated, their data shows racism prevails. From March 2020 to the end of 2023, Stop AAPI Hate collected over 12,000 reports though they believe it's likely an undercount. Over 700 occurred in 2023. Figures for 2024 will be released in May.

Also in 2023, an AAPI Data and Associated Press-NORC poll found a third of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders say they have experienced an act of abuse based on their race or ethnicity in the last year.

An FBI analysis from that year found out of 7,049 reported hate crime offenses motivated by race, ethnicity or ancestry, 6.6% involved anti-Asian bias. Kash Patel, the first person of color and Asian American to be agency director, talked about being subjected to racism during his confirmation hearing.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders activated

There was a groundswell of Asian American activism after 2020, according to Stop AAPI Hate. Their 2023 report found nearly 3 in 4 Asian American and Pacific Islander adults participated in activities to reduce or resist racism.

William Diep, who was 16 in 2020, was disturbed by attacks he heard about in New York City. So he started a campaign, "Virus: Racism." He virtually gathered testimonies from young people about anti-Asian encounters. The project deeply affected him.

"I learned to stick up for people," said Diep, now a senior at Columbia University.

He wonders how advocates can navigate the current political climate and if government resources such as translations or race-based census research will be eliminated.

"I'm scared that there's no one to protect Asian Americans," Diep said. "I think Asian Americans protect each other, but I question the infrastructure that exists to protect our rights and our heritage."

Stop AAPI Hate does rely on some federal funding. Ideally, neither the government nor any other outside force will be able to dictate or hamper the organization's work.

"We hope not. I mean, we're fighting as hard as we can," Kulkarni said.

Now, the coalition's focus has expanded to include educating people about issues like birthright citizenship, cultural school curriculum and immigrants' rights. Some Asian legal U.S. residents say they are being targeted for deportation.

"I hope and strongly believe that our communities are stronger, that we're more equipped to handle the challenges of today, which are even more significant than they were in 2020," Kulkarni said. "We were built for this and our values remain the same."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are still targets of hatred 5 years after pandemic surge

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Up until 2020, Anna Wong had gone her entire adulthood in Los Angeles without ever facing blatantly racist abuse for being Asian.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In our 2024 Impact Report, Stop AAPI Hate continues to take on anti-Asian and Pacific Islander hate and discrimination amid the presidential elections.

# data[].attributes.body
Brian Lock (he/him/his), MPA

Contract and Finance Specialist

Administrative Services Office

Executive Office of Resiliency and Health Security

Washington State Department of Health

Brian Lock serves as:

Policy Lead for the HAPPEN BRG

Board member and Co-Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of South Puget Sound (APIC SPS) and the Multicultural Service Center of South Sound.

Brian also has been involved in policy and legislation that directly impact the Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities.

During  Brian’s  29 years in Washington State government he has worked for: Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, Office of Financial Management (Serve WA Commission), Department of Commerce, Pierce College, and now at the Department of Health as a Contract and Finance Specialist.

Brian's contributions in public policy, budget development, writing and managing federal grants and contracts, and program development are reflected today in policy statements, education materials for legislators, coordinating meetings with local state legislative delegations and Congressional representatives.

His educational background includes having a BA in Political Science from Western Washington University and an MPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University with an emphasis in Public Finance. Brian was also an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Executive Fellow and Executive Development Institute (EDI) graduate.

Series Discussion will highlight:

1)          Challenges of leadership and how to make or lead for change.

2)          How do you voice and support change for better AANHPI access for better career advancement opportunities?

3)          How do express the need to see AANHPI in leadership roles ?

