Asian Heritage Launch 2026 | San Francisco
Updates
Below is our tentative agenda:
5:30 – 6:00 PM: Doors open, check-in, vendor marketplace + light bites
6:00 – 6:10 PM: Opening remarks by AHN
6:10 – 6:30 PM: Remarks from our sponsors & partners
6:30 – 7:10 PM: Panel discussion
7:10 – 7:20 PM: Sponsor recognition + closing remarks
7:20 – 8:00 PM: Networking + vendor marketplace
At this launch event, we'll be exploring the intersection of sports, culture, and representation through a conversation centered on AAPI voices and experiences in the industry. Join Jarrett Tom and Raymond Townsend as we discuss diversity in corporate spaces, representation in professional sports and sports media, and the importance of celebrating culture and community through sports. Guests can also expect personal stories, industry insights, and meaningful conversations on the evolving role of AAPIs across the sports landscape.
Parking can be found in the public lots across the city.
Upon arrival, please check in with lobby security, who will provide access to the 21st floor.
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San Francisco, this one’s for you! Find your community and start something meaningful 🎉
Following the success of last year’s Asian Heritage Week, we’re bringing it back in 2026 with even more ways to celebrate Asian entrepreneurship, culture, and community.
Join us for the official launch event in San Francisco to explore what’s coming, meet the community behind it, and connect with founders, creatives, and operators across the Bay Area.
Save the date:
📆 May 21, 2026
🕐 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM (PT)
📍 San Francisco (precise location shared with approved guests)
Don’t miss your chance to be part of something bigger, better, and brighter. See you all there!
Asian Heritage Week (AHW) is an annual occasion in which we host a collective of Asian cultural events with other leaders and organizations to celebrate and honor the cultural heritage of the Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. If you'd like to host an event in your city, please fill out the form to become an event host at asianheritageweek.com.
Meet our Speakers
Jarrett Tom – Manager, Membership Service at the San Francisco 49ers
Jarrett is a Manager of Member Services at the San Francisco 49ers, where he has been a member of the organization since 2019. In his role, Jarrett oversees the Member Services team, which supports one of the largest season ticket membership bases in the NFL. In addition to his work in Member Services, Jarrett serves as the Chair of APEX, the San Francisco 49ers' Asian American and Pacific Islander Employee Engagement Community, where he is passionate about creating pathways for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders into the sports industry and fostering a culture of inclusion and community within the 49ers organization.
Raymond Townsend – First Filipino-American to play in the NBA League & Executive Director of RT Basketball
Townsend was born and raised in San Jose and was the first Filipino-American to be drafted and play in the NBA. He attended Archbishop Mitty and Camden High Schools. As a High School All-American, he averaged 28 points per game as a senior. He attended and lettered in two-sports, Basketball and Baseball at UCLA.
In Basketball, he was a member of John Wooden's 1975 UCLA National Championship team. He was a player who won 4 consecutive Pac-8 Championships and earned Team MVP, and 1st Team, All Pac-8 honors as a senior. He was selected in the first round of the 1978 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. He concluded his NBA career playing with the Indiana Pacers and retired after playing in Italy and throughout Europe.
In Baseball, he was a member of the 1976 Pac-8 Championship team, had a .319 career batting average. He was selected in the fifth round of the 1978 MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds.
As Executive Director of RT Basketball, he established youth basketball leagues dedicated to building self esteem and confidence, empowering and impacting thousands of children in San Jose, the Greater Bay Area and around the world. Townsend was honored as UCLA Filipino Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus of the Year in 2009 and by the San Jose City Council for his Community Service in 2014. Raymond Townsend was inducted into the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
Stacie de Armas – Content & Strategic Insights at Nielsen
Stacie is a media industry veteran experienced in inclusive media planning, research and analytics, public affairs, and consumer insights. She has more than 28 years of communications and media experience developing and activating inclusive brand marketing campaigns. She has served as a thought leader relying on insight-driven content and audience data. She works cross-functionally with global teams to uncover trends grounded in data and has demonstrated global leadership skills and a proven track record of success across a diverse set of business environments.
Meet our Sponsors & Partners
JLL
JLL is a global real estate company, focusing on helping companies lease and buy office space. From tech startups to global firms, its clients span industries including banking, healthcare, law, life sciences, manufacturing, and technology.
Nielsen
Nielsen is a global leader in audience measurement, data and analytics, shaping the future of media. Measuring behavior across all channels and platforms to discover what audiences love, we empower our clients with trusted intelligence that fuels action.
PNC Bank
PNC Bank is one of the nation’s leading financial institutions, committed to building strong relationships in the communities we serve. In Northern California, PNC combines national scale with local insight to deliver personalized banking, lending, and wealth solutions, while supporting communities through regional investments, financial education and initiatives that foster long-term prosperity.
Singapore Global Network
At Singapore Global Network, we are passionate about building connections and creating opportunities for people and businesses. As a team within the Singapore government, we aim to grow Singapore’s overseas networks by building meaningful and lasting relationships with family, friends and partners across the globe.
AMAZN HQ
AMAZN HQ is the world's leading platform dedicated to providing a voice to Asian-heritage athletes. Through culturally-driven storytelling and events, the platform focused on redefining societal perception of the term "Asian athlete" one step at a time.