Address: The Sheraton in Philadelphia (201 North 17th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103)

Click the sections below to see descriptions and speak bios.

Location: Salon 3/4

Description

Join us for a session dedicated to how faith based communities can be mobilized and educating on how faith communities can build bridges across different faiths to engage AAPI communities in elections. This conversation will focus on fighting misconceptions of faith-based communities, what’s at stake for faith communities in this upcoming election, and how to conduct meaningful faith-based engagement that will drive voting and increase impact

Speakers

Harmeet Kaur, Culture Writer for CNN

Harmeet Kaur is a culture writer for CNN. Her work explores how race, religion, gender and other identities shape society — from politics to popular culture. She strives to tell stories about underrepresented communities with sensitivity and nuance, and she is especially interested in stories that challenge our assumptions about each other. Her reporting has examined 9/11’s legacy on Sikh and Muslim communities, caste discrimination in the US and Asian American representation in film and TV, among other issues. Previously, she worked in digital and television production. Harmeet graduated from Emory University with a B.A. in international affairs and journalism. Originally from the Appalachian mountain town of Pikeville, Kentucky, she lives in Brooklyn.

Reverend David Woo

Reverend David Woo was raised in the Los Angeles area of Southern California and is the founder of Burning Pride Meditation, a Buddhist recovery fellowship for Asian Americans. He also volunteers as a counselor at NaNoom, a faith-based, residential addiction treatment center located in Koreatown, and previously served as a chaplain at Homeboy Industries, a nonprofit that offers reentry and rehabilitation services for gang-involved and formerly incarcerated individuals, and as a mindfulness meditation facilitator for youth serving sentences at juvenile incarceration facilities. Reverend Woo received his ministerial ordination in the Taego Zen tradition and chaplaincy endorsement from Bodhiyana Buddhist Chaplain Fellowship. He formerly graduated from USC with an MFA in Cinematic Arts, with his thesis documentary focusing on Asian American gangs, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Buddhist ministry at the University of the West, a Fo Guang Shan school located in Rosemead, California.

Reverend Janna Louie

Rev. Janna Louie (she/her) is an American Baptist minister currently serving as Chief of Staff at the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. Prior to this role, she worked with graduate students and faculty in universities across Southern California. She was born and raised in Chicago and is a daughter of immigrants from Hong Kong. She spent formative years learning from folks in Nashville and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.She believes that our communities flourish when people have the freedom to imagine and create a new way to be together. This conviction led her to collaborate with some incredible people to begin the Coalition of AAPI Churches (CAAPIC), a network of local AAPI church coalitions committed to participating in God’s healing work in our cities and society as a whole. She currently helps to convene CAAPIC Los Angeles and also CAAPIC Cross-Section, a forum that engages Asian American racial identity, Christian faith, and politics. After completing her MDiv at Fuller Theological Seminary in 2014, she received the Parish Pulpit Fellowship and studied sociopolitical engagement through preaching in contexts without religious liberty. During this fellowship, she concentrated her studies in Southeast Asia. She directed various preaching courses and has preaching experience throughout the United States, Indonesia, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Viet Nam, and Thailand.

Kavneet Singh

Kavneet has worked in the healthcare space for over 20 years, as a leader and consultant. Most recently he was with Kaiser Permanente where he was responsible for Performance Management and Strategy Execution. Kavneet has brought these skills to SALDEF, advising on strategy  and assisting in training local, state, and federal law enforcement officials about Sikhism, the Sikh American community, civil rights and diversity. He serves as the Vice Chair of the Asian American Media Alliance and instructs students in Sikh history and Ethos at the El Sobrante Gurdwara.

Floyd Mori

In 1972 Floyd Mori was elected as a City Councilman of the City of Pleasanton, California, and later served as Mayor of Pleasanton. He was elected to the California State Assembly in March 1975 and served for six years in that capacity as one of the first two Assembly members of Japanese descent. He has been an international business consultant for over 30 years. He was a consultant in government relations and served as the Utah Trade Representative to Japan. Mori has held local chapter and national positions for the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), including four years as National President and four years as a National Vice President. He has been on the Executive Council of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCR), and he was Chair of the National Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA). He served as the President/CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) for six years, retiring from that position in May 2018. He is a member and supporter of many civil rights and community organizations. He is on the Joint Diversity Council for Comcast NBC/Universal. He is on the Board of Governors for the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and the Board of the Independent Voters Project. He is a member of the Board of the National Veterans Network and of APIAVote.

Sarah Sayeed

Dr. Sarah Sayeed, Chair and Executive Director of the Civic Engagement Commission, has been dedicated to building an inclusive public square for over two decades. The Commission provides language assistance at poll sites, runs citywide participatory budgeting, supports community board members, and strengthens grassroots coalitions in neighborhoods hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Prior to this appointment, Dr. Sayeed was a Senior Advisor on Muslim engagement to former Mayor Bill de Blasio in the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit, where she worked with a diverse, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual Muslim constituency to strengthen civic engagement. Her public service builds upon seven years of bridge building projects at the Interfaith Center of New York, where she regularly convened New York’s diverse grassroots religious leaders with secular and city agencies, and implemented an extended collaboration between Catholic and Muslim social service providers. Dr. Sayeed also taught Communications to graduates and undergraduates at Baruch’s School of Public Affairs. Through her years of volunteer work with diverse Muslim organizations, including Women in Islam, Inc., she has been an avid promoter of interfaith relations and Muslim women’s public engagement. Sarah earned a B.A. in Sociology and Near East Studies from Princeton University and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Communications from the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a certificate in Reconciliation Leadership through the Institute for Global Leadership and is an alumna of the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute (AMCLI) Fellows program.

Location: Philadelphia North

Description

TBA

Location: Liberty A

Description

The role that the corporate sector can play in enhancing civic engagement and strengthening our democratic processes is powerful yet untapped. This session will explore the unique opportunities that businesses have to foster a more engaged electorate, as well as the pioneering ways in which some companies are already integrating civic engagement into corporate social responsibility. By leveraging their influence, resources, and reach, companies can play a pivotal role in increasing voter participation and supporting our democracy. This session will discuss various strategies and initiatives that have proven successful in encouraging voting, the business case to be made there, and how these efforts benefit both the community and the companies themselves.

Speakers

Kimberley Carroll-Cox, Development Manager for Nonprofit VOTE

Kimberley Carroll-Cox is the Development Manager for Nonprofit VOTE, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to increasing voter participation through nonprofit voter engagement. In addition to its primary mission, Nonprofit VOTE also serves as the managing partner for National Voter Registration Day, a single day of coordinated civic action dedicated to celebrating our democracy.

