May 2, 2026, Lawrenceville – Georgia's Asian American and Pacific Islander community came together in a meaningful way at the fifth annual GAT AAPI Summit, held at the University of Georgia's Gwinnett campus in Lawrenceville. Co-hosted by UGA's Institute for Nonprofit Organizations and UGA's Center for Social Justice, Human and Civil Rights, the summit brought together community members, advocates, business owners, elected officials, and thought leaders from across the state for a full day of dialogue, learning, and connection.
The event — organized by the Georgia Asian Times — was designed to shine a light on the most pressing issues facing the AAPI community in Georgia today, and to provide a space where those conversations could lead to real, lasting impact.
A Proclamation for the Georgia Asian Times
One of the most memorable moments of the day came when State Representative Michelle Au presented a Georgia House of Representatives Proclamation to Li Wong, Founder and Publisher of the *Georgia Asian Times*, in recognition of the publication's decades of dedicated media service to Georgia's AAPI community.
“With gratitude and humility, the Proclamation recognizes the important work that we do as media serving the AAPI community in Georgia over the years,” said Wong, visibly moved by the honor.
The recognition was a testament to the enduring role the Georgia Asian Times has played in amplifying AAPI voices, celebrating community milestones, and holding space for the stories that too often go untold in mainstream media.
Sachi Koto Moves the Room
The luncheon featured a powerful keynote address by Sachi Koto, a former CNN Headline News reporter and proud Georgia native. Koto spoke candidly about her upbringing in the Deep South and the racism her family faced as Japanese Americans in the years following World War II. Her remarks were personal, honest, and deeply resonant — a reminder of how far the community has come, and how much the work ahead still matters.
Four Panels, Four Conversations That Matter
The summit featured four expert panels, each tackling a topic of critical importance to Georgia's AAPI community.
The morning opened with an entrepreneurship panel titled “Building Generational Wealth: The AAPI Entrepreneur Experience in Georgia,” featuring Mia Oriono, Co-Founder of Kamayan Atlanta; Amy Tep, Founder and CEO of La Tep Real Estate Group; and Jossey Moua Do, Founder of Bun Bo Hue Kitchen. The panelists shared their journeys building businesses in Georgia — the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the hopes they carry for the next generation.
The second panel took on a timely and practical topic: artificial intelligence adoption for small businesses. Titled “Work Smarter, Not Harder: How AAPI Small Businesses Can Leverage Artificial Intelligence,” the session was led by Kristel Silang, Senior Marketing Manager at SUPCASE, and Robbie Parks, Statewide Continuing Education Trainer and Business Consultant at the UGA Small Business Development Center. Attendees left with actionable strategies for integrating AI tools into their day-to-day operations.
Following the AAPI Community Update and a networking luncheon, the afternoon shifted to the halls of power. The legislative panel, “Our Voices, Our Laws: AAPI Political Power in the Georgia Legislature,” featured three trailblazing members of the Georgia General Assembly: Representative Long Tran (HD-80), Representative Akbar Ali (HD-106), and Representative Saira Draper (HD-50). Their presence on stage together was itself a statement — a visible reminder of the growing influence and representation AAPI Georgians are earning in state government.
The summit concluded with perhaps its most urgent conversation: mental health. The panel, titled “Breaking the Silence: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in AAPI Communities,” was moderated by Dr. Hee Yun Lee, Thomas P. Holland Distinguished Professor, Associate Dean for Research, and Director of the Institute for Nonprofit Organizations at the UGA School of Social Work.
Panelists included Grace Lee, MS, NCC, Executive Director of AAPI PEACE (People's Empowerment for Advocacy, Counseling & Education); Dr. Chris Villongco, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine; and Dr. Alia Azmat, PhD, Post-Doctoral Clinician at Trad Associate, LLC. Together, they addressed the cultural stigma that continues to prevent many in the community from seeking help — and charted a path toward healing.
A Community on the Rise
The GAT AAPI Summit was more than an event. It was a declaration — that Georgia's Asian American and Pacific Islander community is organized, engaged, and ready to shape the future of this state. From the boardroom to the statehouse to the therapist's office, the conversations sparked will continue to ripple outward.
