Tag: manhattan

Posted on

AABANY Women’s Committee Hosted: Nourish Your Creativity

On the evening of February 21, the AABANY Women’s Committee hosted an art night in downtown Manhattan called “Nourish Your Creativity.” This gathering aimed to inspire creativity and bring participants together for a fun-filled evening.

Eight enthusiastic participants arrived, excited to explore their artistic sides. They had the freedom to choose their desired art activities, allowing each person to have a personalized experience.

Five participants chose to paint pots, transforming them into beautiful vases and cups. As they worked, laughter and friendly chatter filled the air. They shared techniques and encouragement, making the experience even more enjoyable.

Meanwhile, three participants opted for oil pastels, creating vibrant drawings that showcased their unique styles. The atmosphere buzzed with creativity as they immersed themselves in their artwork, allowing their imaginations to flourish.

Beyond the art, the event fostered connection. Participants spent quality time together, sharing stories and inspiration throughout the evening.

After the art session, the group headed to Chinatown for a delightful dinner. Surrounded by the vibrant atmosphere, participants engaged in lively discussions about food, art, and life.

As the night came to an end, participants eagerly looked forward to the next gathering, excited to continue exploring their creativity together. Until then, the joy of this event will linger, reminding us all of the magic found in art and companionship.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event, and thank you so much to the Women’s Committee for organizing. To learn more about the Women’s Committee and how you can get more involved, please click here.

Posted on

In the News: Congratulations to Judge L. Austin D’Souza on His Appointment as Supervising Judge of Manhattan Civil Court

L-R: (top row): Judge Carmen A. Pacheco of Kings County (Brooklyn) Civil Court, Judge Edwin I. Novillo of Queens County Criminal Court, and Judge L. Austin D’Souza of New York County (Manhattan) Civil Court, (bottom row) Judge Ira R. Greenberg of Queens County Civil, Judge Taisha L. Chambers of Bronx County Civil Court, and Judge Frances Ortiz of New York County Housing Court.

Judge L. Austin D’Souza has been appointed as the Supervising Judge of the Manhattan Civil Court, succeeding Judge Shahabuddeen Ally. This significant and prominent elevation attests to Judge D’Souza’s strong leadership and dedication to public service.

Judge D’Souza is part of a group of new judicial leaders appointed across New York City, including Hon. Frances Ortiz, Hon. Ira Greenberg, Hon. Edwin Novillo, Hon. Taisha Chambers, and Hon.  Carmen Pacheco, each taking charge of key courts in Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn.

Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas praised the appointees for their “sound judgment, fairness, integrity, innovative spirit, and commitment to public service.” First Deputy Chief Administrative Judge Norman St. George also recognized their innovative and adaptable approaches to addressing the challenges of the legal system.

Judge D’Souza, an active member of AABANY, has consistently demonstrated a commitment to creating diversity and advancing the legal profession. His involvement with AABANY shows his passion for community engagement, further reflecting the qualities that make him a renowned and well-respected leader in the judiciary. Please join AABANY in congratulating Judge D’Souza on this noteworthy accomplishment and wishing him every success in his future judicial endeavors.

To read the full article in the New York Law Journal, click here.

Posted on

AABANY Intellectual Property Committee Hosts VR Gaming Experience

On Monday, November 4, AABANY’s Intellectual Property Committee hosted a Virtual Reality Gaming event at Tidal Force VR, a small tech startup located in the Flatiron District of Manhattan. 

While some attendees had prior experience with VR, others did not. Participants played in two games: the first was a space-themed game, where they had to defend against a siege of alien invaders. The second game was a three-versus-three team event, in which the attendees split up and faced off against one another.

Overall, the event was a lively and enjoyable experience for everyone, and attendees were able to learn about and experience VR firsthand while also connecting with one another. The IP Committee is always looking for new and exciting ways for members to develop relationships. Look out for more fun IP Committee events in the new year! 

Thanks to the IP Committee for hosting this event, as well as everyone who was in attendance. To learn more about the IP Committee, please click here.

Posted on

Chinatown Manpower Project Invites AABANY to Discuss Business Entity Formation and Partnership Agreements

We would like to thank the Chinatown Manpower Project (CMP) for the opportunity to present again at their business workshop on October 26, 2024, which focused on forming business entities and partnership agreements. We extend our significant gratitude to May Wong, Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee and former Co-Chair of the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, for her insightful and engaging discussion on these topics and for providing valuable referrals for entrepreneurs aspiring to establish a business in New York City.

