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AAPI United

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Asian Americans United 🤝 501(c)(3) Celebrating Success 🏆 Amplifying Voices 📣 Igniting Change 🔥 Fighting for Justice ✊ Irvine, CA #aapiunited

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When we took to the streets to show solidarity for victims of hate crimes and to bring awareness to #stopasianhate 👊🏼

Led by our Chairman @jamesmai and Vivian Le of @stopthehateoc we were joined by friends and supporters including Irvine Vice Mayor @tammykimoc, Irvine City Councilman @anthonykuo, @sallyantiracist, @niki5143 and many others 💯

This event took place in Irvine, CA, one of the safest cities in America and one of the largest populations of Asians of all nationalities. Irvine has not seen the level of violence or hate incidents towards Asian Americans, but as a community and to show support to all across the nation and world - we spoke, marched, and sent our support loud and clear to those who are out there. We see you, we hear you, and we will support you wherever you are - this is #aapiunited 💛

#tbt #unitedwefight #stopallhate #stopaapihate #asianamerican #pride #honor #heritage #standup #antidiscrimination #asianhate #march #asian #irvine #california #activism #standproud #stopasianhatecrimes #asianlivesmatter #alllivesmatter #asianpride #speech #firstamendment #america #protest #strong #united #community by @aapiofficial

I made a promise as a young, hungry child, I’m grateful to be able to deliver on it now.

Bristol & Bates/James Mai Foundation OC Food Box Program
2025 Program Statistics 📈

Guided by a mission to uplift, serve, and strengthen our community, this program delivered more than food we delivered care, stability, and dignity. No spotlight, no fanfare, just service.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 15,000+ families served across 30+ Orange County cities.
From Irvine to Santa Ana, Anaheim to San Clemente, and beyond, we delivered directly to homes, workplaces, schools, community hubs, and trusted partners.

That’s 290 families every week, 1,250 every month, equal to feeding an entire neighborhood, week after week, all year long.

What moves me most is remembering who we served: restaurant and service workers stretched to their limits, educators giving more than they ever received, families quietly trying to hold it together, seniors struggling in isolation, veterans, students juggling far too much, and neighbors facing homelessness. Many we reached would never ask for help, yet quietly carry the weight of rising costs, health issues, or hardship. Through community leaders, food banks, schools, churches, and neighborhood partners, support was delivered with privacy, dignity, and care, to the unseen, the hardworking, and the resilient 👍🏼

This was 100% community-powered 💪🏼 3,500+ volunteer hours, in many cases, carried forward by the very people we once served… who then turned around, joined us, and began serving others.

To every volunteer, partner, food bank, farm, manufacturer, restaurant, church, and community connector, thank you. This was love in motion, without agenda or recognition.

One food box feeds a family, a community feeding each other changes generations. In 2025, we delivered more than meals, we delivered hope, dignity, and the message that no one stands alone.

#OCFoodBox #CommunityFirst #Volunteer #OrangeCounty #FeedFamilies #ServiceOverSelf #BristolAndBatesFoundation #JamesMaiFoundation #irvine #santaana #tustin #gardengrove #jamesmai #foodismedicine #NeighborsHelpingNeighbors #CommunityImpact #PeopleOverPolitics #missiondriven #livingwithpurpose @bristolbates by @aapiofficial

🇺🇸 WELCOME TO IRVINE! Celebrating Taiwan and International Friendship! 🌏✈️

It was my pleasure to welcome a delegation from Taiwan to Irvine for the official launch of Taiwan Tourism’s #100WaysToWonder campaign at the Irvine Spectrum Center.

More than 1,000 attendees joined us for a day filled with Taiwanese culture, entertainment, and activities, showcasing the many wonderful experiences Taiwan has to offer.

I was honored to join Vivian Lin, Director of the Taiwan Tourism Administration’s Los Angeles Office, along with distinguished guests and international business leaders for this special occasion.

✈️ It was also a pleasure to meet executives and representatives from China Airlines, EVA Air, and STARLUX Airlines, who help connect Taiwan with the United States and destinations around the world.

