Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum

10/22/2026

To our friends in Hawaii, please visit this traveling exhibit.

10/11/2026

Thanks for sharing this!

From immigration detention to wartime service: Paper Son Soldiers tells the powerful story of Benson and Richard Wong, two brothers who entered the United States through Angel Island and went on to serve in the military during World War II.

Now on view at the Angel Island Immigration Museum, this exhibition was developed in close partnership with the Wong family and the USS Hornet - Sea, Air and Space Museum.

Explore the brothers' journey, service, and legacy through AIISF’s The Vault: www.aiisf.org/vault/papersonsoldiers.

10/08/2026

What a great program last Friday! Congratulations to Ascend Midwest!

Check out this Booklet (US Letter) designed by Cammy Zou.

10/03/2026

Congratulations to C-100 and Handel Lee, Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum’s Co-Chair and Co-Founder, who chaired this year’s inspirational event.

09/21/2026

Thank you for sharing!

09/21/2026

Congratulations!

09/11/2026

25 years ago today. We will never forget.

An American Airlines reservations agent who took Betty Ong's historic 9/11 call recalls the flight attendant's bravery.

09/03/2026

Over the summer, we have been working on a new initiative, which we are excited to introduce to you. The Cornerstones Initiative is FRIENDS’ effort to celebrate and elevate the many contributions of Asian Americans as part of America’s history, culture, and identity.

Asian American contributions are woven throughout the American experience—from the arts and innovation to military service, food, and countless aspects of everyday life. Yet too often, these contributions have not received the recognition or place in our national narrative that they deserve. The Cornerstones Initiative seeks to change that by shining a light on these stories and connecting them to the larger American story where they belong.

We are beginning with four pillars—Arts, STEM, Military Service and Cuisine—each representing a powerful dimension of Asian American influence and achievement. These are the starting points. As the future museum and its programming evolve, the initiative will expand to elevate additional fields, voices and stories that together help complete America’s story.

For now, please save October 6th at 6:30 PM EST for an exclusive fireside chat featuring Billy Dec and Neil Ruiz. Billy is an Emmy Award Winning TV Personality, Actor, Attorney and serial Entrepreneur and recently released his documentary Food Roots, where he travelled across his mother’s native 7641 Islands of the Philippines to find his last living elders, to learn the recipes of his ancestors, uncovering family secrets and cultural treasures. We will also talk about Billy’s culinary journey and the impact of Filipino cuisine in the US.

Billy will be joined by Dr. Neil Ruiz, a member of FRIENDS’ Advisory Board and Pew Research Center’s Head of New Research Initiatives. He is the principal investigator of the Center’s comprehensive study of Asian Americans, which received the 2023 Inclusive Voices Award. Neil is also the author of Everyday Americans: Asians in the U.S, which will be released on October 20th, 2026.

Save the Date: October 6, 6:30 PM EST. An official announcement with the Zoom link will be coming soon.

Thank you for your ongoing support to ensure that Asian American stories and achievements are not simply part of American history—they are recognized as essential to it.



With gratitude,


Grace

Grace Y. Toh
Executive Director

08/26/2026

Thank you for sharing this story!

08/07/2026

Looking forward to today’s events!