4)          What are some strategies of advocating and navigating the governmental legislative process?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Next Generation Leaders Service Projects - Committee of 100

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Committee of 100 is a non-profit, membership-based American leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts. Committee of 100 is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

# data[].attributes.body
Learning Asian American history can benefit all students | Naomi Ishisaka

Feb. 24, 2025 at 10:00 am Updated Feb. 24, 2025 at 11:00 am

A visitor to The Remembrance Gallery at the 2024 State Fair in Puyallup stands in front of a photo of the Puyallup Assembly Center, which was located on the fairgrounds during World War II. More than 7,500 Japanese Americans... (Karen Ducey / The Seattle Times)More

Skip Ad

By

Naomi Ishisaka

Seattle Times columnist

Every time I write about topics that touch on Asian American history, I am struck by how little people know about the country’s fastest-growing major racial group.

This is not surprising because while Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history is U.S. history, it is still largely missing in U.S. K-12 classrooms, scholar Erika Lee reported in the Organization of American Historians.

Growing up in Seattle in the ’80s and ’90s, I don’t remember learning any AANHPI history from school. Everything I did know I learned from my parents and our chosen family. It wasn’t until college and discovering books by authors like Ronald Takaki and Howard Zinn that I finally had some formal education on my own history.

Sadly, not a lot has changed in the past 30 years.

But this year, a coalition of around 60 grassroots organizations serving AANHPI communities signed on to support state Senate Bill 5574, led by Make Us Visible Washington, a local volunteer group that looks to address through education the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans. Sponsored by state Sen. T’wina Nobles and backed by a number of other senators, the legislation would require AANHPI history to be taught in K-12 social studies in Washington state by the 2029-2030 school year.

At a legislative hearing last week, about 900 people signed in to support the measure. Proponents testified to the importance of using a state statute to ensure a more complete story of our history is told.

Advertising

Skip Ad

Skip Ad

Skip Ad

“Omitting AANHPI history from schools doesn’t just erase contributions, it deepens gaps in understanding and allows prejudice to grow, even in our own state,” Nobles said during the hearing.

“Education is one of the most powerful tools to combat ignorance. It also can help us to build empathy and to foster inclusion,” she said. “When students learn the full story of our state and country, they see how our histories connect and better understand the struggles and achievements that have shaped all of us.”

The bill did not make it out of committee this year, but supporters hope that next session it might make more progress.

Teaching AANHPI history does not just benefit AANHPI communities — though it absolutely does — but we all benefit when we have a more complete and accurate understanding of who we are, the challenges we have faced and those who fought for change.

That’s particularly important at a time when efforts to advance a more complete picture are under ferocious attack by the federal government and many localities.

Nobles said we need to lay these educational foundations now, to protect future generations when they experience similar challenging times.

Advertising

Skip Ad

Make Us Visible Washington director Angelie Chong is a parent who said her own kids have yet to learn about the histories of our diverse communities.

“If students are lucky, they might hear a bit about Japanese incarceration or a bit about Chinese exclusion,” she said. “But our histories are so vast, and we’re certainly not a monolith. We have Southeast Asian Americans who have their own histories, and we’ve got Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who have their own unique struggles and histories … And so we’re lumped together and viewed — as we saw in the pandemic — as foreign or as threats or just completely invisible.”

Chong said it was disappointing that the legislation didn’t get further this year, especially as “in this climate that we’re living in, things are just going to get worse for our communities.”

Sign up for Morning Brief

Delivered weekday mornings, this email provides a quick overview of top stories and need-to-know news, including the latest on the novel coronavirus.

Sign up

Chong said, “With all the attacks on diversity and inclusion, we really hope that our local lawmakers could stand up and say, ‘You know, you do matter. We do care about our communities, and we believe in inclusive education.’ ”

According to the census, Washington has one of the highest populations of Asian Americans in the U.S. About 12% of the state population is AANHPI, the third-largest racial group in the state.

Bill supporter Devin Cabanilla wants to see state legislators be more responsive. “I would ask that all of our electeds become a little bit more daring, a little bit more bold in ensuring that our state, at minimum, reflects our communities,” he said.

It seems absurd that anyone should need to say that in 2025. Students should not have to testify in front of the Legislature to lobby for a curriculum that acknowledges their existence.

“We’re part of American history. This is American history. This is Washington history,” Chong said.