🎭 From traditional Taiwanese puppetry and cultural performances to interactive games, family activities, and refreshments, there was something for everyone to enjoy. I even had a chance to join in on the fun myself.

🇹🇼 Our connection with Taiwan is especially meaningful, as Taoyuan, Taiwan, is an official Sister City of Irvine. Through this partnership, we continue to foster cultural exchange, strengthen relationships, and create opportunities for our communities to connect.

As one of America’s most diverse cities, Irvine is proud to host events that celebrate the many cultures and traditions that make our community so special.

A big thank you to the Taiwan Tourism Administration, Director Vivian Lin, the visiting delegation, participating airlines, sponsors, performers, and organizers for bringing this wonderful event to our city.

Here’s to continued friendship between Irvine and Taiwan and many more opportunities to celebrate together! 🇹🇼🇺🇸

#taiwanese #tourism #Irvine #Taiwan by @aapiofficial

🎶 Celebrating Culture, Music & the Arts in Irvine. It was an honor to be invited as a Guest of Honor for Everlasting Charm Classic Quintet: An Homage to Superstar Singer Teresa Teng at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, hosted by ASCECA.

The evening celebrated the music and cultural legacy of Teresa Teng, whose songs have connected generations of people around the world. Her music also brought back memories for me. One of my favorite songs of hers was “The Moon Represents My Heart” (月亮代表我的心), is a song that remains meaningful to so many families and generations across cultures.

One highlight of the evening was spending time with the performers and attendees at the reception and red carpet, including many Irvine and Orange County residents. I always enjoy connecting with families and hearing their stories, especially at events that bring different generations and cultures together.

I was also honored to congratulate and recognize the winners of the 2nd Sino-US Youth Art Competition, which celebrated young artists through works inspired by birds and nature. Meeting these talented young people and their proud families made the evening even more meaningful.

Events like this bring people together through music, art, education, and culture while supporting charitable causes and creating opportunities for international cultural and educational exchange.

Thank you to ASCECA, Dong Ping Huang , the performers, artists, families, volunteers, and everyone who helped bring this special evening to Irvine. As a proud Board Member of the Irvine Barclay Theatre, it is always wonderful to see our community gathering at the Barclay for evenings like this.

Let’s keep it going! 🎶🎨❤️

#arts #irvine #teresateng #music #chinese @irvinebarclay @aapiofficial by @aapiofficial

There’s something special about these gatherings.

For years, my foundation has been supporting a group of former soldiers, veterans of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), who are now in their 80s.

These men served during the Vietnam War, rebuilt their lives here in America, and still gather regularly in Westminster, California. As the years pass, their numbers are sadly dwindling, which makes these visits and the stories they share even more meaningful.

I originally found this group through word of mouth. Over the years, many of them have known me simply as a guy who shows up with food on Fridays.

They didn’t know my title. They didn’t know I served in office. They didn’t know I was Vice Mayor of Irvine. And I never felt the need to tell them.

Then one day, after years of knowing each other, some of them saw me in the local Tết Parade. The next time I came around, one of them looked at me and said, “Hey! That’s the guy from the Tết Parade!” 😂

There’s something meaningful about that. Long before they knew anything about my public service, we knew each other simply through community service.

No titles. No politics. No expectations. Just showing up.

One of our foundation’s sayings is “Kindness is Contagious.” I’ve always believed that service is less about who you are and more about what you are willing to do for someone else.

And I’ve been fortunate enough to see that kindness come full circle. Some of the people pictured here, who we originally came to serve, have since joined our volunteer team themselves. Today, they help us serve veterans, seniors, and families in their own communities throughout Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, Tustin, and beyond.

They were never just recipients. They became part of the team, helping us reach people we never could have reached on our own.

And while these gatherings may be outside of Irvine, kindness has no city limits.

Sometimes the best relationships are built when nobody knows your title.

They just know you keep showing up.

