AAPI Community Advocacy

Through the violence and negativity we experience and witness all over the world, in the same breath, we see hope and light created by countless men and women who fought and died for our freedom and democracy. Despite all our American systemic issues, I continue to be proud and count my blessings every day of having the privilege of being an American, a woman, and an Asian-American woman. I’ve had the opportunity to live abroad and be surrounded by a different language and a culture with a different set of norms & values. This invaluable experience has given me a global view from an early age.

Throughout my life, I am grateful to have met so many who love tea and the common thread of discovering and knowing that tea is global - nurtures, fills us, uplifts and enables us to connect with a multitude of emotional and health & wellness benefits brimming in the cup.

With Women’s History Month coming to an end and being welcomed by Asian History Month for May, this is a wonderful opportuniTEA to start and run a site-wide 15% off sale now and throughout the month of April.No code needed – the discount is already built within the site. And NO, doesn’t end here. Key To Teas will donate all proceeds from this day until 4/30/21 to both local and national organizations that support women and the AAPI community in underserviced areas.

I first encountered the Asian Counseling and Referral Service located in Seattle as a participant in their Annual Walk For Rice Fundraiser Event.  It was a joyous moment of the community coming together in a run/walk to raise money to purchase culturally relevant foods like rice, tofu and fish for the local Food Bank serving the Asian community.  Then I had the opportunity to attend one of their evening galas and one story of an elderly Japanese woman shared hasn't escaped my mind & heart.  It was her story of commuting to ACRS 2 hours each way on public transportation to use their services to belong to a shared community.  Then one day she didn't arrive at the time she usually arrives and the community knew something wasn't right.  I also live in a neighborhood where there are quite a few elderly people living by themselves.  Mental Health issues have seen a spike during the pandemic and I can only imagine how the elderly community is in much need.  Among many services, the ACRS support the elderly AAPI community by creating opportunities to engage in social and physical activities, providing nutritious meals and ensuring access to necessary support services.

Learn more about ACRS and their services here: Home - ACRS

WOMANKIND works with survivors of gender-based violence to rise above trauma and build a path to healing.  They bring critical resources and deep cultural competency to help Asian communities find refuge, recovery, and renewal.  If you are a woman, you are more likely to have experienced harassment at some level at least once in your lifetime due to systemic and cultural oppression.  WOMANKIND brings critical resources and cultural competency by providing housing, culturally-informed counseling, legal assistance, wellness activities, creative arts therapy and more.

Learn more about WOMANKIND and their services here: WOMANKIND – I am Womankind

Our mission is to create a modern-day tea culture which can be understood in so many ways. To me, it is about disrupting the status-quo and a mandate to help those in need where human inequities are experienced while sharing what I love.

As with the butterfly, change and transformations don’t happen overnight. It is the cumulative efforts of countless people who came before, who paved way for opportunities that have been given to me as an Asian-American woman, daughter, wife, mother and sister. Let us emerge from our metaphorical cocoons by listening, supporting and inspiring one another in our spheres of influence.