As we celebrate our momentous 10-year anniversary, we are shining a light on our AAWPI alumnae. Our pipeline of leaders are stepping up, making waves and trailblazing a path to make change for our communities.
Cinda Danh (AAWPI '13): Running for Lynn City Council
Cinda Danh (AAWPI '13) is running for Lynn City Council and is the first AAWPI alumna to run for office!

The daughter of Cambodian genocide survivors, Cinda speaks movingly about her experience fighting the eviction and foreclosure of her family's home as one of the main reasons that she is running.

"When your house is foreclosed, they send someone to plaster bright red paper that says you need to vacate the premises in 72 hours," Cinda says. "If English isn't your first language and you don't know how to navigate the system or call your elected officials, you'd feel pretty powerless."

With the help of community organizations she fought the foreclosure, staging protests in front of her home with community members to block their eviction and taking the bank to court - and WON.

While Cinda was battling her family's foreclosure Cinda became an AAWPI State House Fellow and we paired her with her own Lynn state representative for her internship.

She went on to become the Lynn Representative's legislative aide and eventually the only Asian-American chief of staff in the State House. " As an alumna of AAWPI, she's made it a point to mentor and guide the young AAWPI women who have interned in the State House after her, " said Rep. Jim O'Day.
Katy Bartel and Danh Bi Lee-Hong (AAWPI '16): Founders of Angry Asian Girls, a LGBTQIA community organization
Featured in the Boston Globe this month, Katy Bartel (AAWPI '16) and Danh Bi Lee-Hong (AAWPI '16) started Angry Asian Girls, an organization for LGBTQIA people and AAPI women, which began as part of an AAWPI Fellowship project.

"The AAWPI fellowship was an awakening.... I felt this overwhelming welcome and sense of community," Katy says. "It was a journey of undoing and unlearning around being mixed race and Asian..."

Inspired by their AAWPI experience, they created a space for Asian-Americans to be "their whole selves, no stereotypes added." Angry Asian Girls exists to combat the stereotypes. It does this by creating visibility on social media through images and hashtags. Through workshops with colleges and other activist organizations, the group helps with voting rights, wellness workshops and more. Last month, the group hosted an Angry Asian Girls LGBTQIA party for people of color at the Museum of Fine Arts Late Nites event.

Every week, AAG hosts their "office hours," at local coffee shops and lounges around Boston. They hold poetry nights, paint nights, and roundtable discussions. And, in the process they are leading a radical movement of inclusion, acceptance and self-love in our community.

Join us for an AAWPI Community BBQ/Potluck in Chelsea on July 21st at 11am! Come learn more about AAWPI's 10th-year happenings, meet our amazing alumnae and join us in community. All are welcome!

Please respond to this email to RSVP.