Beyond her day-to-day development responsibilities for the organization, Kimberley plays an instrumental role in nurturing and expanding relationships with National Voter Registration Day Premier Partners, which encompasses a diverse array of entities from the corporate, sporting, and civic sectors. Through her dedicated efforts, Kimberley provides invaluable support to these partners in their holiday-related endeavors, ensuring maximum impact and engagement during the holiday celebration. Lastly, Kimberley has been with the team since 2020 and is based in New York City.

Location: Liberty C 

Description

As tensions between the United States and China intensify, Asian Americans find themselves caught in the crosshairs of narratives that paint them as foreign threats. This session will examine the geopolitical context and real-world impacts of such harmful narratives. Our panelists will explore the importance of proactive community action to push back against fear-mongering and xenophobic rhetoric that often escalates during times of geopolitical tensions. Attendees will gain insights on counter-narrati:ves and strategies to reclaim the narrative.

Speakers

Lily Trieu, Executive Director of Asian Texans for Justice

Lily Trieu is the Executive Director of Asian Texans for Justice, a statewide nonprofit with a mission to connect Asian Texans of all identities to meaningful civic action to build personal and political power for future generations.

Lily is passionate about equity and access to quality education as a means for personal and economic empowerment. In 2019, she worked in the Texas House of Representatives on the House Committee on Public Education in the 86th Legislative Session and in 2018, Lily was a Graduate Fellow at The Archer Center for Public Policy.

Prior to her political and advocacy work, Lily spent over ten years in the private sector with a focus on strategy, relationship management, and project management. She has a BBA in Marketing and BA in Asian Studies from The University of Texas Austin as well as an MBA with a concentration in Public and Governmental Affairs from the McCombs School of Business, completing a Portfolio Studies in Nonprofit Management.

Esther Im, Senior Peace and Security Advisor, Foreign Policy for America (FP4A)

Esther S. Im is the Senior Peace and Security Advisor at Foreign Policy for America (FP4A), where she leads on policy related to China, Iran, North Korea, and nuclear issues. Previously, she worked at the National Committee on North Korea on promoting principled engagement between the US and North Korea in the areas of nuclear negotiations, Track II diplomacy, and humanitarian engagement. In 2015, she completed a Fulbright researcher project in South Korea on reunification policy. From 2013-15, she worked at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations where she covered sanctions, nonproliferation, and disarmament issues during South Korea’s second term on the Security Council (2013-14). She is a member of the National Committee on North Korea, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, and an Aspen Strategy Group Rising Leader Fellow. Esther has a M.Sc in Foreign Service from Georgetown University (MSFS) and a B.A. in International Relations-Political Science from Wellesley College.

Grace Pai, Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago

Grace Pai is the Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, where she leads strategy for issue advocacy and power-building work. Over the last ten years, she has worked towards racial, environmental, and immigrant justice through roles at The People’s Lobby, Reclaim Chicago, and the Value Our Families coalition. Grace’s commitment to community combines legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, and coalition building to advance social change. In 2021, she led the successful campaign to require Asian American history to be taught in all Illinois public schools through the TEAACH Act – making Illinois the first state in the country to do so. 

Grace also serves as the founding Executive Director of Asian American Midwest Progressives, a political organization established in 2018 that supports progressive candidates for elected office, and a board member of KAN-WIN, a direct service organization dedicated to ending gender-based violence in the Asian American community and beyond. She is a 2021 recipient of the Leaders for a New Chicago Award and a member of the 2024 class of Leadership Greater Chicago.

Location: Liberty D

Description

Let’s be real. This presidential election is particularly difficult to have young people feel excited and passionate about casting their ballot. With the recent global affairs, inflation, supreme court cases, policy decisions, and lawsuits, it’s easy to understand how disillusioned folks are feeling about this election. 

We all know that this election, like all elections, is important, but how can we convince our peers to share in that sentiment? This session will be a guided discussion on why it’s so hard to talk about voting this year, what are the concerns and issues we have been hearing from young folks, and brainstorm what messaging can be effective, empathetic, and encouraging to those who frankly hate voting right now. 

Speakers

Kathryn Quintin, Deputy Director, Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project

Kathryn Quintin is the Deputy Director for Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project. She has spent the last ten years of her career fighting for democracy, social justice, and advocating for the voices of young people.

Before joining Fair Elections Center’s Campus Vote Project, Kathryn served as the Director of Network Capacity at the Alliance for Youth Organizing where she coached several state based nonprofits build proactive campaigns and programs and developed infrastructure to strengthen their overall organizational health. Previously, she also has had roles at Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Students Learn Students Vote Coalition, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote and also served as the Executive Director of the East Coast Asian American Student Union, which holds the largest Asian American student conference in the country.

Location: Liberty A/B/C

Description

Join us for a session dedicated to unleashing the full power of AAPI voters at the grassroots level. This plenary will focus on mobilizing AAPI voters around three critical issues impacting our communities at the local level: alien land laws, DEI laws, and protecting cultural districts. Get ready to make a difference – the power lies within our local communities

Speakers

Moderator: Nydia Han, 6abc’s Consumer Investigative Reporter, Troubleshooter, and co-anchor of Action News Sunday mornings and Action News at 10 A.M

Nydia is an Emmy award-winning journalist, committed to getting real results for our Action News viewers. She is dedicated to exposing scams, protecting consumers, and encouraging businesses and agencies to do the right thing. In her work related to #ThisIsAmerica, Nydia hopes to inspire all of us to get to know each other’s unique American stories, check our own biases, and act as positive agents of change and unity in our communities. Nydia also covers general news as an Action News anchor and has traveled frequently to cover national stories. Prior to joining Action News in October of 2002, Nydia worked for KTRK-TV, the ABC station in Houston, Texas, and KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City. Nydia started her career as a reporter at KIFI-TV in Pocatello, Idaho. Nydia is dedicated to helping our community in a myriad of ways. She is on the community advisory board for the Asian American Women’s Coalition and volunteers her time for a number of other organizations. She is especially passionate about raising awareness and desperately needed funds for lung cancer research after the passing of her mother in 2009. Nydia also enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists. Nydia received a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a focus on International Studies from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Fluent in Korean, Nydia also graduated from a program at Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea. Nydia is a mom to two young children, a wife and a friend. She enjoys good food, good wine, and most of all, a good laugh.

