Congratulations to AABANY Members Named to the City & State’s 2026 Asian Trailblazers List

On May 4, City & State published their 2026 Asian Trailblazers List. As stated in the article:

City & State’s annual Asian Trailblazers highlights many of the high-ranking Asian Americans who are on the rise in New York. The list, researched and written in partnership with journalist Natasha Ishak, features trusted advisers to politicians such as Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer. It includes behind-the-scenes political consultants and policy strategists shaping the direction of New York. And it spotlights advocates and activists who are improving daily life in Asian American communities – and for all New Yorkers.

City & State New York

AABANY is proud to congratulate five of its members who were named to this year’s list.

Margaret Ling

Margaret Ling / JC Penny Photo Studio

Kim L. Yu

Kim Yu / Alissa Randall, All About Headshots

Anna Mercado Clark

Anna Mercado Clark / KC Kratt Photography

Lawrence Han

Lawrence Han / Rivkin Radler

Becky Baek

Becky Baek / Farrell Fritz

Please join us in congratulating Margaret Ling, Kim Yu, Lawrence Han, Ana Mercado Clark, and Becky Baek on this well-deserved recognition.

To see the full list, click here.

New York Unified Court System Seeks Comment on Certification of Retired Justices of the Supreme Court

The Administrative Board of the Courts of the New York State Unified Court System seeks comment from persons who are able to evaluate the performance of the following Justices of the Supreme Court who are seeking certification to continue judicial service pursuant to N.Y. Const. Art. VI, §25(b) and Judiciary Law §115:

FIRST JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Hon. Tandra Dawson
SECOND JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Hon. Joseph Risi
FOURTH JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
Hon. Louis Gigliotti
Hon. Debra Givens

In order to assist in its evaluation, the Board seeks comment on the following qualities and abilities of these judges:

  • Legal ability, including knowledge of the law, legal experience, legal scholarship, and writing.
  • Competence to perform the duties of the office, including organizational, management, and human relations skills; physical and mental health; and work ethic.
  • Judicial demeanor, integrity and character, and commitment to equal justice under law.

How to Comment: Any person wishing to offer comments relating to the performance of any of these candidates for certification or recertification may address written comments to David Nocenti, Counsel, by email to JSCcertification@nycourts.gov, with “2027 Certification – Public Comment” in the subject line. Comments may also be sent by postal mail to Counsel’s Office, 25 Beaver St., 10th Fl., New York, N.Y. 10004.

ALL COMMENTS RECEIVED WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD AND OTHERWISE HELD IN STRICT CONFIDENCE. IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED, COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JULY 17, 2026.

AABANY’s Student Outreach and Young Lawyers Committees Present Boba Break: An Evening of Community, Mentorship, and Bubble Tea

On May 29, 2026, AABANY’s Student Outreach Committee and Young Lawyers Committee partnered to host Boba Break: Recharge and Connect at King & Spalding. This event brought together law students, young attorneys and members of the AABANY community for an evening of conversation, connection and, of course, boba (bubble) tea in a welcoming and informal setting.

Throughout the evening, attendees exchanged experiences, discussed career paths, shared advice and expanded their professional networks. Law students had the opportunity to connect with practicing attorneys and young lawyers, while attorneys reconnected with colleagues and met the next generation of legal professionals. This event embodied AABANY’s commitment to fostering mentorship, community and meaningful relationships within the profession.

The photos from the evening capture the energy and enthusiasm of the attendees, highlighting the meaningful conversations and new connections formed throughout the event that may continue well beyond the evening. Event photos are now available and can be accessed here: click here.

AABANY extends its sincere gratitude to King & Spalding for hosting the event and to everyone who attended. The enthusiastic participation from law students, young lawyers and community members made the event a memorable success. We look forward to continuing to create engaging opportunities that strengthen relationships across the AABANY community and to support the growth of future legal leaders.

– Written by Helen Ding, Co-Chair, Student Outreach Committee

NYSCDM Divorce Mediation Training Discount [CLEs Available]

The New York State Council on Divorce Mediation (NYSCDM) is offering a sale with a $150 discount through June 21, 2026 on their NYSCDM 60-Hour Divorce Mediation Training.

