Asian American Federation opens Queens, N.Y. office

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New York, NY – The Asian American Federation (AAF) launched its new office in Flushing, Queens May 25, 2022, the second location after the one it opened in Manhattan 33 years ago in 1989.

The opening ceremony was attended by Federal, State, and local elected officials, alongside Queens and NYC AAPI community leaders, a press release from AAF said. This event marked the ongoing AAPI Heritage Month for May and in the backdrop of increasing hate crimes against Asian Americans. The AAF has recorded more than 2,700 incidents of anti-Asian hate, including several heinous murders in New York City since March 2020, the organization said.

“We are thrilled to be opening a physical location in Queens, allowing us to expand our outreach and support services to one of the most diverse places in the world,” Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director of the Asian American Federation is quoted saying in the press release.

“As our community overcomes the challenges of the pandemic and the ongoing anti-Asian hate crisis, small businesses and community-based organizations remain the vital backbone of our community. We look forward to working even more closely with them and our elected officials in order to get the support the Asian community needs,”  Yoo said.

Congresswoman Grace Meng, D-New York, who represents Queens said the work of AAF was crucial to taking up and helping solve issues confronting Asian Americans.

“So many in the Asian American community call our borough home and this new location will help the Asian American Federation do an even better job in fighting for Asian Americans living and working in our local neighborhoods,” Meng said.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. described AAF as an “outstanding organization” and a vital partner in supporting AAPI families.

“The AAF’s new Queens office is a welcome addition to our borough and will better enable the Federation to offer its valuable services to our community. These services have never been as important as they are now, as we continue to face the scourge of anti-Asian hate that has impacted so many of our neighbors.” Richards said.

New York State Senator John Liu said the new headquarters would provide on-the-ground support services and community programming that will serve a critical need throughout Queens.

“I want to welcome AAF to Flushing, the home of so many of your member’s organizations. AAF has a long record of providing research, advocacy and education services to Asian Americans.

However, the number of incidents may likely be much higher as these bias incidents are significantly underreported, AAF qualified.

It also pointed to systemic factors that deter reporting of hate crimes, like high rates of poverty, limited English proficiency, lack of immigration status, and the fact that 70 percent of Asian New Yorkers are immigrants.

The AAF said its new office will also offer support Asian-owned small businesses operating in the borough by expanding  its Small Business Support Program, which offers language accessibility and technical assistance to connect AAPI business owners with the resources needed to thrive.

The Asian American Federation describes itself as the largest umbrella leadership organization in New York, serving diverse Asian American communities that make up the fastest-growing population in the city, state, and country. It works with 70 member and partner organizations to represent the collective interests of 1.5 million Asian New Yorkers, the press release said.