Wei Chen, Civic Engagement Director, Asian American United

Wei Chen is Asian American United’s (AAU) Civic Engagement Director and former youth programs coordinator. Wei immigrated from China at 16 years old. After experiencing bias, bullying, violence and harassment as a recent immigrant student at South Philadelphia high, Wei emerged as a youth leader and helped to file AAU’s case with the Department of Justice. This case moved the Philadelphia School District to establish safe schools free of bias as a right for all students. Wei was nationally awarded a Peace First Prize fellowship to continue his organizing work in peace studies and addressing bias harassment. In 2014, as an organizer for AAU, Wei began Chinatown Vote which has registered hundreds of voters and supported thousands of Asian voters in Philadelphia. In 2020, Wei co-founded Pennsylvania’s first Asian-focused 501c4 organization, Asian Pacific Islanders Political Alliance (API PA). In last July, Wei was appointed by Governor Shapiro as Chairperson of Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Affairs.

Seema Agnani, CEO of National CAPACD 

Seema Agnani (she/hers) serves as CEO of National CAPACD (pronounced “capacity”), a coalition of more than 100 community-based organizations that advances equity and creates vibrant, healthy neighborhoods by mobilizing and strengthening a powerful coalition of Asian American, NativeHawaiian, and Pacific Islander community-based organizations working in low-income communities.Seema hasover25 years of experience in community development, capacity building,and immigrant rights. She was a founder and Executive Director of Chhaya CDC working in theSouth Asian community of New York City.At Asian Americans for Equality in New York City, she helped to develop hundreds of units of affordable housing and economic development projects and later helped to establish several affiliate organizations.Seema previously coordinated the Fund forNew Citizens at The New York Community Trust and led a capacity-building program at theCitizens Committee for NYC.Seema serves on the board of Adhikaar for Human Rights and theCommunity Advisory Board of the Department of Treasury’s CDFI. She previously served as a member of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Community Advisory Board.Seema is originally from the Chicago metro area where she developed her love of beautiful lakes and where her parents emigrated to from India.

Chai Moua, Co-Executive Director at Freedom, Inc.

Chai Moua was born in Ban Vinai Refugee camp and came to the United States at the age of two. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services Management and a Family Development Specialist Certification from the National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice at the University of Iowa School of Social Work. 

She is currently Co-Executive Director at Freedom, Inc. Chai started her work in community organizing in one of Madison’s most isolated neighborhoods, where she realized her passion for racial and gender equity. She has over 20 years of experience working with low- to no-income communities, especially the Hmong community.

Chai served as District 9 County Board Supervisor in Portage County from 2018 to 2022, becoming the first Asian elected to any local office in Portage County. During her time on the county board, she Co-created the Diversity and Affairs Commission and the Census Complete County Committee and continues to bring a racial and gender lens into local government conversations.

Charlene Lui, Executive Director of the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME)

Charlene Lui has a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and completed doctoral courses in multicultural education and English as a second language. Charlene began her educational career teaching in high school. She began her career in Granite School District in 1996 where she has been an Assistant Principal at a junior high school and principal at elementary schools. Charlene retired in July 2021 after serving for twenty years as the Director of Educational Equity. She is also an adjunct instructor at Salt Lake Community College and Brigham Young University. Charlene currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME). Charlene is an advocate for equity, social justice, and the advancement of multicultural education. She is the current ACLU of Utah board president. Charlene is on several boards in the NHPI community. Charlene received the Exemplary Educator for Diversity Award, the Cesar Chavez Peace and Social Justice Award, the Martin Luther King Drum Major Award, the MLK Humanitarian Award, the Human Rights Award, and most recently, the OCA Asian Pacific Islander American Advocates Utah Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. Charlene was married to the late Sione Kaisa Lui for 46 years. They have six children and 10 grandchildren.

Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Founding Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF)

Gisela Perez Kusakawa is the founding executive director of the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF). AASF endeavors to protect the rights of Asian Americans and immigrants and promote academic belonging, openness, freedom, and equality for all. She has been a trailblazer and expert on policy and advocacy on anti-profiling, national security, research security, and civil rights, having spearheaded coalition work in her prior role to end the Department of Justice’s China Initiative, and appeared on multiple media publications such as New York Times, NBCNews, Science, Nature, NPR, Law360, Financial Times, and MIT Technology Review. She was the lead legal strategist and drafter for amicus briefs in support of high impact cases such as for Dr.Xiaoxing Xi and Dr. Feng “Franklin” Tao. Kusakawa is a civil rights attorney who serves on numerous non-profit boards and has received the NAPABA Law Foundation Community Law Fellowship for her public interest work. Prior to her legal career, she served under AmeriCorp to address the educational, social, and financial needs of low-income immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in Ohio. She has extensive experience in multiple countries as a former Rotary Scholar and then teacher in Japan, studying Mandarin in Beijing, conducting research on IT development in the Czech Republic, and promoting business and job development in the rural villages of the Philippines. Kusakawa is admitted to practice law at the District of Columbia and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and received her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

Lily Trieu, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Texans for Justice

Lily Trieu is a cross-sector professional with more than 15 years of experience in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Currently she serves as a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Texans for Justice, a statewide nonprofit with a mission to connect Asian and Pacific Islander Texans to meaningful civic action to build personal and political power. Prior to her policy and advocacy work, Lily spent over a decade in the private sector with a focus on strategy, relationship management, and project management. She has a BBA in Marketing and BA in Asian Studies from The University of Texas Austin as well as an MBA with a concentration in Public and Governmental Affairs from the McCombs School of Business and completed a Portfolio Studies in Nonprofit Management.

Location: Liberty A/B

Description

These strategy sessions aim to develop coordinated action plans to address pressing concerns facing AAPI communities across the US. These sessions will focus on raising awareness of key issues and advocating for policies that protect the rights and interests of AAPI populations and combatting discriminatory policies. Participants will collaborate to craft strategies for communities to organize electorally, as well as to create effective messaging and storytelling to galvanize engagement.

Facilitator: Seema Agnani 

Seema Agnani (she/hers) serves as CEO of National CAPACD (pronounced “capacity”), a coalition of more than 100 community-based organizations that advances equity and creates vibrant, healthy neighborhoods by mobilizing and strengthening a powerful coalition of Asian American, NativeHawaiian, and Pacific Islander community-based organizations working in low-income communities.Seema hasover25 years of experience in community development, capacity building,and immigrant rights. She was a founder and Executive Director of Chhaya CDC working in theSouth Asian community of New York City.At Asian Americans for Equality in New York City, she helped to develop hundreds of units of affordable housing and economic development projects and later helped to establish several affiliate organizations.Seema previously coordinated the Fund forNew Citizens at The New York Community Trust and led a capacity-building program at theCitizens Committee for NYC.Seema serves on the board of Adhikaar for Human Rights and theCommunity Advisory Board of the Department of Treasury’s CDFI. She previously served as a member of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Community Advisory Board.Seema is originally from the Chicago metro area where she developed her love of beautiful lakes and where her parents emigrated to from India.

