November 2024: Growing AANHPI Representation and Participation

Dear Friends,

As we prepare for a restful Thanksgiving break and reflect on what is meaningful to us, we also acknowledge the uncertainty that many are feeling at this moment. After a particularly divisive election season, we hope that our shared commitment to our community can contribute to healing.

That commitment—to champion the safety, belonging, and prosperity of our AANHPI communities—remains TAAF’s priority. The rise in anti-Asian violence and discrimination during the pandemic was the catalyst for our founding, and we will stay vigilant as our nation transitions to a new administration. We are dedicated to fostering partnership and solidarity, coming together to build a brighter future for our communities, and Americans of all backgrounds.

While most eyes were on the presidential race, this election cycle was also notable for its AANHPI history-makers: Andy Kim will become New Jersey’s first Asian American senator and this country’s first Korean American elected to the U.S. Senate, and Virginia will now have its first Indian American congressman in Suhas Subramanyam. We celebrate these milestones as indicative of our community’s increasingly important role on the national stage, and important steps toward building a safer and more inclusive America.

In solidarity,

Norman Chen‍
CEO, The Asian American Foundation

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PARTNERSHIPS

Breaking barriers and building community at the Asian Corporate Directors Conference

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The launch of the Asian Corporate Directors Conference focuses on increasing AANHPI board and corporate representation

TAAF believes in a tomorrow where belonging and prosperity are in reach, and that includes removing barriers and increasing representation so that AANHPIs are able to see themselves in C-suites and board rooms. Unfortunately, despite making up 12% of the professional workforce in Fortune 500 companies, AAPIs make up only 1.5% of corporate officer positions, and 50.4% of S&P corporate boards lack any AANHPI representation.

Earlier this month, we partnered with executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates to host the inaugural Asian Corporate Directors Conference. We were honored to host executives and leaders, who engaged in deep discussions and jumpstarted actionable strategies to strengthen AANHPI leadership pipelines.

As we work together to increase representation and visibility for AANHPIs, our hope is that the Asian Corporate Directors Conference inspires a commitment to leadership that will uplift generations to come, and ultimately shape a future that is more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous for all.

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NARRATIVE CHANGE

Fostering Pacific Islander entertainment leadership with the PEAK Producer & Executive Fellowship

The Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK) announced its inaugural 2024 PEAK Producer & Executive Fellowship class

The PEAK Producer & Executive Fellowship offers aspiring producers and development executives one-on-one time with high-level industry creatives and executives to help hone their skills in the art of communication, networking, leadership, and project development. Founded by PEAK Co-Founder, Board Member, Producer & Development Executive, Averie Joy Maikalima O Makua Huffine, this is the only development program in Hollywood created by a Pasifika executive. PEAK’s mission is to redefine and expand Pasifika entertainment so that their creatives can thrive, evolve, and drive innovative storytelling that honors the richness and diversity across Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

Funded by TAAF, as part of our commitment to Narrative Change, the fellowship is designed to help participants build on skills they’ve already shown as independent or freelance producers and executives by giving them access to the traditional ins and outs of the studio system development process, as well as mentorship and advice from industry veterans. Fellows will also participate in panels and discussions with top television and film industry professionals aimed at equipping them with practical and business knowledge needed to succeed as a producer or development executive in the entertainment industry.

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Celebrating Daniel Dae Kim’s return to Broadway with Yellow Face

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A powerful, semi-autobiographical Obie Award-winning and Pulitzer finalist play that delves into issues of mistaken racial identity, David Henry Hwang's Yellow Face draws attention to real cases of anti-Asian discrimination in the 1990s. Daniel Dae Kim stars as an Asian American playwright who protests yellowface casting in the blockbuster musical Miss Saigon, only to mistakenly cast a white actor as the Asian lead in his own play. Yellow Face marks Daniel Dae Kim’s first return to Broadway in 10 years.

TAAF was honored to support a special performance of the play followed by an intimate talkback moderated by Jose Antonio Vargas featuring Daniel Dae Kim and the production's cast and creative team. Following its final curtain, TAAF, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and 3AD invited guests to celebrate the run of Yellow Face at Naro, owned by Junghyun “JP” and Ellia Park, the masterminds behind Atomix and Atoboy, for the final performance earlier this week.