The training program includes the following:

  • Live Classes for the Summer Cohort Starting on July 13, 2026
  • Part-146 Approved for 40 Hours
  • 40 CLEs Provided to Attorneys
  • Free One-Year Membership in NYSCDM 
  • Free One-Year Participation in a Special Peer Group for NYSCDM Program Graduates
  • Free Participation in the Pathway Partners Program
  • Scholarships are available 

To learn more, click this link. The program consists of:

  • Part 1 (20+ hours) go-at-your-own-pace, online training on essential legal, mental health, and financial subjects featuring various experts. 
  • Part 2 (40 Hours) Live Divorce Mediation Skills Training online with Expert Trainer and Experienced Coaches.

The trainer for the Summer Cohort is Lara Traum, Esq.:

  • An experienced family and divorce mediator, author, trainer and Past President of NYSCDM. 
  • A partner at Roytberg Traum Law and Mediation, P.C. and works with NY, interstate, and international families.
  • Frequent mediation and ADR trainer mediation for professional organizations, bar associations, and educational institutions.
  • Co-author of the ABA book: Effectively Representing Clients in Family Mediation (coauthored with Forrest S. Mosten and Hon. Elizabeth Potter Scully) and her second book, coauthored with Forrest S. Mosten, is Family Lawyer as Peacemaker.

NYSCDM’s Summer 2026 Live Mediation Skills Training (Part 2), via Zoom, will be:

7/13 – 9:30am-3:30pm (half hour lunch, 12:15-12:45)

7/14 – 9:30am-3:30pm (half hour lunch, 12:15-12:45)

7/15 – 9:30am-3:30pm (half hour lunch, 12:15-12:45)

7/16 – 9:30am-3:30pm (half hour lunch, 12:15-12:45)

7/27 – 9:30am-3:30pm (half hour lunch, 12:15-12:45)

7/28 – 9:00am-3:30pm (WORKING LUNCH) – ROLE PLAY DAY

7/29 – 9:30am-3:30pm (half hour lunch, 12:15-12:45)

7/30 – 9:30am-3:00pm (half hour lunch, 12:15-12:45)

Also includes morning mini breaks and afternoon mini breaks.

Register & Start Training TODAY by clicking here.

After completion of the program, you will receive:

  • Free One-Year Membership in NYSCDM — You will have full access to numerous member-only benefits including: a 24/7 online directory promoting your services, repository of templates, agreements and forms, a members-only Google Group, educational peer groups throughout New York, free and low-cost educational trainings, and more! 
  • Free participation in a Special Peer Group for program graduates, led by expert mediators.
  • Free participation in the Pathway Partners Program, which connects trainees with experienced mediators/guides. 
  • Support from the NYSCDM Mediation Family, via other peer groups, educational programming, networking and more!

AABANY Co-Sponsors Community Screening of “Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate” Documentary at Safe Horizon for AAPI Heritage Month

On May 29th, 2026, the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) joined the Safe Horizon AAPI Affinity Group in New York for a screening of the “Voices Against Anti-Asian Hate” documentary. The documentary produced by AABANY and AALFNY (Asian American Law Fund of NY) shares the experiences of survivors and families affected by the rise in anti-Asian violence in New York during the Covid-19 pandemic and highlights the legal and community response that followed. 

The Safe Horizon AAPI Affinity Group welcomed a gathering of colleagues in office and also over Zoom and emphasized the importance of allyship and community in increasingly uncertain times. The in-person contingent held a Kimbap making activity that accompanied the documentary screening, highlighting the importance of cultural celebration along with education. 

The film featured deeply personal stories from Justin Go, father of Michelle Go; Sungkon Lee, father of Christina Yuna Lee; and Noel Quintana, a survivor of a violent subway slashing to his face. Their accounts highlighted the lasting impact of anti-Asian violence, the challenges victims face in seeking recognition and support, and the critical role of culturally sensitive pro bono legal advocacy.

Following the documentary screening, Safe Horizon AAPI Affinity Group Co-Chair Audrey Williams facilitated a discussion with Rachel Lee, President & General Counsel of Stand with Asian Americans and a member of AABANY’s Board and Anti-Asian Violence Task Force. The Q&A covered a diverse series of topics, ranging from the Task Force’s work to broader questions touching upon what is at the root of anti-Asian hate. Moreover, in reflecting on Safe Horizon’s role as a victim services nonprofit, Audrey and Rachel discussed the particular application of hate-crime definitions and culturally responsive care. Audrey and Rachel also responded to questions and comments from the group that joined virtually. 

We thank the attendees who joined us in-person and virtually to attend the screening and provided their attention and deeply insightful comments. We are also grateful to the AAPI Affinity Group at Safe Horizon for hosting such a wonderful event, which incorporated both joy and serious discussion in an effort to give a platform to the survivors and families of Anti-Asian violence. 

