June 17, 2025

On the evening of May 29th, more than 200 guests lit up the night, not just with celebration but with the collective honoring of cultures, traditions, stories, and generations of wisdom that unite and empower us.

From the very start, the ballroom buzzed with energy – Cocktail hour featured trays of delicious hors d’oeuvres, and guests posed joyfully in front of our iconic photobooth, framed with the colorful CelebrAsians logo. Dressed to impress in stunning traditional attire from sarees, hanboks, kimonos, shalwar kameez, and other meaningful ensembles – the entire space was a canvas of vibrant cultural pride and diversity.

Then came the unmistakable thunder of drums as a spectacular lion dance roared to life, captivating the audience and setting the tone for the evening. In that moment, CelebrAsians became more than an event – it became a living expression of heritage and shared purpose.

“Many of us in this room carry stories we don’t always tell,” said our Executive Director, Colleen Nguyen, in her powerful opening. “We didn’t call it leadership. We didn’t call it public health. We called it family. We called it community.

And it wasn’t just our parents. It was the uncles, the aunts, the grandparents, the cousins, the siblings, and Ms. Mai two doors down, who always knew what was going on.

That’s what tonight is about.

It’s about honoring the kind of care that isn’t loud, but lasts.”

“I translated not just words, but whole systems…I didn’t always know what a Community Health Worker was. But I had been one long before I had the title,” said Fanny . “We are not just survivors. We are the very heartbeat of our communities. And when we rise – we don’t just find our wings…we help others find theirs, too.”
– Fanny Cai (CHW Graduate)

Her words were a powerful reminder that leadership often begins not in formal roles, but around kitchen tables, in waiting rooms, and on quiet walks home.

As the evening came to a close, our auction/fundraiser overflowed with generosity. We are deeply grateful to every caregiver, healthcare worker, sponsor, funder, guest, and quiet warrior in our lives – CelebrAsians is for you.

Here’s to building more tables, and bringing more chairs,

With Gratitude,

The Asian Women for Health Team

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