Luminary Gala

Helen Zia is an award-winning journalist, author, and activist for Asian American and LGBT+ rights. A New Jersey native, she was a founding member of Princeton’s Asian American Students Association and a member of its first graduating class of women. A journalist with experience as a construction laborer, autoworker, and community organizer, Zia was living in Detroit when Vincent Chin was murdered in 1982, with his killers sentenced to no jail time and a $3000 fine. Her journalism and advocacy for justice for Vincent Chin galvanized the Asian American community, resulting in the first mass movement that united diverse Asian American ethnicities in coalition with other minority groups–advocacy that led to the first federal civil rights trial on behalf of an Asian American, and opened new horizons for Asian American organizing. 

Zia is the author of Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People (2001); My Country Versus Me (2003), a firsthand account of the story of scientist Wen Ho Lee; and The Last Boat Out of Shanghai (2019), which chronicles the mass exodus out of Shanghai following the Communist takeover in 1949.

Senator Vin Gopal was the first South-Asian American to serve in the New Jersey Senate, first elected in 2017 in one of New Jersey’s most politically competitive districts. A key champion of New Jersey’s historic AAPI curriculum mandate, Senator Gopal has also advanced legislation to provide aid for education and local businesses; provided property tax rebates for taxpayers, seniors and veterans; made life more affordable for seniors; make mental health services more accessible, improved public safety and teared down barriers to employment and services for members of the disabilities community – with dozens of his bills signed into law. Senator Gopal currently chairs the Senate Education Committee and serves as Senate Majority Whip. Senator Gopal is also the Founder and President of the Vin Gopal Civic Association, a 501c(3) organization dedicated to helping Monmouth County charities and individuals in need, and has volunteered for his community in many other roles, including as a first responder and EMT.  

Dr. Sujana Chandrasekhar, a partner at ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP (ENTA), is an experienced otolaryngologist and surgeon who has helped thousands of patients achieve successful outcomes. She has held leadership positions at the most prestigious organizations in her field, serving as President of the AAO-HNS, where she was also Past Chair of their Board of Governors and as President of the Council of the American Otological Society. Dr. Chandrasekhar teaches at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra-Northwell and Mount Sinai School of Medicine and is Consulting Editor of Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. She is proud to serve our nation’s veterans as the Director of Neurotology at the JJ Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center in the Bronx. An invited speaker on topics relating to Otology, Neurotology, Leadership, Diversity, and Belonging around the world, Dr. Chandrasekhar is also an active community volunteer who has helped build belonging for the next generation through her long-time partnership with AAPI New Jersey, contributing to events including Light Up Diwali and the Holi/Songkran Color Run.

In 2023, we formally changed our name to AAPI New Jersey to reflect the statewide priorities and activities that this group of committed community members and advocates now supports. 

We continue to host events and programs in Montclair and invite you to explore this site to learn more about the diverse resources and opportunities we offer.

Sign up for our newsletter for the latest updates!