By Skyler Spinelli
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan announced Tuesday that she has joined the Advisory Council of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF).
TAAF is a nonprofit organization that was recently created in response to the increase in Asian American hate crimes. Its official website states that it works to offer “funding and resources to build the infrastructure to improve AAPI [Asian American and Pacific Islander] advocacy, power, and representation.”
“It is my greatest honor to join The Asian American Foundation,” the first lady said. “I am ready to fight for creating a safer tomorrow without discrimination and hate, giving a better life to the next generations to come, and teaching our society what being American means.”
TAAF’s board of directors includes Li Lu, founder and chair of Himalaya Capital; Jerry Yang, who established AME Cloud Ventures and co-founded Yahoo!; Joseph Bae, co-president of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts; Joseph Tsai, owner of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty; and Sheila Marcelo, founder of Care.com.
“We are honored to have First Lady Yumi Hogan join our Advisory Council,” said Sonal Shah, the organization’s president. “Her leadership in Maryland has been important for our communities and her advice and experience will be critical for The Asian American Foundation.”
TAAF has reported that one in four Asian Americans has had a personal experience with hate and bias.
Some initiatives mentioned during the organizations virtual launch on May 4 included awareness campaigns, the utilization of “aggregate data and research” to assess the needs of AAPI individuals, and the introduction of an educational curriculum focusing on Asian American history within middle and high school classrooms.
Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush were also present at the launch event.