Stand with Asians

Thrilled to announce a project for a 10-ft-tall Bruce Lee statue in SF Chinatown! This larger-than-life monument is what I've dreamed of for my childhood role model. Honored to attend today's ceremony launching this initiative. Thanks to Chinese Historical Society of America & Mark Young for making this happen! ????

This Saturday in San Francisco at the Asian Art Museum, Asians Are Strong is hosting an incredible conference in honor of Women's History Month: Asian?Women?Are?Strong. This year’s theme, Main Character Energy, embraces the inner strength of?Asian?women, while celebrating their diverse and meaningful journeys. This year’s topics will cover intergenerational trauma, succeeding in a male-dominated industry, new trends in mental health, discovering your purpose, dealing with guilt, knowing your rights, and creative expression. You will be able to engage with CEOs, bestselling authors, mental health experts, artists, community leaders, and a community of supportive?women. Just some of the notable names speaking: Amanda Nguyen – 2022 Time?Woman?of the Year, Activist, and Astronaut Villy Wang – TED Speaker, Founder of BAYCAT and President of the SF Film Commision May Lee – Award Winning Journalist & Professor Tamlyn Tomita - Actress and Activist, Chair of CAPA21 Abigail Hing Wen – NYT Best Selling Author & Film Producer Deborah Liu – Former CEO, Ancestry, Edith Yeung– General Partner, Race Capital Gia Vang – Emmy Award Winning Journalist & Co-founder of Very?Asian?Foundation Michelle Li - Emmy and Peabody Award Winning Journalist & Co-founder of Very Asian Foundation Noriko Honda Chen, Partner at Capital Group Ashlyn So, 16 year old fashion designer and many more amazing women! Register for FREE for this incredible and empowering day: https://lnkd.in/g3id7UBq

Join us this Friday, March 7, at 11 AM at CHSA Museum's We Are Bruce Lee exhibit for the official launch of the Bruce Lee Statue Project! We're bringing Bruce Lee home to San Francisco's Chinatown with a monumental tribute to honor his legacy. Former SF Mayor Willie Brown and community leaders will share details about this historic project and its impact. Be part of this moment as we work to create a lasting tribute to Chinatown's native son and global icon. See you there! ??? ?? CHSA Museum - 965 Clay Street, SF ?? 17 Friday, March 7 | 11 AM Chinese Historical Society of America #BruceLee #CHSAMuseum

Check out this training session in San Francisco, hosted by the API Civil Rights Network. The training is to demystify the criminal justice process - particularly focused on how advocates on hate crimes, sexual assault, and domestic violence cases can have input into the system. The training is primarily targeted to attorneys - but the invite is open to anyone who is interested in learning more and being an advocate to attend. They are also working to broadcast the training via zoom. Of special note, the speakers include: Commander Alexa O'Brien - currently oversees the SFPD Special Victims' Unit which is the unit which investigates all hate crimes, sexual assault, and domestic violence cases Nancy Tung - Chief of the SFDA Vulnerable Victims Unit- she is the one who decides whether or not to file hate crimes charges on a case Ivy Lee - a distinguished civil rights attorney and public servant dedicated to advocating for survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Ivy is the inaugural Director of San Francisco's Office of Victim and Witness Rights, a department established to enhance support for crime victims and witnesses. Hope to see you all there on March 14th.

