Cathy Kim, board member of Asian Americans for Equality, celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

The nonprofit started in the streets of Chinatown as a massive grassroots organization in 1974.

Kim talked about its founding and how it has evolved over the years.

AAFE supports Asian Americans and other systematically disadvantaged communities. The city saw a record number of hate crimes in 2020 and 2021. 

Kim discussed where things stand now and how AAFE’s protecting the AAPI community.

She also talked about affordable housing in the city and how AAFE has created more than 1,200 affordable rental units. 

Kim explained how the organization’s supporting immigrant entrepreneurs in the city and discusses AAFE’s upcoming 50th anniversary.