Brain Trust: Owning Our Narrative with AAJA & AAPI Heritage Month Preparations
With AAPI Heritage Month just around the corner, our April Brain Trust is focused on how we tell our stories and how we can amplify each other’s impact. Join us for a dynamic session centered on representation and community collaboration.
Spotlight on AAJA (Asian American Journalists Association)
We are thrilled to welcome AAJA to the Brain Trust! They will share their mission and the critical work they do to champion AAPI representation in newsrooms, build the pipeline for future media leaders, and ensure our narratives are told accurately and fairly on the national stage.
For over 40 years, AAJA has been on the front lines of fighting for our visibility. Beyond supporting journalists, they actively protect the broader AAPI community by:
Holding Media Accountable: They consistently challenge the press through their Media Watch initiatives, calling out biased coverage, harmful stereotypes, and the erasure of AAPI voices.
Protecting Our Dignity in Crisis: During the surge of anti-Asian violence and the Atlanta Spa Shootings, AAJA immediately stepped in to provide newsrooms with critical media advisories, cultural context, and pronunciation guides to ensure our community and the victims were covered with respect and accuracy.
Building the Pipeline: Through programs like JCamp and VOICES, they are funding and mentoring the next generation of AAPI storytellers to ensure we have a seat at the editorial tables where the biggest decisions are made.
AAPI Heritage Month Collaborative Planning
Following the AAJA spotlight, we will open the floor for a community-wide working session. We want to hear from you! We are inviting all attendees to share what they and their respective organizations are planning for May.
This is our dedicated time to:
Share Ideas: Talk about your upcoming campaigns, internal company events, and community initiatives.
Align Efforts: Hear what other organizations are building so we can support each other and maximize our collective reach.
Collaborate: Identify concrete ways our nonprofits, employee resource groups, and community leaders can partner up to make a bigger splash.
Bring your ideas, your organizational roadmaps, and your collaborative spirit. Let's make this May our most unified and impactful one yet!