If anyone is interested in hosting their own  screening of this documentary, contact Daphne Mei, Program Manager of the AABANY Anti-Asian Violence Task Force, at daphne.mei@aabany.org. To contact the Task Force, email aavtf@aabany.org.

–Written by Kate Mao, for the AABANY Anti-Asian Violence Task Force

In the News: Kwok Kei Ng, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee, Honored at the Hon. Randall T. Eng Award Program at Appellate Division, Second Department

On May 27, 2026, the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department of the New York State Supreme Court held its fourth annual Hon. Randall T. Eng Award Program in celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month at 45 Monroe Place in Brooklyn Heights. This event was covered by the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and by the World Journal. This year, the Hon. Randall T. Eng Award was presented to Assembly Member Steven Raga (Assembly District 30), Associate Court Attorney Kwok Kei Ng of the New York County Criminal Courts, and Jo-Ann Yoo, Deputy Executive Director of Asian Americans for Equality. Of note, honoree Kwok Kei Ng serves as the Co-Chair of AABANY’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee and runs AABANY’s Brooklyn Pro Bono Clinics.

The World Journal traced Ng’s path through the court system, beginning his career as a court interpreter, translating for Cantonese and Mandarin speakers in Brooklyn Family Court. Ng then served in the borough’s Supreme and Civil Courts and, today, as a court attorney in New York County Criminal Court. He received the award in recognition of his efforts in partnering with the New York State Unified Court System and the Brooklyn Bar Association to develop CLE programming that enhances language access in the courts.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle story recounted Ng’s acceptance speech, in which he spoke of standing on the shoulders of giants. “And many of these giants are here in this room,” he said. “Some of you paved the way for me before I arrived; some of you invited me in; and some of you encouraged me, and for that I am grateful.” His family joined him on stage to accept the award. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle also reported on AABANY President Varuna Bhattacharyya making closing remarks at the Award Program. She described the honorees as “exceptional individuals who exemplify all that the Randall T. Eng Award is intended to recognize and represent.” She added that they “have helped redefine what leadership looks like,” and closed with a call to action: “As we leave here tonight, let us continue building a legal community that reflects not just the diversity of our society, but its full promise.”

To read the World Journal article (written in Chinese), click here.

To read the Brooklyn Daily Eagle article, click here.

NAPABA Membership | Renew Now for Convention Access and Voting Eligibility

Two Important Membership Deadlines Are Approaching

You’ve been an important part of the NAPABA community, and we’d love to welcome you back as a member for 2026.

With Convention registration opening soon and voting eligibility deadlines approaching, now is the perfect time to renew your membership and continue enjoying the connections, opportunities, and benefits available exclusively to NAPABA members.

Why Renew Your NAPABA Membership?

Connect. Save. Grow.

  • Build meaningful relationships with attorneys, legal professionals, and law students across the country.
  • Save on Convention registration, leadership programs, networking events, and more.
  • Access exclusive opportunities, resources, and programs that support your professional success.

Convention Registration Opens June 16

NAPABA members receive exclusive access to Convention registration and housing beginning June 16, along with up to $600 in registration savings.

To ensure your membership is active when registration opens, we encourage you to join by June 15.

Voting Eligibility Ends July 1

Members who join by July 1, 2026, and meet NAPABA’s voting eligibility requirements will be eligible to vote in the 2026 Board of Governors election and help shape NAPABA’s future.

In order to vote, you must be licensed to practice law in the U.S. or Canada (or have previously been licensed and now retired), and you must have be a current NAPABA member in good standing on or before July 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET.  Non-lawyer members (Law Student and Non-Attorney membership categories) are not eligible to vote.

If you are joining through a NAPABA affiliate or national associate, please contact membership@napaba.org to verify current dues and receive your membership discount code.

Questions? Contact us at membership@napaba.org.

AABANY Presents “Born American: United States v. Wong Kim Ark” at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

As Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage (AANHPI) Month wound down, attendees gathered on May 27, 2026 in downtown Manhattan to watch the latest historical trial reenactment produced by the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) entitled Born American: United States v. Wong Kim Ark.

United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which established birthright citizenship as a Constitutional right in 1898, is AABANY’s 17th trial reenactment. This project brings to life notable cases involving Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, to spotlight significant ways that AANHPI individuals contributed to the legal, social, and political history of the United States. Reenactments are first performed at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Convention in November, then again in May during AANHPI Heritage Month in New York. 

