What does being an Asian American in the policy sphere mean to you, and how does your identity play a part in your work?
As an Asian American woman who has lived in both Asia as well as the U.S., my identity plays a big part in my work. I am aware of nuanced ways in which American culture differs from other cultures, which makes it easier for me to understand the importance of listening to those who don’t look like or think like the majority. In the policy sphere, it means that I have a vested interest in how policy outcomes may impact BIPOC and lower income communities differently. While one of my goals is to contribute to well-researched climate policies, I’m also cognizant of the fact that creating good and just policies means we need to amplify the voices of communities who often don’t get a seat at the table.
Is there someone in the field who has influenced you, or who has a story that is interesting to you?
No single person comes to mind, but I am constantly inspired by activists who are fighting every day to speak up for and bring justice to marginalized communities. I am also humbled by immigrant families and their resilience toward the everyday challenges of living in the U.S.
Where is your antiracist work located, and what does it involve?
Antiracist work is a fairly new area of my life, and I am always looking for ways to better incorporate it. My interest started during my graduate program at Duke University, where I was introduced to environmental justice and learned about the importance of listening to what the community needs instead of imposing your ideas onto them. Through my master’s thesis, I had the opportunity to interview BIPOC communities impacted by hurricanes in North Carolina, and I learned about the inequities associated with the distribution of relief funding.
Since then, I’ve been trying to learn more about racism and its history in other contexts by reading books and articles, listening to podcasts, and attending events related to this topic. I recently became involved with the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, which focuses on elevating AAPI women through a reproductive justice framework. In the future, I hope to incorporate environmental justice work into my career.
This work is important to me because we need more voices at the table, and I believe in a more just, equitable and inclusive world.
Do you have any resources, readings or recommendations for the SPP Community? How can they get involved or be more active in this work?
Don’t be intimidated if you don’t know much about antiracism – everybody has to start somewhere! The easiest thing to do is to educate yourself on this topic; you can start with a book, an article, or a podcast. “Minor Feelings” by Cathy Park Hong is a book specific to the Asian American experience that is on my list to read. I’ve also attended bystander intervention trainings by the organization Hollaback, and those have been helpful as well.
