ANNOUNCEMENT:

Appointment of Andrea Chen as Executive Director of the Vincent Chin Institute

Dear VCI Community and Supporters,

The Vincent Chin Institute is thrilled to announce the appointment of Andrea Chen as the first Executive Director of VCI.

Andrea brings over 20 years of experience driving systemic change through racial justice and economic inclusion initiatives.
She served for 15+ years as CEO and Co-founder of Propeller, a nationally recognized social innovation incubator based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Andrea's experience building infrastructure in the South powerfully aligns with VCI's commitment to serving underrepresented
AAPI communities, particularly in the South and middle of America.

In her role as Executive Director, Andrea will lead our three core program areas:

Community Organizing: Strengthening a national, intergenerational AAPI network to support and provide resources to communities with limited advocacy infrastructure, creating connective tissue between local, regional, and national groups.

Narrative Change: Developing and sharing narratives that address contemporary challenges, highlighting the multiethnic, multiracial, cross-class organizing of the Vincent Chin legacy rooted in the Black Civil Rights movement.

Education: Developing multilingual tools, including our Crisis Communications FAQ, Crisis Funding FAQ, and Vincent Chin Legacy Guide,
to reach K-12 students and adults through schools, libraries and partnerships with the Smithsonian Institution and other organizations.

Andrea’s long experience in building trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders and create systems for organizational growth will be invaluable to lift up our AAPI communities as we develop our work.

We are confident that Andrea's unwavering drive for justice, coupled with her compassion and deep commitment to multicultural, multiracial solidarity, will continue the legacy of Vincent Chin while inspiring the next generation of AAPI leaders.

The Vincent Chin Institute remains steadfast in our mission to provide critical linkages for underserved AAPI communities and today's generation of committed AAPI organizations with the strategic lessons from historical Asian American organizing. With Andrea's leadership, we are poised to expand our impact and reach during these challenging times that demand our highest commitment to solidarity and collective action.

Please join us in welcoming Andrea to the Vincent Chin Institute family. We look forward to sharing updates on our work and impact as we embark on this exciting new chapter together!

Upcoming Workshop

We invite you to connect with VCI during our upcoming workshop:

Event: 2025 OCA National Convention - "Passage to Seattle: From AYPE 1909 to AANHPI Rising 2025"

Date: July 24-27, 2025

Location: Seattle, Washington

Description: VCI will be leading a workshop titled "AAPI Community Media Strategies to Use in Challenging Times" on Friday, July 25. This year's OCA National convention features interactive workshops, thought-provoking discussions, and activities focused on strengthening a multi-racial democracy where equity and justice thrive.