innovation Archives - WE Blog @ AABANY

October 19, 2026October 19, 2026

NAPABA Civic Engagement in Action 2026 Challenge Winners

This summer, NAPABA launched the 2026 Civic Engagement Challenge, inviting Affiliates and National Associates to develop innovative, measurable, and sustainable initiatives that engage and empower AANHPI communities.

From nonpartisan voter engagement and education to immigration resources and community legal services, organizations across the NAPABA network answered the call.

Today, NAPABA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2026 Civic Engagement Challenge and celebrate the innovative work they are undertaking in AANHPI communities across the country.

2026 NAPABA Civic Engagement Challenge Champions

Asian Bar Association of Washington (ABAW)

Beyond the Citizenship Interview: An Educational Video Project

ABAW will develop a multilingual educational video series to help aspiring citizens prepare for the U.S. naturalization process, covering civics education, citizenship interviews, and immigrant contributions to American history.

Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA)

Mobilizing and Protecting Georgia’s AAPI Voters

In partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, GAPABA will expand nonpartisan voter education, multilingual outreach, and election protection efforts to support AAPI voter participation across Georgia during the 2026 election cycle.

Greater Orlando Asian American Bar Association (GOAABA)

GOAABA AAPI Civic Education & Engagement Series

GOAABA will partner with community organizations to expand nonpartisan voter education, registration, and civic engagement opportunities for AAPI residents in Central Florida, building a sustainable network for participation beyond the 2026 election.

National Filipino American Lawyers Association (NFALA)

Safeguarding the AANHPI Vote

NFALA will partner with Hoosier Asian American Power to strengthen voter protection for AANHPI communities with limited English proficiency across Indiana, Ohio, and Nevada through translated voter education materials, volunteer poll monitoring, and educational webinars.

South Asian Bar Association of Northern California (SABA-NC)

Community Legal Access & Know-Your-Rights Initiative

SABA-NC will expand access to legal information and assistance for South Asian, AANHPI, and immigrant communities across Northern California through free webinars, legal clinics, and community programs addressing immigration, citizenship, and other essential legal rights.

Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association (SCCLA)

Know Your Rights: Immigration Rights Education Series

SCCLA will host an immigration rights education series featuring attorney-led discussions and interactive outreach at Lunar New Year festivals to help community members understand their rights.

October 17, 2022October 17, 2022

AABANY Honored with the New York State Bar Association Bar Leaders Innovation Award for the Anti-Asian Violence Task Force (AAVTF)

On September 20th, 2022, AABANY’s Anti-Asian Violence Task Force was honored with the prestigious Bar Leaders Innovation Award in the category of large-sized bar association (2,000 members or more) at the New York State Bar Association headquarters in Albany, making AABANY a recipient of this award for the third year in a row. Beatrice Leong, Esq., AABANY’s Co-Vice President of Programs and Operations, went to Albany to accept the award from the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Bar Leaders, on behalf of AABANY.

On September 20, Beatrice met with bar leaders from across New York state during a Bar Leaders Symposium and discussed how AABANY was able to maintain membership and actively keep its members and community engaged. During the reception following the Symposium, Beatrice accepted the award on behalf of AABANY. In her acceptance speech, she emphasized why AAVTF was created and the impact the Hate Eradication Active Response Team (“HEART”) had on helping community members navigate the criminal justice process. Beatrice also described how AAVTF worked with community organizations, the police, local prosecutors, elected officials, and law firms to gather data on hundreds of hate incidents while also directly assisting survivors. The event concluded with a dinner among the assembled bar leaders, providing another opportunity for Beatrice to share how AABANY was able to bring its leaders and members together to fight anti-Asian violence in New York City.

In AABANY’s press release about the award, President Willam Ng further commented: “With the support and acknowledgment of NYSBA and other partner organizations, AABANY and its AAVTF are confident that we can create safe and just communities and legal systems for Asian New Yorkers and all New Yorkers.” To read the press release issued by AABANY, please click here.

To read the AAVTF’s Endless Tide report, please click here.

To support the efforts of AAVTF, please click here.

To learn more about the HEART project, please click here.

February 3, 2014December 4, 2018

January 28, 2014

AABANY TO RECEIVE 2013 NEW YORK STATE CONFERENCE OF BAR LEADERS INNOVATION AWARD FOR “IVA: THE MYTH OF TOKYO ROSE” PROGRAM

PRESS RELEASE

NEW YORK – January 27, 2014 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is proud to announce that it will receive a 2013 Bar Leaders Innovation Award for its Asian Pacific American Heritage Month production, “Iva: The Myth of Tokyo Rose.” The award bestowed by the New York State Conference of Bar Leaders Executive Council of the New York State Bar Association recognizes bar associations that introduce new programs, ideas and methodologies that benefit its members and the community at large. AABANY’s “Tokyo Rose” program was evaluated based on its ingenuity and creativity, effect on the bar and general public, and its overall quality.

“Iva: The Myth of Tokyo Rose,” which was co-produced by AABANY and the Asian American Arts Alliance (the “Alliance”), tells the story of Iva Toguri, a Japanese American citizen, who was accused of treason during World War II. Original court transcripts were edited and compiled under the leadership of the Honorable Denny Chin and Kathy Hirata Chin. This material was then adapted by playwright Soriya Chum and culminated in a production addressing issues concerning race, civil rights, prosecutorial abuse and social injustice. “Tokyo Rose” was directed by Soriya Chum and Elena Chang and performed on stage at the Asia Society in New York City on May 16-17, 2013. Following the performances, talkbacks were held with esteemed speakers and guests, including the Honorable Denny Chin (U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit), Kathy Hirata Chin (Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP), Gurjot Kaur (Sikh Coalition), Andrea Louie (the Alliance), Yang Chen (AABANY), Rehana Mirza (Ma-Yi Theater’s Writer’s Lab) and Eileen Rivera (Leviathan Lab).

The New York State Conference of Bar Leaders will honor AABANY along with its sister bar associations for their innovative programs at the Annual Breakfast for Bar Leaders to be held at the Hilton New York Midtown on Friday, January 31, 2014. “On behalf of AABANY, we thank the New York State Conference of Bar Leaders for this prestigious award and recognizing our continuing efforts to produce programs that address significant legal issues and social matters of importance to our members and the Asian Pacific American community as a whole,” said Mike Huang, AABANY’s President.

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The Asian American Bar Association of New York was formed in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to represent the interests of New York Asian American attorneys, judges, law professors, legal professionals, paralegals and law students. The mission of AABANY is to improve the study and practice of law, and the fair administration of justice for all by ensuring the meaningful participation of Asian Americans in the legal profession.

A performance review of “Iva: The Myth of Tokyo Rose,” is available at http://blog.asianinny.com/films/iva-the-myth-of-tokyo-rose/