AAPI Power Players 2024

Nina Ahmad believes in the power of people to make positive change and advocates for equity for all. Named one of City & State PA’s 2023 AAPI Power 100, she is the first-ever South Asian American, the first Muslim woman and first immigrant to serve on Philadelphia City Council. She had the honor of being appointed by President Obama to his AAPI Commission and learned the importance of representation as government shapes public policy.

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self to try to understand the diversity of the AAPI community – discovering the wide-ranging cultural differences – and how they all fit together to make us who we are collectively as a community.

Do you have any event/movie/music suggestions for our readers to check out in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month?
I would recommend a book entitled, “The Namesake” by Jumpa Lahiri, to help people better understand the South Asian immigrant experience.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
It has had a very big influence on me. Having lived through the War of Independence for Bangladesh made me realize how precious freedom truly is and how much it’s worth sacrificing for.

What can Philadelphia policymakers do to support the AAPI-community in the short-term? In the long-term?
In the short-term, policymakers can make sure that AAPI hate crimes are addressed, tabulated to show where they are occurring, and to help hold those perpetrating the crimes accountable. In the long-term, I would say to work on resources for the AAPI community that would make city services more accessible, as well as promote cultural competence and awareness to help educate others on differences across the AAPI spectrum.

Sushma Akunuru finds solutions that meet emerging market demands, improve efficiencies, and strengthen the company’s security posture. She champions women in leadership and technology, spearheading Independence Blue Cross’s (IBX) women in technology and analytics event. She shares her expertise with the Wharton Health Care business conference. Akunuru instills STEM in young minds by mentoring and tutoring children. Akunuru serves on the Asian American Chamber of Commerce board and PACT digital transformation advisory board. She chairs the Blue Cross Blue Shield CIO roundtable.

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
Context is key. It changes one’s perception. So, seek context where possible.

Do you have any event/movie/music suggestions for our readers to check out in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month?
The animated movie “Mulan” has had a profound impact on who I have become today – a daughter hoping to make her father proud and defying social norms to carry the responsibility of her family. Another favorite is “Beauty and the Beast”; the two protagonists’ personalities are very similar. They are a great reminder that across humankind, no matter where in geography or history, the moral stories are the same.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
Growing up in an inter-religion family and in a multicultural setting in India, DEI was a way of living and not taught in schools. Each culture taught different methods to connect with God, nature, and people. For example, I grew up worshiping earth as a Goddess and earth’s resources. We now have multi-million-dollar environment/sustainability initiatives to respect and preserve earth’s limited resources. Such principles cut across countries and ethnicities and unite us on singular goals.

What can Philadelphia policymakers do to support the AAPI-community in the short-term? In the long-term?
Short-term: Provide resources, services, and support to help Asian communities deal with fear and trauma caused by crime and ethnic intimidation. Long-term: First, increase AAPI leadership representation in government, boards, and commissions to ensure rules and regulations are influenced by diverse viewpoints. Second, work with community leaders and tailor programs and policies to provide education and career opportunities and support small businesses (more than 50% of AAPIs in Philadelphia are low-income and have issues accessing education and health care).

Rebecca Cordes Chan is the executive director of the Friends of the Rail Park, the organization transforming three miles of historic rail infrastructure into a public greenway in the heart of Philadelphia. Rebecca brings experience in creative placemaking and community development to steer an equitable and inclusive approach to the design and planning of the Rail Park. She received her master’s from the University of Pennsylvania, and bachelor’s from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
Your mindset is key to success.

Do you have any event/movie/music suggestions for our readers to check out in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month?
Grab some hungry friends and head to Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park on Saturdays and Sundays. Attend the panel discussion on Corky Lee’s Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice publication at Asian Arts Initiative on May 17.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
I am bi-racial Chinese American person, and I think a lot about duality. I have a deep appreciation for cultural traditions, an awareness of how we’re creating our future histories in the present tense, and a unique perspective on identity and belonging. One reason I love the Rail Park is that it is a physical and metaphorical bridge between neighborhoods, and, with thoughtful planning and design, a space for Philadelphia’s multifaceted histories and cultures.