Speakers

Wei Chen

Wei Chen is Asian American United’s (AAU) Civic Engagement Director and former youth programs coordinator. Wei immigrated from China at 16 years old. After experiencing bias, bullying, violence and harassment as a recent immigrant student at South Philadelphia high, Wei emerged as a youth leader and helped to file AAU’s case with the Department of Justice. This case moved the Philadelphia School District to establish safe schools free of bias as a right for all students. Wei was nationally awarded a Peace First Prize fellowship to continue his organizing work in peace studies and addressing bias harassment. In 2014, as an organizer for AAU, Wei began Chinatown Vote which has registered hundreds of voters and supported thousands of Asian voters in Philadelphia. In 2020, Wei co-founded Pennsylvania’s first Asian-focused 501c4 organization, Asian Pacific Islanders Political Alliance (API PA). In last July, Wei was appointed by Governor Shapiro as Chairperson of Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Affairs.

Dr. Connie So

Dr. Connie So, an immigrant from Hong Kong, grew up in Seattle’s Beacon Hill neighborhood. She is a descendant of Chinese American pioneers, dating back to the 1850s. Dr. So received her BAs in English and Communications from the University of Washington (1987), MPA from Princeton University (1989) and Ph.D. in Ethnic Studies at U.C. Berkeley (2000). She is a Professor of Teaching (2020) at UW’s American Ethnic Studies department and the Supervisor of the department’s Community Practicum and Internship and the Community Ambassador program with the 4C Coalition. Since 2020, she has been the President of the OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates of Greater Seattle. Dr. So has been active and served on the boards of several local Asian American and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander American groups. She was recognized by the International Channel (2002) with the “Vision for America” award for service to the immigrant community. In 2015, So received the International Examiner’s Community Voices Award for “Service in Teaching,” the Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater Seattle’s “First Citizens Award” – Community Teacher, and the Seattle Parks and Recreation’s “Denny Award” for service. In 2023, Dr. So received the UW’s Public Service Leadership Award.

Michael Byun

Michael Byun is Executive Director of Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) and has worked for over 25 years on health disparities, social justice, and immigrant and refugee issues, with a focus on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) and other underserved communities. Before his ACRS appointment in December 2018, Mr. Byun spent 15 years leading Asian Services In Action (ASIA), Inc., the largest health and social services agency in Ohio focused on empowering AANHPIs, immigrants, and refugees. Mr. Byun has also served on several state and national boards and advisories within the AANHPI community. In 2014, he was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. He received his MPA from the University of Washington and is a German Marshall Fund Fellow and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Fellow.

Dr. Emily Murase

Dr. Emily Murase serves as Executive Director of the Japantown Task Force to promote and preserve San Francisco Japantown. She held positions at the Stanford Business School, the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women, the Federal Communications Commission, the Clinton White House, and AT&T Japan, and was the first nikkei to be elected to the San Francisco Board of Education (2011-2019). She holds a BA, Bryn Mawr College, a master’s in International Pacific Affairs, UC San Diego, and a PhD in communication, Stanford. Secretary of the San Francisco JACL Chapter, Dr. Murase resides with her husband in San Francisco where they raised their two now adult daughters Junko and Izumi. 

Location: Philadelphia North

Description

These strategy sessions aim to develop coordinated action plans to address pressing concerns facing AAPI communities across the US. These sessions will focus on raising awareness of key issues and advocating for policies that protect the rights and interests of AAPI populations and combatting discriminatory policies. Participants will collaborate to craft strategies for communities to organize electorally, as well as to create effective messaging and storytelling to galvanize engagement.

Facilitator: Ronny Lau

Ronny Lau serves as a Manager of Government Relations for the National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest labor union and professional organization. Representing NEA’s three-million-member base, he is their lead strategist on a number of federal legislative issues including higher education, student debt, school infrastructure, and Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Schools.

In 2023, Ronny received several accolades for his outstanding lobbying work. He was recognized by The National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE) as a “Top Lobbyist” and selected by the National Association of Asian Pacifics in Politics and Public Affairs (NAAPPPA) for their “40 under 40” list of top AAPI political operatives and public affairs professionals.

Prior to joining NEA, Ronny was the Assistant Director of Public Policy at the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). He also served as Health Policy Fellow for Congressman Ron Kind (WI-03) and worked on the Democratic coordinated campaign for Senator Mark Warner and congressional candidate John Foust in the 2014 election cycle.

Chai Moua

Chai Moua was born in Ban Vinai Refugee camp and came to the United States at the age of two. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services Management and a Family Development Specialist Certification from the National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice at the University of Iowa School of Social Work. She is currently Co-Executive Director at Freedom, Inc. Chai started her work in community organizing in one of Madison’s most isolated neighborhoods, where she realized her passion for racial and gender equity. She has over 20 years of experience working with low- to no-income communities, especially the Hmong community. Chai served as District 9 County Board Supervisor in Portage County from 2018 to 2022, becoming the first Asian elected to any local office in Portage County. During her time on the county board, she Co-created the Diversity and Affairs Commission and the Census Complete County Committee and continues to bring a racial and gender lens into local government conversations.

Tsiwen Law

Tsiwen Law is a second-generation Chinese-American from NY Chinatown. He was part of the Asian American Political Alliance, which joined the Third World Liberation Front’s effort to fight for an Ethnic Studies Department. Thanks to their efforts, the administration agreed to an Ethnic Studies Department with four co-equal divisions, where Law was enlisted to teach. Law became a union activist as a factory worker, an automotive welder, and a diesel tractor mechanic. He organized a strike of the automotive welders (IAMAW) in 1977. Law graduated from UC Berkeley in 1978 and earned an MPH from the University of Michigan in 1981, and a J. D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School in 1984. Law helped organize the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania and founded the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association in Chicago in 1988, where he became vice president and chair of the civil rights committee for 17 years. He has held leadership positions at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, OCA of Greater Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Commission on Asian American Affairs. He has received multiple awards including the NAPABA Trailblazer and Presidential award, the Philadelphia Bar Association Fidelity Award, and the A. Leon Higginbotham Award. Today, he continues to practice law and teach Asian American legal history as an adjunct professor at the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.