Naomi Ishisaka: nishisaka@seattletimes.com. Naomi Ishisaka is The Seattle Times’ assistant managing editor for diversity, inclusion and staff development. Her column on race, culture, equity and social justice appears weekly on Mondays. Follow Naomi on Threads at @nishisaka

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Asian Americans in the People’s History of the United States

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Profile. Brief profiles of people and events from Asian American and Pacific Islander people’s history.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We focus our impact across initiatives in anti-Asian hate, education, narrative change, and resources and representation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our Resources page is a comprehensive hub for researchers, policymakers, advocates, and the general public interested in advancing AANHPI communities. Explore verified research, historical context, thought leadership, and interactive data analysis tools that address anti-Asian hate, promote education, change narratives, and ultimately create a more inclusive, equitable future for all.

Join us in our mission to foster belonging and safety for all AANHPI individuals in the United States.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We focus our impact across initiatives in anti-Asian hate, education, narrative change, and resources and representation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
TEAACH Field Guide & Executive Summary | TAAF

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Creating a roadmap to standardize AAPI history in all 50 states

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
AAPI Lesson Plans & Educational Resources for K-12 Teachers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The AAPI History Hub provides K–12 educators with Lesson Plans, Books, Films, and more ready to integrate into your teaching and classrooms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lights, Camera, AANHPI!: A Creative Development Directory | TAAF

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Lights, Camera, AANHPI!: A Creative Development Directory

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Dr Mimi Tang:  “There is a tendency for us to seek perfection before we speak”

# data[].attributes.body
Representation Matters Representation matters! Our community has a rich heritage and history. The HAPPEN BRG collective consists of over 100 countries and islands. This can make it difficult to know what is HAPPENing in every community across the state that we proudly represent. We encourage members to share information to spread the word and educate ourselves about our collective culture. HAPPEN represents: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Western Melanesia (the Bismarck Archipelago and other islands directly east of New Guinea, Bougainville and Buka Island, and the Solomon Islands), Eastern Melanesia (the Santa Cruz Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Fiji), the Subtropical islands in the Australia/New Zealand region (Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island), Micronesia (the Bonin Islands and Volcano Islands, Marcus Island, the Northern Marianas, the Southern Marianas, the Caroline Islands, Nauru and Banaba, Wake Island, the Marshall Islands, and the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati)), Central Polynesia (Johnston Atoll, the Phoenix Islands, the Line Islands, Howland Island, Baker Island, Jarvis Island, Malden Island and Starbuck Island, Tuvalu, Tokelau and the Northern Cook Islands (Pukapuka, Nassau, Rakahanga, Manihiki, Penrhyn, Suwarrow and Palmerston)), Western Polynesia (Tonga, Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Niue), Eastern Polynesia (the rest of the Cook Islands, the Austral Islands, the Society Islands, the Tuamotu Archipelago and the Pitcairn Islands, Easter Island and Salas y Gómez, the Marquesas Islands), Northern Polynesia (the Hawaiian Islands), Oceanic islands of the Eastern Pacific (The Revillagigedo Islands, Cocos Island and Malpelo Island, Clipperton Island, the Galápagos Islands, the Desventuradas Islands, the Juan Fernández Islands), Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu.

# data[].attributes.body
Co-Chair

Position Description

As a first-generation Vietnamese refugee, Thanh V. Tran knows the pains experienced by othering, prejudice, and bias and has a passion to empower others to find their voices when advocating for fair, equitable treatment and authentic representation. He is a HAPPEN Co-chair and an ally for all marginalized communities that intersect as a bridge builder in our shared common interests. As an Asian American, he realizes his own privilege & disenfranchisement in our social construct and envision members speaking truth to power regarding the marginalization and bias that we as ANHPI experience WITHIN and outside of our communities to truly unify & heal.

