ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS MEET WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN ATLANTA TO DISCUSS THE STATE AND FUTURE OF AAPI BUSINESSES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT
Janet Alikpala
jalikpala@nationalace.org
312-217-4369
ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS MEET WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN ATLANTA TO DISCUSS THE STATE AND FUTURE OF AAPI BUSINESSES
[April 8, 2022, Atlanta, Georgia] – The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE), alongside affiliate partner, The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW), hosted an AAPISTRONG Small Business Roundtable for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) small business owners to discuss the current state of business in Atlanta.
The AAPISTRONG Small Business Roundtable is an open forum for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander business owners in the United States to connect with policymakers, corporate partners, and community members to find solutions for the barriers facing minority-owned small businesses today. The Atlanta event is the fifth roundtable this year, preceded by Detroit, Fort Walton Beach, New York, and Houston.
Sarah Park, President of the Korean American Coalition (KAC)-Metro Atlanta, gave her remarks about the one year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings. She said, “We must work with the media to create a narrative that goes beyond victimization and fear. We will build awareness through empathy, understanding, and love for our neighbors. Asian Americans are united, and we are stronger than ever.” Representatives from the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce were also present to demonstrate their solidarity, including President and CEO, Veronica Maldonado-Torres, as well as Vice President of Operations, Aisah Gayle.
Regarding National ACE’s leadership during the pandemic, GrubHub Restaurant Fund Recipient, Hope Webb, who owns the Filipino restaurant Estrellita said, “National ACE’s restaurant fund helped us in many ways, like with our payroll and expanding our kitchen. We are indebted to National ACE and all that they do for restaurant owners, and the whole community at large.” Participants also discussed policy concerns in Atlanta, including access to venture capital and seed funding, connections with other small business owners, registration and visibility of minority-owned businesses, employee and business protections, and restaurant-space rental policies.
Joining AAPI entrepreneurs were Deirdre Dixon, Regional CEO, American Red Cross; Bonika Wilson, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, Invest Atlanta; Martha Revelo, Outreach Director, Office of U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock; Jackita Bass, Associate Director Field Operations-East, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Dion Lyons, Conciliation Specialist, Community Relations Service, U.S. Department of Justice; Donna Ennis, Regional Project Director, Georgia Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center; Terri Denison, District Director, Georgia Small Business Administration (SBA); and Vanessa Ibarra, Director of International Affairs, City of Atlanta Mayor’s Division of Immigrant Affairs.
“Our business community continues to face many challenges. Asian American and Pacific Islander small business owners have battled both COVID-19 and a sharp spike in discrimination and violence. Our policymakers play a significant role in protecting our community, allowing our small businesses to operate safely, and creating prosperity,” said National ACE President and CEO, Chiling Tong. “This conversation will help policymakers to understand the unmet needs of our community so we can find solutions. National ACE looks forward to working with the Asian Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta to advance solutions that will help our economy move forward.
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About National ACE
National ACE’s mission is to serve as a strong advocate of AAPI business interests and positive change on all issues that enhance and advance the goals and aspirations of AAPI business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders. National ACE strives to do this through supporting and promoting issues that impact the AAPI business community, improving the economic development and economic impact of the AAPI community, advancing coalitions and enhancing community building, and fostering the next generation of AAPI entrepreneurs and executives. National ACE provides a unified voice for the business interests of AAPIs nationally. Learn more at www.nationalace.org or www.aapistrong.com.
About CAPAW:
CAPAW is the Premier Organization Developing AAPI Women to be impactful and influential leaders. The Center strives to nurture Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities by expanding leadership capacity, fostering awareness of AAPI issues, creating a supportive network of AAPI women leaders, and strengthening community.
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