Grace Pai

Grace Pai is the Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago, where she leads strategy for issue advocacy and power-building work. Over the last ten years, she has worked towards racial, environmental, and immigrant justice through rolesat The People’s Lobby, Reclaim Chicago, and the Value Our Families coalition. Grace’s commitment to community combines legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, and coalition building to advance social change. In 2021, she led the successful campaign to require Asian American history to be taught in all Illinois public schools through the TEAACH Act – making Illinois the first state in the country to do so. Grace also serves as the founding Executive Director of Asian American Midwest Progressives, a political organization established in 2018 that supports progressive candidates for elected office, and a board member of KAN-WIN, a direct service organization dedicated to ending gender-based violence in the Asian American community and beyond. She is a 2021 recipient of the Leaders for a New Chicago Award and a member of the 2024 class of Leadership Greater Chicago. 

Stewart Kwoh

Stewart Kwoh is a Co-Executive Director of The Asian American Education Project(AAEdu) along with Pat Kwoh and Dr. Virginia Loh-Hagan. Stewart co-founded AAEdu with Pat. AAEdu supports educators in their efforts to bring Asian Pacific Islander Desi American histories and narratives into classrooms across the nation to deepen our collective understanding as Americans.Stewart is the founder and President Emeritus of Asian Americans Advancing Justice–SoCal. Stewart isa nationally recognized leader and expert in race relations, Asian American Studies, nonprofit organizations and philanthropies, civil rights, and legal services. In 1998, he was named a MacArthurFoundation Fellow, becoming the first Asian American attorney and human rights activist to receive this highly prestigious recognition, often referred to as the “Genius Grant.”Stewart earned his B.A. from UCLA and J.D. from UCLA School of Law. He has taught at UCLA’s AsianAmerican Studies Department for 35 years, and was an instructor at the UCLA School of Law. He is also a past expert in residence at the UC Berkeley School of Law. Stewart has three honorary doctorates fromWilliams College; California State University Los Angeles; and Suffolk School of Law.

Murtaza Khwaja

“Murtaza Khwaja is a civil rights attorney and advocate. Originally from Lahore, Pakistan, Murtaza has been a resident of Atlanta since 1994, where his early life experiences instilled in him a profound dedication to civil rights causes.

During his time at GSU College of Law, Murtaza engaged in a year-long commitment at the Capital Defenders Clinic, providing legal assistance to Georgia Capital Defender attorneys in constructing robust cases for life during trials.

In 2017, Murtaza assumed the role of the first staff attorney and lobbyist at CAIR Georgia, where he provided direct legal services to clients facing anti-Muslim discrimination, educated Georgia Muslims about their legal rights, and addressed Islamophobia through both the judicial system and public discourse.

As the Executive Director of CAIR Georgia, Murtaza effectively managed and supervised the organization’s expansion efforts, employing creative legal strategies and grassroots advocacy to combat discrimination and bigotry prevailing within the state.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Murtaza enjoys outdoor activities, sports, and traveling, as well as the shared experience of meals and a quintessential cup of chai. Murtaza’s passion for cricket and appreciation of Pakistani music form significant aspects of his cultural identity.

Murtaza’s philosophy centers around the collective liberation of all communities. Murtaza ardently advocates for transformative, disruptive measures to confront white supremacy and institutional racism, highlighting his commitment to fostering a more equitable society.”

Estella Owoimaha-Church

Estella is the first-generation of her family born on Tongva Land (for now known as Los Angeles). While identifying as an Angeleno, deeply connected to the lands that raised her, Estella’s roots burrow deep beyond the asphalt of South Central L.A.. Her maternal grandparents are from the villages of Satufia of Savai’i and Saleilua of Upolu, Samoa; her paternal grandparents are from Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria. She transitions into the role of co-Executive Director at Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) post nearly two decades of service as an educator. Estella was the first Samoan to be named a finalist for the Global Teacher Prize in 2018 and awarded California Theatre Teacher of 2020. As a Black-Pacific Islander (PI), mother to a Black-PI child, and eldest sister of two Black-PI young men, she holds dear her responsibility to serve generations of past, present, and future. So long as she is capable, Estella will advocate for all those who look like her, step up as co-conspirator for others in the margins, and forge clear paths for young people where there once were none.

Location: Philadelphia South

Description

These strategy sessions aim to develop coordinated action plans to address pressing concerns facing AAPI communities across the US. These sessions will focus on raising awareness of key issues and advocating for policies that protect the rights and interests of AAPI populations and combatting discriminatory policies. Participants will collaborate to craft strategies for communities to organize electorally, as well as to create effective messaging and storytelling to galvanize engagement

Facilitator: Joanna Derman

Joanna YangQing Derman is the Director of the Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights, and National Security program at AAJC. Joanna’s primary responsibility is developing and executing advocacy, research, and coalition-building strategies on national security and civil rights issues as they pertain to anti-Asian hate and discrimination. She crafts and advances policy solutions especially aimed at combatting the profiling of Asian Americans and immigrant communities based on race, religion, ethnicity, and/or national origin. Joanna started her career on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., where she served as advisor on immigration and foreign affairs to then-Senator Kamala Harris. She played an instrumental role in developing the Senator’s legislative record, with a special emphasis on international human rights and freedom, and diversity and inclusion in foreign policy and defense institutions. After the Senate, Joanna went on to work as a Policy Analyst at the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), where she addressed fraud, waste, and abuse of power in the federal government. Joanna earned her B.A from the University of Chicago, and her M.Phil from the University of Oxford. Joanna is a Fulbright Scholar.

Speakers

Gisela Perez Kusakawa

Gisela Perez Kusakawa is the founding executive director of the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF). AASF endeavors to protect the rights of Asian Americans and immigrants and promote academic belonging, openness, freedom, and equality for all. She has been a trailblazer and expert on policy and advocacy on anti-profiling, national security, research security, and civil rights, having spearheaded coalition work in her prior role to end the Department of Justice’s China Initiative, and appeared on multiple media publications such as New York Times, NBCNews, Science, Nature, NPR, Law360, Financial Times, and MIT Technology Review. She was the lead legal strategist and drafter for amicus briefs in support of high impact cases such as for Dr.Xiaoxing Xi and Dr. Feng “Franklin” Tao. Kusakawa is a civil rights attorney who serves on numerous non-profit boards and has received the NAPABA Law Foundation Community Law Fellowship for her public interest work. Prior to her legal career, she served under AmeriCorp to address the educational, social, and financial needs of low-income immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in Ohio. She has extensive experience in multiple countries as a former Rotary Scholar and then teacher in Japan, studying Mandarin in Beijing, conducting research on IT development in the Czech Republic, and promoting business and job development in the rural villages of the Philippines. Kusakawa is admitted to practice law at the District of Columbia and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and received her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

Lily Trieu

Lily Trieu is a cross-sector professional with more than 15 years of experience in public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Currently she serves as a Co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Texans for Justice, a statewide nonprofit with a mission to connect Asian and Pacific Islander Texans to meaningful civic action to build personal and political power. Prior to her policy and advocacy work, Lily spent over a decade in the private sector with a focus on strategy, relationship management, and project management. She has a BBA in Marketing and BA in Asian Studies from The University of Texas Austin as well as an MBA with a concentration in Public and Governmental Affairs from the McCombs School of Business and completed a Portfolio Studies in Nonprofit Management.

