May 2024: Building Power Together

Dear Friends,

Our annual TAAF Heritage Month Summit is an important reminder of the breadth and diversity of our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and the power we can harness when we come together. We are united in our shared POWER — power to fight hate, power to build belonging, power to tell our stories, and power to overcome differences in pursuit of our common mission of achieving belonging and prosperity for all AANHPI communities. Sheng Thao, Mayor of Oakland and the first Hmong American mayor of a major city in the United States, reflected in her panel, "Spaces like this are what creates leaders of tomorrow."

We are stronger when we work together. Our power comes from our diverse histories and perspectives. Solutions come not from a singular source but from finding common ground among differences to change minds and change culture.

One of these solutions is our AAPI Hate Tracker, recently released in collaboration with Committee of 100, to empower AAPI New Yorkers to report hate, not only to ensure that survivors have access to the resources they need to recover but also provide the data necessary to identify long-term solutions to help bring an end to hate. More than ever, the reason for our founding and TAAF’s mission are to ensure that the AANHPI community has both the opportunity and right to feel safe, to belong, and to truly prosper.

In solidarity,

Norman Chen‍
CEO, The Asian American Foundation

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PARTNERSHIPS

Coming together at our 2024 Heritage Month Summit

Leaders convene in NYC for unforgettable celebration of shared AANHPI heritage and commitment to greater belonging and prosperity

Over the course of two days, we welcomed 2500+ attendees and 70+ speakers and trailblazers including Oscar-winning Actress Michelle Yeoh, Oscar-nominated Actor Steven Yeun, Former United States Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Podcast Host Pablo Torre, The Korean Vegan Founder Joanne Lee Molinaro, NFL Player / Minnesota Vikings Safety Camryn Bynum, Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Actor and Musician Darren Criss, Mayors Michelle Wu, Aftab Pureval, and Sheng Thao, and Chairman of Netflix Film and Founder & Board Chair, Rideback Rise Dan Lin.

Throughout the Summit, the theme of coming into and realizing our own power resounded across the panels. Actor Steven Yeun reflected, “The thing that surprised me and continues to surprise me is that I keep revealing myself to myself. I keep falling forward into things and aspects of myself that I didn’t think were possible...I think it reflects on all of us as Asian Americans, as human beings."

Congratulations to the 2024 TAAF Awards honorees Congressman Andy Kim, Chairman of Netflix Film and Founder & Board Chair of Rideback Rise Dan Lin, Rockefeller Foundation President Dr. Rajiv Shah, inaugural Angela Chao Legacy Award honoree and CEO of 3.1 Phillip Lim Wen Zhou, and Oscar-nominated Actor Steven Yeun, who was introduced by 2023 TAAF Awardee and Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh.

Our panelists are part of what makes the Summit so special, and we want to thank them for sharing their stories and raising awareness for issues that are important for our AANHPI communities, from anti-Asian hate, inclusive education, identity and belonging, to civic engagement and political power.  

The Summit also featured an incredible culinary program from thirty of NYC’s top AANHPI chefs, a bustling marketplace featuring Asian American-owned small businesses, and a competitive AAPI All-Star Basketball game hosted in partnership with Apex for Youth and BSE Global at Barclays Center.

Special thanks to this year’s TAAF Heritage Month Summit and Awards Dinner sponsors and supporters: Airbnb, Amazon, Bain & Company, Bank of America, BSE Global, Citadel Securities, Fanatics, Genesis House, Goldman Sachs, Instacart, JCPenney, Jefferies, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Kirkland & Ellis, KKR, Merck, Meta Prosper, MLB, Morgan Stanley, Nike, Palm Drive Capital, United Airlines, and Zoom.

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ANTI-HATE

Support New York with your report!

AAPI Hate Tracker empowers AAPIs to report hate

Our recently released NYC Safety Study found that 54% of Asian American New Yorkers do not report their experiences with hate incidents. AAPIs consistently encounter barriers including not wanting to bring attention to themselves, not knowing how to report, and not feeling comfortable reporting to law enforcement. To empower AAPI New Yorkers and provide them with access to reporting hate and bias, we established the AAPI Hate Tracker — an accurate and up to date database of hate and bias incidents.

The AAPI Hate Tracker, created in partnership with Committee of 100 and our nonprofit partners in the NYC Anti-Hate Collaborative, raises awareness about the reality of AAPI hate in our communities and assists local nonprofit partners in identifying opportunities to provide support and resources for response and recovery. The AAPI Hate Tracker is designed to be easy-to-use and can take in reports anonymously. If a survivor requests additional support or services, a participating nonprofit partner will reach out directly to address those needs. The AAPI Hate Tracker will be available in ten additional languages soon.

By creating a more accurate, timely and data-driven portrait of the real impact that hate continues to have on ourselves and our communities, TAAF will inform solutions for lawmakers, media, and the broader public to address anti-AAPI hate.

Report to support New York with the AAPI Hate Tracker (NYC)!

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NARRATIVE CHANGE

Stay tuned for Season 3 of AAPI Heritage Heroes!

Stay tuned for our third annual AAPI Heritage Heroes special premiering on Prime Video this month! This year's special will explore positive forces — including courage, joy, empathy, love, and hope — combating hate in our communities.

While you wait for the much anticipated premiere, you can continue celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month by catching up on Heritage Heroes 2022 and Heritage Heroes 2023 on Prime Video now.

Watch Season 1 and 2 of Heritage Heroes on Amazon Prime!

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Partner Spotlight

TAAF is honored to build with incredible community partners with the support of our AAPI Giving Challenge partners.

Each month we highlight the impact of their work and support of our grantees.

Meet our partners by clicking the image below to learn more about their work.

KAFSC is a leading organization in serving the Korean American community in the New York Tri-State area. As part of TAAF's Anti-Hate Collaborative, KAFSC is committed to addressing violence both within and towards AAPI communities.

The NFL creates belonging for AANHPIs by celebrating their employees, players, and fans’ diverse backgrounds and cultures to highlight the importance of sports in the AANHPI community.

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Convenings

TAAF in Community

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ICYMI

Leading AAPIs in the news

Wing Luke Museum launches ‘Confronting Hate Together’ exhibit

Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum is collaborating with the Black Heritage Society of Washington State and the Washington State Jewish Historical Society for a new exhibit aimed at shining a spotlight on racism, anti-Semitism, and bigotry that foster division and hatred within minority communities. READ MORE

Sahaj Kohli tackles South Asian mental health stigma in new book

Indian American therapist and writer Sahaj Kohli, best known for her viral Instagram page “Brown Girl Therapy,” has published her first book, “But What Will People Say?”, which she hopes will reach immigrant families struggling to talk about mental health. READ MORE

Michelle Yeoh Receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

Michelle Yeoh accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden on May 3. Yeoh was acknowledged for shattering “stereotypes and glass ceilings” throughout her career to “enrich and enhance American culture.” READ MORE

Oldest living Japanese American, 110, shares her longevity tips and the 1 food she eats every day

Supercentenarian Yoshiko Miwa turned 110 in February. READ MORE