On September 19, 2026, the Asian American Law Fund (AALFNY) and AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee co-hosted a community outreach table at RaisingHealth’s 11th Annual Health Empowerment Celebration Event in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The event brought together community organizations and offered free health exams, hot meals, groceries, and other resources for local residents. RaisingHealth, formerly known as the Academy of Medical & Public Health Services, is a nonprofit health service organization founded in 2010 that supports underserved communities through culturally competent health, education, and community-building programs.
Community Outreach and Legal Resources
At the health fair, AABANY volunteers, including Kwok Ng, Co-Chair of the AABANY’s PBCS Committee, and May Wong, past Co-Chair of the PBCS Committee, along with Nandar Win Kerr, AALFNY’s Pro Bono and Grant Consultant, set up a table to pass out important resources, including:
Know-Your-Rights brochures on immigration law in Chinese and Spanish,
Throughout the fair, volunteers shared legal resources, flyers and Pro Bono Clinic promotional materials with more than 200 attendees. Volunteers also distributed Public Charge Guidance Info Sheets about the current changes to the public charge rule that took effect on September 18, 2026. A shout-out to the Asian American Federation (AAF), Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) and Issues Committee (Co-Chairs Vishal Chander and Rachel Lee) for providing training, toolkits and resources that helped volunteers share accurate information with the community members in their native languages.
The Public Charge materials were provided by the New York Immigration Coalition and Asian American Federation. The materials are available in 13 Asian languages: Arabic, Bangla, Burmese, Khmer, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Hindi, Japanese, Karen, Korean, Nepali, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Community members seeking assistance can contact the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs’ hotline at (800) 354-0365 or by calling 311 or the New York State Office of New Americans Hotline at (800) 566-7636. For more information, please visit Public Charge Guidance Info Sheets.
Upcoming Pro Bono Clinics
October 7th – Queens: Interested volunteers should registerhere. 6:30 – 8:30pm, AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
October 21st – Manhattan: Interested volunteers should registerhere. 6:30-8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
November 14th – Brooklyn: Interested volunteers should registerhere. 12:30 – 3:30pm, CPC Brooklyn Community Services, 4101 8th Avenue, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11232
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.
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.
On February 15, 2025, members of AABANY volunteered to station a booth at RaisingHealth’s Pop-Up Health Fair Event in Sunset Park! Many community organizations attended to provide free health exams, serve hot meals, and distribute groceries to participants. RaisingHealth, formerly known as the Academy of Medical & Public Health Services, is a not-for-profit health service organization founded in 2010 that supports the well-being of underserved communities through culturally competent health, education, and community-building programs.
We want to thank AABANY, RaisingHealth, our volunteers for serving the Brooklyn community, and Joseph Eng, President of AABANY, and Counsel at King & Spalding. At the Health Fair, AABANY volunteers (Kwok Ng, Co-Chair of the Pro Bono and Community Service (PBCS) Committee; Gary Yeung, Co-Chair of PBCS Committee; May Wong (Co-chair of the Professional Development Committee); and Francis Chin (member of AABANY) passed out Know-Your-Rights brochures about immigration law in Chinese and Spanish, upcoming pro bono clinic flyers, and AABANY’s legal referral and information service. Our participation serves as a commitment to community lawyering and to address current immigration rights issues, such as constitutional rights, ICE raids, and fraudulent schemes that target innocent and vulnerable immigrants. By utilizing our legal knowledge, language skills, and resources, we aim to build relationships with local communities and advocate for policy and social changes in the law.
In addition, please consider volunteering at the following pro bono clinics:
Queens clinic – April 2, 2025 [Queens link here], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
Manhattan clinic – April 16, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
Brooklyn clinic – May 10, 2025, from 12:00 – 3:00pm, location tbd
Moving forward, registrations for these clinics will be posted on AABANY’s calendar. Please be patient with us during this transition. Thank you!
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.
On September 17th, the Professional Development Committee (PDC) Vice Chairs Maggie Poon and Ona Lu hosted the official launch of their “Hello, It’s Me!” Wellness Podcast.
Attendees gathered at the Sterling Cafe located on the 3rd floor of the offices of A&O Shearman, some dressed in traditional Mid-Autumn Festival attire, and everyone enjoyed light bites and drinks while networking with one another.