Aryani Ong

Aryani Ong is a longtime Asian American activist and civil rights lawyer. She is Co-Founder of Asian American Federal Employees for Non-Discrimination (AAFEN). AAFEN works to safeguard Asian Americans from undue suspicions of their loyalties based on their background. AAFEN’s members, who have served in national security roles, have provided analysis and guidance on bills, policies and practices to congressional bodies, federal agencies and Executive Branch offices. The issues range from security clearance adjudication, assignment restrictions, the Insider Threat Program, FISA and the China Initiative.

Aryani also has addressed equity issues in the DOJ investigations of Chinese American scientists and worked in coalition to engage the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) in the development of new research security policy.  She has served as Director, Anti-Hate Program, at The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), Deputy Director of OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, and Staff Attorney at AAAJ-Asian American Justice Center.  Aryani speaks to audiences around the country, has founded nonprofits, volunteered on numerous boards and is active in politics.  She was named among Maryland’s Top 100 Women.

Location: Liberty C

Description

Join us for a compelling workshop that aims to bridge the gap between rapid population growth and lagging voter registration rates. We’ll explore the root causes of this disparity, highlight effective strategies from proven voter engagement initiatives, and provide expert advice on addressing state-specific challenges to boost voter registration and participation.

Speakers

Vida Lin, President of the Asian Community Development Council

Vida Lin is the President of the Asian Community Development Council in Las Vegas. She has been active in the community, having been associated with several organizations such as the Organization of Chinese Americans, Las Vegas Chapter, and V&J Insurance & Financial Services, Inc.

Mahnker Dahnweih, Co-Executive Director, Freedom Inc.

Mahnker Dahnweih has been a significant figure in civic engagement, youth organization, and gender justice. She recently joined the leadership team at Freedom Inc., bringing extensive experience in these areas. Mahnker was previously involved with M4BL, a nationwide coalition advocating for policy and cultural changes.

Samuel Lynn, VAN and Voter Data Tools Specialist, NCAAT

Sam comes to NCAAT with a passion for creating the capacity for change through enhanced civic engagement. He’s a life-long resident of North Carolina, growing up in Johnston County just outside Raleigh before moving to obtain his Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science from UNC – Chapel Hill. With a background in grassroots organizing and political fieldwork, Sam is dedicated to building political power and leverage for marginalized communities through solidarity and social justice. In his free time, you can find Sam spending time with loved ones, playing video games, going on walks, or playing with his cat Sally.

Kuhio Lewis, President & CEO of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement

Kūhiō Lewis is the President & CEO of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement. He holds a B.A. in Public Administration from the University of Hawaii-West Oahu and previously served as a Community Outreach Manager at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Location: Liberty D

Description

What does allyship truly mean? What does it look like to be intentional in crafting allyship with others? How can we sustain intentional solidarity without being performative? Within our own AAPI community, there is division. We must come together and understand that we are a family, that we can support each other. Student organizers across the nation experience the same struggles and experiences but how can we come together to bridge those gaps in developing that relationship? How can we have the students understand how to build more solidarity within our own AAPI community? Students have a hard time engaging with asians themselves across their campus.

Speakers

Victoria Huynh

Victoria Huynh is a dedicated community advocate with over 18 years of experience in supporting immigrant and refugee communities in Georgia. As the former Senior Vice President/Chief Officer of External Affairs at a leading AAPI nonprofit in the Southeast, she brings extensive expertise in driving positive change. In 2022, Huynh founded the Georgia AAPI Hub to empower diverse AAPI organizations and enhance advocacy efforts for immigrants and refugees. Her advocacy focuses on equitable language access, local civic engagement, immigrant rights, cultural competency, and social service program development. Growing up in a limited English proficient (LEP) Vietnamese refugee household, Huynh’s personal experiences fuel her passion for community building and policy work. Currently she serves as a consultant, board member, and panelist, influencing state and local AA & NHPI projects, nominations, and programs benefiting communities of color.

Location: Salon 3/4

Description

Join us for an enlightening panel discussion, aimed at enhancing voter awareness and education within the AANHPI community. This speaker panel brings together a diverse group of community leaders who will share their insights around disseminating critical voting information, overcoming language barriers and cultural differences, and engaging first-time voters.

Speakers

Cayle Tern, Civic Engagement Manager at APANO

I am currently the Civic Engagement Manager at APANO. My parents and I are refugees from Laos. I resettled in Portland Oregon in 1980 with my parents. I graduated from California State University Chico with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. I earned a Master of Social Work degree from Portland State University. I serve as the President of Iu Mien Association of Oregon (IMAO) and the Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Community Coalition of Oregon (APICCO). I also serve on the Advisory Board for the Pacific Islander and Asian Family Center and the Immigrant Refugee Community Organization (IRCO). I was also elected to the Reynolds School Board for Oregon School District #7 in 2021. The refugee experience has shaped my values of equity, social justice, and community and I am committed to making sure that our immigrant population has an equal opportunity to thrive. 

Andy Oh, Team Operations, Metropolitan Asian Deaf Association (MADA)

Andy Oh is the Team Operations at Metropolitan Asian Deaf Association (MADA). He was born deaf and grew up with no access to disability accommodations until high school. The signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) law by President George H.W. Bush on July 26, 1990, transformed his life, breaking down societal barriers that had long excluded deaf people from communities, employment, and public spaces. This pivotal moment inspired Andy to fight for equity and equality, combating social injustice, stigma, and discrimination against the deaf community. Andy holds a B.A. in Information Technology & Informatics from Rutgers University and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Digital Humanities at CUNY. With over 15 years of experience as a technology expert in higher education and nonprofit sectors, Andy is committed to leveraging technology to empower underprivileged communities. He is dedicated to building and expanding MADA’s Youth and Senior Citizen programs, working with his team to improve the quality of life for the Deaf Asian community. Andy is the son of South Korean immigrants and lives in New Jersey.

Vivian Chang, Executive Director of Asian Americans United

Vivian Chang (she/hers) is the Executive Director of Asian Americans United, where she builds AAPI power and youth leadership to challenge oppression. She previously worked in labor organizing and direct voter outreach, organizing multiracial coalitions in battleground states. She holds an MPA from Princeton University and a B.S. in Biological Physics and B.A. in Hispanic Studies from Carnegie Mellon University. She is a Midwesterner daughter of Taiwanese immigrants and lives in Philadelphia.

