Dialogue with Congressman Min Enhances Community Engagement: AAPI Heritage Month Roundtable Successfully Held
By Keyang Pang
Costa Mesa — In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the KJ Institute hosted a successful roundtable forum titled “Dialogue with Congressman Min: Strengthening Community Engagement” on May 29, 2025. The event took place at the district office of U.S. Representative Dave Min, representing California’s 47th Congressional District in Orange County.
The forum attracted a diverse group of AAPI industry leaders and professionals from Southern California’s business, academic, cultural, and nonprofit sectors. Congressman Dave Min share his political journey, policy insights, and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges facing the AAPI community in the keynote speech. The event fostered in-depth discussions about a wide range of topics, from higher education and immigration policy to combating hate crimes and enhancing community welfare.
Jennifer Liu, President of KJ Institute welcomed participants and emphasized the purpose of the forum: to strengthen communication between the AAPI community and legislators. She noted that this gathering, timed to coincide with AAPI Heritage Month, aimed to highlight the resilience and significant contributions of the AAPI community. Liu also expressed gratitude to Congressman Min for opening his district office to the AAPI community and for attentively listening to the feedback and concerns from both community leaders and business professionals regarding public policy.
“Through this dialogue, we hope to promote diversity and inclusion, helping our legislators better understand the unique cultural contributions of the AAPI community,” Liu said. “Our goal is to create more opportunities for direct engagement between AAPI community members and policymakers to ensure that our voices are heard.”
Congressman Min shared his families immigration journey, “A lot of us grew up being the minority. We know from personal experience what it feels like to be other. Because of that, many of us have empathy for the vulnerable and marginalized communities that we want to stand up for the little guy.” Min said, “I also think as new Americans, we are very closely tied to the values of this country: democracy and freedom, economic opportunity and the idea that anybody here is supposed to be able to make it with hard work.” “We are the American dream.”
The forum also touched upon critical issues such as the impact of rising anti-China sentiment and its effects on the broader AAPI community. Min acknowledged the challenges posed by increasing societal divisions, particularly concerning Chinese Americans, but reaffirmed his commitment to representing the AAPI community in Congress. “..So I really just want to emphasize that I’m here to learn from you, to hear from you. I want to be the best representative I can be for the Asian American business community.”
The event received strong support from local AAPI businesses and organizations. Jack Wang, General Manager of Glymate USA, spoke on behalf of his company, highlighting the challenges the wellness and health industry faces today. “We are grateful to the KJ Institute for providing this platform to share our concerns and engage with lawmakers,” Wang said. “In this uncertain times, it’s crucial for businesses to find new opportunities, and we hope that continued dialogue like this will help us navigate these challenges.”
The forum also featured discussions on a wide range of topics, with participants asking questions about higher education, international trade, women in business, tariffs, hate crimes, and small business development. Congressman Min provided thoughtful responses and shared federal government policy updates concluding that he would continue to facilitate such forums in the future.
In attendance including Tina Yao, President of the American Yunnan General Chamber of Commerce, Larrina Pang, CEO of Enhance Hospitality, Dr. Ethan Huynh, National Board Member of APAPA, and many others representing various sectors of the community.
As AAPI Heritage Month continues to be celebrated across the U.S., this event served as a meaningful reminder of the vital role AAPI communities play in shaping the nation’s future. Congressman Min’s engagement with local leaders and the broader AAPI community underscores the importance of representation and dialogue in the legislative process.
The event was organized by the KJ Institute and supported by numerous partners, including Glymate USA, Adesso Nonprofit Foundation, and the American Yunnan General Chamber of Commerce.