Thanh is an inclusive servant leader with core strengths in public speaking, logistical analysis, group communication and facilitation that has helped other groups arrive authentically when engaging in conversations with diverse perspectives and lived experiences. As he has stated, “Our ANHPI communities are no different with over 80+ diverse ethnicities, languages, cultures as none of our lived experiences are monolithic. I’m hopeful this BRG will be the space to celebrate our diverse thought and truths as we organize and mobilize towards equality for all.”

Mentorship Lead

Position Description  |  Committee  |  Contact

Aloha everyone! Kennly Asato (she/they) has been re-elected to the Mentorship Committee Lead position. Kennly currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Director for the Housing Division at the Washington State Department of Commerce. She believes that she would not be where she is today without mentors' guidance and provided her with advice over the years. Kennly has worked in state government for the last 12 years and have created internship, fellowship, and mentoring programs at two state agencies. In 2023, Kennly launched HAPPEN's mentorship program with our amazing mentorship committee. Kennly has also mentored several fellow state employees during her time with the state. Kennly is passionate about continuing to develop and grow a flourishing mentorship program for us in our BRG.

# data[].attributes.body
DENISE ROSS

Workplace Culture and Development Manager

Workplace Culture Program/Human Resource Services

Legacy Ex-Officio Member and current HAPPEN Co-Sponsor

Denise Ross (she/her) is the Workplace Culture and Development Manager at the Puget Sound Partnership. She leads the cabinet agency in creating more human-focused employee experiences grounded in belonging and inclusion. Denise holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management and has been a public servant since 2011. She is one of the founders of HAPPEN, along with Nicholas Vann and other leaders, who helped transform a group of three passionate state employees into an official business resource group with hundreds of HAPPEN members now advancing that mission.

Denise grew up in the Pacific Northwest in a multi-generational home infused with proud Japanese culture, food, and values of honor and respect. She is a Japanese American (Nisei Generation) and the daughter and granddaughter of Issei Generation immigrants. She also has ancestry roots from the island of O'ahu, including a grandfather born and raised there who witnessed the infamous bombing of the 1941 Pearl Harbor from a coconut tree. He later proudly served in the US Army for over 20 years and then retired as a Washington state employee after 21 years of service.

Some of Denise’s passions include awareness for early detection of breast cancer screening, supporting veterans, spreading domestic violence awareness, and social justice. I am proud and honored that I can continue a role in HAPPEN’s legacy.

Katrina Radach

Katrina Radach (she/her) is an active member of HAPPEN and the manager of the Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program (PSEMP) at the Puget Sound Partnership. She leads a team of staff in bridging science with community and management needs, and she is deeply involved in mentoring recent graduates, helping them gain valuable job experiences and develop their skills. Katrina has a background in hiring, interviewing, coaching, mentoring, and supporting staff in their professional growth.

Navigating her own mixed identity as the daughter of a Japanese immigrant mother and a white father, Katrina has experienced the navigation and complexities related to being mixed-race, privilege, othering, and the challenges of code-switching.

# data[].attributes.body
https://nwasianweekly.com/2025/03/bill-for-asian-american-history-in-school-cut-down-in-committee/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Bill for Asian American History in school cut down in committee

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
State Senate Bill 5574, a bill which would require Asian American & Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) history to be taught in K-12 social studies in Washington state by the 2029-2030 …

# data[].attributes.body
*HAPPEN L&CD Series was moved May 28 from May 19 due AAANHPI Celebration Event!

This meeting will have 2 areas of focus:

1) Please watch video https://abc7ny.com/aapi-town-hall-asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage-month/13267027/ ahead of meeting (it is about an hour) Please be prepared to share your thoughts as we will debrief and discuss on May 28, 2025 from 1:00-2:00.

*Zoom link will remain the same.

2) Please note that I am part of pilot project out of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center referred to Foundations and Futures, The Foundations and Futures project: Digital Multimedia Textbook Featuring Narratives and Histories from Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and I will be using some of the prompt curricula from the UCLA pilot to facilitate the video 'Not Your Model Minority: Shattering the Myth.'

