About this Event
The Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Summit 2026 is a national convening designed to elevate leadership, strengthen belonging, and amplify the collective impact of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Grounded in lived experience and cultural respect, this summit recognizes the vast diversity within AANHPI identities—across ethnicity, culture, language, generation, immigration history, and geography—while honoring the shared threads of resilience, contribution, and community.
This summit brings together leaders, professionals, creatives, educators, community builders, and allies for meaningful dialogue and action. Through engaging sessions, storytelling, and intergenerational conversations, participants will explore what it means to lead with cultural pride, navigate visibility in complex systems, and build bridges across communities without erasing difference.
The Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Summit 2026 is not about a single narrative—it is about many voices, many paths, and a shared commitment to shaping the future. Attendees will examine leadership and representation, cultural identity and belonging, healing and well-being, and the power of collective action.
The summit creates space for reflection and forward momentum, centering both historical context and emerging opportunities.
Designed as a place of connection and possibility, the summit invites participants to learn from one another, honor ancestral wisdom, and imagine what is possible when communities are fully seen, valued, and supported. Whether you are advancing change within organizations, building community initiatives, mentoring the next generation, or seeking deeper connection to your identity and purpose, this summit offers a powerful environment to grow, contribute, and lead.
The Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Summit (AANHPI) 2026 is a gathering rooted in respect, celebration, and vision—because our stories matter, our leadership matters, and our future is stronger when we build it together.
Agenda at a Glance - See Full Descriptions and Bios below:
7:30 am – Doors Open
8:00 am – John Chen, CSP Hosts the AANHPI Heritage Month Summit Opening Ceremony
Beat Box Panda, Washington’s #1 Beatboxer
John Chen, CSP - What is a Paper Son?
8:50 am – Leo Chan - The Art of Innovation (Unleash Your Inner Innovator)
I can innovate? YES! 1000% YES! Innovation is not reserved only for the Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos of the world. Innovation is for everyone.
In this inspiring talk, you will learn about the who, what, why and how of innovation. Most importantly, you will see that you have the ability to become an innovator. YES! You!
Leo Chan, Chief Innovation Igniter at Abound Innovation, is a people and heart-first entrepreneur who believes everyone can innovate. With over 55 US patents and 20+ years of experience, Leo has trained over 130,000k global professionals and is a 5x LinkedIn Learning Instructor.
Leo Chan, Chief Innovation Igniter at Abound Innovation, is a people and heart-first entrepreneur and a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® trainer and facilitator. With over 55 US patents and 20+ years of experience, he has empowered organizations — from nonprofits to Fortune 500s — across industries from automotive to wastewater — to unleash their employees’ creative potential.
9:40 am – Break
10:20 am – How Does Seattle Support AANHPI’s
Lori Matsukawa – Moderator
Quynh Pham – Seattle Department of Neighborhoods
More panelists to come
11:10 am – Jolene Jang - Aren’t Asians All Alike? The Invisible Americans
Did you know that 52% of Americans cannot name a single prominent Asian American?
Jolene Jang, Asian American Inclusion Strategist with 29+ years of experience, is on a mission to make Asian Americans visible. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies including HP, Starbucks, and Microsoft.
11:35 am – Kelly Goto – Seattle Samuri
Join PNBA Award–winning author Kelly Goto for a conversation about Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist’s Perspective on the Japanese American Experience., a graphic history of the Japanese American experience in the Pacific Northwest.
Kelly shares stories of early Japanese immigrants in the Pacific Northwest, the impact of wartime incarceration, and the resilience of families who rebuilt their lives and communities.
12:00 pm – Lunch with Tai Tung
Enjoy a networking lunch with food from Harry and Tai Tung, Seattle’s Oldest Restaurant.
1:00 pm – Toshiko Hasegawa, 4th generation Japanese American and Port of Seattle Commissioner
1:25 pm – Assunta Ng, Founder of Northwest Asian Weekly
1:50 pm – How do AANHPI’s Work In Seattle?
Moderated by Veni Folta, Int’l Best Selling Author and The Happy Brain Catalyst
Sam Cho – Port of Seattle Commissioner, Director of Strategic Initiatives for the City of Seattle and the owner of Social Tea Company
Lien Ngu – CFO, Award Winning Realtor, and Author of Joyful Living
Kiva Geiger – High-Ticket Sales & Networking Trainer
2:40 pm – Break
3:20 pm – Suvann Loeng, founder of Love and Life Liberation, energy worker and healer
3:45 pm – TBD
4:10 pm – Srijata Bhatnagar, Turns Setbacks Into Advantages, 2 x #1 Amazon Bestseller, Spoken in 11+ Countries
4:35 pm – John Chen, CSP Closing Ceremony
5:00 pm – Networking
This program is accessible by Light Rail from the Symphony Station, 3 blocks away.
