TAAF Heritage Month Summit celebrates AANHPI achievements and solidarity

The Summit included a panel about AANHPI identity and belonging moderated by Define American founder Jose Antonio Vargas with Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor and musician Darren Criss, who shared his personal experience grappling with his own identity as an Asian American; composer and performer “Hamilton” Ari Afsar; actor, content creator, and speaker Ryan Alexander Holmes; and actor, author, and activist Maulik Pancholy, dove into the nuances and intersectionality of the AANHPI community, and how their upbringings and lived experiences each contributed to their own unique understanding of their sense of belonging.

THE Asian American Foundation (TAAF) held its Third Annual Heritage Month Summit in New York City last week, spotlighting crucial discussions on identity, coalition building, and solidarity within the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) community.

The two-day event brought together influential speakers and over 600 attendees to celebrate the community’s achievements and address pressing issues. With high-profile speakers, insightful panels, and empowering discussions, the summit marked TAAF’s third anniversary and celebrated AAPI Heritage Month with a theme of “Together We Build Power.”

TAAF Board Member Sheila Lirio Marcelo with other TAAF officers and actor Steven Yeun and Juju Chang. AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya

“When we launched TAAF three years ago, we envisioned gatherings like tonight, where we can come together, celebrate our wins, and connect on the next goals we can accomplish as partners united against hate,” said Sheila Lirio Marcelo, one of TAAF’s board members, as she welcomed the guests to the gala dinner. “Because even as our community faces challenging, turbulent times, there is power in us coming together in support of what unites us.”

On the first day of the summit, notable figures like actor Darren Criss, and former U.S. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta took the stage to discuss themes of identity and belonging.

Criss, known for his Emmy and Golden Globe-winning performances, shared his introspective journey of navigating identity as someone “blatantly White passing” but with a rich cultural heritage. “I was unaware of the privilege I had,” he confessed during the panel on identity and belonging which was moderated by Jose Antonio Vargas.

Star Mayors

Mayor Sheng Thao of Oakland, Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston, and Mayor Aftab Pureval of Cincinnati discussed their own political paths and the future they see in building power and impact for AANHPIs across the country during a political year and beyond. Photo by Janice Yim/Getty Images for The Asian American Foundation

Mayors Aftab Pureval of Cincinnati, Sheng Thao of Oakland, and Michelle Wu of Boston made history by coming together on stage as groundbreaking Asian American leaders. Pureval is Tibetan and Indian American and the first Asian American mayor of his city, Sheng Thao is the first Hmong American mayor of any major city in the U.S., and Michelle Wu is the first minority mayor of Boston. Each shared their unique journeys and highlighted the significance of representation in politics.

Pureval emphasized the potential for Asian Americans to succeed in various political arenas, despite being a minority in his city. “Asians can run and win anywhere in this country,” he told the audience, adding that Cincinnati only has 2% Asian American population.

Thao, the first Hmong American mayor of a major U.S. city, urged Asian Americans to step up and participate in civic engagement, emphasizing the importance of voting. Born in Stockton, California to Hmong refugee parents who escaped genocide in Laos, she grew up in poverty and lived in public housing with nine other siblings. At age 17, Thao moved out on her own. As a young single mother, she experienced domestic violence and periods of homelessness while raising her son.

Wu, reflecting on her upbringing as a child of Taiwanese immigrants, spoke about her motivation to serve her community and address systemic inequities. Wu was elected to the Boston City Council in 2013 at age 28, becoming the first Asian-American woman to serve on the council. She won as Mayor of Boston in November 2021 and became Boston’s first woman, person of color, and millennial mayor.

“When you most needed services or help is when you’re most invisible because those services are not set up for families like us,” she said.

Empowerment and representation

Fil-Am Camryn Bynum talked about how he is bringing football to the Philippines.

The second day of the summit continued the momentum with discussions on workplace belonging, mental health, storytelling, and sports representation. Notable speakers included Oscar-nominated actor Steven Yeun, journalist Juju Chang, author Joanne Lee Molinaro, and NFL player Camryn Bynum, among others.

Key moments included a fireside chat with Yeun, who emphasized the importance of diverse storytelling and AANHPI representation in Hollywood.

Oscar-nominated actor Steven Yeun opened up about transcending stereotypes, breaking ground in Hollywood, and the urgent need for diverse storytelling and AANHPI representation. “We [AANHPIs] want to depict life as it is, as we are — a declaration that we are allowed to be here in our fullness,” he said.