*These are the prompts:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pRINVVLeTPPJpJQ5KgIT4trSDep19fLh7nYmpRjXel8/edit#slide=id.p

Looking forward to our HAPPEN share of perspectives.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
NEW YORK (WABC) -- CeFaan Kim hosted and moderated 'Not Your Model Minority: Shattering the Myth,' a town hall marking Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

The town hall streamed live on Wednesday, May 31, at 2 p.m. right here at ABC7NY.com and our ABC7NY app on Roku, FireTV, Apple TV and Android TV.

The event featured panelists who discussed a range of topics including mental health, hate crimes and poverty, in addition to a conversation on the controversial jail set to be built in Chinatown.

The common denominator for each topic was mental health and how each of these topics are affecting the community's mental health.

Get to know the panelists:
Joo Han - Deputy Director of Asian American Federation
Joo Han is the deputy director at the Asian American Federation (AAF), an umbrella leadership organization that represents the collective voice of 70 community-based organizations serving 1.3 million Asian Americans, the fastest-growing population in New York City.

Learn more about AAF at its website.
Jan Lee - Neighbors United Below Canal (NUBC)
Jan Lee is a third generation Chinatown resident. For 18 years he owned a home furnishings business in the heart of historic Chinatown on Mott Street. His family has owned various businesses in the community from a hand laundry to dry cleaner, coffee shop and a gift store.

Learn more about NUBC at its website.
Noel Quintana - Hate Crime Victim
Noel Quintana is a Filipino American non-profit worker who has been vocal about combating Asian hate after surviving a violent hate crime in February 2021.
Shinhee Han - senior psychotherapist of New York School University's counseling services
Shinhee Han, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist who works at the New School University's Counseling Services and in a private practice in New York City. Her practice is predominately committed to Asian Americans and people of color.

Learn more about Han's work at the New School at its website.
Liz Kari - President of AAP(I Belong), daughter of hate crime victim
Elizabeth Kari (Liz), the daughter of immigrants, was born and raised in the Western suburbs of Chicago, she moved to New York City to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from New York University. She has been in the fashion industry for 13 years. On March 29, 2021, Elizabeth's mom, Vilma, was brutally attacked in NYC while walking to church. The footage of the incident garnered international attention not only for the vicious attack but also for the unresponsiveness of the main bystanders in the video. Elizabeth was inspired to create a nonprofit platform called AAP(I belong).

Learn more about AAP(I Belong) at its website.
Christopher Marte - Councilman for District 1
Christopher Marte was born and raised on the Lower East Side, where his father owned a bodega and his mother worked in a garment factory before becoming a home attendant. When he wasn't stacking cans, he attended local public schools and after-school programs. Eventually, his father's store had to close down because of rent hikes, and Christopher started to see the community he loved get torn apart by luxury development and corrupt politicians. CMarte co-founded two community gardens in NYCHA and volunteered at the Bowery Mission in order to give back to the community that raised him. In 2021, Christopher won the City Council election and now serves as District 1's City Council Member.

Learn more about Marte's professional work on the City Council website.
More mental health resources for the AAPI community:
Asian Mental Health Collective
Bridges Mental Health
Asians Do Therapy
New York Coalition for Asian American Mental Health
Asians for Mental Heatlh RELATED | Columbia students create card game in honor of AAPI month
----------

* Get Eyewitness News Delivered

* Follow us on YouTube

* More local news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
not your model minority shattering the myth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
asian american pacific islander heritage month

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'Not Your Model Minority: Shattering the Myth,' an AAPI Town Hall

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
CeFaan Kim hosted and moderated 'Not Your Model Minority: Shattering the Myth,' a town hall marking Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
NEW YORK (WABC) -- CeFaan Kim hosted and moderated 'Not Your Model Minority: Shattering the Myth,' a town hall marking Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

The town hall streamed live on Wednesday, May 31, at 2 p.m. right here at ABC7NY.com and our ABC7NY app on Roku, FireTV, Apple TV and Android TV.

The event featured panelists who discussed a range of topics including mental health, hate crimes and poverty, in addition to a conversation on the controversial jail set to be built in Chinatown.

