Conference links young Asians with local leaders

Corinne Moore
·2 min read

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — To help connect young Asians with business and community leaders, the West Michigan Asian American Association held its first Asian International Leadership Summit on Friday.

“The idea behind it was created following the ongoing increase in Asian hate crimes, the lack of representation of Asian Americans at every level of our community’s life and the cognition that we are losing a lot of our Asian, talented young people and professionals. And they are leaving because they don’t see anyone that looks like them,” Bing Goei, a Grand Rapids city commissioner and local businessman, said.

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The event featured keynote speakers George Aquino, vice president and managing director of AHC Hospitality, and NBC award-winning journalist Michelle Li. Four workshops with business and community leaders covered technology, education, entrepreneurship and civil leadership.

“The Asian American population is under an umbrella that is approximately 50 countries, 1,400 dialects. So we have that broad representation here, though we may not be a percentage of the population, a large percentage. But we are also the fastest-growing ethnic population, not only here in Michigan but also across the country,” Goei said.

The event helped to connect young Asians like Grace Tarala, a Grand Valley State University student, and Nichole Ly, a student at Ferris State University, with leaders who have a similar background.

“I think it’s really important for fellow Asians to know there are a lot more of us out there, and we are here to support each other and help each other grow,” Tarala said. “It makes something that almost seems impossible for someone with my background more possible.”

“I think it’s really important to see diversity in action and really practice cross-cultural communication,” Ly said. “Representation is the first step to really bringing together different cultures and helping people grow as a whole.”

~ News 8 reporter Meghan Bunchman contributed to this report.

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