@jamesmaifoundation #veterans #vietnamese #senior #giving #communityfirst by @aapiofficial

It was a pleasure welcoming the 9th Annual TRAILBLAZERS: Women Innovators Pitch Competition back to Irvine at UCI Beall Applied Innovation (The Cove) ⚡️

One of the highlights for me was spending a few moments with the finalists before they took the stage. As an entrepreneur myself, it was personally meaningful to hear about their ideas, their journeys, and the problems they are working to solve.

I was also proud to welcome the many entrepreneurs, business leaders, investors, and supporters who joined us, especially the women entrepreneurs helping drive the next generation of technology and innovation.

TRAILBLAZERS is more than a pitch competition. It celebrates women who are pushing boundaries, solving problems, and turning ideas into businesses with real impact.

At a time when women in many parts of the world still face significant barriers to opportunity and economic independence, I am especially proud that here in America we celebrate women as entrepreneurs, innovators, business owners, and leaders. Events like TRAILBLAZERS remind us that when women have the opportunity to build, innovate, and lead, our entire community and economy are stronger 🇺🇸

When we invest in women entrepreneurs, we create jobs, expand opportunity, and inspire the next generation of women to build and lead.

Congratulations to the finalists:

Maya Gosztyla - BrainStorm Therapeutics
Alexandria Massey - CrossCare Tech
Dr. Huma Pierce - LuckyandLoyal.com
Lara Solomon - Hoopsy
Xiaoqing Zie - A+ Berry

I also enjoyed spending time with Chiling Tong, Pat Fong Kushida, and Garrett Gin and learning more about the important missions of the California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce and National ACE and their work supporting entrepreneurs and expanding economic opportunity.

Thank you to CalAsian Chambe, National ACE, Ace NextGen for bringing TRAILBLAZERS back to Irvine. We are proud to be a city where innovation, entrepreneurship, and opportunity thrive, and especially proud to welcome women entrepreneurs helping shape what comes next.

Congrats to all of the finalists and everyone who made this event possible!

#women #entrepreneur #startup #uci #irvine by @aapiofficial

Happy Thursday!

A huge shoutout and thank you to our partners at Community Action Partnership of Orange County (OC Food Bank) 🙏🏼

Because of their support, what started years ago as a simple idea I had to provide food from the trunk of my car has grown into a program that now serves more than 1,000 individuals, families, seniors, veterans, and displaced workers every month throughout Orange County. ❤️

Our nonprofit may be small, but we’re proudly self-funded, volunteer-driven, and built on the belief that no one in our community should go hungry. I’m incredibly grateful to CAP OC, which has stood beside us since the very beginning, as well as every donor, volunteer, and supporter who has helped make this mission possible.

Together, we’re proving that even the smallest idea can grow into something that changes lives

#giving #community #orangecounty #hunger #nonprofit @cap_oc @jamesmaifoundation by @aapiofficial

🇺🇸 Remembering a Hero: Peter Wang

Peter Wang was just 15 years old, a freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, an Army JROTC cadet, and a young man with a dream of attending West Point and serving his country.

On February 14, 2018, as the school came under attack, Peter made a selfless choice. Rather than flee, he held open a door so his classmates could escape to safety. He was fatally shot in the third-floor hallway while protecting others.

When first responders found him, Peter was still wearing his JROTC uniform.

His courage did not go unnoticed. The U.S. Army posthumously awarded him the ROTC Medal for Heroism, and the United States Military Academy at West Point granted him posthumous admission as a member of the Class of 2025.

His classmates at West Point also presented him with their Honorary Graduate Award, recognizing that although he never had the opportunity to attend, he had already demonstrated the academy’s highest ideals: Duty. Honor. Country.

Peter Wang’s life reminds us that true heroism is measured not by age or rank, but by the willingness to put others before oneself.

May we never forget his courage, his sacrifice, and the legacy he left behind.

@westpoint_usma #hero #heroes #rotc #asianamerican #jrotc by @aapiofficial

This photo was taken almost 6 years ago, leading a march of hundreds down Culver during a period of unrest within the Asian American community when COVID broke out. During that time, I began speaking out publicly against discrimination and racism, something I had experienced throughout my life.

