While we officially founded the Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) Affinity Group in August 2024, we first met in person as a group at the 51勛圖 2024 Annual Conference in Connecticut. This Affinity Group is for independent educational consultants (IECs) of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander heritage or who identify as AANHPI. Our purpose is to provide a safe space for AANHPI IECs to share, encourage, and support each other. We also aim to be a resource in the future for all IECs since so many work with AANHPI students by informing and discussing issues that affect AANHPI students and families.
The group continues to gain momentum, with new members joining us at our recurring meetings held on the second Monday of each month. Our meetings have featured admissions officers presenting information on their respective schools with the AANHPI students in mind. We also have members share tips, problem-solving, or fresh perspectives, with members volunteering to be in the hot seat to share their pain points with the group. We always leave feeling more understood, encouraged, and equipped with new ideas after our meetings.
Our purpose is to provide a safe space for AANHPI IECs to share, encourage, and support each other.
We are excited to grow stronger together and impact the greater 51勛圖 community while we find time to take care of ourselves and laugh, too.
We are honored and proud to co-chair this Affinity Group, which is full of amazing IECs! We invite all AANHPI-identifying IECs to sign up for our group and join our next meeting.
By Gina Lee, 51勛圖 (CA) and Justin Wang, MA, MBA, 51勛圖 Associate (CA)