FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 3, 2023
AJSOCAL Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary Throughout 2023
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Activities Include A Community Dance in Alhambra at the Lai Lai Ballroom with Brandon Tsay and the Tsay Family
LOS ANGELES, CA —Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) commemorates its 40th Anniversary with a series of year-long events that includes a celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Among its May activities is a very special public event, A Community Dance, in Alhambra, CA on Saturday, May 20 at the Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio. The event is a partnership with Brandon Tsay, the Lunar New Year hero who disarmed the mass shooter at his family’s dance studio. AJSOCAL, Brandon and the Tsay Family will co-host the free afternoon of dance, food, and music that highlights the pride, strength and resilience of the AAPI community.
Connie Chung Joe, CEO, AJSOCAL said, “2023 is AJSOCAL’s 40th anniversary milestone year. For May’s AAPI Heritage Month, we join the residents of Monterey Park and Alhambra for celebration and healing in the wake of the Lunar New Year tragedy to show the world that we are proud of all of our Asian ancestries, languages and current experiences as Americans. A Community Dance will be an afternoon of joy and we encourage all community residents, AAPIs, allies, family and friends to be there in solidarity.”
The afternoon will include an open tea dance for all ages along with performances by the dancers of the Lai Lai Ballroom and Star Ballroom as well as the Top Shelf Vocal Group with more to be announced on www.ajsocal.org. A Community Dance is title-sponsored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, First District. Support is provided by the Panda Restaurant Group, Bopomofo Café, and Phoenix Food Boutique with more to come. More info at https://www.ajsocal.org/40forward-lailaiballroom-community-dance/.
Saturday, May 20, 2023
Lai Lai Ballroom & Studio and adjacent outdoor areas
121 S Garfield Ave. Alhambra, CA 91801
3:30pm – 7pm; Admission is free.
MORE AAPI HERITAGE MONTH ACTIVITIES
- On May 11, AJSOCAL is co-hosting a book launch party for Korean American author Julia Lee whose novel Biting the Hand, is about forging an identity in a nation of boundaries. The event is at 5:30pm at Village Well Books and Coffee in Culver City. Admission is free. More info at https://www.ajsocal.org/event/book-launch-party/
- On May 20 from 10:30am-3:30pm in Monterey Park, just prior to A Community Dance, AJSOCAL will offer an expanded session of its free citizenship clinic, one of the most valued legal resources in the community. Citizenship lawyers, experts and advocates can offer safe, confidential 1:1 guidance in Asian languages. The event will be held at the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library. Appointments must be made in advance. Contact AJSOCAL through their free helplines at (213) 973-6140 or https://www.ajsocal.org/legal-victim-help/citizenship/
- Throughout May, bystander intervention training sessions are offered in-person and virtually. The training teaches AAPIs and allies how to safely stop incidents of hatred from happening or escalating. Attendance is free and requires advance registration at https://www.ajsocal.org/bystander-intervention-trainings/.
- Every Tuesday and Thursday, AJSOCAL’s Orange County hosts free citizenship application workshops to verify eligibility for citizenship, complete the citizenship application, and prepare a fee waiver request for individuals who qualify. USCIS-issued study materials are available to prepare applicants for the test and interview. Appointments must be made in advance through the free helplines at (213) 973-6140 or https://www.ajsocal.org/legal-victim-help/citizenship/
- Every week, free legal clinics are available regarding eviction, tenant disputes, or landlord issues: every Friday at AJSOCAL’s Orange County office; every first Thursday at the Westminster Family Resource Center; and every fourth Tuesday at the Alhambra Civic Center Library. Appointments must be made in advance through the in-language helplines listed on https://www.ajsocal.org/housing-preservation/
- Every week, free clinics are available for legal assistance, domestic violence survivors, family law, and immigration services. The schedule is: online every first Thursday at the Westminster Family Resource Center and in-person every second Thursday at the Alhambra Civic Center Library. Appointments must be made in advance through the free helplines at (213) 977-7500 or https://www.ajsocal.org/contact/
- And throughout May, AJSOCAL will be at community festivals and celebrations. The full calendar is at https://www.ajsocal.org/events/month/
THE 40th ANNIVERSARY: 40FORWARD
Since its founding, AJSOCAL has been a leader in the civil rights movement for Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Throughout 2023, AJSOCAL will gather leaders, neighbors and change-makers to be further seen, better known, and even more solidly unified. Anniversary activities are created to inspire forward momentum in the social justice movement.
40FORWARD ACTIVITIES
- July 20 will be a day of service for volunteers in Los Angeles and Orange County to help assemble care and safety kits that will be distributed to AAPIs throughout the year. To participate, pre-register as an AJSOCAL Movement Builder. More info is at https://www.ajsocal.org/movement-builders/
- October 12 will be the culmination of the anniversary year. The 40th annual gala celebration at the Vibiana in Downtown LA will bring together hundreds of leaders of industry, social justice, entertainment, arts, and culture. This has been a cornerstone event in the AAPI community for decades. By-invitation only, the gala is now accepting sponsorships at https://www.ajsocal.org/40forward-moments-to-movement/
Most recently, on April 24, AJSOCAL partnered with the LA Chefs for Human Rights on a multi-course dinner created by seven of LA’s most exciting AAPI chefs at the acclaimed restaurant Cassia in Santa Monica. Award-winning journalist, producer and television host, Lisa Ling, and celebrated actor, director and producer, Daniel Wu, were honored with the Ruby Hero Award in recognition of their fight against anti-Asian hate. Earlier this spring on March 30, pro bono lawyers and volunteers who support the organization competed in a spirited virtual game night. Over 300 volunteers have given over 5000 hours to help AJSOCAL meet its mission.
THE AAPI MOVEMENT THEN AND NOW
AJSOCAL was founded in 1983 by attorney Stewart Kwoh who worked on the historic hate crime case with the family of Vincent Chin after his horrific murder. Then called the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, AJSOCAL helped spark the ever-growing AAPI civil rights movement by encouraging individuals and organizations to demand social justice and equity.
With its staff of lawyers and experts, AJSOCAL has shaped policy and public programs that strengthen the AAPI community. Among them have been hate crime laws, anti-sweatshop labor standards, and Asian language accessibility. During its 40th Anniversary year, AJSOCAL is focused on combatting Asian Invisibility through a series of advocacy initiatives that includes disaggregating population data and expanding bilingual social services. The full list of policy priorities in 2023 can be found here: https://www.ajsocal.org/advocacy/.
The organization simultaneously works on an individual level within the community in seven Asian languages by serving over 15,000 low-income clients with free legal guidance on critical issues such as immigration, anti-Asian hate, eviction protection and access to healthcare.
AJSOCAL’s 40Forward year is made possible by Ruby Sponsors Bank of America, Bird Marella, Chung Interviivos Trust, LA Co. Supervisor of District 1 Hilda L. Solis, Nielsen, Plum Spring Foundation, SoCalGas, UPS, Wells Fargo, The Walt Disney Company/ABC7, and Flame Sponsor Walzer Melcher & Yoda.
ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (AJSOCAL) is part of the national affiliation of five leading organizations advocating for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all. The four other affiliation members are: Advancing Justice - AAJC (Washington, DC), Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and Advancing Justice – Chicago.
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MEDIA CONTACTS: Liza Ameen, lameen@ajsocal.org and Hanna Chea, hchea@ajsocal.org