What can Philadelphia policymakers do to support the AAPI-community in the short-term? In the long-term?
To support the AAPI-community, and all of Philadelphia’s communities for that matter, the “Curb-Cut Effect” should be integrated into our policymaking. In other words, in the same way that sidewalk curb cuts are a response to the advocacy of people in wheelchairs but also benefit those pushing strollers, pulling suitcases, riding a bike etc., investing in programs or policies that protect the most vulnerable groups amongst us often has a cascading effect that benefits everyone.

Sarun Chan was born in a refugee camp during the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide led by the Khmer Rouge. Raised in low-income neighborhoods throughout South Philadelphia, Sarun has an innate reflective nature on the American, immigrant, and refugee experience. He worked in various community-based organizations and nonprofits for two decades. Sarun’s life’s work is to help bring visibility to the under-represented and bridge resource gaps to improve the quality of life for the underserved.

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
Have the audacity and tenacity to take up space and not silence yourself. There will be times when you are at tables where the people in power and influence do not reflect or represent people that look like you. Amplify the visibility and voice of those under-represented and under-served with zero hesitation.

Do you have any event/movie/music suggestions for our readers to check out in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month?
For an authentic Southeast Asian American experience, I highly suggest visiting the sights, scents, and flavors of the Southeast Asian Market in FDR Park. There are 74 vendors highlighting food, plants, clothing, and more from the Southeast Asian diaspora of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. In an inclusive strategic partnership and relationship building between community, nonprofit, and city agencies, business development, training, and workshops has become an incubator for supporting small immigrant business owners.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
As a queer Southeast Asian and former refugee raised in the U.S., my heritage and identity has shaped my perspectives and lived-experiences. I always felt like a misfit in various spaces where there seemed to be an unspoken “mainstream” or “monolith” way to act or be American, Asian, or gay, for example. I feel most at home when I express my Southeast Asian American-ness and how its unique upbringing helped build my character and grit.

What can Philadelphia policymakers do to support the AAPI-community in the short-term? In the long-term?
Data collection on race with only the option of “Asian” is not enough and can be damaging. Policies in support of the collection AND implementation of disaggregated data by breaking down ethnicity is vital and reveals the disparities and needs of each ethnic group. Implementing disaggregated data collection in health and social services, education, economic development, etc., helps reveal the contrasting needs of the AAPI community and others. Vibrant communities are possible with visibility and voice.

Vivian Chang (she/hers) is the executive director of Asian Americans United (AAU), where she builds AAPI power and youth leadership to challenge oppression. She previously worked in labor organizing and direct voter outreach, organizing multiracial coalitions in battleground states. She holds an MPA from Princeton University and a bachelor’s of science in biological physics and bachelor’s of art in hispanic studies from Carnegie Mellon University. She is a Midwesterner daughter of Taiwanese immigrants and lives in Philadelphia.

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
Seek out Asian American studies classes and don’t be afraid to make the first ask. Fortune favors the bold!

Do you have any event/movie/music suggestions for our readers to check out in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month?
Check out AAU’s events on Instagram @asianamericansunited or via our linktree. I always recommend Vienna Teng and Clazziquai Project for unique sounds.

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
My family is from Taiwan and we embody the practice of democracy. The decades of martial law and political repression make Taiwanese heritage linked with fighting for justice. At the same time that the country is highlighted for being pro-LGBTQ and making advances, it is important to recognize the ongoing issues of indigenous sovereignty, migrant workers’ rights, and true representation in Taiwan.

What can Philadelphia policymakers do to support the AAPI-community in the short-term? In the long-term?
Defend our neighborhoods from destruction to protect public safety and culture: oppose putting an arena in Chinatown. Instead, uplift this 150-year-old community that serves thousands of AAPIs every year. New immigrants, senior citizens, folks with language barriers, low-income families–all of them deserve a safe place to live, work, and pray, free from discrimination and violence. Don’t sacrifice people for billionaires’ profits. No Arena in Chinatown.

