The Asian American Coalition of New Jersey (AACNJ) met for its first convening in Central New Jersey on April 13. The event, which was held at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, was filled with thoughtful discussions, interactive leadership development, and fresh opportunities for growth.
Attendees from across the state participated in workshops and breakout sessions that focused on finding solutions to the AAPI community’s most pressing concerns. Topics included voting rights, women’s rights, education, immigration, and achieving a sense of belonging.
“We wanted to hear from community members on what issues were most important to them and work through ways we can address them together,” said Danielle Iwata, AAPI New Jersey Director of Organizing. “This work not only informs our policy and advocacy priorities, but it also helps community members build their own advocacy visions and muscles.”
Participants explored civic engagement strategies for building a pipeline of AAPI leadership across the state and beyond. They questioned whether AAPI’s are hindered from civic engagement due to language barriers that sometimes make it difficult to understand or participate in finding solutions. They also wondered how to protect freedom of speech and about the best way to bring attention to challenges facing the community.
“Until you call it out, you can’t change it,” said Anjali Mehrotra. “We have to first call it out in order to bring change.”
Mehrotra is currently the Municipal Chair for the Mountainside Democratic Committee and founding cabinet member of Emerge NJ, which trains Democratic women to run for office.
“I realize that until we have representation, we’re never going to achieve that full sense of inclusion and equality,” said Mehrotra. “Events like this, which bring people together to talk about issues like this are super important.”
AAPI New Jersey, home of the AACNJ, hosted the event in collaboration with AAPI of East Brunswick to share resources and expand outreach across the state as uncertainty looms around the current Administration’s recent actions limiting DEI initiatives.
Speaking to community leaders, AAPI New Jersey Co-Executive Director Amber Reed shared how immigrant communities are feeling under attack more than ever. She said some have become vulnerable to potential exploitation by employers and landlords at typically safe spaces like work and home and highlighted the advocacy work that AAPI New Jersey is doing to help those in need.
As attendees continued their conversations, it was clear to see a sense of community forming in the Center. One attendee proposed storytelling as a solution to feeling like you don’t belong. He believed that sharing perspectives about one’s life, culture, and traditions can help foster a sense of understanding and seeing each other as one.
East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen was among those in attendance. He shared opening remarks to begin the convening along with Middlesex County Clerk Nancy Pinkin.
“The overarching message for those people that live in East Brunswick and around the community, especially in a day and time now where diversity is being challenged, is the fact that we’re completely the opposite. We think that is a strength,” said Cohen, “We want to promote anything that is inclusive and allows people to feel that East Brunswick and the surrounding community is welcoming to everybody.”
Pinkin spoke about the upcoming primary election on June 10 which includes the gubernatorial race, as well as several municipal elections, not limited to: County Clerk, County Sheriff, County Commissioner, and the Assembly.
Jai Patel, the co-founder of South Asian Families of Metuchen and President of the New Jersey Subcontractor Association, shared some of his experiences in the political arena when he spoke to the group about his advocacy efforts.
Patel drew everyone’s attention to a pin he was wearing that said “Electable,” which he received after completing the APAICS National and Regional Leadership Academy.
“We are electable. We have the experiences. The thing that’s holding us back is our doubt, and we have to break that up in the AAPI community,” said Patel. “This is who we are. This is what we represent. And this is what we can do. We need to be there for future people.”
His biggest takeaways from the convening were being inspired by the work everyone else is doing and a desire to keep building relationships within the AAPI community.
“When you come out here and you see there are other people doing the work, that gives you excitement and hope,” said Patel.
Kim Conetta, a founding board member of AAPI of East Brunswick and president of the East Brunswick Arts Coalition, was happy to help coordinate the convening.
“One of my goals is to not silo ourselves and to have a network and community bigger than our township,” said Conetta. “[The convening] worked out really well. It brought in a good sense of cohesion and togetherness. I’m glad the event reached out to people from different townships.”
“No matter your experience or your involvement up till now, there is always a place for more advocates, and we want to continue holding space to both uplift those making a difference and to introduce new champions to this work,” said Iwata.
AACNJ will host regional convenings throughout the year to learn what impacts AAPIs across the state and how we can use our collective voice to address them. The next major event is Asian American Advocacy Day on May 22.
Those interested are also invited to join the Asian American Coalition of NJ (AACNJ) as an individual or member.