AABANY’s latest trial reenactment made its New York debut at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. Attendees settled in to watch a cast of 37 characters played by some 17 lawyers, including many AABANY members.

The reenactment had two narrators, who are also the writers, producers, and leaders of the AABANY Trial Reenactment team: Hon. Denny Chin, Senior United States Circuit Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and Kathy Hirata Chin, a retired Partner of Crowell & Moring LLP and previously a retired Cadwalader Partner.

Other cast members included:

Anna Mercado Clark, Phillips Lytle LLP, Partner and Chief Information Security Officer (past NAPABA President, former AABANY Board Officer)

Vincent T. Chang, Law Clerk for Hon. James d’Auguste, Supreme Court, New York County, Commercial Division (former AABANY President)

Andrew T. Hahn, Hawkins, Delafield & Wood LLP, General Counsel (former AABANY, KALAGNY, and NAPABA President)

Yasuhiro Saito, Saito Law Group PLLC, Managing Partner

Francis H. Chin, Opensity Solutions, Senior Systems Engineer (AABANY Membership Director)

Yang Chen, Asian American Bar Association of New York, Executive Director (former AABANY President)

Pamela K. Chen, United States District Judge, Eastern District of New York

Concepcion A. Montoya, Hinshaw & Culbertson, Partner

Lauren U.Y. Lee, Korean American Family Service Center, Board of Directors; Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, former Special Counsel

Kiyo A. Matsumoto, Senior United States District Judge, Eastern District of New York

Rose Cuison Villazor, Rutgers Law School, Professor of Law and Chancellor’s Social Justice Scholar

Jacob Chen, DGW Kramer LLP, Litigation Partner

Jane Kim, Wigdor LLP, Partner; former clerk for Hon. Denny Chin

Janicelynn Asamoto Park, Proskauer Rose LLP, Partner; former clerk for Hon. Denny Chin

Jessica C. Wong, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, Special Counsel

This reenactment was bookended by the case’s connection to current events. The narrators described President Donald Trump’s January 2025 Executive Order 14160, “Protecting the Meaning and Value of American Citizenship,” which sought to remove birthright citizenship from US-born children of parents who are undocumented or in the country temporarily. 

This case follows the story and life of Wong Kim Ark, who was born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents in 1870, one of only 518 ethnic Chinese born in the United States that year. Wong took multiple trips back to China, before returning to America in 1894, at which point he was denied entry on the grounds of not being a citizen. 

That denial was appealed all the way to the United States Supreme Court. The question before the Court was whether Wong should follow the citizenship of his parents or of where he was born. The reenactment reconstructed the Supreme Court argument, for which no transcript exists, using the briefs, the resulting court opinions, news reports, and other historical documents. Arguments revolved around whether children born in the U.S. are “subject to the jurisdiction thereof,” under its plain meaning as stated in the Fourteenth Amendment. The original intent of Congress with regard to children born to foreign-born parents, as well as the implications of barring Wong Kim Ark’s birthright citizenship upon existing immigrant communities—European immigrants—and children of other nationalities, were also explored in the reenactment.

United States v. Wong Kim Ark affirmed Wong’s citizenship in a 6-2 decision in 1898, setting a legal precedent for more than a century. The majority ruling held that the 14th Amendment’s “ancient and fundamental rule of citizenship by birth within the territory” and its “peremptory and explicit language” all made Wong an American citizen.

However, Wong’s immigration troubles did not stop there, for either himself or his children. He lived in a time when anti-Chinese sentiment was rampant. Even within the decision itself, Justice John Marshall Harlan, for the dissent, wrote that “There is a race so different from ours that we do not permit those belonging to it to become citizens of the United States.” This captures the discrimination that society had at the time towards Chinese immigrants in America.

The reenactment further explored Wong’s life, as well as his family’s, after the
Supreme Court’s ruling. Wong was later arrested in 1901 upon crossing the US-Mexico border, though the case was eventually dismissed—because of United States v. Wong Kim Ark. His four sons, born in China, faced intense scrutiny when they sought to come to the United States seeking citizenship as sons of a U.S. citizen. They faced heightened suspicion and interrogation that stretched over weeks or months of detention and aimed to determine their familial relationship to Wong, a form of scrutiny common to Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century. 

The end of the reenactment returned to Trump’s executive order. The many lawsuits and preliminary injunctions that responded to Trump’s January order make frequent reference to United States v. Wong Kim Ark as well-settled precedent for birthright citizenship. The reenactment shares the responses to Trump’s Executive Order, including one from Judge Deborah Boardman in Maryland, who said that the executive order “conflicts with the plain language of the 14th Amendment [and] contradicts 125-year old binding Supreme Court precedent.”