Not as a victim, but as a reminder.

A reminder that we are not just Asians. We are Asian Americans.

Many of us are proud Americans, proud of this country, and proud of what our parents have achieved here in the United States. Proud to wave the flag. Proud to serve. Proud to contribute. Proud of the ideals that America represents.

Even during that period, I experienced discrimination, nothing compared to what I endured as a child, spit on, having rocks thrown at our family, and being beaten, but it was there. I remember people moving their children away when they saw me, I heard comments such as “go back to China.” These incidents did not define us here, but they were reminders that prejudice exists.

When COVID struck, many Asians became victims of hate crimes. In some parts of the country, elderly and those unable to defend themselves were assaulted, and some lost their lives.

When events like these occur, we must speak out. Not only when they happen in our own areas but also to support those in other communities who may not have the means, platform, or comfort level to do so themselves. We must raise awareness, stand together, and help prevent similar incidents from occurring elsewhere.

For me, becoming more civically and politically engaged was one way to make a difference. In many ways, it was part of what led me into public service. Engagement is not only about responding when the headlines are loud. It is about ensuring that long after the news cycle moves on, we still have a seat at the table, contribute, and help shape our communities.

Heritage months are about more than celebrations. They are an opportunity to reflect on who we are, what we have overcome, and what we have contributed to this nation.

I am proud to be Asian American. I am proud of my family’s journey. And I am proud to be an American 🇺🇸

#america #asian #aapi #irvine #peopleoverpolitics by @aapiofficial

As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, we look back at some of the stories that helped shape our identity here in America. Today, we reflect on the legacy of humanitarian and leader Vang Pao.

During the Secret War in Laos, thousands of Hmong soldiers fought alongside the United States during the Vietnam War era, carrying out dangerous missions in support of American operations throughout Southeast Asia. Because the conflict remained classified for years, many of the sacrifices made by Hmong fighters and families went largely unrecognized by the public and even by parts of the U.S. government for decades.

When Laos fell in 1975, many Hmong families faced persecution and were forced to flee their homeland, crossing into refugee camps in Thailand before eventually resettling in the United States. Despite their service and sacrifice, many veterans of the Secret War struggled for recognition, support, and acknowledgment because officially, much of the conflict was a war that “never existed.”

General Vang Pao refused to quietly accept that reality. Rather than disappear into retirement, he spent years advocating for Hmong refugees, pushing the U.S. government to honor its commitments, reunite families, and provide opportunities for those who had fought alongside American forces. His determination helped thousands of Hmong families rebuild their lives in the United States and helped establish strong Hmong American communities across the country, including here in California.

Even after his passing in 2011, debates continued over how America should formally recognize his service and legacy. Yet for many in the Hmong community, his leadership and sacrifices will never be forgotten.

Today, Hmong Americans continue to make tremendous contributions to our nation through public service, education, business, healthcare, military service, and community leadership. Their story is one of resilience, sacrifice, perseverance, and hope.

As we honor AAPI Heritage Month, we also honor those whose courage was not always publicly recognized, but whose impact helped shape generations to come.

#AAPIHeritageMonth #lao #hmongamerican #asianamerican #hmong by @aapiofficial

It’s always meaningful to see organizations like Asian Americans Advancing Justice continuing to lead the way in advancing justice and equity for the AAPI community. Over the past year, we’ve had the opportunity to work alongside AAAJ as a trusted referral partner, supporting individuals and families when it matters most.

We’re proud of that partnership and look forward to continuing our collaboration to strengthen and uplift the AAPI community across Los Angeles and Orange County.

A special thank you to Bonnie Fong and Christine McMillan, two outstanding AAAJ attorneys who stood alongside James Mai at a local event. Your advocacy, compassion, and commitment to justice make a real difference in people’s lives every day 🙏🏼

Visit and follow AAAJ at @advancingjustice_aajc @advancingjusticesocal @advancingjustice_oc to learn more.

#asianamerican #aapi #legal #orangecounty #irvine by @aapiofficial