Executive Director, Rae Jin, attends the 19th Annual Asian American Awards to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander leaders who have fought for API presence in the arts, entertainment and culture.
This year's 19th Annual awards ceremony and Unforgettable Gala was hosted by Character Media, which for those who don’t know was established in 1990 and is the oldest and ONLY print magazine covering Asian Americans in entertainment. For over 30 years, Character Media has strived to make a place for Asian Americans in all arenas of entertainment and has been the spearhead in the battle for representation in the industry.
The theme for this event was “RISE” which speaks to the tenacity and endurance of AAPI communities in the face of adversity endured over the past 2 years. There was widespread Anti-Asian hate crimes across America during a global pandemic and the AAPI community not only survived, but fought back by speaking out against racism, protecting their loved ones and honoring their shared cultural heritage.
This year, the Unforgettable Gala paid tribute to these valiant efforts. It was a wonderful evening dedicated to the acknowledgment of the talented voices, rich in diversity, and incredible achievements of the AAPI Community.
Executive Director, Rae Jin, attended the event with the organization that put together the #StopAsianHate rally here in Koreatown--a huge event that brought all Angelenos together to support one amazing cause. She met Director, Destin Daniel Cretton, and cast of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings (photo below) as well as Dante Basco who played the one an only “RU-FI-O” from the film Hook. She also got to connect with Daniel Dae Kim (photo above) from Hawaii-Five-O and Lost who has always used his voice and platform to bring awareness to the AAPI communities.
There is a lot more work to be done against racism and xenophobia in the world and we are so very proud to have Rae Jin of Anderson Munger Family YMCA representing our entire LA Y association in such an extraordinary event to celebrate these achievements within the Asian American Community.
To learn more about the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles AAPI Leadership Network (AAPILN), how to join the AAPILN or volunteer opportunities, visit ymcaLA.org/aapi.
