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AAFE’s annual gala is a joyous community celebration helping to support our mission
of advancing racial, social and economic justice for all.
City Councilwoman Carlina Rivera represents District 2 in Manhattan and was born and raised on the Lower East Side. She is a powerful advocate for affordable housing, small business empowerment, and equitable community development—values that are deeply rooted in AAFE’s mission.
Bob Lee is co-founder of the Asian American Arts Centre. For over five decades, he has played a critical role in amplifying and preserving Asian American art, heritage and storytelling. Bob is now working with AAFE and Think!Chinatown to create a new Asian American Arts Center in Flushing.
Three of AAFE’s own leaders—Executive Director Thomas Yu, and Managing Directors Jessie Lee and Nelson Chan—tell AAFE’s story through the lens of their personal journeys as children of immigrants who now work to uplift others. In the film, they introduce us to an East Village resident realizing the dream of first-time homeownership, a determined small business owner pursuing her passion in Chinatown and three high school students in our Flushing Youth Program who just received college acceptance letters! Their journeys, alongside the dedication of AAFE’s leadership team, paint a vivid picture of empowerment and community transformation. Watch a preview!
This year’s gala is more than a celebration—it’s a sensory experience that honors our shared legacy and cultural roots. Witness a delicate fusion of traditional Chinese paper cutting and modern portraiture from Ming Liang Lu. Experience the delicate beauty of edible Chinese sugar painting. Enjoy live music from Paul “Sabor” Rivera & The Afro-Latineers. Take in the artistry of hand-rolled cigars from one of New York’s oldest cigar factories, La Casa Grande. And take home a gift from us and from a traditional clay sculpture artist.