Parking underground is available for $32 for 5-24 hours.
2 Blocks away, 575 Seneca St - Crowne Plaza - Valet Garage, $16
Meet the recognized thought leader on engaging meetings.
He's the author of #1 Amazon Engaging Virtual Meetings – he’s been virtually meeting since 1977.
He’s 1 of 600 National Speakers Association Certified Speaking Professionals in the world.
He's the founder to Asian Pacific Islander Event Professionals (APIEventProfs) and Asian Pacific Islander National Speakers Association (API+ NSA)
He is the Wiley and Sons author of “Engaging Virtual Meetings” and “50 Digital Team Building Games”, top selling business books.
His work has earned him multiple awards and his more than 450,000 clients across the United States and in countries including Spain, France and Taiwan have experienced breakthrough results.
He is sponsoring all the meeting planning and hybrid production of this AANHPI Heritage Month Summit
KEYNOTE: The Art of Innovation (Unleash Your Inner Innovator)
DESCRIPTION:
I can innovate? YES! 1000% YES! Innovation is not reserved only for the Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos of the world. Innovation is for everyone.
In this inspiring talk, you will learn about the who, what, why and how of innovation. Most importantly, you will see that you have the ability to become an innovator. YES! You!
Come find out what innovation is all about and be challenged to embrace the call of the innovator.
KEY AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS:
• reimagine what innovation REALLY is
• discover their innovation superpowers
• be inspired that innovation is applicable to their life and work
• actionable next steps to start their innovation journey
BIO:
Leo Chan, Chief Innovation Igniter at Abound Innovation, is a people and heart-first entrepreneur who believes everyone can innovate. With over 55 US patents and 20+ years of experience, he has empowered organizations — from nonprofits to Fortune 500s — across industries from automotive to wastewater — to unleash their employees’ creative potential.
Leo has trained over 130,000k global professionals, unleashing breakthrough thinking at the world’s most innovative companies.
A 5x LinkedIn Learning Instructor and speaker at conferences like TEDx, SXSW, ATD, WEC, SHRM, STORY and FEI, Leo combines his industry-experience and joyful enthusiasm to make innovation accessible and practical for all.
As a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® trainer and facilitator, he helps teams unlock curiosity, creativity, and professional fun in the workplace.
Leo’s mission is to ignite innovation in everyone, empowering individuals and organizations to thrive.
Lori Matsukawa (born 1956) is an American television news journalist who spent thirty-six years as evening news anchor at KING 5, the NBC affiliate in Seattle. She has won two Emmys and numerous honors from regional and national organizations for her broadcasts, which have covered everything from the imprisonment of Japanese Americans in World War II to the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and Vancouver. She has been honored for her contributions to diversity in U.S. news media by the Asian American Journalists Association[1] and was named Communicator of the Year by the Association for Women in Communications. In 2019, newspaper featured her retirement on its front page.[1] Her memoir, , will be published by Chin Music Press in April 2026.
As the Acting Director of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods (DON), I lead the work of bringing government and community together to build collective action. My mission is to foster a more inclusive and equitable Seattle by centering race and equity, investing in community power, and cultivating trust across City government.
With over 14 years of experience in community development and local policy, I have dedicated my career to strengthening neighborhoods by investing in the people who know them best. Most recently, as Executive Director of Friends of Little Saigon, I championed the cultural and economic vitality of one of Seattle’s most iconic districts, advocating for small businesses and BIPOC-led initiatives.
I am committed to shaping a Seattle where every neighborhood thrives through culturally rooted development and authentic partnership.
Aren’t Asians All Alike? The Invisible Americans
Did you know that 52% of Americans cannot name a single prominent Asian American? Despite their significant presence in professional spaces, many remains "invisible" in the broader cultural and historical narrative. This program provides a genuine window into the AANHPI lived experience through an interactive, gamified format that is highly relevant to the events unfolding in our world right now. We will explore how historical patterns of "othering" continue to influence how colleagues are perceived and treated today.
- Beyond a Single Narrative: Moving past assumptions by acknowledging the vast range of histories incorrectly grouped together.
- History as a Warning: Exploring how past legal precedents—from exclusion acts to current challenges against birthright citizenship—impact community security today.
- The Perpetual Foreigner: Unpacking the persistent myth that Asian Americans are "outsiders" regardless of how many generations they have been here.
- Seeds of Progress: Celebrating the recent surge in authentic AANHPI storytelling and leadership that is successfully dismantling old stereotypes in real-time.