Ida Chen was the first Asian female to serve as a judge in Pennsylvania and the first Asian individual to serve on the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission. She was born in Hong Kong and immigrated from Indonesia. Since 1988, she has been serving in the Family Court of the Court of Pleas, in Philadelphia, where she has handled matters involving juvenile delinquency, dependency, custody, child support, paternity, divorce, equitable distribution, and protection from abuse. From 1976 to 1986, she served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. In 1987, she was appointed a commissioner, by the Mayor of Philadelphia, to serve on the Philadelphia Human Relations Commission. From 1985 to 2020, she was a lecturer for Cornell University, the school of industrial and labor relations. From 1984 to the present, she has been an adjunct professor for Temple University School of Law.

With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, and a former chef at some of Philadelphia’s most famous and respected Asian restaurants – Sampan, Buddakan, and Susanna Foo – Chef Sam Chen is making a name for himself with his own restaurant concept: Bao & Bun Studio.

Do you have any event/movie/music suggestions for our readers to check out in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month?
Chef Sam will be the resident chef this May at Triple Bottom Brewing. 

Wei Chen is Asian American United’s (AAU) civic engagement director. In 2011, he started in AAU as the Chinese Youth Organizing Project (CYOP) programs coordinator. In 2014, Wei launched Chinatown Vote which has registered hundreds of voters and supported thousands of Asian voters. In 2020, Wei co-founded Pennsylvania’s first Asian-focused 501(c)4 organization, Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance (API PA). Wei is chair person of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Affairs.

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
Learn history! When I began organizing as a youth at South Philly High School, in response to violence that targeted Asian immigrant students, I felt isolated and often felt like we were starting from ground zero. But as I found AAU and met more leaders in the community, I learned about the decades of struggle that Asian Americans have faced and defeated. Learning this history imbued me with more strength and confidence in our potential.

Do you have any event/movie/music suggestions for our readers to check out in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month?
Check out AAU’s events! All information is located on our Instagram page, @asianamericansunited or our linktree. 

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
I am a Chinese immigrant from the region of Fuzhou, FuJian, which is in southeast China. My heritage has helped me stay resilient after experiencing physical violence and bullying as a student, and it continues to ground my organizing in the community. Every year, I help the Hoyu Folk Culture Festival take place in Chinatown, which celebrates a diaspora community from Fuzhou. I celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with AAU, reaching 29 years this fall!

What can Philadelphia policymakers do to support the AAPI-community in the short-term? In the long-term?
Language justice.
No arena – Save my community from the 76 Place arena. Chinatown deserves to live!

Amanda Chevalier is the owner and president of CFI Workspace, the largest MillerKnoll dealership in the Greater Philadelphia area and the largest certified woman- and minority-owned MillerKnoll dealership. She has been with the company for 23 years. Chevalier serves as an executive board member for the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia and serves on the advisory board of PHL Diversity. She is a graduate of Cornell University, where she earned a bachelor’s of science.

John William Chin is the executive director of Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC), where he oversees all projects and programs. He is a native of Chinatown, Philadelphia and attended Holy Redeemer School and Friends Select School. He serves on the board of several nonprofit organizations, including the mayor’s office of economic opportunity. He is committed to the preservation and growth of Chinatown for new immigrants, as it was a gateway to success for his family.

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
I would like to tell my younger self to prioritize listening to and understanding the needs, concerns, and aspirations of the community I serve. Additionally, actively engaging community members in decision-making processes to ensure that programs and initiatives are truly reflective of their needs and desires is incredibly important for long-term success.

Do you have any event/movie/music suggestions for our readers to check out in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month?
PCDC will be hosting our AAPI Heritage Month events, so please stay updated via our Facebook and Instagram pages!

How has your heritage shaped the person you are today?
My background growing up in Chinatown has allowed me to stay agile and adaptable in the face of evolving challenges and opportunities. One of our community’s strengths is resiliency, and I am grateful for the determined AAPI role models that helped shape my perspective as a leader.

What can Philadelphia policymakers do to support the AAPI-community in the short-term? In the long-term?
Equitable development for all communities, especially for low-income AAPI individuals and families, is the long-term goal for PCDC. In the short term, making AAPI voices heard and ensuring that they are able to participate in decision-making processes is our goal.