AJSOCAL Marks 43rd Anniversary With Los Angeles Gala Honoring Cecillia Wang and Other AAPI Leaders
Los Angeles — Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL), the nation's largest Asian American and Pacific Islander legal and civil rights organization, held its 43rd Anniversary Gala on the evening of October 22 at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, under the theme "United in Action: Charging Forward." The evening began with a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m., bringing together AAPI leaders and allies from law, philanthropy, business, the arts and entertainment, less than two weeks before the November 3 midterm elections, in one of the most prominent convenings of AAPI leaders in Southern California.
The gala was hosted by award-winning journalist David Ono. Nobuko Miyamoto, the 86-year-old American folk singer and Asian American movement luminary, performed; her 1973 album A Grain of Sand is recognized as the first album of Asian American music, and in 1987 she founded the arts organization Great Leap. "This event is more than a gala. While it is indeed upbeat and celebratory, its backbone is serious. We are honoring heroes who stepped up to protect the freedom and rights that we have today. During these uncertain times, in tandem with them, we are charging forward," said AJSOCAL CEO Dahni Tsuboi.
Four honors were presented. Cecillia Wang, National Legal Director of the ACLU, received the Joseph Ileto Courage Award. The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, she successfully defended birthright citizenship before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2026 and has spent her career challenging family separation, mandatory minimum sentences and the Muslim ban; the award was presented by Yasmin Cader, the ACLU Deputy Executive Director for Program, Strategy and Culture.
The Japanese American National Museum and its President and CEO Ann Burroughs received the Legacy in Justice Award, recognizing the museum's work preserving and sharing the Japanese American experience and Burroughs' more than 25 years of human rights leadership; the award was presented by David Ono.
Philanthropists Peter and Jihee Huh received the Catalyst for Justice Award for their activism and philanthropy, including leadership roles with AJSOCAL, Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Human Rights Watch; the award was presented by Steve Kang.
Morrison Foerster received the Justice in Action Award for contributing hundreds of hours of pro bono legal support on reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights and immigrants' rights; the award was presented by the Hon. Bryant Y. Yang, a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
The evening also featured a silent auction held with AmFund, offering travel packages to nine destinations: Alaska, Cambodia, Greece, Norway, Scotland, South Africa, Tuscany in Italy, Thailand and Vietnam. Individual tickets were offered at $500.
Founded in 1983 in the wake of the Vincent Chin case, AJSOCAL serves more than 15,000 low-income clients annually in multiple Asian languages, providing free legal services on immigration, eviction protection, family law and healthcare access, with offices in downtown Los Angeles and Orange County.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：晚会场地 The Westin Bonaventure Hotel（资料图），位于洛杉矶（Los Angeles）市中心。照片：Dietmar Rabich，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / The Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, the gala venue (file photo). Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