The common denominator for each topic was mental health and how each of these topics are affecting the community's mental health.

Get to know the panelists:
Joo Han - Deputy Director of Asian American Federation
Joo Han is the deputy director at the Asian American Federation (AAF), an umbrella leadership organization that represents the collective voice of 70 community-based organizations serving 1.3 million Asian Americans, the fastest-growing population in New York City.

Learn more about AAF at its website.
Jan Lee - Neighbors United Below Canal (NUBC)
Jan Lee is a third generation Chinatown resident. For 18 years he owned a home furnishings business in the heart of historic Chinatown on Mott Street. His family has owned various businesses in the community from a hand laundry to dry cleaner, coffee shop and a gift store.

Learn more about NUBC at its website.
Noel Quintana - Hate Crime Victim
Noel Quintana is a Filipino American non-profit worker who has been vocal about combating Asian hate after surviving a violent hate crime in February 2021.
Shinhee Han - senior psychotherapist of New York School University's counseling services
Shinhee Han, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist who works at the New School University's Counseling Services and in a private practice in New York City. Her practice is predominately committed to Asian Americans and people of color.

Learn more about Han's work at the New School at its website.
Liz Kari - President of AAP(I Belong), daughter of hate crime victim
Elizabeth Kari (Liz), the daughter of immigrants, was born and raised in the Western suburbs of Chicago, she moved to New York City to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from New York University. She has been in the fashion industry for 13 years. On March 29, 2021, Elizabeth's mom, Vilma, was brutally attacked in NYC while walking to church. The footage of the incident garnered international attention not only for the vicious attack but also for the unresponsiveness of the main bystanders in the video. Elizabeth was inspired to create a nonprofit platform called AAP(I belong).

Learn more about AAP(I Belong) at its website.
Christopher Marte - Councilman for District 1
Christopher Marte was born and raised on the Lower East Side, where his father owned a bodega and his mother worked in a garment factory before becoming a home attendant. When he wasn't stacking cans, he attended local public schools and after-school programs. Eventually, his father's store had to close down because of rent hikes, and Christopher started to see the community he loved get torn apart by luxury development and corrupt politicians. CMarte co-founded two community gardens in NYCHA and volunteered at the Bowery Mission in order to give back to the community that raised him. In 2021, Christopher won the City Council election and now serves as District 1's City Council Member.

Learn more about Marte's professional work on the City Council website.
More mental health resources for the AAPI community:
Asian Mental Health Collective
Bridges Mental Health
Asians Do Therapy
New York Coalition for Asian American Mental Health
Asians for Mental Heatlh RELATED | Columbia students create card game in honor of AAPI month
----------

* Get Eyewitness News Delivered

* Follow us on YouTube

* More local news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
not your model minority shattering the myth

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
asian american pacific islander heritage month

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
'Not Your Model Minority: Shattering the Myth,' an AAPI Town Hall

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
CeFaan Kim hosted and moderated 'Not Your Model Minority: Shattering the Myth,' a town hall marking Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
3.19.25 HAPPEN Leadership Dev Presentation

# data[].attributes.body
Know & Be Prepared to Assert Your Rights

Now more than before, it is imperative we know our rights. All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution, particularly the Fourth & Fifth Amendments.

The Fourth Amendment states: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

The Fifth Amendment states: "No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

The Know Your Rights Red Cards were created to help people assert their rights and defend themselves against constitutional violations. Knowing and asserting rights can make a huge difference in many situations, such as when ICE agents go to a home. Red cards provide critical information on how to assert these rights, along with an explanation to ICE agents that the individual is indeed asserting their rights.

The cards are available for purchase, translated into several languages, and are free to non-profits and public defenders.

