On March 27, 2025, the AABANY Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee marked a significant milestone: the 10th Anniversary of the Community Pro Bono Clinics. The celebration took place at House of Joy in Chinatown, bringing together nearly 50 friends, volunteers, and past and present PBCS leaders.
Guests enjoyed a full six-course Chinese banquet at one of Chinatown’s most popular and well-established restaurants. The evening concluded on a sweet note with ice cream from The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, featuring classic flavors like almond and mango.
The night was filled with laughter, heartfelt conversations, and reunions as members, friends, and volunteers reconnected, caught up, and reminisced about their shared commitment to pro bono service. The atmosphere was festive and joyful, a true testament to the strong and loving community that has formed around the AABANY Pro Bono Clinics over the past decade.
On a large screen, a slideshow played, displaying nostalgic moments from clinic sessions over the years across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, showing both longtime volunteers and new faces. Familiar figures such as Beatrice Leong, Kwok Ng, and Gary Yeung were seen in many images, capturing their dedication and presence, while new volunteers continued to join, ensuring the mission carried forward.
As guests enjoyed their meal, a series of inspiring, authentic, and humorous speeches were delivered by Co-Chairs Kwok Ng, Gary Yeung, and Beatrice Leong, alongside former PBCS Committee Co-Chairs May Wong and Karen Kithan Yau, as well as Executive Director Yang Chen and President-Elect (now President) Ben Hsing. Each speaker reflected on the clinic’s journey, its impact on the community, and the dedicated volunteers who have made it all possible. More than just a community initiative, AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinics represent a movement, uniting individuals through a shared purpose: to break barriers, provide legal access, and uplift the underserved.
AABANY’s Pro Bono Legal Clinic was launched in 2015 to provide members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, particularly those with limited English proficiency (LEP), with meaningful access to justice. Over the past ten years, PBCS has brought together AABANY members to help nearly 3,000 people in underserved AAPI communities across New York. Through its walk-in Clinics in Manhattan’s Chinatown, Downtown Flushing in Queens, and Brooklyn’s Sunset Park, AABANY has worked tirelessly to break down linguistic and cultural barriers to legal assistance. The Clinics have addressed issues such as immigration, housing, labor rights, and family law, helping to bridge the gap in legal services for underserved communities.
Donors for the 10th anniversary celebration included Board Member (and Past President) Dwight Yoo, PCBS Committee Co-Chair Lina Lee, and the following AABANY Committees:
- Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS)
- Labor & Employment
- Military & Veterans Affairs (MVA)
- Tax
- Career Advancement
- Student Outreach
- Judiciary
- Government Service & Public Interest (GSPI)
As AABANY starts its new fiscal year on April 1, 2025, the Pro Bono Clinic schedule remains as follows:
Manhattan Clinics – every third Wednesday of the month
Queens Clinics – first Wednesday of even-numbered months
Brooklyn Clinics – second Saturday of odd-numbered months
The AABANY Pro Bono Clinics have been instrumental in ensuring that underrepresented communities receive the legal support they need. By addressing barriers such as language access, financial limitations, and cultural obstacles, these clinics have provided thousands of individuals with necessary legal information, resources, and guidance that might otherwise be out of reach. The continued dedication of volunteers, attorneys, and supporters ensures that this initiative remains a pillar of advocacy and service in New York City’s AAPI and immigrant communities.
Legal professionals and community members are encouraged to volunteer through the AABANY website calendar or visit the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee website to learn more.
As the AABANY Pro Bono Clinics enter their next chapter, their success remains rooted in the dedication of volunteers, attorneys, and supporters. However, expanding reach and strengthening impact will remain a priority as the need for legal assistance in underrepresented communities continues to grow. Those interested in supporting the clinics can volunteer, donate using the link or QR code below, or spread the word. Together, this strong and compassionate community will continue to make justice accessible to all.
Special thanks to the dedicated volunteers from FY25, whose time and energy have made a meaningful impact in advancing the clinic’s mission:
- Albert Tong
- Alexandra Lao
- Alice Biagini
- Alicia Ding
- Andrew Wu
- Angela Zhao
- Anna Chen
- Anthony Wong
- Athena Zhang
- Beatrice Leong
- Ben Choi
- Bich-Nga Nguyen
- Brandon Wong
- Carrie Nie
- Cecilia Yang
- Chenyi Wang
- Chia-Jung (Colette) Chang
- Christina Seid
- Chunwei “Vicky” Mao
- Collin Li
- Cynthia Park
- Daniel Kang
- Daobo Wang
- David Tse
- Dianna Lam
- Elton Hom
- Emily Kam
- Eric Duan
- Esther Tang
- Eugene Love Kim
- Eugene Seong
- Eve Hongye Mao
- Forrest Sung
- Francis Chin
- Gary Yeung
- George Chin
- Gigi Zhou
- Hazel F. Chin
- Hong (Sophia) Zhang
- Jack Chen
- Jadyn Tiong
- Jameson Xu
- Jaymark Hawlader
- Jennifer Shi
- Jialin Zhu
- Jieman Tan
- Jing Liang
- Joan Martinez
- Johnny Thach
- Judy Lu
- Juliet Romero
- Junjie Wang
- Justin Lee
- Kaila Chen
- Karen Kithan Yau
- Kayla Ramos
- Kenny Ip
- Kevin Hsi
- Kevin Louie
- Kevin Yim
- Kirin Moy
- Kwok Kei Ng
- Leo Shen
- Lily Li
- Lina Lee
- Lingjun (Julia) Chen
- Lingjun Chen
- Lord Chester So
- Lucy Liu
- May Wong
- Megan Gao
- Meghan Liu
- Miao Wen
- Michelle Yang
- Mike Tse
- Ming Chu (Judy) Lee
- Minkyu Park
- Nandar Win Kerr
- Nicholas Loh
- Peter Wei
- Rachel Cohen
- Rachel Lee
- Richard In
- Rita Zheng
- Ruo Yang
- Sam Chen
- Sam Hou
- Shi Tang
- Shirley Luong
- Shuyao (Sherry) Wang
- Shuyao Wang
- Sonia Yogesh Suchak
- Suzie Yu
- Tiancheng “Tim” Lyu
- Tiange (Tim) Chen
- Victoria Cheng
- Vishal Chander
- Wendy Zeng
- Wenhsien (Wendy) Cheng
- Willis Huynh
- Willow Liu
- Woohyeong Cho
- Wooseok Ki
- Xiang Li
- Xiaocen Zhang
- Xing Yang
- Xinran Fan
- Xue Zhang
- Xuxia Zhao
- Yan Lian Kuang-Maoga
- Yan Sin
- Yen-Yi Anderson
- Yi Liu
- Yichun Liu
- Yiming (Roselyn) Chen
- Yiyang (Leo) Shen
- Yuanyuan Li
- Yuhan Chen
- Yvette Wang
- Zekai Lian
Please join us in congratulating the Pro Bono Clinic on this historic milestone and offer our gratitude for their selfless service to the AAPI and immigrant communities in New York. Please consider volunteering for an upcoming Pro Bono Clinic.
