American Courage Awards Celebrate AANHPI Bravery in Fight for Justice
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Bayarmaa Bat-erdene bbat-erdene@advancingjustice-aajc.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC) will honor several organizations and individuals whose courage stands proud against systemic harm and injustice. On October 2, Advancing Justice – AAJC will recognize organizations working to defend Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history and spaces, a youth advocate mobilizing the Midwest AANHPI community, and law firms working to uphold justice and civil rights.
These individuals and organizations will be honored as part of the American Courage Awards at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. as part of an annual celebration of extraordinary courage and commitment to advancing the civil rights of AANHPI communities. This year's event will be hosted by Aimee Cho, an Emmy-winning journalist with NBC4 Washington.
This year’s honorees are Asian Americans United (AAU), Asian Texans for Justice (ATJ), Andrew de las Alas, and law firms Jenner & Block, Perkins Coie, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale.
Two grassroots organizations will receive the Changemaker Award, which celebrates those who are a catalyst for change in their communities and whose leadership has inspired action on a local and national level for AANHPIs: Asian Americans United (AAU) and Asian Texans for Justice (ATJ). Last year, AAU successfully defeated plans to build a sports arena right in the heart of Philadelphia’s Chinatown. AAU’s narrative and storytelling campaign, cultivated through intergenerational and coalition-building strength, protected a legacy of resilience, culture, and joy. ATJ serves more than 1.9 million AANHPI Texans. It has opposed discriminatory land laws, harmful stereotypes, and anti-Asian violence while launching multilingual voter outreach campaigns — tearing down old, harmful structures while forging a brighter future ahead for AANHPI power.
This year’s recipient for the Norman Y. Mineta Spirit Award, which recognizes the next generation of leaders, is Andrew de las Alas. As Chief of Staff at the Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation (MAAY), Andrew works to empower the Midwest’s AANHPI community through programs focused on civic engagement, mental health, and leadership development.
Finally, receiving the American Courage Award are four law firms protecting the rule of law and due process, for all: Jenner & Block, Perkins Coie, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale. These firms have exemplified the highest ideals of the legal profession — courage, integrity, and an unshakeable dedication for justice under the law.
The event will be livestreamed on YouTube, however, those interested in attending in-person and supporting Advancing Justice – AAJC's ongoing work can visit the American Courage Awards' event page.