Bio
Jolene Jang, Asian American Inclusion Strategist with 29+ years of experience, on a mission to make Asian Americans visible, vocal, and valued in spaces where they’ve long been overlooked.
She has worked with Fortune 500 companies including HP, Starbucks, and Microsoft, delivering 1,000+ presentations and conducting 500+ interviews that ground her work in real-world insight.
Known for interactive, gamified sessions that expose bias and build cultural fluency, Jolene helps audiences move from awareness to action. Her work has been featured on Oprah, NPR, the Today Show, and Good Morning America.
“Aren’t Asians all alike?” she asks—then equips audiences with the clarity and confidence to answer: no.
Kelly pushes the worlds of design and research to make digital products truly useful for all people regardless of age or ability. From the earliest days of UX design to the latest in conversational AI experiences, her passion to truly understand people and their real needs are the foundation for her companies gotomedia and gotoresearch — bringing in the human factor to inclusive design — reimagining emerging technologies in the creation of accessible experiences in healthtech, edutech and beyond.
Seattle's Oldest Chinese Restaurant
Established in 1935 by Grandpa Quan, Tai Tung has remained in the family for over 89 years and has been passed down from generation to generation. We hope that you come join us for a meal at Tai Tung!
Toshiko is a fourth-generation Japanese American and a lifelong resident of the Beacon Hill neighborhood in South Seattle. A daughter of the labor movement and descendant of World War II incarcerees, Toshiko's passion for public service is fueled by her commitment to civil rights and promoting fairness in government operations.
She believes the Port of Seattle holds the key to a robust economy, healthy environment, and thriving communities. She hopes to help the Port be a leader in bringing together stakeholders to build our port economy back to be more inclusive, sustainable, and abundant. Her priorities include addressing supply chain issues, expanding economic opportunities, and reducing pollution.
Toshiko was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee as Executive Director of Washington State’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs in 2018. In that capacity, she serves in the Governor’s Subcabinet on Business Diversity, the Disaster Resiliency Workgroup, the Deadly Force Task Force, and other state committees. Hasegawa worked as a staff member for the Office of Law Enforcement Oversight for King County, where she worked to promote transparency and accountability in policing operations. She also worked in the Office of King County Councilmember Jeanne Kohl-Welles, working closely on issues of Human Labor Trafficking.
Toshiko holds a Master’s degree from Seattle University and lives in her family home on Beacon Hill with her husband, Michael, and two kids.
Assunta Ng is a Chinese-American community organizer and the publisher of and t, based in Seattle's Chinatown/International District.
Ng was born in China and raised in Hong Kong.[1] Ng got her first name, which means ascension, from an Italian priest when she was baptized.[2]
In 1971 at age 19, she immigrated to the United States from Hong Kong to attend the University of Washington (UW).[3] Ng wanted to relocate to the U.S. because her parents had low expectations for daughters and Ng did not want to become a housewife, which was what was modeled to her as she was growing up. At that time, she had the perception that only in America could a woman be free. After the first year, Ng supported herself for the rest of her college education. Her first job was as a dishwasher in a school cafeteria, and it paid $2.50 an hour. Ng also baby-sat and worked in restaurants to keep afloat.[2][4] She wrote for the Daily newspaper while at the UW, and she earned a bachelor's degree in international studies and education from the UW in 1974, a teaching certificate in 1976, and a master's degree in communications in 1979.[5]
Post-college, Ng taught social studies to children of immigrant families at Mercer Junior High School. She observed that many were lost in a strange new system. It was during this time that she became aware of the lack of information available to the local Chinese community. In 1982, Ng started with $25,000 of her own seed money and founded the . A year later in 1983, Ng founded the , a Pan-Asian English-language weekly.[6][4]
External videos“Remarkable People: Making a Difference in the Northwest; Assunta Ng,” produced by Jean Walkinshaw in 1993.
In 1986, Ng was one of 15 women who joined the Seattle chapter of Rotary International, before the parent organization allowed women to join.[6]
In 1996, Ng founded Women of Color Empowered, a tri-annual networking luncheon series that honors women of color who have made an impact in their local communities.[7][6] Through her nonprofit, the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation, Ng has organized programs and scholarships to help disadvantaged youth and women, and she has raised more than $3 million for various charities and scholarships for foster children, University of Washington, Washington State University, Seattle University, and Seattle Community Colleges.[1]
Hi, I'm Veni Folta
As a seasoned global leader with 30 years of senior management experience and the privilege of traveling to 50 countries, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most talented and driven professionals in the telecom industry.
Along the way, I’ve discovered one undeniable truth: no matter where we’re from, we all share the desire to rise above life’s challenges and fulfill our deepest potential—to create lives filled with purpose, joy, success and abundance.
