NEW YORK — A foundation created in the wake of anti-Asian hate will hold a comprehensive conference bringing together notable figures from Asia and Pacific Islanders for the third year.
The Asian American Foundation will hold a Heritage Month Summit next month in New York City for AAPI Heritage Month. Oscar-nominated actor Steven Yeun, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and actor Maulik Pancholy — whose upcoming performance was canceled by a Pennsylvania school board because of his sexual orientation — are among those in attendance.
The summit will feature several panels on issues such as civil rights, extremism and the importance of representation. There will also be showcases of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander entrepreneurs in various sectors such as nonprofits, food and philanthropy.
The Asian American Foundation, or TAAF, was founded in May 2021 by leading Asian American business leaders. Notably, the organization raised over $1 billion at the time.
There has been a dramatic spike in verbal, physical and online attacks of AAPI hate since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, which was believed to have originated in China. Stop AAPI Hate, a reporting center, documented more than 9,000 incidents between March 2020 and June 2021 — most of which were self-reported by victims.
The foundation’s goal was to “close critical gaps in support for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and end long-standing underinvestment in our communities.”
The summit will take place May 2-3 in Manhattan at The Glasshouse.