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The Virginia Asian Advisory Board (VAAB), under the leadership of Srilekha Palle, Chair of VAAB, convened its regular board meeting and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Reception on May 19 at the Hampton Inn & Suites in downtown Richmond.
The event which brought together elected officials, administration leaders, business professionals, healthcare advocates, educators, and community members from across the Commonwealth, was attended by Virginia Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi, Delegate May Nivar, Richmond Mayor Danny Avula, and representatives from multiple state agencies and community organizations, reflecting the growing visibility and influence of Virginia’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
The event was hosted and coordinated by Goutam Gandhi, vice chair of VAAB, whose leadership and organizational efforts helped bring together community leaders, government officials, administration representatives, and stakeholders from across Virginia for the celebration and policy discussions.
“As Chair of VAAB, one of my priorities has been ensuring that our board moves beyond symbolic representation and actively drives conversations around policy, civic engagement, economic opportunity, and community impact,” said Chair Srilekha Palle during the event. “This reception and board meeting represented the strength, collaboration, and growing leadership presence of the AAPI community across Virginia.”
Lieutenant Governor Hashmi reflected on her experience as an educator and immigrant, highlighting structural barriers often faced by first-generation families and emphasizing the importance of political engagement and representation within the AAPI community.
Eric Lin, director of Virginia’s Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity (SBSD), addressed attendees regarding efforts to expand SWaM (Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned) certification opportunities and improve access to state procurement contracts for Asian American entrepreneurs.
Chair Palle also acknowledged the continued engagement and support from VAAB board members, advisors, administration officials, community organizations, and public leaders, noting that the Board’s expanding statewide impact is being driven through strong collaboration, civic engagement, and community participation across the Commonwealth.
During the board meeting, VAAB committee leaders presented updates and outlined ongoing initiatives tied to the Board’s 2025 policy agenda across education, healthcare, business development, and civic engagement.
The Education Committee highlighted a successful advocacy effort that helped restore Chinese language classes at McLean High School in Northern Virginia following collaboration with parents, students, and community stakeholders. Committee members also shared continued progress related to the inclusion of Asian American history within Virginia’s K-12 history and social studies curriculum.
The Business Committee discussed ongoing workforce development and artificial intelligence initiatives. A recent AI and entrepreneurship panel hosted by VAAB advisor Kang Go-eun brought together approximately 50 business owners and community leaders to discuss AI adoption strategies, startup growth, and compliance with federal standards including FedRAMP and CMMC. The Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce also participated in the initiative to support expanded networking and collaboration opportunities for small businesses.
VAAB’s Healthcare Committee introduced plans for a community health fair in partnership with nursing associations across the Commonwealth and shared updates regarding culturally tailored health and nutrition education initiatives serving Asian communities. Additional policy discussions focused on improving credential recognition pathways for internationally trained healthcare professionals and immigrant educators.
A civic engagement town hall featured discussions on public policy participation, language accessibility, and leadership development for future generations. Delegate May Nivar emphasized the importance of increasing Asian American representation in voting, public service, and state boards and commissions.
The evening also featured a cultural performance by Jay Liu of the Central Virginia chapter of the Chinese American Association, who performed the traditional Chinese opera aria “Pear Blossom Ode” (“Lihua Song”).
The program concluded with an AAPI Heritage Month networking reception focused on strengthening partnerships and collaboration among Asian communities and public leaders throughout Virginia.
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