Location: Liberty C

Description

In an era where digital connectivity and information exchange are at an all-time high, the threats of fraud and disinformation have become increasingly sophisticated and pervasive. This plenary session will delve into the critical measures and strategies necessary to safeguard our loved ones from these modern dangers.

Speakers

Kyle Van Fleet, Anti-Disinformation Project Manager, APIAVote

Kyle Van Fleet (he/him/his) is the Anti-Disinformation Project Manager at APIAVote. In his day to day work, Kyle monitors online threats impacting AAPI communities and manages efforts to push back. In addition, he supports APIAVote’s Communications Team. 

Kyle is a 2019 graduate of James Madison University with a B.A. in International Affairs and minor in Political Communications. He has previously worked in the disinformation space and two congressional offices. Outside of APIAVote, Kyle is a part-time photographer, vinyl record collector, and avid traveler.

Pata Suyemoto, NAAPIMHA

Pata Suyemoto is a multifaceted individual with expertise in various fields including mental health, education, and social justice. She is known for her work as an educator, mental health advocate, writer, and artist. Suyemoto is a co-founder of the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) People of Color Caucus and has been instrumental in addressing mental health disparities and promoting suicide prevention, especially among marginalized communities.

Sophie Horiuchi-Forrester, AARP California

Sophie Horiuchi-Forrester is a Japanese American artist and educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is known for her work in visual arts, particularly in the areas of drawing, painting, and mixed media. Her art often explores themes related to identity, culture, and the experiences of Asian American communities.

In addition to her artistic practice, Horiuchi-Forrester is involved in education and community engagement. She has worked as an art educator and has been involved in various community arts initiatives aimed at fostering dialogue and understanding through creative expression.

Location: Liberty D

Description

What is it like to be a Youth organizer? Enter this room and you will be stepping into the shoes of a youth organizer literally! If you participate in this interactive session you will be learning about the ecosystems of youth organizing. We will discuss how the ecosystems are very different from the “norm” of organizing. How do students work through these issues as a collective? This is a space where you will understand what a support system looks like for the youth. If there is no support system for them, how can they create it? 

Speakers

Hannah Locop, Florida Field Organizer for APIAVote

Hannah Locop (she/hers) is the Florida Field Organizer for APIAVote. She organizes a table of AAPI organizations called FLAAPP, Florida Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders for Progress. The goal of FLAAPP is to grow the AAPI civic engagement infrastructure in Florida and increase AAPI voter registration and turnout. Hannah travels often to meet with community members and talk about how they can improve the state they call home.

Hannah was born and raised in Palm Beach County. Previously, Hannah volunteered for several local campaigns, and she organized in Miami-Dade county during the 2022 election cycle. Over the years, she has been an active volunteer in various AAPI and Filipino American organizations. Hannah graduated in 2017 with a BA in Political Science from the University of Florida.

Mireya Gutierrez, Youth Member, SASA (Students Against Sixers Arena)

Amanda Xiong, Community Organizer, CAPI

Location: Philadelphia South

Description

2020 census data reports over 650,000 Native Hawaiians residing throughout the United States, with a majority living beyond Hawaiʻi’s borders for the first time in history. Despite increased visibility, Native Hawaiians are still often misunderstood, forgotten, and relegated to the margins of conversation. The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement will host the Native Hawaiian caucus to teach attendees about the unique journey of Native Hawaiians. Caucus participants will discuss strategies to effectively engage and utilize this growing demographic to address social and economic challenges through Native Hawaiians’ special trust relationship with the federal government.

Location: Philadelphia North

Description

AAPI leaders who are in the community and closest to the voting process see first hand what their communities must go through in order to cast a ballot. Community organizers in some states have engaged in efforts to pass positive voting reforms including advocating for state versions of the Voting Rights Act. On the other hand, many jurisdictions have been passing voter suppression laws, creating barriers to voting. Confusing registration instructions causing application to be rejected for technical reasons, not understanding or being aware of new laws, changes to polling locations that weren’t well publicized, language barriers, being purged from the voter rolls, these are just of a few of the difficulties that have occurred. Come to today’s discussion to hear from advocates who have been on the frontlines of the fight to protect our right to vote.

Speakers

Bob Sakaniwa, Director of Policy and Advocacy at APIAVote

Bob (he/him/his) is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at APIAVote having worked in Washington, DC for more years than he cares to remember. Bob does bring a wealth of experience, having worked both on the Hill for members of Congress as well as several civil rights and immigrant rights organizations. Through his various stints on and off the Hill, Bob has gained deep insight into the workings of the House and Senate and brings that knowledge to his efforts as an advocate for civil rights and immigrant rights.

On the Hill, Bob was Congressman Mike Honda’s first legislative director joining team Honda after working to get out the vote on Mike’s first hard fought campaign in 2000. Before joining APIAVote, Bob worked on immigration policy at the American Immigration Lawyers Association where he learned the crucial need to work in partnership and coalition with organizations representing the many different (sometimes conflicting) interests in immigraton policy reforms. Bob has also worked on immigration policy at the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (now LCCHR) and the National Immigration Forum. Bob was also the Washington Representative for the Japanese American Citizens League where he advocated for Japanese Latin American issues,  full funding of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and issues impacting the AAPI community. Bob earned his B.A. in political science at Middlebury College and his J.D. at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles.

Zaria Mariko Guignard, Manager of the Census and Civic Engagement program at Advancing Justice | AAJC

Zaria Mariko Guignard is the Manager of the Census and Civic Engagement program at Advancing Justice | AAJC, where she supports developing and implementing the organization’s census and voting rights policy priorities and advocacy strategies. Prior to joining Advancing Justice | AAJC,  Zaria served as the Voter Protection Manager on the Nevada Democratic Coordinated Campaign, helping to expand voter access and protect all Nevada voters. Previously they worked as the Campaign Associate for All Voting is Local, a project of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, supporting efforts to dismantle discriminatory barriers to voting across eight states. Before attending graduate school, Zaria worked as a Project Assistant for the Trusted Elections Fund, a project of New Venture Fund, where she worked to protect the integrity of the 2020 election.

Zaria received their MPA with a Public Policy concentration and a Social Policy focus from American University. She holds a B.A. from American University in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government with a minor in Communication Studies.