PDC Co-Chair Nandar Win Kerr started the program with opening remarks, thanking event host Ashley Shan, Co-Vice President of Programs and Operations and Associate at A&O Shearman, for providing the lovely venue. Nandar then gave the floor to Beatrice Leong and Celina Lee, who introduced themselves.
Beatrice, a former legal intern at the Attorney General’s Office for the State of Connecticut, began her legal career with aspirations to become a prosecutor. However, her path took a turn when she shifted to practicing divorce and family law. Celina, on the other hand, started as an investment banker and corporate lawyer but now dedicates her life to career coaching, helping others find purpose and fulfillment in their professional lives. Their diverse career trajectories set the stage for a thoughtful discussion about life’s unexpected twists and the importance of mental health.
After these brief introductions, Ona Lu, Products Counsel at Uber, and Maggie Poon, Contracts Counsel at Equinox, hosts of the wellness podcast, introduced themselves and treated the attendees to a short 20-minute video excerpt of the second episode in the podcast series, featuring Beatrice Leong.
The conversation started with rapid-fire questions to help the audience get to know Beatrice better, followed by a deeper dive into her experiences. Beatrice opened up about her personal heartbreak. After discovering that her husband had been unfaithful, following a relationship that spanned thirteen years, she described the experience as her “villain origin story.” Up until then, Beatrice had wanted to pursue a career in prosecution, even landing a role at the District Attorney’s Office. However, the pain of betrayal and heartbreak eventually led her to shift her career focus from prosecution to divorce law. Rather than being consumed by her heartbreak, she channeled it into her professional passion for helping others navigate the difficult and emotional process of divorce.
“Why divorce law?” she is often asked. Her answer is simple yet profound: “I like to help people going through what I have gone through; I want to feel like I am doing something important.” For Beatrice, the most rewarding part of her work is helping her clients see light at the end of the tunnel, much like she did during her own personal journey. To hear the full podcast, go here.
Celina had a different journey of mental health counseling and recovery. She recounted how she had dedicated her whole life to “getting good grades” even if it meant skipping parties and “securing a good job” – even if it meant a job that she wasn’t passionate about. In retrospect, she had been motivated by fear: fear of failure and of not making her parents and peers proud.
She expressed regret that although she had achieved prestige and a well-paying job, she did not quite feel fulfilled. “I had won the race, but I felt like I was in the wrong race.”
She entered a dark period in her life where she felt lost in her career and didn’t know what to do. Luckily, after receiving mental health coaching, she developed a support network.
She started to focus on herself and not on what other people wanted her to do. She started her “Live Your Dream” podcast where she regularly reflects on her former life and how she found fulfillment. To hear the full podcast of Celina’s interview on “Hello, It’s Me,” go here.
Both Beatrice and Celina agreed that everyone needs a support network; too many Asians don’t seek support and don’t prioritize their mental health. Those brought up in Asian cultures were never taught the importance of mental health. Lack of support can really weigh one’s mental health down and ultimately makes it harder to focus on work and overcome challenges.
The event wrapped up with closing remarks by Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director. He spoke about the benefits ofjoining AABANY as a member and encouraged attendees to register for upcoming events such as the October bi-monthly pro bono clinic in Queens on October 2, and the AABANY Fall Conference on October 12.
Special thanks to Professional Development Committee Co-chairs Nandar Win Kerr and May Wong for organizing this insightful event.
On August 24, 2024, AABANY participated in a health and community fair called “Health Empowerment Celebration” organized by RaisingHealth in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. It was their third fair, and it included more than 40 community partners. They provided programs and services, such as free health screenings and resources, food, arts activities, and cultural performances. Kwok Ng (Co-Chair of the Pro Bono and Community Service Committee), May Wong (Co-Chair of Professional Development Committee), and Nandar Winn Kerr (Co-chair of Professional Development Committee) volunteered to provide immigration rights brochures, flyers about the new changes to medical coverage for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, Brooklyn Pro Bono Legal Clinic flyers, and legal referral sheets.
Starting August 1, 2024, DACA recipients are now eligible for subsidized coverage through the Essential Plan. After November 1, 2024, they will be eligible for Qualified Health Plans. For more information, please visit – https://nystateofhealth.ny.gov/
On the same day, AABANY also participated in the Immigrant Rights Fair co-organized by Committee of 100 in downtown Flushing. Read that blog post here.
