The Asian American Foundation and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC announce new partnership to strengthen community safety. September 17, 2026 Collaboration will equip nearly 50 organizations in TAAF's Safety National Network with training, resources, and technical assistance. For Immediate Release WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC (Advancing Justice - AAJC) announced a new partnership to bolster the capacity of nearly 50 organizations in TAAF's Safety National Network, a coalition of leading national, regional, and local groups responding to anti-Asian hate, violence, discrimination, and profiling. Through a grant from TAAF, Advancing Justice - AAJC will provide organizations in the network with training and technical assistance to strengthen their ability to respond to hate incidents and emerging threats. Drawing on Advancing Justice - AAJC's civil rights expertise, the collaboration will also ensure TAAF's partners have the resources needed to navigate long-term challenges as historic patterns of anti-Asian prejudice and scapegoating continue to impact Asian American communities. "As we mark five years since the creation of TAAF's Safety National Network, we remain committed to investing in the frontline organizations that are providing direct services and critical resources to communities across the country," said Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF. "The alarming rise in anti-Asian rhetoric and incidents in recent months, paired with the findings of TAAF's State of AAPIs research on the safety of Asian Americans in key cities, underscore the need to bring new resources and support to our partners on the ground." "Community organizations are at the frontlines when it comes to helping people who experience hate or discrimination, and they need the tools and support to respond effectively," said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC. "This partnership with TAAF will help us strengthen the capacity of trusted organizations across the country to better respond in the immediate aftermath of an incident and build the knowledge and infrastructure necessary to protect our communities for the long term." As part of the partnership, Advancing Justice - AAJC will provide organizations in TAAF's Safety National Network with: * Practical guidance for local organizations responding immediately after an incident of hate, violence, profiling, or discrimination; * Tailored trainings on how organizations can connect community members to appropriate support; * Updates and analysis on anti-Asian hate trends, emerging risks, and federal policy developments; and * One-on-one support for incident response, community education, communications, civil rights concerns, and referrals. TAAF launched the Safety National Network in 2021 to deploy emergency relief to victims of anti-Asian hate incidents at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to improve incident tracking, protection, response, and prevention measures. Since 2023, members of the network have served over 100,000 community members across 14 metropolitan areas. But while public focus on anti-Asian hate incidents has faded since the pandemic, Asian American communities continue to face hate and discrimination, fueled not only by anti-Asian bias but also by escalating anti-immigrant and targeted anti-South Asian rhetoric. According to TAAF's 2026 STAATUS Index, over 1 in 5 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders reported being insulted or harassed because of their race in the past year. And per Advancing Justice - AAJC's recent analysis of the FBI's Hate Crime Statistics, anti-Asian hate crimes in 2025 remained elevated more than 2 1/2 times more than before the pandemic. More information about TAAF's Safety National Network is available at taaf.org. Additional resources from Advancing Justice - AAJC can be found at advancingjustice-aajc.org. About Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC has a mission to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. About The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) TAAF serves the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community by promoting safety, fostering belonging, and advancing prosperity. Launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate and to address the long-standing underinvestment in AAPI communities, Advancing Justice - AAJC invest in initiatives to combat anti-Asian hate, integrate AAPI studies into school curricula, elevate authentic AAPI storytelling, and expand resources and representation for its communities. Through its high-impact initiatives, events, and investments in national and local nonprofits, Advancing Justice - AAJC is creating a permanent and irrevocable sense of belonging for millions of AAPIs in the United States. For additional information about TAAF, please visit www.taaf.org or follow @TAAForg on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or Facebook.

