Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
This year, our theme for AANHPI Heritage Month is Empowering Communities, Advancing Justice, and it will be informed by the topics for the 2024 YWCA Racial Justice Challenge, providing an opportunity to explore how women have advanced equity for each topic of the Racial Justice Challenge and what YWCA is doing to advance equity in communities across America. From business leaders to civic leaders to YWCA Leaders, we are excited to highlight some truly incredible changemakers who are advancing justice and building a more equitable world.
Helen Zia
Helen Zia, a Chinese American journalist and activist for Asian American and LGBTQ+ rights is outspoken on issues ranging from human rights and peace to women’s rights and countering hate, violence, and homophobia in service to the mission of achieving bodily autonomy for all. Learn more
Cecilia Chung
Meet Cecilia Chung, an activist for LGBTQ+ rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, health advocacy, and social justice. This amazing trans woman sets her intensions on helping all women and queer people achieve the promise of bodily autonomy. Learn more
Patsy Matsu Mink
The first woman of color and the first Asian American woman elected to Congress, former Rep. Patsy Mink was no stranger to being first. Patsy Mink was an American attorney and politician from Hawaii who served in Congress for 24 years, and today, we are proud to honor her as part of our AANHPI Heritage Month celebration for her work on legislation advancing women's rights and education. Learn more
Juliet K. Choi
The YWCA movement prides itself on empowering women to empower all, and today, we celebrate Juliet Choi, a YWCA Board Member and president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), a national health justice organization that influences policy, mobilizes communities, and strengthens programs and organizations to improve the health of AANHPI communities. Learn more
Haunani-Kay Trask
Haunani-Kay Trask was a Native Hawaiian activist, educator, author, poet, and a leader of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement. She pushed tirelessly for the recognition of Hawaii’s Indigenous people by founding Ka Lahui Hawaii, an organization that promotes self-determination for Native Hawaiians. This AANHPI Heritage Month, we celebrate and share the greatness of her work. Learn more
Michelle Tran
Michelle Tran is a FinTech leader passionate about gender parity. She's head of Strategic Partnerships at Vestwell, where she helps close the savings gap, as well as co-founder of NYC FinTech Women, an organization dedicated to connecting, empowering, and promoting women in #FinTech. Learn more
Lori Kahikina
We celebrate Lori Kahikina, the Executive Director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART). At HART, Ms. Kahikina is responsible for the design and construction of the Honolulu Rail Transit Project, the nation’s first automated commuter rail system. Learn more
Sung Yeon Choimorrow
Sung Yeon is a fierce advocate for worker rights, immigrant rights, affordable health care access — including reproductive health care — economic justice, and the intersection of these issues with Gender Justice. Learn more