After a decade of research and personal practice in neuroscience, cognitive science, positive psychology, and mindfulness meditation, I’ve cracked the code to turn even the most overwhelming job into a meaningful, fulfilling Dream Career.
Now, I specialize in guiding high-achieving women leaders through powerful, science-based strategies that rewire their brain, break through hidden barriers, and create lasting transformation in their careers and lives.
Through my keynote speeches, corporate training, executive coaching, and my #1 International Best Selling book I Quit! How To Lose Your Job and Find Your Dream Career, women worldwide have experienced transformative breakthroughs, gaining the clarity and tools needed to navigate complex corporate landscapes and achieve meaningful success.
Sam Cho was elected to the Port Commission in 2019 and reelected in 2023, and he served as Commission President in 2023. Cho is the son of immigrants who immigrated from South Korea to the United States through the Port of Seattle. He is the youngest and first person of color to become Commission President since the founding of the Port in 1911.
Driven to help shape the economy of the future, Commissioner Cho’s career has spanned from government and emerging startups to established companies in the tech and sustainability space.
Commissioner Cho served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. He also held positions at the U.S. Department of State, both the Washington State Senate and United States Congress, and served as a political appointee under President Barack Obama. Prior to his election to the Port, Commissioner Cho was the founder and CEO of Seven Seas Export, an international trading company that exported over 2.5 million pounds of eggs to various countries throughout the Asia-Pacific.
Commissioner Cho earned his Master of Science from The London School of Economics and his Bachelor of Arts from American University. He is a German Marshall Memorial Fellow.
His priorities as a commissioner include creating economic opportunity, promoting environmental sustainability, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and ending human trafficking.
I’m a realtor by day and speaker by trade. I love to serve others and I teach them how to improve their lives.
My background is in finance and accounting. I received my BA at University of Washington and my MBA at Keller Graduates of DeVry University. I have over 10+ years’ experience in finance and accounting from mid-size to big companies like Expedia and Visa. When I have my daughter, I decided to do real estate and follow my passion which is to become a spiritual speaker.
In addition to do real estate I manage the Hao Dang Team Finance. I help optimize our spend and manage the books. When I do real estate, I serve my clients in a unique authentic way through personalizing each experience. I take care of my clients in a holistic approach by considering their finance, personal goals, and life-style. As a mother, student of life, and wife, I understand how busy life can be, so I make my clients' experience as seamless as possible. I help buyers, sellers, and investors with all their real estate needs. I can take care of everything from start to finish.
Most sales professionals don’t struggle because they lack skill they struggle because they’ve hit a mindset ceiling.
You know what to do…but inconsistency, burnout, or self-doubt keep getting in the way of doing it every day. That gap between your potential and your performance is where real growth happens and it’s the gap I help close.
Who I’ve Worked With:
I’ve had the privilege of coaching and supporting some of the strongest performers and fastest-growing companies in the industry, including:
• Alex Hormozi’s coached High ticket sales team
• Profit Surge Coaching, helping business owners sell and fulfill their high-ticket offers
• HVAC companies scaling from $500K → their first $1M+ year
• Top 1% chiropractic & functional medicine practices, training teams to confidently sell premium treatment plans
• B2C sales teams, tech professionals, and six-figure earners aiming to sharpen their mindset, communication, and leadership
• HarajukuStreetwear.com scaled from $2.4M → $4M in revenue My clients don’t hire me for cheerleading they hire me for clarity, accountability, and identity-level growth.
Suvann is the founder of Love and Life Liberation. She is also an energy worker, channeler and Akashic Reader who blends a variety of modalities to offer unique healing experiences.
Throughout her life, she has navigated many obstacles to come home to herself and pursue a spiritual journey. With a mission to facilitate freedom and transformation, Suvann empowers others to live purposefully and authentically. She is dedicated to uplifting humanity through self-love, community, play and success.
With over 21 years of leadership experience, I work with C-suite executives and senior leaders who are navigating high-stakes pressure, ambiguity, and invisible setbacks, the kind no one prepares you for. As a Keynote Speaker, Author, and Leadership Challenges Strategist, I help leaders turn disruption into their leadership advantage for unconventional growth.
My Setback SOP Framework has helped 50,000+ leaders globally move from “Why is this happening to me?” to “What is this preparing me for?”
When I’m not working with leaders, you’ll find me reading teen romance novels (yes, really), watching Bollywood movies, or striking up conversations with complete strangers because leadership insights often come from the most unexpected places.
And raising a teenager?
That’s my most demanding leadership lab yet.
If you’re ready to stop surviving your setbacks and start leading because of them, let’s talk.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Seattle Public Library - Central Library, 1000 4th Avenue, Seattle, United States
USD 0.00