From Moana to the olympics: AANHPI voices at The 2026 TAAF summit. ByRegina Kim, Contributor. Regina Kim covers Korean and Asian American entertainment. Jul 17, 2026, 12:28pm EDT Jul 17, 2026, 12:48pm EDT Listen to the article 0:00 / 7:02 Summary. Disney's new live-action Moana recently premiered, but another significant milestone happened earlier this year with the release of Moana 2 in ʻŌlelo Hawai[[ʻ]]i, Hawaii's indigenous language that was once on the brink of extinction. Auli[[ʻ]]i Cravalho, the original voice of Moana and an executive producer for the live-action adaptation, voiced the character in ʻŌlelo Hawai[[ʻ]]i for Moana 2. Authentic representation and cultural reclamation were key topics at The Asian American Foundation's 2026 Heritage Month Summit. The summit, with the theme of "Together We Are the Asian+American Dream," gathered prominent AANHPI leaders to discuss representation, solidarity and progress towards a better future, reflecting TAAF's mission to support and empower AANHPI communities. Ten years after audiences first met Disney's fearless wayfinder, Moana has returned to theaters in a new live-action adaptation. The film, which opened July 10, stars Catherine Laga[[ʻ]]aia as the feisty young heroine and features Auli[[ʻ]]i Cravalho (who voiced Moana in the animated films) as one of its executive producers. While the live-action remake has generated considerable attention, one of the franchise's most meaningful milestones arrived earlier this year with relatively little fanfare. In February Disney+ released the 2024 animated film Moana 2 in ʻŌlelo Hawai[[ʻ]]i, the indigenous language of Hawaii. Once on the verge of extinction, with fewer than 50 speakers under the age of 18, ʻŌlelo Hawai[[ʻ]]i now has more than 20,000 speakers, thanks in large part to the growth of Hawaiian-language immersion programs across the state beginning in the 1980s. Cravalho recounted the process of re-recording Moana 2 in ʻŌlelo Hawai[[ʻ]]i at The Asian American Foundation's Heritage Month Summit, where she joined Native Hawaiian filmmakers Lāiana Kanoa-Wong and Ty Sanga onstage for a conversation about Hawaiian storytelling, language and cultural reclamation. For Cravalho, who was born in Hawaii and is of Native Hawaiian descent, voicing the character of Moana in her ancestral language carried an enormous sense of responsibility. MORE FOR YOU Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get our best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day's news in your inbox every weekday. "My cousins also go to Hawaiian immersion schools," Cravalho told the audience. She added that knowing that Moana 2 would be used as educational material for her younger cousins who are learning ʻŌlelo Hawai[[ʻ]]i made the pressure to get it right "undeniable" but also "so absolutely worth it." Kanoa-Wong emphasized the historical significance of dubbing the film in a language that was once banned in Hawaiian schools and brought back only through decades of community-led revitalization efforts. "If we lose our language, we lose who we are," he said. Making Moana 2 available in ʻŌlelo Hawai[[ʻ]]i, he explained, allowed Native Hawaiians to hear their mother tongue spoken in one of Disney's most popular franchises. "Telling our stories is one form of planting a flag and reclaiming space," Kanoa-Wong said. "We're done with others telling our stories. It's time for us to take back the charge." Although the conversation centered on Native Hawaiian language and storytelling, its message extended far beyond the world of Moana. Throughout the summit, speakers returned to similar questions of who gets to tell a community's stories, how representation can translate into real power, and what a better future for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities can look like. Held on May 14-15 in New York City and organized by The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) - a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the safety, belonging and prosperity of AANHPI communities - the 2026 TAAF Heritage Month Summit brought more than 1,400 attendees to Manhattan's Javits Center for two days of panel discussions, fireside chats, musical performances and networking. Leading figures from entertainment, tech, journalism, sports, fashion and other fields shared their thoughts on what it meant for AANHPIs not only to take up space but also to shape their own narratives and help define the country's future. This year's theme, "Together We Are the Asian+American Dream," served as both a celebration of the impact that AANHPIs have had on American life and a call to help build a better future for their communities. The message felt particularly timely given that 2026 marks both America's 250th anniversary and the fifth anniversary of TAAF and its annual summit. A wide-ranging group of high-profile speakers took the stage to discuss AANHPI representation, the contributions of AANHPIs to modern America and the challenges their communities continue to face. Among them were: * Actor, director and producer Daniel Dae Kim, who reflected on the history and evolution of TAAF and led attendees in a moment of silence for those killed amid the pandemic-fueled rise in anti-Asian hate * Fashion designers Vera Wang and Jason Wu, who joined makeup artist Daniel Martin, Hollywood stylist Jeanne Yang and former Allure Editor-in-Chief Michelle Lee for a conversation about AAPI representation in fashion, beauty and culture * Gymnast and six-time Olympic medalist Suni Lee, Olympic fencing silver medalist James Williams and four-time U.S. Paralympian Chuck Aoki, who spoke with NBC News anchor Vicky Nguyen about AAPI representation at the highest levels of sports * Min Jin Lee, bestselling