Many immigrants arrive in the United States seeking better economic prospects and face barriers to traditional employment, such as language differences and lack of local networks. CMP (https://www.cmpny.org/) offers employment support to people from all walks of life, including immigrants and second-generation immigrants. CMP also hosts comprehensive entrepreneurial workshops and seminars, provides one-on-one consulting services to small business clients, and refers clients to partnering resource organizations for government assistance, legal consultation, financial literacy, and micro-lending. 

AABANY collaborates with CMP  to create this legal workshop to help small business owners and the next entrepreneurs. AABANY also helps advise small business owners and young entrepreneurs at our upcoming legal clinics. We invite you to join AABANY’s upcoming Pro Bono Clinics taking place on: 

November 20th, 2024 at 6:00pm – Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic at AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk St, New York, NY 10002. Sign up here to volunteer – https://forms.gle/SD2VMY8X6yE4vsxW9

December 4th, 2024 at 6:00pm – Queens Pro Bono Clinic at AAFE, One Flushing Community Center,  133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355. Sign up here to volunteer- https://forms.gle/3LeM9KtqMn8CcNUc6

To learn more about AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service Committee and their activities, go to probono.aabany.org.

Photo credit to Nandar Win Kerr

Posted on

IP Committee Hosts Dinner at Charoen Krung

On July 22, the IP Committee met for a tasty Thai dinner at Charoen Krung in Manhattan.  Attendees enjoyed a wide variety of classic Thai dishes.  The dinner welcomed many new faces into the community, from law students to interns, to experienced private practice and in-house attorneys.  Attendees shared about how they were spending their summers, as well as about projects they were tackling at work.  The dinner ended with delicious Thai desserts including mango sticky rice.     

Thank you to everyone who joined!  The IP Committee always welcomes new members to its events!

To learn more about the IP Committee and how you can get involved, go here.

Posted on

Thank You to Our Volunteers at the August 21st Pro Bono Clinic in Manhattan

Thank you to AABANY volunteers, attorneys, interpreters, and law students who came to help AABANY’s Pro Bono Clinic in Manhattan. Our volunteers spent the night meeting with 14 clients on issues ranging from housing, divorce, immigration, and criminal law. 

The clinic saw some returning clients as well as new ones. Each client was assigned to an attorney who diligently advised them on their legal issues. Law students who had the opportunity to shadow the attorneys took notes, while interpreters that spoke Cantonese and Mandarin helped overcome any language barriers between the client and attorney. Many clients left feeling satisfied and confident on what to do next with their cases. Clients also took away additional AABANY information and resources they could use if needed.

Thank you again to everyone, including volunteer attorneys: 

  • Beatrice Leong
  • Chenyi Wang
  • Collin Li
  • Jieman Tan
  • Justin Lee
  • Kwok Kei Ng
  • Meghan Liu
  • Nicholas Loh

Thank you also to our non-attorney volunteers:

  • Alexandra Lao
  • Alice Biagini
  • Chia-Jung (Colette) Chang
  • Emily Kam
  • Junjie Wang
  • Willis Huynh
  • Xing Yang
  • Yi Liu

If you would like to participate in future Pro Bono clinics to help serve the community, please join us at these upcoming events:

Manhattan Pro Bono Clinic on September 18, 2024 at AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk St New York, New York 10002. Sign up here – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeFnSP5eXseWRky_LJe1sXraQJHeJ0-xbUC6BOn3EpPNzf5Sg/viewform

Queens Pro Bono Clinic on October 2, 2024 at AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355. Sign up here – https://forms.gle/5PjG8A73EE1XENyV9

Thank you to the Pro Bono & Community Service Committee for organizing the Pro Bono Clinics. To learn more about the Committee and to find out how you can get involved, visit probono.aabany.org.

Posted on

AABANY’s Membership Committee Hosts a Lobster Boat Cruise at Sunset

On Thursday, June 27th, the Asian American Bar Association of New York’s Membership Committee hosted a Lobster Boat Night.

Attendees exchanged their legal briefs for lobster bibs as the cruise set sail with a perfect blend of cool breezes and clear skies. As the Manhattan skyline stretched out before everyone, the Statue of Liberty came into view and provided a majestic scene for the attendees to snap tons of photos.

With the sun setting and the city lights twinkling in the distance, everyone enjoyed cool summer drinks and indulged in delicious lobster rolls. Attendees shared stories, cracked jokes, had a blast, and made memories that will outlast the lobster season!