Here are some resources:

Community Resources - Stop AAPI Hate

Immigrants

Police Interactions

Protests, Marches, and Demonstrations

Worker

Misinformation & Disinformation (guidelines, fact checks, trainings)

Mental health (access, trainings/events, emergencies, general information)

Public Safety

Legal Support

Rapid Response Programs

Voter Education

Home | American Civil Liberties Union

NAACP | Leading the Fight to End Racial Inequality

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Spread AAPI Love | AAPI Heritage Month 2024

# data[].attributes.body
Black & Asian Perspectives: Shatter the Divide

How Do We Acknowledge the Solidarity and the Divide?

The Office of Equity is excited to host another amazing webinar series as part of our Equity Learning Series. This series will feature speaker Jolene Jang who will create a collaborative environment to discuss Black and Asian Perspectives.

Join us for an impactful session where we kick off with a fireside chat with our Director Megan Matthews and Asian American Ambassador Jolene Jang as they lead a raw and unfiltered discussion on the current challenges facing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We'll explore the importance of solidarity, understanding, and mutual support between Black and Asian American communities. This meeting aims to model the openness and vulnerability we wish to see in our organization and beyond.

Topics:

Embracing Authenticity and Identity: Discover how your history, culture, and identity shape who you are and why bringing your whole self to the table is essential.

Leading with Vulnerability: Understand the power of vulnerability in leadership and how it fosters acceptance and unity among diverse groups.

Black and Asian Solidarity: Learn from historical examples of Black and Asian solidarity, exploring commonalities and shared struggles to build stronger alliances.

Seats are limited to 500 attendees so register today!

January 15, 2025 – 10am – 12pm: Fireside Chat with Office of Equity Director Megan Matthews and Speaker Jolene Jang

Click to register for January 15, 2025: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sdOytqj0qHdyQ1wvf3cnF0yxAmTkfQSye

Speak Up: Your Voice Matters - A Communication Confidence Coaching Series for Asian Americans (AA-NH-PI)

Following the fireside chat, Jolene will be hosting three AANHPI coaching workshops. We invite you to join our communication confidence coaching series tailored specifically for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders. This program is designed to help you overcome barriers, be heard, and be seen personally and professionally. Sign up elevate your confidence, showcase your value, and realize that people want to hear from you. This series will provide practical strategies, empowering exercises, and supportive community interactions to foster a more confident and outspoken you.

Please plan on attending all coaching sessions. Seats are limited to 50 attendees, so register today!

Click to register for all three sessions: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpduCvrzovHtDb0ensOrK0OjCyR7ZMWEO1

AANHPI Coaching PT 1- February 12th 10-12pm

AANHPI Coaching PT 2- February 26th 10-12pm

AANHPI Coaching PT 3- March 12th 10-12pm

Let’s start the crucial work of talking, learning, and coming together to create a unified front for equity and inclusion.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Washington leads on equitable, inclusive hiring

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
While some states have eliminated degree requirements and tried to implement skill-based hiring, no state has gone as far to advance…

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Building Personal Power: AAPI Women in Leadership

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
According to a recent McKinsey & Company study, Asian American employees are less likely to be promoted to management- and executive-level positions, with advancement gaps most evident for Asian American women. Sue Ann Hong, President and CEO of the Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW), joins host Tetiana Anderson to discuss efforts to expand leadership opportunities for AAPI women. Hong states that “CAPAW invests in AANHPI women and women of color to build personal power and to fight systemic racism for a more equitable future.”

# data[].attributes.body
Jenn Nguyen (she/her) LICSW

Director of Washington State Employee Assistance Program

Washington State Department of Enterprise Services

*The Washington EAP provides confidential mental health and wellness supports to Washington state public service employees and their families for over 50 years.

HAPPEN is fortunate to have the Director of Washington Employee Assistance Programs share about the confidential mental health and wellness support services that are provided to state public service employees and their families. Jenn will address the importance of self-care during this time of uncertainty and will also share her journey of resilience by the ‘reclaiming of her origin story’ and how the process has built pathways of leadership roles as a: Washington state public servant for 16 years, licensed mental health professional, and Diversity and Equity consultant and trainer with a private practice located in south King County.