author of Free Food for Millionaires and Pachinko, who discussed her upcoming novel American Hagwon during a fireside chat with ABC News Nightline anchor Juju Chang * Singer-songwriter, author and director Hayley Kiyoko; actress and singer Isa Briones; actor, dancer and producer Harry Shum Jr.; and pioneering fashion influencer Chriselle Lim, who participated in a panel moderated by MS NOW anchor Richard Lui on authentic representation in AAPI storytelling Attendees also enjoyed performances by Juilliard piano prodigy Anwen Deng, trailblazing composer and pianist Chloe Flower, U.S. Army veteran and singer Paul Ieti, and U.S. Olympic fencers Mitchell Saron and Maia Chamberlain. A special awards dinner was also held to honor the achievements of Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube; Jeremy Lin, NBA Champion and board chair of the Jeremy Lin Foundation; Sheila Lirio Marcelo, co-founder and CEO of Ohai.ai and founder of Care.com; and Oscar-winning actor and author Ke Huy Quan. The summit concluded with a friendly basketball game at Brooklyn's Barclays Center featuring teams of AANHPI athletes and creators. What is The Asian American Foundation (TAAF)? The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) was launched in 2021 in response to the surge in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the nonprofit has distributed funding to hundreds of organizations involved in supporting AANHPI communities across the country. TAAF's mission is to help build a future in which, in the words of its CEO Norman Chen, "AAPIs and their families can experience real safety, real belonging and real prosperity in their lives."

Wong Fu Productions and TAAF team up to reveal the hidden pioneers who changed america forever. A new digital series highlights the forgotten Asian American inventors and cultural heavyweights who shaped modern life ahead of the US 250th anniversary. A major new storytelling project has launched online to challenge the widespread public ignorance surrounding Asian American history. The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) has partnered with the independent digital studio Wong Fu Productions to debut The United States of Asian+America. The digital series premiered on YouTube on 24 June 2026. It uncovers the overlooked individuals behind some of the most ubiquitous technologies, musical movements, and culinary staples in modern society. The launch of the series arrives alongside troubling data regarding public awareness of minority histories in the United States. According to TAAF's 2026 STAATUS Index survey, more than half of US adults cannot name a single major moment or event in Asian American history. Furthermore, only 7% of respondents believe that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities possess a significant influence on American culture. This data exposes a massive disconnect between actual historical contributions and public perception. If you look at the infrastructure of your daily life, you will find AAPI innovations everywhere. The series aims to bridge this gap by bringing these foundational figures directly to your screens before the country celebrates its 250th anniversary. From USB drives to hip hop pioneers. The production pairs legendary industry pioneers with a new generation of digital creators and hosts who are carrying their legacies forward. Philip Wang, the co-founder of Wong Fu Productions, directed the series to preserve these histories in an accessible format. The interview line up includes structural innovators who completely transformed global communication and entertainment. Viewers will meet Ajay Bhatt, the chief architect and co-inventor of the USB technology that connects your devices every day. The series also features YouTube co-founder Steve Chen and Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang, alongside Dr David Ho, a medical pioneer whose research revolutionised the global treatment of HIV/AIDS. The series also explores major cultural spaces, featuring Sophia Chang, the first Asian woman to manage prominent hip-hop artists, and rap pioneer MC Jin. NBA champion Jeremy Lin and television chef Martin Yan also share their personal experiences navigating systemic barriers within sports and media. Funding the next generation of creators. TAAF is expanding the video series into a broader community movement through financial backing for grassroots digital storytellers. The organisation has announced the TAAF Asian+American Storytelling Initiative to help creators reclaim local histories. Later this summer, you can visit the project's official platform to submit pitches focused on important AAPI historical figures or movements. An evaluation committee composed of independent filmmakers will review the submissions. Finalists will receive financial awards of up to $10,000 alongside professional mentorship to develop their concepts into short-form videos. The foundation has also launched a collaborative streetwear project with the Bay Area apparel brand Nostalgia, releasing a limited-edition denim jacket to fund city-based community initiatives. The entire video series is currently available for streaming, offering an immediate look at the people who built the modern world. Jun kit man. Jun is a former News producer and reporter with extensive experience covering major global events. In recent years, Jun has turned his focus to empowering the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) diaspora. His guest appearance on BBC Stories' "Meet the kids who grew up in Chinese Takeaways" highlights his personal connection to the community. As the founder of Resonate, he provides a platform for young ESEA creatives to showcase their talents globally.