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NARRATIVE CHANGE

TAAF founding board member Joseph Bae featured on Aconic podcast

The Aconic Podcast is a new podcast showcasing candid conversations with Asian and AAPI icons sharing their personal journeys of challenges and triumphs.

TAAF founding board member and KKR president Joseph Bae recently joined host Soon Yu to talk about his journey, from immigrating to the U.S. at a young age, his significant contributions to Asian markets, and his role in founding TAAF amidst the rise of anti-Asian hate during the pandemic. This episode highlights Bae’s dedication, adaptability, and his ongoing impact on the AAPI community.

Recent guests of the Aconic Podcast have included Deb Liu, CEO, Ancestry, Andrew Yang, Founder of the Forward Party, and Debby Soo, CEO of Opentable. The Aconic Podcast is sponsored by Altos Ventures, the founders of the Asian Alumni Chapter of Stanford Graduate School of Business, TAAF, and Gold House.

Tune in for more inspiring stories with Asian and AAPI icons.  

Listen to the Ep. 5 of the Aconic podcast with Joseph Bae!

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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.

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Convenings

TAAF in Community

SOMOS is the annual New York State civic and political conference for policymakers to learn about issues affecting Puerto Ricans and the Latino community at large. TAAF, alongside more than 40 community organizations, sponsored the 2024 AAPI reception, which over 600 guests attended.

Photo 1: From left to right: NYS Assemblymember (D-30) Steven Raga, NYC Councilmember (D-43) Susan Zhuang, NYC Councilmember (D-39) NYC Councilmember (D-39) Shahana Hanif, NYC Councilmember (D-25) Shekar Krishana (back), NYC Councilmember (D-26) Julie Won (front), NYC Councilmember (D-23) Linda Lee, NYS Assemblymember (D-65) & APA Task Force Co-Chair Grace Lee, NYS Senator (D-56) Jeremy Cooney (back), NYS Assemblymember (D-38) Jenifer Rajkumar (front), Assemblymember Karines Reyes (D-87, Chair of the NYS Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force and Chair of Somos), Assemblymember Michaelle Solages (D-22, Chair of the NYS Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Caucus), and Chinese American Planning Council NYC CEO Wayne Ho.

Photo 2: CPC Director of Brooklyn Community Services, Steve Mei, CPC Director of Queens Community Services, Mitch Wu, CPC Board Member and Museum of Chinese in America President Michael Lee, CPC Director of Education and Career Services, Amy Latorres, artists from the Thrive Collective, CPC Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy Edwin Tablada, CPC Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer Carlyn Cowen, and CPC CEO Wayne Ho.

Photo 3: TAAF Director of Government Relations Samuel Hyun, CPC CEO Wayne Ho, Board Chair for Coalition for Asian American Children and Families Art Chang, CPC Board Member and Museum of Chinese in America President Michael Lee, TAAF New York Director Eugena Oh, Board Chair for Homecrest Community Services Gregory Gong, and Homecrest Executive Director Wai Yee Chan.

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ICYMI

Leading AAPIs in the news

Natalie Nakase becomes WNBA’s first Asian American head coach.

Natalie Nakase is the first head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s latest expansion franchise which is owned by the Warriors. READ MORE

NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services announces the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

$210 million dollars of federal funding is being made available for New York based non-profit organizations. Applications are due on December 11, 2024.  LEARN MORE

TAAF partners with Serica Initiative and PBS Learning Media on a new landing page making instructional resources easily accessible for K-12 educators.

Asians Americans Rising, consists of standards-aligned curricula for three TAAF-supported docuseries—Rising Against Asian Hate: One Day in March, be/longing: Asian Americans Now, and Between Black and White: Asian Americans Speak Out. LEARN MORE

State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands will be awarded more than $72M to expand high-speed internet access and digital literacy for Native Hawaiians.

The goal is to provide Native Hawaiians with essential resources to participate fully in the digital economy including access to telehealth services, remote education, and job training. READ MORE

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