We are honored to have participated at these events, to raise awareness about immigrant rights and health benefits, and to offer resources to those who need valuable and free legal advice and assistance. Thank you to volunteers and our community partners!
Please join us at these upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
September 18, 2024 [Manhattan], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street, NY, NY 10002
October 2, 2024 [Queens], from 6:00 – 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave, 2nd Floor, Flushing, NY 11355
On November 1st, 2023, AABANY held its Queens Pro Bono Legal Clinic at the AAFE (Asian Americans for Equality) One Flushing Community Center. The clinic met with 15 clients, coming in with questions about criminal, housing, immigration, and family law. Volunteer attorneys and interpreters patiently addressed client concerns, answering questions and connecting them to lawyers through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS). We are extremely grateful to have volunteers willing to start early at 6pm and stay beyond 8:30pm to finish speaking with the clients.
We thank the AABANY Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee and AAFE for organizing and hosting this event. We also thank Council Member Sandra Ung for partnering with us to make this service available to the community.
Thank you to our volunteers for supporting the clinic. Your time and dedication are essential for delivering crucial assistance to individuals seeking legal guidance. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to:
Volunteer Attorneys:
Beatrice Leong
Casey Lee
Eugene Kim
Gary Yeung
Kevin Hsi
Lina Lee
May Li
May Wong
Shirley Luong
Interpreters and Coordinators:
Daniel Kang
Melodie Han
Yiming (Roselyn) Chen
Nuala Naranjo (AAFE)
Elton Ye (AAFE)
Maria Bergeron (AAFE)
Sally Lin (AAFE)
Here is a list of upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
Manhattan, November 15, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, at AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street. Sign up by 12pm, November 10 to volunteer.
Brooklyn, December 2, from 12:30pm to 3:30pm, at Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc., 4101 8th Avenue. Sign up by 12pm, November 27 to volunteer.
Manhattan, December 20, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, at AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street. Sign up by 12pm, December 15 to volunteer.
Queens, January 10, 2024 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave. Sign up by 12pm, January 5 to volunteer.
Click here for more information about our Pro Bono Clinics and the PBCS Committee. Or sign up for the next BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch) Sidebar Meeting on November 16 to learn more about the Clinic and the Committee. Go here for more details and to register.
On September 6th, 2023, AABANY held its Queens Pro Bono Legal Clinic at the AAFE One Flushing Community Center. The clinic met with 31 clients, coming in with questions about housing, immigration, family law, and civil litigation. Volunteer attorneys and interpreters patiently addressed client concerns, answering questions and connecting them to lawyers through AABANY’s Legal Referral and Information Service (LRIS). We are extremely grateful to have volunteers willing to start early at 6pm and stay beyond 8:30pm to finish speaking with the clients.
We thank the AABANY Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee and Asian Americans for Equality for organizing and hosting this event. We also thank Council Member Sandra Ung for partnering with us to make this service available to the community.
Thank you to our volunteers for supporting the clinic. Your time and dedication are essential for delivering crucial assistance to individuals seeking legal guidance. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to:
Volunteer Attorneys:
Richard In Lina Lee Beatrice Leong Lord Chester So May Wong Gary Yeung
Interpreters and Coordinators:
Gabriel Hisugan Jocelyn Jao Willow Liu Nuala Naranjo-Odoherty
Here is a list of upcoming Pro Bono Clinics:
● Brooklyn, October 14, from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm, at Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc., 4101 8th Avenue. Sign up here to volunteer.
● Manhattan, October 18, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, and AAFE Community Center, 111 Norfolk Street. Sign up here to volunteer.
● Queens, November 1, from 6:30pm – 8:30pm, at AAFE One Flushing Community Center, 133-29 41st Ave 2nd Floor. Sign up here to volunteer.
Click here for more information about our Pro Bono Clinics and the PBCS Committee.
On March 31, AABANY’s Anti-Asian Violence Task Force, under the leadership of Chair Elaine Chiu, who is also a Professor at St. John’s University School of Law, organized and led a court watching event at New York State Supreme Court to observe the sentencing of Jarrod Powell, who pled guilty to manslaughter in the 2021 killing of Yao Pan Ma. Powell admitted that his act was motivated by racial hatred against Yao Pan Ma, and Powell was convicted of manslaughter as a hate crime. He will serve 22 years in jail plus five years of post-release supervision.