Yeun, renowned for his groundbreaking performances in “Minari” and “The Walking Dead,” captivated the audience with his impassioned plea for diverse representation in Hollywood. “We want to depict life as it is, as we are—a declaration that we are allowed to be here in our fullness,” he proclaimed, rallying support for authentic storytelling.

Panel discussions explored topics ranging from workplace equity to AANHPI representation in children’s literature and sports. Capping the summit was the conversation between Pablo Torre (sportswriter and host, “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast), Cam Bynum (NFL Player – Safety, Minnesota Vikings), Kaitlyn Chen (Princeton University Tigers Guard), and Tsai, covering how AANHPIs are breaking barriers from the MLB to the NBA and the NFL.

Celebrating achievement and legacy

Another ‘fan favorite’ session was the conversation between Pablo Torre (sportswriter and host, “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast), Cam Bynum (NFL Player – Safety, Minnesota Vikings), Kaitlyn Chen (Princeton University Tigers Guard), and Joe Tsai (Chairman, Alibaba; Governor, Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty), covering how AANHPIs are breaking barriers from the MLB to the NBA and the NFL.

The TAAF Awards Dinner honored courageous AANHPI leaders across various industries, including philanthropy, public service, business, and culture. Notable awardees included Congressman Andy Kim, Dan Lin, Dr. Rajiv Shah, and Wen Zhou, among others. The event also introduced the Angela Chao Legacy Award in memory of Angela Chao, celebrating her contributions as a trailblazing business leader.

For his opening welcome remarks, TAAF CEO Norman Chen said, “TAAF knows we can build power and meet any challenge our community faces, by investing in our organizations, storytellers, and cities, innovating new initiatives and leveraging data as a force of change – to bring together our incredible community and strengthen our relationships.”

TAAF recognized the achievements of courageous AANHPI leaders across various industries, including philanthropy, public service, business, culture, and impact. The first-ever Angela Chao Legacy Award was presented in memory of Angela Chao, a founding member of the TAAF Advisory Council, beloved business leader, and former CEO of Foremost Group.

Elaine Chao (former Secretary of Transportation) honored Wen Zhou (Co-Founder and CEO, 3.1 Phillip Lim) with the Angela Chao Legacy Award, celebrating her role as a trailblazing woman in business who helms a global fashion brand that she helped build from the ground up.

At the TAAF Awards Dinner, TAAF recognized the achievements of courageous AANHPI leaders across various industries, including philanthropy, public service, business, culture, and impact. Among the awardees were Congressman Andy Kim with the TAAF Award for his contributions to public service. As the first Democratic member of Korean descent in Congress, TAAF honored Congressman Kim for his commitment to the advancement of the AANHPI community in culture and entertainment. Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh presented Oscar-nominated actor Steven Yeun (“Beef,” “Minari, “The Walking Dead”) with a TAAF Award, naming him “one of the most talented actors of his generation.”

TAAF board member and Co-CEO of KKR Joseph Y. Bae presented Congressman Andy Kim with the TAAF Award for his contributions to public service. As the first Democratic member of Korean descent in Congress, TAAF honored Congressman Kim for his commitment to the advancement of the AANHPI community in culture and entertainment.

Joe Tsai, TAAF board member, Chairman of Alibaba, and Governor of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty, honored Dan Lin (Chairman of Netflix Films; Founder and Board Chair, Rideback Rise) with the TAAF Award, paying tribute to his long-standing support of AANHPI artists and allies and his visionary leadership in creating critical opportunities on main stages for voices from underrepresented communities.

TAAF board member, Founder of AME Cloud Ventures, and Co-Founder of Yahoo! Jerry Yang presented Dr. Rajiv Shah (President, Rockefeller Foundation) with a TAAF Award, honoring his philanthropic efforts to create a more equitable and sustainable society and his dedication to advancing large-scale change around the world.

Ending the awards portion of the night, Academy Award-winning actress Michelle Yeoh presented Oscar-nominated actor Steven Yeun (“Beef,” “Minari, “The Walking Dead”) with a TAAF Award, naming him “one of the most talented actors of his generation.”

The TAAF Heritage Month Summit provided a platform for dialogue, empowerment, and celebration within the AANHPI community. By amplifying diverse voices and promoting solidarity, TAAF continues to pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.

Originally established in response to the surge in anti-Asian hate incidents during the pandemic, TAAF continues its mission to uplift AAPI communities and bridge gaps in support. With a focus on philanthropy and community empowerment, the foundation aims to combat underinvestment and promote representation across various sectors. n