There are moments in life that stop you in your tracks — moments where everything you’ve worked for, everything you believe in, and everyone you love shows up in the same place at the same time. The Asian American Coalition of Chicago’s 43rd Annual Lunar New Year Gala was that moment for me.
I had the incredible honor of co-chairing this year’s gala alongside three exceptional people: Anne Shaw, Grace Chan McKibben, and Darryl Tom. Together, we poured our hearts into creating an evening worthy of this organization’s 43-year legacy. And I can say without hesitation — we delivered.
The Moment That Moved Me Most
Of all the details, the performances, the speeches, and the celebrations of the evening, the moment that will stay with me forever was having my mom and my daughter join me on stage.
It wasn’t just a personal touch. It was intentional. It was a statement about what this organization truly stands for — the thread that connects generations, the sacrifices made before us, and the futures we are building for those who come after. My mom is that thread. My daughter is that future. And standing between them, in front of a room full of community, I felt the full weight and beauty of what it means to be part of something bigger than yourself.
That is the mission of the AACC’s founders made real, made visible, made human. I hope we made them proud.
Ten Years on the Board: What It Has Meant to Me
Serving on the AACC Board of Directors for ten years has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional and personal life. When I first joined, I came with a deep sense of responsibility and a genuine desire to serve. I watched this organization champion representation, uplift immigrant families, mentor the next generation of Asian American leaders, and celebrate the rich cultural fabric our communities bring to Chicago.
Ten years gives you perspective. I’ve watched young people I mentored grow into confident leaders. I’ve seen our community show up and make its voice heard in rooms where we weren’t always welcomed. I’ve experienced what it means to be part of a coalition that doesn’t just exist — it empowers, it enlightens, it envisions.
Every year I asked myself: Are we honoring the vision of the founders? And every year, watching this community show up for one another, the answer was clear. Yes. Absolutely yes.
To My Fellow Co-Chairs
I am so grateful to Anne Shaw, Grace Chan McKibben, and Darryl Tom for being the most incredible team. Co-chairing an event of this magnitude takes trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence — and these three brought all of that and more. It was a joy and an honor to stand alongside each of them.
Chicago to Las Vegas: The Work Continues
As many of you know, I’ve made the move from Chicago to Las Vegas. Chicago will always hold a massive piece of my heart — it is the city that shaped me, that gave me this community, that gave me ten years of purpose on this board. Leaving wasn’t easy.
But this is not goodbye to the work. It never could be.
Las Vegas has a vibrant, growing Asian American community, and I am genuinely excited about what’s possible here. There are young people to mentor, tables to pull chairs up to, and voices to amplify. The mission of the AACC doesn’t belong only to Chicago. It lives in every one of us who carries it forward.
I want the next generation — wherever they are — to know they are not starting from scratch. They are standing on the foundation that so many before them built with intention, sacrifice, and love.
Gratitude
To the Asian American Coalition of Chicago: thank you. Thank you for ten years of trust, of community, and of purpose. Thank you for being a place where my mother, my daughter, and I could stand together on a stage and feel our whole selves reflected back at us.
To every volunteer, sponsor, board member, and community supporter who showed up for the 43rd gala — you are why this organization endures.
And to anyone out there wondering whether to get involved with a community organization in their city — do it. The work is meaningful. The people are extraordinary. And the rewards are the kind that don’t show up on a résumé but stay with you for life.
新年快樂 (San Nin Faai Lok) — Happy Lunar New Year! 🏮
To learn more about the Asian American Coalition of Chicago, visit aacchicago.org.