NAPABA
Honors President and Executive Director John C. Yang with Daniel K. Inouye
Trailblazer Award
Washington, D.C.—The
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) announced that they
will award one of its Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer Awards to Advancing Justice
| AAJC’s President and Executive Director John C. Yang. The award is given to
those who have demonstrated vision, courage, and tenacity that have resulted in
substantial and lasting contributions to the AAPI legal profession as well as
the broader AAPI community.
“John is more than deserving
of this distinguished award, which is NAPABA’s highest honor,” said Advancing Justice | AAJC Board Chair
Parkin Lee. “John’s long and storied career, which has seen him
in the partnership at a major law firm, as the Legal Director of the
Asia-Pacific operations of a major U.S. corporation, in a senior leadership
position within the U.S. Department of Commerce, and now as President and
Executive Director of Advancing Justice | AAJC, all while providing incredible
leadership and mentorship within the Asian American community, exemplifies the
values and achievements which NAPABA’s Trailblazer Award seeks to honor and
recognize. In his role at Advancing Justice | AAJC, John has stepped up in the
face of anti-Asian hate to educate and advocate for our community across all
sectors, from speaking up in national media and in Congress to making time to
speak to countless organizations. In addition, Advancing Justice | AAJC has
grown tremendously under his helm. Though the work has always been vital, the
dual pandemics of Covid-19 and the increased racism directed toward our
communities brought to the forefront the urgent need to provide additional
resources for those who need it most. John has truly stepped up to that
challenge and continues to fight for the most vulnerable.”
Yang is an experienced
attorney with over 25 years of policy, litigation, and corporate expertise. He
served in the Obama Administration as Senior Advisor for Trade and Strategic
Initiatives at the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he was the principal
advisor to Secretary Penny Pritzker on issues related to Asia, and worked with
the White House and other U.S. agencies on strategic and economic issues
concerning the region. He co-founded the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource
Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the direct service
legal needs of Asian Pacific Americans in the D.C. metropolitan area, and is a
former president of NAPABA, where he continues to serve as co-chair of NAPABA’s
Judiciary and Executive Nominations and Appointments Committee.
“I am honored to receive this
award from an organization I have had the privilege to be closely involved with
over the years and have the utmost respect for,” said John C. Yang. “NAPABA
and Advancing Justice | AAJC’s work both have been instrumental in uplifting
the AAPI community, especially during these difficult times. I am grateful to
be recognized in this space and am committed to the continued work and vision
of building an equitable society for all.”
NAPABA has also recognized the
tremendous achievements and contributions of Advancing Justice | AAJC’s Board
Vice-Chair, Gina Shishima, with another of its Daniel K. Inouye Trailblazer
Awards. Gina Shishima has risen to the highest levels of management at her law
firm while remaining fully committed to supporting and advancing the Asian
American community. We are proud to have the benefit of her leadership
and her vision, and to have her honored by the Asian American legal community.
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