More than 50 Asian New Yorkers came out today to #rememberyaopanma at the sentencing of his killer, Jarrod Powell. Together we helped our communities be seen and heard and not forgotten. Congrats to the team at Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for their commitment to these cases. Asian American Bar Association of New York thanks @donblee and @waiyeechan of Homecrest Community Services and Ansen Tang of United Chinese Association of Brooklyn. A big shout out to @maywong of the Pro Bono Committee!
Jeffrey Gu, a member of AABANY’s Anti-Asian Violence Task Force, wrote on LinkedIn:
The raw necessity of just showing up has never been more evident. Over 50 Asian American community members showed up this morning to #rememberYaoPanMa at the sentencing of his killer.
It is not easy hearing victim impact statements and wondering whether, under different circumstances, it could have been your colleague, or friend, or family member viciously attacked on account of their race. The killer admitted in his plea that he targeted Mr. Ma because he was Asian American. There is no amount of justice that can restore what was taken from Mr. Ma’s family: the loss of a father taken from his children, a husband from his wife, a son from his elderly mother.
As a community, what we can do is at least show up and refuse to let the stories of the victims of anti-Asian American hate fade away. Follow Asian American Bar Association of New York for future court watching and community gatherings.
Jeffrey is Co-Founder of Make Us Visible, a group advocating for AAPI history to be taught in school from K-12 across the country.
Hannah Yu, Chief of the Hate Crimes Unit in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, wrote on LinkedIn:
While this sentencing is the end of this sad chapter, the work of our Hate Crimes Unit continues. We are dedicated to serving every community in Manhattan and ensuring that everyone feels safe to be who they are. It is my sincere hope that the Ma family will continue to heal and find peace.
Her post included the Manhattan District Attorney’s Press Release on the sentencing that included the following quote from D.A. Bragg:
“Mr. Ma’s death was the result of a despicable racially motivated attack. His family endured an agonizing eight months in the hospital while the devoted husband and father of two remained in a vegetative state, before succumbing to his injuries on December 31, 2021,” said District Attorney Bragg. “New York is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and no one should have to fear that they may be in danger because of their background. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that New Yorkers of all origins feel safe.”
AABANY thanks everyone who came out for this court watching event which epitomized the importance of the AAPI community showing up and standing up to speak out against AAPI hate. We thank Prof. Chiu for her leadership and Jeffrey Gu for his support and dedication. We thank Chief ADA Hannah Yu and the Manhattan DA’s office for their continuing fight to seek justice in hate crimes against the AAPI community and all targeted communities.
On October 21, 2022, Adhikaar, a community organization for New York’s Nepali-speaking community, hosted its sold-out Fall Utsav at the Queens Museum. Rina Gurung, Board Chair of Adhikaar (and one of the co-chairs of AABANY’s Government Services and Public Interest (GSPI) Committee), opened the ceremony by thanking the Adhikaar Board and its staff for spearheading a wonderful organization that empowers the Nepali-speaking community by addressing social rights, workers’ rights, and women’s rights. Gurung also gave a shout-out to her work colleagues and AABANY.
Kevin Hsi, co-chair of GSPI, and May Wong, co-chair of the Pro Bono & Community Service (PBCS) Committee, were also in attendance at Fall Utsav to support Rina and Adhikaar. AABANY’s GSPI and PBCS Committees wish the best to Pabitra Khati Benjamin, Executive Director of Adhikaar, who steps down from her leadership role at the end of October.
Moving forward, PBCS hopes to bridge a partnership with Adhikaar to secure Nepali-speaking clients for PBCS upcoming legal clinics! For more information about AABANY’s PBCS, please contact [email protected].
In other news, AABANY’s ties with other Asian American community organizations are as strong as ever. AABANY member and Prosecutors Committee co-founder Kin Ng attended the United Chinese Association of Brooklyn’s (UCA) 20th Anniversary Gala to accept the Community Leader of the Year Award. PBCS partners with UCA to host its pro bono clinics. Register for the December 10th Brooklyn PBCS pro bono clinic here. Read more about AABANY members celebrating with Kin at the UCA Gala here.
Next event coming up that supports AAPI Community-Based Organizations: 11/17 – MinKwon hosting its Virtual Anniversary Gala with NAKASEC