In this context, it becomes vitally important to revisit Wong Kim Ark’s life and times. Amid the prevalence of anti-immigrant rhetoric during the 1890s, United States v. Wong Kim Ark set precedent for generations of immigrants, including Asian Americans, and was reaffirmed throughout a series of 20th century Supreme Court cases, including INS v. Errico, 385 U.S. 214 (1966) and Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982).

A discussion panel and Q&A session followed the reenactment, where questions of relevance to current times were at the forefront. Attendees questioned and discussed how America would change if birthright citizenship gets overturned. Mere months ago, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for Barbara v. Donald J. Trump, the class action against President Trump’s executive order banning birthright citizenship. It was especially enlightening to hear Judge Chin talk about how putting together this reenactment made him understand his own family’s immigration history better and shined a light on often unspoken parts of the Chinese immigrant experience.

The reenactment highlighted the reaction from Wong Kim Ark’s great-grandson Norman Wong. Norman said in an interview for a documentary, “We thought [birthright citizenship] was a dead issue. These were rights we did not have to fight for anymore. It wasn’t something that anybody would have to worry about. … Now I’m glad [my great-grandfather] stood up.” 

Following the reenactment, guests and participants enjoyed a networking and dinner reception, which included hors d’oeuvres, a dinner buffet, and a delicious handroll bar. Attendees mingled as they ate, reflecting on the reenactment and congratulating the actors for a job well done.

AABANY’s reenactment of United States v. Wong Kim Ark will be made available on AABANY’s trial reenactment website, where the script and materials can be shared upon request. AABANY’s past trial reenactment scripts are also available upon request. In fact, our most popular reenactment, “The Murder of Vincent Chin,” has been performed over 30 times globally. 

We are grateful to all of the participants in the reenactment for dedicating their time to this project. To learn more about the other trial reenactments AABANY has organized, please visit our reenactments website.

Thank You to the Volunteers at the Queens Pro Bono Clinic in June

Thanks to the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee and our dedicated volunteers for your collaboration and contribution to the success of our pro bono legal clinic on June 3, 2026.

At the clinic, our volunteers met with 12 clients and provided guidance on a range of legal issues, including housing, immigration, medical fraud, real estate, and labor and employment matters. The collective efforts of our volunteers ensured that each client received personalized support and answers to their pressing legal questions. We are deeply grateful for everyone’s presence and contributions, and look forward to continuing this important work together!

Volunteer attorneys:
Wendy (Wen-Hsien) Cheng
Helen Ding
Richard In
Grace Ouyang
Shirley Luong
Johnny Thach
May Wong
Gary Yeung

Interpreters/shadowers:
Nathan Cao
Haotian (Victor) Chen
Tiffany Jin
Nandar Win Kerr
Victoria Elise Sogueco
Wendy Zeng

We invite you to continue supporting our community by joining us at our upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:

  • June 17 [Manhattan link here] from 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
  • July 11 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
  • August 5 [Queens link here], from 6:30 – 8:30pm, AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355

Thanks to all our volunteers for attending the Pro Bono Clinic.

We look forward to your participation in our future clinics!

To learn more about the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, visit probono.aabany.org.

AABANY GSPI Committee Attends the “Make It 10 Cents!” Community Panel and Hosts its First GSPI Meeting and Dinner

On May 26, 2026, the AABANY Government Service and Public Interest Committee (GSPI) attended the “Make It 10 Cents!” Community Panel in Chinatown at the ISS Storefront for Ideas, located at 127 Walker Street. The panel followed a one-day, pop-up redemption event at the Columbus Park Pavilion, hosted by Sure We Can in collaboration with artist and advocate Siyan (Joane) Wong and local organizations NYC Connect, Welcome to Chinatown, Immigrant Social Services, and Canal Street Research Association. There, all bottles and cans were redeemed at a 10-cent rate to simulate the passage of the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, which updates the 1982 New York State Container Law. This pending environmental legislation would double the current redemption rate from 5 to 10 cents and expand the categories of containers eligible for return, providing critical support to canners, who are predominantly elderly and immigrant workers across New York City.