On February 14, TAAF co-hosted the inaugural AAPI All-Star Reception, the first of its kind to celebrate AAPI trailblazers in basketball and other professional sports at The Asian Art Museum. It felt appropriate to host our first AAPI All-Star reception in San Francisco during National Basketball Association (NBA) All-Star 2025, a city where our community has deep roots, and makes up 34% of the population. (https://lnkd.in/gUexH3_S) This was a monumental moment for the AAPI community, and one that has been a long time coming. In the words of Joe Tsai, TAAF Founding Board Member and Governor of the Brooklyn Nets & New York Liberty: “On the host committee, someone said: ‘this is the future of the NBA.’ And I said: ‘What do you mean the future? This is the present. It's currently happening. We've got people that own NBA teams. We've had coaches. We have people that work in the front office. We also have players. And if you think about it, this has never happened before.’" As a community, we’ve broken barriers in sports like never before. Building on the momentum of early icons like Jeremy Lin and Michelle Kwan, AAPIs are not just winning in arenas, but in leadership and business roles as well. AAPI women have made particular strides in representation, breaking through dual glass ceilings of gender and race. These accomplishments were celebrated and discussed in conversations with several of these “firsts”: Natalie Nakase, the first AAPI and current head coach in the WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) (WNBA Golden State Valkyries) and the first AAPI coach to win a WNBA championship; Clara Wu Tsai, the first Asian American owner to win a WNBA national championship with New York Liberty; and Jeremy Lin, the first Asian American player to win an NBA championship. As trailblazers, they may not have had role models who looked like them in their fields, but they shared personal AAPI inspirations, as well as advice for persevering through the noise of naysayers. In a completely packed room of owners, fans, and community leaders, the event was emceed by ABC Nightline Co-Anchor Juju Chang and “Pablo Torre Finds Out” host Pablo Torre, and featured welcome remarks from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. Business and entertainment leaders including Joe Tsai, Jerry Yang, Vivek Ranadivé, and Mark Tatum also shared their reflections on the power of basketball. The AAPI All-Star Reception was a testament to the strength of the AAPI community in sports and leadership, and the possibilities that arise when we lift each other up.

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s #AcademyAwards! ?? This year’s ceremony recognized the perseverance of Los Angeles in the wake of the wildfires, the call for justice in warring nations, the visibility of underrepresented communities, and the necessity of independent storytelling and spaces to watch them. With sweeping wins and historic firsts on stage, we are incredibly honored to support some of these award-winning pictures. Swipe through to see some of the Multicultural Gold wins! ?? Anora, produced by Alex Coco, Samantha Quan, Sean Baker, wins a total of FIVE Academy Awards, including Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing ?? Jon M. Chu’s Wicked wins 2 Academy Awards, including Best Costume Design and Best Production Design ?? Paul Tazewell becomes the first Black man to win Costume Design for his iconic work on Wicked ?? I’m Still Here wins Best International Feature, marking Brazil’s first-ever win in the category ?? Zoe Salda?a becomes the first American of Dominican origin to win an Oscar. She is the third Latina actress to win Best Supporting Actress, following Rita Moreno in 1961 and Ariana DeBose in 2021 ?? No Other Land, a documentary made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective and following the destruction of the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta, wins Best Documentary Feature ?? In the Shadow of the Cypress, from Iranian filmmakers Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi, wins Best Animated Short ?? LISA becomes the first K-Pop artist to perform at the Oscars, paying tribute to James Bond with her cover of “Live and Let Die”

Last weekend, award-winning actress and filmmaker Joan Chen (II)—renowned for her iconic roles in Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, and Oliver Stone’s Heaven and Earth—led the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco Chinatown as Grand Marshal, while Mayor Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 served as Honorary Marshal. With over 3 million people watching live and on TV, it was an unforgettable celebration during NBA All-Star 2025. Here’s the impact on our great city: ?? Global Recognition & Historic Legacy The largest Lunar New Year celebration outside of Asia, this tradition dates back to the 1860s and is recognized as one of the top 10 parades in the world, highlighting San Francisco’s rich cultural heritage. ?? Massive Viewership & Unprecedented Attendance With over 3 million spectators and TV viewers across the U.S., Canada, and Asia, the parade was San Francisco’s moment on the world stage. The city welcomed over 1.25 million people last weekend, as visitors from around the world gathered for the Lunar New Year celebrations and NBA All-Star events. ???Public Safety & Community Effort With such a high volume of visitors, San Francisco remained clean, safe and welcoming throughout the weekend, thanks to the dedication of city officials, law enforcement, and community leaders who ensured a smooth and secure experience for all. The success of these events reinforces that San Francisco is a city on the rise, proving its resilience, vibrancy, and ability to host world-class celebrations—including the Laver Cup later this year, followed by the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup in 2026. ?? ABC Partnership For the first time, the parade was broadcast on ABC7/KGO-TV, expanding its reach nationwide and further elevating San Francisco’s global visibility. ???? Economic & Cultural Impact The parade energized the city, boosting local businesses, tourism, and community engagement. NBA All-Star festivities and pop-ups in Union Square added to the excitement, further showcasing that San Francisco is reclaiming its place as a global destination. Thank you, Joan and Daniel, along with the thousand volunteers involved, for bringing the largest Lunar New Year celebration outside of Asia to life and helping revitalize our city! Bay Area Host Committee, SFFILM, National Basketball Association (NBA), Refuse Refuse SF, Alaska Airlines, Andrew Chau, Union Square Alliance (Business Improvement District), Downtown SF Partnership, Dion Lim, Bay Area Council

