On May 19, 2026, AABANY hosted its monthly book club meeting, where a dedicated group of members gathered at Anderson & Associates‘ new office at 347 W 36th St., Suite 1003, to share their thoughts on this month’s book. In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) month, the group decided to read Nobel Prize-winning South Korean author Han Kang’s We Do Not Part. The meeting was hosted by Yen-Yi Anderson, Co-Chair of the Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee, and S. Yan Sin, AABANY’s Board Secretary for the 2027 fiscal year. While they shared their insights, the attendees enjoyed a delicious dinner of dumplings, green beans, and fried rice.
The conversation centered on a moving story of friendship set against the tragic backdrop of the 1948 Jeju massacre in South Korea. Throughout the evening, the participants explored complex themes of memory, trauma, and human connection. Kang’s novel is widely celebrated, having earned a place as a New York Times bestseller and winning the National Book Critics Circle Award.
The group also discussed recent news regarding the dismissal of the CEO of Starbucks in South Korea following a controversial marketing campaign that touched on historical state-sponsored suppression. As The Guardian reported, the chief executive was dismissed after the company ran a promotional event using slogans that evoked a massacre of pro-democracy protesters during the country’s dictatorship era, which subsequently sparked public outrage and boycott calls. The coffee chain had launched a “Tank Day” campaign on May 18 for its “Tank” tumbler series. The date coincided with one of the most politically sensitive days in the South Korean calendar, when citizens commemorate the 1980 democratization movement in Gwangju. By pairing the date “5/18” with the slogan “Tank Day,” the online campaign inadvertently evoked the armored vehicles used by the military regime to crush the uprising.
This successful gathering set a thoughtful and engaging tone for many meetings to come. Whether you’re a speed reader or someone who lingers on every sentence, we’d love to have you join the conversation. See you in June!
Written by Eva Lee, Intern at Anderson & Associates
In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month this year, AABANY is presenting or co-sponsoring several events this month. We hope to see you all there! Follow the links for more details, and please note the registration deadlines. This blog post will be updated throughout the month, as new events get added on, so check back for any updates.
May 2, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Korean Hat Day at Yankee Stadium
1:35pm – Yankees Stadium, 1 E. 161 E. 161st Street
This event has already occurred.
May 3, 2026
AABANY Sunday Run Day
11:00 am – Start at Bedford Ave (L); End at Canal St. & Chrystie St. This event is preparation for the May 23 AAPI 5k run.
This event has already occurred.
May 5-7, 2026
Asian Comedy Fest 2026: AABANY Discount Available
7pm and 9pm – Sugar Mouse NYC, 47 3rd Avenue, Lower Level, New York, NY 10003
This event has already occurred.
May 6, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together
1:00 pm – Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, Courtroom 2.95, 320 Jay Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201
This event has already occurred.
May 6, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Beginner’s Mahjong
6:00pm – Sparrow’s Nest Studio, 35 W. 35th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018
This event has already occurred.
May 6, 2026
AABANY Presents: Dumplings & Discussion Series Featuring Judge Pamela K. Chen
6:00pm -Midtown location – to be emailed to registrants.
This event has already occurred.
May 9, 2026
AABANY Bi-Monthly Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11232
This event has already occurred.
May 10, 2026
AABANY Sunday Run Day
11:00 am – Start at Bedford Ave (L); End at Canal St. & Chrystie St. This event is preparation for the May 23 AAPI 5k run.
This event has already occurred.
May 12, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Reflections of Unity and Strength in our AANHPI Communities
12:30pm – Queens Supreme Court – Civil Term, 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard, Ceremonial Courtroom 25, Jamaica, New York 11435
This event has already occurred.
May 16, 2026
AABANY Presents: 3rd Annual Wellness Retreat
10:00 am – 5:00 pm – Blue Cliff Monastery, 3 Mindfulness Rd, Pine Bush, New York 12566
This event has already occurred.
May 16, 2026
AABANY Co-Sponsors: Asian Americans and the Law, Featuring Hon. Denny Chin
2pm – White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Avenue, White Plains, New York 10601
On March 19, 2026, AABANY hosted its inaugural book club meeting where a dedicated group of members gathered at Anderson & Associates‘ new office at 347 W 36th St., Suite 1003, to share their favorite reads and literary interests. The meeting was hosted by Yen-Yi Anderson, Co-Chair of the Solo & Small Firm Practice Committee, and S. Yan Sin, now AABANY’s Board Secretary for the 2027 fiscal year which started on April 1. Attendees included Jaehee Yoo, Hannah Lee, Wendy Zeng, Eva Lee, and Regina Chiem. The group enjoyed delicious Korean corndogs and boba teas while they talked about their favorite books.
The discussion began with a deep dive into what truly defines a “great book” in the eyes of a reader. Some attendees suggested that a great book is one that fundamentally changes your outlook on life or features a blurb on the cover so captivating that it demands to be read. Others argued that beautiful prose is essential to the experience, while some noted that a book is worthwhile if it is a classic, even if the reading process is difficult rather than traditionally enjoyable. The group agreed that the best books are those you return to over the years to measure how you have personally evolved since your last reading.
The book club attendees shared an extensive and diverse list of recommendations of books spanning many genres and styles. Among the suggested titles are classics like The Brothers Karamazov, contemporary fiction hits like Severance, The Daughters of Afong Moy, and Disorientation, nonfiction reads like Breaking Rank, and even memoirs like the touching Tuesdays with Morrie.
To conclude the evening, the book club attendees selected No. 10 Doyer Street as the first official book for the club to read during the month of April.
This successful first gathering set a thoughtful and engaging tone for many meetings to come. Whether you’re a speed reader or someone who lingers on every sentence, we’d love to have you join the conversation. To register for the next meeting, see this link here. A huge thank you to everyone who made our first meeting so memorable. See you in April!
