Jo-Ann Yoo, one of New York City’s most respected and effective community leaders and advocates, is joining Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) as Deputy Executive Director. It’s a homecoming for Jo-Ann, who served as a director at AAFE for nearly a decade in the early 2000s before going on to lead the Asian American Federation. In her new role, Jo-Ann will help deepen AAFE’s impact across New York City, strengthening the organization’s advocacy campaigns, policy priorities and community programs. 

“Jo-Ann has devoted her life to standing up and empowering the Asian American community and all underserved communities in New York City,” said AAFE Executive Director Thomas Yu. “Her deep experience and passion for advocacy will be invaluable assets to AAFE as we work to build new affordable housing, support small business and provide comprehensive community services to a growing number of vulnerable New Yorkers.” 

“There has never been a more critical time for our communities, which are facing unprecedented challenges,” said AAFE Deputy Executive Director Jo-Ann Yoo. “I knew I had to be engaged in the struggles for affordability, equitable access to resources and economic opportunity – and I could think of no better place to make a difference than AAFE. I am looking forward to working closely with Thomas and the entire AAFE staff to ensure that our next generation of leaders have an even stronger voice and seats at the table to effect positive change.” 

As Executive Director of the Asian American Federation from 2014-2024, Jo-Ann transformed the organization into a formidable advocacy nonprofit with more than 70 member groups, AAFE among them. Under her leadership, the Federation emerged as a powerful force for a community-centered response to the anti-Asian hate crisis. Her guidance shaped the Federation’s programs to support pan-Asian economic empowerment, mental health advocacy, and to combat anti-Asian violence, especially during the pandemic through the “Hope Against Hate” campaign, the Federation’s initiative to create a safer New York for the AAPI community. 

In 2023, Jo-Ann testified before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Washington D.C on the federal response to anti-Asian racism in the United States. Jo-Ann was appointed to the New York City’s Racial Justice Commission and the Racial Justice Advisory Board, the NYC Mayor’s Covid Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force. She co-leads the AAPI mental health task force for the New York State Office of Mental Health. 

 Jo-Ann was named to City and State’s “Power of Diversity” and “Nonprofit Power 100” lists on numerous occasions, as well as the publication’s “Asian Power 100” list several years in a row.  Recently, Jo-Ann served on the transition teams of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, NYC Comptroller Mark Levine and NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. 

 At AAFE, Jo-Ann will oversee external relations, building on relationships with elected officials, government agencies and partner organizations to strengthen programs and services and advance innovative community development solutions. 

AAFE is a nearly 52-year-old comprehensive community development organization with its foundation as an activist civil rights movement in 1970s Chinatown. Its mission is to advance racial, social and economic justice for all, regardless of background. Today, AAFE has a nationwide reputation as an innovator in the non-profit sector, building affordable housing, offering an array of multilingual community services and providing access to capital and education for small business owners in the New York Metro area.