To find out more about the Membership Committee, please click here.

Posted on

AABANY’s Labor & Employment Law Committee Hosts Summer Sichuan Night at CHILI

On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, AABANY’s Labor & Employment Law Committee hosted their Summer Sichuan Night at the restaurant CHILI in Midtown Manhattan.

The dinner at CHILI proved to be a cozy and inviting experience and brought new and old members together to mingle over a spicy family-style Sichuan meal. Attendees networked and mingled throughout the evening, learning about each other’s backgrounds, careers, and professional experiences. The Labor & Employment Law Committee collected a group of individuals from far and wide, a reflection of AABANY’s diverse membership, with attendees hailing from as close as Brooklyn, to as far as Shenzhen, China.

Thank you to the Labor & Employment Law Committee for planning and hosting Sichuan Night as well as everyone who attended and enjoyed conversing over delicious Sichuan cuisine on a hot summer day. The Labor and Employment Law Committee continues to welcome new members and hopes to see many old and new faces at future events!

To find out more about the Labor & Employment Law Committee, please click here. 

Posted on

Thank You to Our Volunteers at the June Pro Bono Clinics!

Thank you AABANY, PBCS, AAFE, and our volunteers who helped out at the June 5th (Queens) and June 19th (Manhattan) pro bono legal clinics!

At the Queens clinic, our volunteers met with 20 clients and discussed issues involving housing, immigration, criminal, and consumer debt matters.  At the Manhattan clinic, our volunteers met with 10 clients and discussed issues involving housing, immigration, and personal injury claims. Volunteer attorneys and interpreters patiently addressed client concerns, answered questions and connected them to lawyers through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS). 

Thank you to all our volunteers for dedicating your valuable time to our pro bono clinics, especially during the Juneteenth holiday.  Your compassion and dedication are deeply valued and truly make a positive impact on the community we serve.  By offering services in both Mandarin and Cantonese, we aim to continue to provide support for those who may face linguistic or cultural barriers when seeking access to legal services. 

Please join us in our upcoming clinics:

July 13, 2024 [Brooklyn link here], from 12:00 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232

July 17, 2024 [Manhattan link here], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002

August 7, 2024 [Queens link here], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355

Posted on

AABANY Marches in the Third Annual AAPI Cultural and Heritage Month Parade in Midtown Manhattan


Photo credit: AABANY

On Sunday, May 19th, 2024, AABANY members and friends marched together in the Third Annual AAPI Cultural and Heritage Parade in Midtown Manhattan.

Around noon, our group gathered on West 44th Street and Sixth Ave at a designated meeting spot to line up for the parade. As everyone was arriving, the street filled with people anticipating the start of the procession, many practicing their dances, taking pictures with their groups, and enjoying conversation with the organizations around them.


Photo credit: Nandar Win Kerr

As we did in last year’s parade, we wore matching red t-shirts, the front showcasing the AABANY logo and the back printed with a large QR-code that directs onlookers to the AABANY Pro Bono website. To attract more attention, AABANY President Joseph Eng, along with his son Max and friend Alfred Kurtz, brought a Chinese lion head and a drum to perform a traditional Chinese Lion Dance during the parade. While waiting for the parade to begin, other marchers took pictures with the lion and enjoyed the music and dance as Joe, Max, and Alfred practiced for their performance. They also taught any willing members of our group how to do a lion dance and play the drums.


Photo credit: AABANY

Around 1:00 pm, we saw the floats in the front begin to move, excitement rising as our time to take the street drew near. Once we reached the entry point on Sixth Avenue, the drum was beating and the sun was shining, making it the perfect time to walk along the avenue with pride. Those who were shown how to perform the lion dance took turns with Joe and Alfred to operate the lion costume. Others helped Max keep the drum beat as our group marched. Everyone was enjoying the 10-block march, especially as we got to see the performances of other groups and the costumes they dressed up in, including an eye-catching panda suit.


Photo credit: AABANY

After the parade, several of the participants enjoyed a family-style lunch at Tang Pavilion. The wait for the parade to start, followed by the march, especially for the lion dancers, took more energy out of us than expected, and the delicious meal at Tang Pavilion hit the spot.


Photo credit: AABANY

Thank you to the AABANY members and friends who celebrated AAPI Heritage Month by marching with us in this parade! For more photos and videos of our  group at the event, check out the album here.

Proudly powered by WordPress