The panel, which featured Ryan Castalia (Executive Director of Sure We Can), Harry Trinh (Head of Creatives at Welcome To Chinatown), Siyan (Joane) Wong (artist and workers’ rights lawyer) and Ah Xim Chan (Chinatown canner) and Josefa Marin (canner and President of the Alliance of Independent Recyclers of New York City), examined the history of bottle and can redemption in New York, the stories and experiences of canners, and the significance of the proposed reform in the Bigger Better Bottle Bill. The panelists noted that the redemption rate in New York has remained unchanged at 5 cents since 1982, even as other states have moved to 10 cents and broadened the categories of redeemable containers. Meanwhile, the cost of nearly everything else, including rent, utilities, subway fares, and groceries, has risen substantially over those four decades. Wong explained that canners are not protected by any labor and employment laws, because they are not employees of any employer, making them particularly vulnerable workers. 

The panel estimated that there are between 10,000 and 20,000 canners working across New York City. The canners are diverse and speak different languages, including Spanish, French, and various Chinese dialects. Despite the demanding nature of the work, which often requires early morning rushes to particular buildings, canners frequently help one another, sharing tips and knowledge, and demonstrate a strong sense of community and mutual support.

Siyan Wong shared a personal reflection on her work with the canner community. She described how getting to know canners has made her world richer and how she has been moved by the way they thrive despite considerable hardship. She observed that many canners are motivated by a desire to contribute to their families and to avoid becoming a burden on others. Siyan recounted a story in which she realized she had forgotten her wallet when she was at the parking garage and in need to pay so she could promptly pick up her children from their after school program. A stranger gave her twenty dollars, asking only that she pays it forward. That experience gave her the idea to dedicate half of all proceeds from her canner paintings to support canners. She had put cash in red envelopes to give to canners and donated to Sure We Can to support the “Make It 10 Cents” Pop-up Redemption at Columbus Park. Passing the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, she explained, is one concrete way to ensure that this community is seen and valued, and an act of responsibility toward the future and a way of paying it forward. 

The panel also highlighted the environmental impact of the bill. Expanding the categories of beverages and containers eligible for redemption would help reduce contamination, keep the city cleaner, and prevent waste. The panelists urged collaboration across communities to advance the bill and offered a simple, practical reminder for everyone: keep recycling separate from garbage to support the canners and the broader recycling ecosystem.

Following the panel, GSPI members walked together to Jing Fong at 202 Centre Street, where the Committee held its first Committee meeting and dinner of the new fiscal year. The dinner provided an opportunity for old and new members to connect, discuss upcoming GSPI events, and reflect on the issues raised at the panel. GSPI was joined by Siyan, who spoke about her journey from being a workers’ rights lawyer for 25 years at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to painting and teaching. She also spoke about the broader “Make It 10 Cents!” initiative, how her painting exhibition raised awareness and the funds to support the one-day, pop-up redemption event, and her work which depicts historically marginalized workers who collect cans to survive remained on view in the Welcome to Chinatown Hub on 115 Bowery until Friday, May 29, 2026. Siyan said she will continue to advocate for them to update the bottling law to ensure a more economically just system for canners and an environmentally sound system for our future generations. 

GSPI members learned that dinner attendees Siyan Wong, Nelson Mar, and Kevin Hsi, went to the same college and law school, and that they had a shared history of fighting for economic justice for all and especially in the Chinatown community. They shared their experience fighting to end slave labor conditions at the Jing Fong Restaurant when it was previously located at 20 Elizabeth Street and was the largest Chinese restaurant on the East Coast. They recounted how in the early 1990s, restaurant workers at Jing Fong were being paid less than $1 per hour with no overtime pay. Siyan, Nelson and Kevin helped lead a student hunger strike in 1995 that helped bring national and international awareness to the existence of modern sweatshops in the US economy. With the support of the community, the workers at Jing Fong won a $1.1 million settlement through the NYS Attorney General’s office. The national attention also forced the US Department of Labor and the NYS Department of Labor to form a joint task force to investigate labor conditions in the restaurant and apparel industries. The stirring victory at Jing Fong also had an immediate impact by pushing many restaurant employers in Chinatown to stop their illegal labor practices of nonpayment of minimum wage and overtime.

GSPI is grateful to Siyan Wong, Nelson Mar, and the members who came to the meeting and dinner to learn and share their perspectives on the local events and ongoing issues affecting Chinatown, and network and build community across different government service and public interest sectors.

To learn more about AABANY’s Government Service & Public Interest Committee, click here. To see upcoming events on the AABANY calendar, click here.

Written by Johnny Thach, Co-Chair, AABANY’s Government Service & Public Interest Committee