It started with storytelling. A group of people having dinner, hatching an idea, and moving us all to story-doing. How about an inaugural Napa Valley Asian American Film Festival? A place where cultures intersect. And from there, Julia Gouw, Cindy Huang, Janet Yang, Michelle Sugihara, Sanjay Sharma, Priscilla Lim, Narumi Inatsugu, #KieuChinh, #KaraWang, Ryan Alexander Holmes, and so many others said, "Yes! Let's do it." And like-minded people at Napa Valley College, namely?Patricia van Leeuwaarde Moonsammy, Ph.D., and her distinguished colleagues, also added their voices and said, "We're in!" Join us as we celebrate Asian American excellence in filmmaking. We have eight curated films, including AI cinematic and narrative short films to feature films. Our AI cinematic films include "Saving Nine" and "Macau Omen." Our Opening film is "Nurse Unseen. Our Spotlight Feature film is "A Great Divide." Our Featured Narrative short films are "Hearsay," "Happy Rakhi," and "Zari." And our Centerpiece film is "The Glassworker." Co-hosted by actress Kara Wang and actor/content creator Ryan Alexander Holmes. Co-presented by Napa Valley College in partnership with CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment). Executive producers are Narumi Inatsugu of Rumiville and IW Group Inc. Special thanks to our community partners: ACE NextGen, Ascend Northern California Mentoring, Asian Hustle Network, Center for Asian American Media. For details on tickets, visit: https://lnkd.in/gGgKhiMp #NVAFilmFest | #NVAAF | #filmfestival | #NapaValley | #VisitNapaValley |

“So goes Chinatown, so goes San Francisco.” – Mayor Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 January 8, 2025, is a day I will never forget. For the first time in history, a San Francisco mayoral inauguration celebration was held in Chinatown—a symbolic gesture of respect for the AAPI community in our city. Over 50 community organizations came together to honor this historic occasion, with the date 一八 (January 8) symbolizing unity, new beginnings, and prosperity. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished in Chinatown and deeply grateful to have served as Co-Chair in creating these historic moments for all San Franciscans. Seeing everything come together in under a month of preparation was truly remarkable. From the vibrant night market and ZHU’s live concert to lion dancing and the historic community unity banquet, this celebration showcased our city’s resilience and cultural pride—like a Phoenix rising anew. Thank you again to all our dedicated volunteers for helping make history. This is just the beginning—I’m excited to continue building our community in 2025. Let’s get to work, San Francisco! #ChinatownSF #InaugurationDay #MayorLurie #DanielLurie #UnityCelebration #SanFranciscoHistory #AAPICommunity #StrongerTogether

Last March, just 72 hours after making history as the first Asian actress to win an Academy Award, Michelle Yeoh was back on set for Wicked in the UK. This behind-the-scenes moment captures the grace and dedication of a true queen—and I’ll never forget hosting both the EEAAO premiere and her official Oscar viewing party here in the U.S. It was such an honor and brought back a flood of incredible memories. Now, Michelle’s brilliance lights up Wicked as Madame Morrible, a role she elevates with her signature elegance and depth. Jon M. Chu’s Wicked is a cinematic masterpiece, blending stunning visuals, powerful performances, and Stephen Schwartz’s iconic score. This adaptation reimagines Broadway’s magic, offering a fresh and poignant take on identity, power, and friendship. The musical itself stands out as a “megamusical,” joining the ranks of Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera, with elaborate sets, grand production values, and a sweeping score. But what makes Wicked special is its ability to retell L. Frank Baum’s classic tale from a new perspective, diving deep into the witches’ backstories and exploring themes like identity and societal norms. Stephen Schwartz’s score weaves it all together, using recurring motifs to create a cohesive musical journey that enhances both the story and its characters. For a must-see theatrical experience that truly defies gravity, don’t miss Michelle shining in Wicked. ??? #WickedMovie #MichelleYeoh #RepresentationMatters #BroadwayToHollywood