05/01/2026
In honor of AAPINH Heritage Month, we are highlighting and expressing gratitude for some of the many Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian women and gender-expansive leaders—past and present—whose work has shaped justice, culture, and community. We recognize their vision, labor, and lasting contributions. While we aren’t able to uplift all who deserve recognition, these are some whose impact continues to inspire.
Amanda Nguyen: Human rights advocate and founder of Rise who led efforts behind the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act, advancing legal protections for survivors and reshaping how the justice system responds to sexual violence.
Terisa Siagatonu: Award winning poet and activist whose storytelling centers healing, identity, and empowerment for Pacific Islanders and beyond.
Dr. Connie Wun: Co-founder of AAPI Women Lead, building gender justice spaces and centering the experiences of AAPI women and girls, including those impacted by violence.
Patsy Mink: Former U.S. Representative and co-author of Title IX, transforming access to education, athletics, and opportunity for generations of women and girls.
Pramila Jayapal: U.S. Representative and immigrant rights advocate who founded and led OneAmerica (formerly Hate Free Zone), building grassroots power with immigrant and refugee communities and advancing policies on healthcare access, labor protections, and immigrant and racial justice.
Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask: Scholar and activist for Hawaiian sovereignty whose work examined the intersections of racism, sexism, and imperialism, centering Native Hawaiian self-determination and struggles for liberation.
Yuri Kochiyama: Civil rights activist who built cross-movement solidarity and worked across struggles for racial justice, liberation, and human rights.
Alice Wong: Disability rights activist and founder of the Disability Visibility Project, amplifying disabled voices and expanding disability representation across media, culture, and public discourse.
Dr. Grace Lee Boggs: Community organizer and philosopher whose work emphasized youth leadership, intergenerational learning, and the idea that personal and community transformation are deeply connected in building new social realities.
