Manjusha P. Kulkarni, Executive Director of AAPI Equity Alliance
Recognized for her unwavering dedication to confronting the hate and discrimination targeted towards Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities since the COVID pandemic began, Manjusha P. Kulkarni (Manju), Executive Director of AAPI Equity Alliance (AAPI Equity), received a 2024 Leadership Award from The James Irvine Foundation.
“Manjusha Kulkarni is an innovative leader who has been fighting anti-Asian hate since the dawn of the pandemic, when many were living in fear due to the unprecedented number of attacks,” said Robin Toma, Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. “She was one of the first people to call attention to these attacks, partnering Stop AAPI Hate partner with our LA vs Hate program in LA to bring an urgent, data-driven approach to address anti-Asian hate.
Becky Monroe, Deputy Director of the California Civil Rights Department, which is the lead agency for CA vs. Hate, said Kulkarni, in her role as the leader of AAPI Equity Alliance, brings a level-headed and methodical approach to her work. “Asian Americans are not a monolithic group – they represent many languages, cultures, and ethnicities,” Monroe said. “Manju and her team at AAPI Equity Alliance know that policy makers and funders need disaggregated data to understand the scope of challenges affecting Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and AAPI Equity also has the expertise and partnerships in place to effect solutions.”
A nationally recognized leader, Kulkarni leads AAPI Equity’s groundbreaking work in healthcare access, interpersonal violence and mental health. AAPI Equity is a coalition of more than 40 organizations that serve the 1.6 million AAPIs in Los Angeles and beyond, confronting discrimination, fighting mental health disparities, and pushing for legal and policy changes. Kulkarni is also a co-founder of Stop AAPI…
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