Neil K. Makhja, County Commissioner, Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and Chair, Montgomery County Board of Elections

In 2023, Neil K. Makhja was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, becoming the first Asian American to serve as a County Commissioner in Pennsylvania’s history. He also serves as the Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Elections. As the son of Indian immigrants who made Pennsylvania home, Mr. Makhija is passionate about enfranchising underrepresented communities and engaging new citizens in state and local politics. Mr. Makhija is focused on protecting voting rights, leading on climate, advancing criminal justice reform, and making investments in mental health services for the residents of Montgomery County.

In his previous professional experience, Mr. Makhija has served as a President of Indian American Impact, the nation’s leading South Asian civic organization and a Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. In his legal work, he has represented essential workers, consumers, and the public interest. Mr. Makhija has served as president of the South Asian Bar Association in Philadelphia and is a member of the board of trustees at his alma mater, Sarah Lawrence College. He was listed as one of the “40 under 40” influential people in Pennsylvania by City & State PA.

Mr. Makhija holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Sarah Lawrence College and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. Mr. Makhija lives with his wife, Dr. Rachel Nash, an internal medicine physician, and their son, Avinash, in Lower Merion.

Murtaza Khwaja, Executive Director, AAAJ – Atlanta

Murtaza Khwaja is a civil rights attorney and advocate. Originally from Lahore, Pakistan, Murtaza has been a resident of Atlanta since 1994, where his early life experiences instilled in him a profound dedication to civil rights causes.During his time at GSU College of Law, Murtaza engaged in a year-long commitment at the Capital Defenders Clinic, providing legal assistance to Georgia Capital Defender attorneys in constructing robust cases for life during trials.

In 2017, Murtaza assumed the role of the first staff attorney and lobbyist at CAIR Georgia, where he provided direct legal services to clients facing anti-Muslim discrimination, educated Georgia Muslims about their legal rights, and addressed Islamophobia through both the judicial system and public discourse.

As the Executive Director of CAIR Georgia, Murtaza effectively managed and supervised the organization’s expansion efforts, employing creative legal strategies and grassroots advocacy to combat discrimination and bigotry prevailing within the state.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Murtaza enjoys outdoor activities, sports, and traveling, as well as the shared experience of meals and a quintessential cup of chai. Murtaza’s passion for cricket and appreciation of Pakistani music form significant aspects of his cultural identity. Murtaza’s philosophy centers around the collective liberation of all communities. Murtaza ardently advocates for transformative, disruptive measures to confront white supremacy and institutional racism, highlighting his commitment to fostering a more equitable society.”

May Tiwamangkala, Advocacy Director, Arizona AANHPI for Equity

May moved to Arizona after high school to attend ASU to study Philosophy, but their college career ended when they were incarcerated for two years. During their time, May focused their energy on self development by completing programs and bettering their education through reading books donated to May by an ASU professor. May spent much of their time tutoring women to achieve their GED which they felt was extremely rewarding. May also was chosen to be a speaker of a TED X event and had training from professional speaking coaches and implemented that training for women incarcerated who wanted to work on their public speaking skills. After May’s release, May focused on being a voice for marginalized communities because they met so many women who helped them during their hard times who were disenfranchised. May finally found their calling when they met with the Community Coordinator of the ACLU of AZ and volunteered with them and was rewarded with the title as one of their keynote speakers because of their consistent activism and involvement in the community. For instance, when data showed that violence and harm increased towards the AAPI community, May led in organizing a vigil for the AAPI hate crime victims in Atlanta because their community needed to heal and not feel alone and unheard. After seeing mixed feelings from other communities of color, May was compelled to organize a Unity March because they believe change won’t happen unless we have cross-cultural collaboration and the community needs to fight for social equity in solidarity.

Amber Reed, Co-Executive Director AAPI New Jersey

Amber has worked to advance equity in public education through research, policy, and data analysis for over a decade, after beginning her career in publishing and finance. Amber is a Korean American adoptee, writer, and mother of two school-aged children. She graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University with a BA in English literature and holds an MFA in Playwriting from Brooklyn College. She is proud to serve on the Episcopal Diocese of Newark’s Racial Justice and Healing Commission and as Vice Chair of the New Jersey AAPI Commission. Amber also serves as President of the Board of Directors; as Co-E.D., her focus areas are advocacy, coalition-building, and strategic growth.

Location: Liberty C

Description

In the contemporary landscape of digital communication, mis- and disinformation pose significant threats to AAPI communities, as well as public discourse, democracy, and individual decision-making. This plenary session will cover the main narratives APIAVote and its partners are monitoring in 2024, how we recommend responding, and other ways we can push back against the info-demic plaguing our democracy.

Speakers

Kyle Van Fleet, Anti-Disinformation Project Manager, APIAVote

Kyle Van Fleet (he/him/his) is the Anti-Disinformation Project Manager at APIAVote. In his day to day work, Kyle monitors online threats impacting AAPI communities and manages efforts to push back. In addition, he supports APIAVote’s Communications Team. 

Kyle is a 2019 graduate of James Madison University with a B.A. in International Affairs and minor in Political Communications. He has previously worked in the disinformation space and two congressional offices. Outside of APIAVote, Kyle is a part-time photographer, vinyl record collector, and avid traveler.

Sin Yen Ling, Communications Director at Chinese for Affirmative Action

Sin Yen Ling (she/her) is the Communications Director at Chinese for Affirmative Action. She started her career as a civil rights attorney in the nonprofit sector before transitioning to strategic communications. Prior to joining CAA, Sin Yen has litigated on behalf of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Asian Law Caucus. She launched the immigration practice at Queens Defenders and has spent a better part of her career focused on immigrants rights representing immigrant detainees. She also founded ASPIRE, the first pan Asian undocumented youth group in the country. Born in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Sin Yen is a native New Yorker.

Location: Liberty D

Description

A national spotlight has been placed on student protests that have erupted all over the country in the past few months. The session will give attendees the opportunity to share what they have seen on their campuses and discuss what role students play in movement building. Attendees will learn about the historic role students have played in advocacy and how they can launch their own campaigns on their campus or in their community.

Speaker

Joy Sutardji, Senior Manager of Community Engagement at Advancing Justice | AAJC

Joy Sutardji is the Senior Manager of Community Engagement at Advancing Justice | AAJC where she helps develop and conduct community outreach and public education campaigns to advance policy objectives toward our mission to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. Joy comes to the team with experience in community engagement and government relations.

Prior to joining Advancing Justice | AAJC, Mrs. Sutardji served as the government relations associate at a medical education association where she worked on issues like student debt and healthcare. She has also served as a government relations associate at Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck. In addition to government relations, Joy recently served as the programs manager at Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote where she worked to mobilize Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in electoral and civic participation.

Joy received her BA in Political Science from the American University and earned her AA degree in Political Science from El Camino Community College.

Location: Liberty A&B