On November 18, AABANY’s Government Service & Public Interest Committee, the Racial Justice Project of the Impact Center for the Public Interest and Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) at New York Law School presented the CLE program, Shattering the Model Minority Myth: Asian Pacific Americans Facing Poverty in NYC. Moderated by Karen Yau, Co-Chair of AABANY’s Government Service and Public Interest Committee, the panel of speakers consisted of Wei Hu, Deputy Director of Policy and Research, Family Independence Administration, NYC Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services; Hon. Lydia Lai, Housing Court Judge, Kings County; Kavita Pawria-Sanchez, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs; and Grace Shim, Executive Director, MinKwon Center for Community Action. 

Before the start of the program, Andrew Scherer, Policy Director of the Impact Center for the Public Interest, and Joseph Chung, President of the New York Law School’s APALSA, welcomed attendees to the event. During the program, with Karen Yau’s effective facilitation, the panelists shared their recent projects, concerns, and views on many critical issues regarding poverty and other human rights issues surrounding the Asian American communities in NYC. By sharing their wisdom and expertise of real Asian Americans facing poverty, the panelists challenged the ‘model minority’ myth, discussed the burgeoning APA population of NYC and their unique needs, and provided the legal tools and resources to provide relief to low-income members of this community.

The event was attended by more than 40 participants including attorneys, law students, and others. The program offered 1.5 CLE credits.

Thank you to Wei Hu, Hon. Lydia Lai, Kavita Pawria-Sanchez, and Grace Shim for speaking; AABANY’s GSPI Committee, the Racial Justice Project of NYLS’s Impact Center for the Public Interest, and NYLS APALSA for sponsoring; Karen Yau, for moderating and organizing the panel; Sheridan Chu for providing support and organization; intern Phil Chen for volunteering; and all attendees.