By Hudson Lee
I represented AAPI Youth Rising (AYR) at AANHPI In Power, a panel discussion at USC on April 17. Cindy Wu (Founder of AANHPI Women in Politics) put together a panel with Mike Eng (Board Member for SGV Municipal Water District and CA Unemployment Insurance Appeals Court; Former CA Assembly member), John Chiang (Former CA State Treasurer & Controller), Betty Yee (Former CA State Controller) and Farrah Khan (Former Mayor of the City of Irvine). There, I heard many interesting things. The thing that stuck with me most at the event was Anthony Rendon’s (Former Speaker of CA State Assembly) speech. He talked about the importance of social connections and listening to everyone’s unique story. He shared insightful knowledge on how Asian Americans rally around a shared trait, but we need to highlight what makes us unique as individuals. One of the panelists, former mayor of Irvine, Farrah Khan, shared how it is important to learn about other minorities’ history to better understand our own. For example, the civil rights movement had massive implications for Asian American rights. To not understand the plight of African Americans is not to fully understand Asian American history. We have to support other minorities and work together. The speakers reminded me about the importance of making social connections, how it matters to hear about everyone’s unique story, and how we must work together.
This event was held in partnership with the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future, AAPI Youth Rising, Los Angeles County Asian American Employee Association, Asian Pacific American Public Affairs, USC Asian Pacific American Student Assembly, Public Policy Undergraduates at Price, and USC Bridge Cultural Exchange Academy.