On May 23, 2026, the 2026 AAPI 5K took place on the Lower East Side, with around 400 participants running or walking in chilly morning weather in support of good causes. Teams from various companies and non-profit organizations, such as the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), the New York City Fire Department, and Microsoft, ran to raise money for institutions such as the Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI), other non-profit organizations, and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) small businesses.
The Asian American Bar Association of New York’s (AABANY) Issues Committee and Young Lawyers Committee led the effort in organizing AABANY’s participation in this race. Runners and supporters celebrated AANHPI Heritage Month while raising awareness for the work of various AANHPI nonprofits and small businesses. Team AABANY sought to raise funds for the Asian American Law Fund of New York (AALFNY), which funds Public Interest Scholarships for law students interning with public interest organizations that benefit the AANHPI community as well as helping to fund AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics and Anti-Asian Violence Task Force.
In the lead-up to the event, AABANY hosted six Sunday Run Days throughout April and May. The weekly runs followed the race course, crossing over the Williamsburg Bridge between Chinatown and Brooklyn.
Though the race took place on a cold and wet morning, Team AABANY persevered. We are proud to share that AABANY member Tiancheng Lyu, an Associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, took second place overall with a time of 20:36, a 6:38 pace.
Congratulations to all 17 runners in Team AABANY, and thank you for your participation!
Vishal Chander
Victoria Cheng
Melissa Chi
Sherry Huang
Miles Kim
Alexandra Lao
Evelyn Lee
Justin Lee
Rachel Lee
Tiancheng Lyu
May Wong
Robert Wong
Jameson Xu
Kelly Yao
Jaehee Yoo
Jenny Zheng
Meilin Zheng
We are grateful as well to Kevin Hsi and Jack Hsia, Vice Chairs of the Issues Committee, who cheered on Team AABANY throughout the race.
To learn more about the Issues Committee, go here. To learn more about the Young Lawyers Committee, go here.
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) hosted its annual Lobby Day on May 19-20, 2026, bringing together many affiliate members, including those from the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) who traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in this year’s NAPABA Lobby Day. AABANY members joined attorneys, judges, law students, and community leaders from across the country in advocating for policies that advance civil rights, protect due process, and strengthen the rule of law.
Representing AABANY were members of the our Issues Committee, including Co-Chairs Vishal Chander and Rachel Lee, along with other members of the New York delegation: Anushree Bagrodia, Charles Drucker, Linny Ng, Tiffany Ngeo, and Alex Pan. We also thank Glenn Magpantay, Northeast Alternate Regional Governor for NAPABA and AABANY Board Director, and Sapna Palla, NAPABA Board Member and former AABANY President, who joined the New York delegation.
Lobby Day began with a policy training session at Jones Day, where participants received briefings on NAPABA’s legislative priorities and advocacy strategies before meeting with congressional offices on Capitol Hill. The event also included the annual AANHPI Heritage Month Congressional Reception, which brought together NAPABA members, members of Congress, congressional staff, and community leaders from across the nation.
NAPABA’s 2026 Lobby Day focused on three core legislative priorities:
Advancing civil rights through language access protections
Promoting a fair immigration system through access to counsel
Defending the rule of law by supporting judicial security measures
Advancing Civil Rights Through Language Access
The New York delegation urged congressional offices to support passage of theLanguage Access for All Act of 2026 (H.R. 7223), a bill designed to ensure that individuals with limited English proficiency have meaningful access to federally funded services through translation and interpretation assistance. NAPABA emphasized that language access is particularly important for the AANHPI community. Nearly one-third of Asian Americans are considered limited English proficient, making language access a critical civil rights issue.
This legislation would codify protections that were previously provided through Executive Order 13166—“Improving Access to Services for Persons With Limited English Proficiency”—and establish comprehensive language access requirements for federal agencies.
Promoting a Fair Immigration System
The New York delegation also educated Congress on the proposed Access to Counsel Act (H.R. 944/S. 391), which seeks to ensure that individuals with lawful status who are detained for prolonged inspections at ports of entry have meaningful access to legal counsel and family members.
NAPABA highlighted the importance of due process protections, particularly as immigration enforcement actions continue to affect immigrant communities across the country. The delegation stressed that individuals navigating the immigration system should be able to understand the process and access legal representation when their rights are at stake.
The delegation also discussed AABANY’s ongoing efforts to support immigrant communities through legal clinics, educational programming, and pro bono initiatives. (For more information about that, read the blog post about AABANY’s participation in the 2026 AAPI Summit hosted by Senator Gillibrand at the end of April by clicking here.)
Defending the Rule of Law and Judicial Independence
The New York delegation also advocated for passage of the Countering Threats and Attacks on Our Judges Act (H.R. 4602/S. 2379), bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the increasing threats and acts of violence directed toward members of the judiciary. The bill would establish a State Judicial Threat Intelligence and Resource Center and provide resources to improve judicial security nationwide.
As attorneys, AABANY members emphasized that an independent judiciary is essential to maintaining public confidence in the legal system and preserving the rule of law. NAPABA noted that threats against judges undermine judicial impartiality and threaten the integrity of the courts.
Meetings with Congressional Offices
The New York delegation met with staff from several congressional offices, including New York Representatives Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), and Dan Goldman (NY-10). Discussions focused on NAPABA’s legislative priorities, including language access, immigration due process, and judicial security.
The delegation also highlighted the work of AABANY and NAPABA in supporting immigrant communities, educating lawful permanent residents about their rights, and providing pro bono legal services and training opportunities for attorneys. Follow-up conversations included discussions regarding immigration policy developments, legal aid initiatives, and opportunities for future collaboration between congressional offices and the AANHPI legal community.
Continuing the Work
Lobby Day provided an important opportunity for AABANY to bring the perspectives of New York’s AANHPI legal community directly to policymakers. Through these conversations, AABANY reinforced the role of attorneys not only as advocates in the courtroom but also as advocates for policies that promote justice, equity, and opportunity.
AABANY thanks NAPABA for organizing another successful Lobby Day and looks forward to continuing its partnership in advancing the interests of the AANHPI community and the legal profession nationwide.
For more information about NAPABA’s legislative priorities, click here.
To learn more about AABANY’s Issues Committee and how you can get involved, go here.
– Written by Vishal Chander, Board Member and Co-Chair of AABANY’s Issues Committee
