Your voice. America’s story.

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, an urgent question arises: will Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders be included in our country’s story?‍

The Asian+American Storytelling Initiative builds on TAAF’s “The United States of Asian+America” by turning the series into a community-powered movement.

We’re looking for filmmakers, journalists, artists, podcasters, animators, and digital creators who want to bring overlooked AAPI figures, moments, and histories to light in an original, short-form digital video project.

Show us your original concepts that challenge the narrative, uncover new perspectives, and cultivate a deep sense of belonging for the 26 million AAPIs who call this country home.

The Prompt

How would you tell the story of an overlooked Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) figure, community, or moment that has shaped the American experience?

What Will You Receive?

‍If your proposal is selected, you’ll be equipped with resources to bring your project to life.

Funding

You’ll receive a grant to help cover production costs ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.

Mentorship

You’ll have a one-on-one virtual mentorship session with a member of our esteemed selection committee, which includes industry-leading filmmakers, broadcast journalists, and content creators.

Platform

When your project is ready to debut, you’ll receive the full support of TAAF’s social media channels and receive distribution to our national network of partners, reaching leaders and luminaries across the AAPI community.

The Selection Process

‍We believe in impact-driven storytelling, meaning polished production experience is not a requirement to apply. Our evaluation focuses on three core pillars:

#1 — The Story
‍
The originality, importance, and depth of your proposed topic

‍#2 — The Execution
‍
Your vision and plan for bringing the project to life

‍#3 — The Passion
‍
Your enthusiasm for telling your proposed story and preserving a piece of history for generations to come

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Please check back soon for more updates on this initiative.
Grant recipients will be notified by November 2, and production will take place between November 2, 2026 and January 15, 2027. Final projects must be ready to debut by February 5, 2027.
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Meet the Selection Committee

Our selection committee includes award-winning and industry-leading AAPI filmmakers, journalists, and creators who are excited to bring their diverse experience and expertise to support new stories.

Juju Chang
Juju Chang
Emmy-winning Co-Anchor of ABC News' "Nightline"
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Michelle Khare
Michelle Khare
Content Creator and Host of award-winning docuseries "Challenge Accepted"
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Dana Ledoux Miller
Dana Ledoux Miller
Writer/Director known for Disney’s "Moana 2" (2024), Netflix’s "Thai Cave Rescue" (2022), and Disney Animation’s upcoming feature "Hexed" (2026)
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Lisa Ling
Lisa Ling
Emmy-winning journalist, longtime Host and Executive Producer of CNN's "This Is Life with Lisa Ling," and former Co-Host of "The View"
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Adrian Per
Adrian Per
Award-winning Director and Content Creator
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Kitao Sakurai
Kitao Sakurai
Director of Paramount’s upcoming "Street Fighter" as well as "BEEF Season 2," "Dave," and "The Eric Andre Show"
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Philip Wang
Philip Wang
Content creator/filmmaker and co-founder of Wong Fu Productions
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Sean Wang
Sean Wang
Oscar-nominated director (Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó) and director of Dìdi (弟弟)
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Project Advisor

Shamina Singh
Shamina Singh
Founder & President, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
Executive Vice President, Sustainability at Mastercard
Shamina Singh
Shamina
Singh
Founder & President, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth
Executive Vice President, Sustainability at Mastercard

Shamina Singh is the founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth and executive vice president of sustainability at Mastercard, where she leads the company’s global social and environmental impact strategy. A member of Mastercard’s Management Committee, she draws on more than two decades of public and private sector experience to unite investors, policymakers, government and impact leaders to advance private sector-led social and business outcomes that shape inclusive and impactful economies. Her cross-functional leadership style has been recognized by American Banker and the Financial Times.  

Since launching the Center in 2014, Shamina has leveraged the power of Mastercard’s data, technology, capital, and expertise to advance inclusive and sustainable economic growth around the world.  Mastercard and the Center demonstrate how the private sector can lead on business and impact outcomes alongside governments, nonprofits and researchers. This “doing well by doing good” strategy has earned recognition from Fast Company, Fortune, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal and Forbes.

With a career spanning four U.S. presidential administrations and three Fortune 500 companies, Shamina has held senior roles in the White House and the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, a Presidential Leadership Scholar, and an alumna of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Program. She was also a contributor to MIT Sloan Management Review on the topic of responsible AI.

Currently, Shamina serves on the board of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), and on the advisory boards of data.org, Okta for Good, the Aspen Institute’s Civil Society Fellowship and the CGAP Financial Inclusion Initiative. She is also a contributor to MIT Sloan Management Review on the topic of responsible AI.

Shamina holds a Bachelor of Science from Old Dominion University and a Master of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School at the University of Texas at Austin. She has received Alumni of Distinction honors from both institutions.  

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