The NBA APEX team introduces a collaboration with Authmade as one of their many May initiatives.
During the month of May, the NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL highlight and showcase AAPI (Asian American & Pacific Islander) representation in sports and media. In 2018, employee resource affinity groups within the major U.S. professional sports leagues launched the AAPI Sports and Culture Symposium to further this cause.
For the first time since the launch, the NBA APEX team will be hosting the in-person event consisting of panelists and AAPI representatives from vast sports and media backgrounds.
Some notable representatives include Lo Van Pham, 1st Asian American NFL Official, Donny Khan, Sr. Director of NHL Hockey Development & Strategic Collaboration, Kelsie Whitmore, a half-Filipino minor league baseball player for the Staten Island Ferry Hawks, and Kianna Smith, the first Korean American WNBA player for the Connecticut Sun.
The speakers will be given a chance to share what it means to be a part of the AAPI family and how their experiences on the court, field, ice or office have inspired AAPI growth in the sports industry.
Established in 2017, APEX is committed to promoting and celebrating Asian cultures within the NBA, with a focus on engagement, inclusion, and league advocacy of Asian professionals. They specifically focus their programming around four strategic areas: professional and leadership development, enhancing industry knowledge, networking and mentorship opportunities, and cultural and community outreach.
“We want to use this time to celebrate and honor AAPI professionals who are committed to greater diversity and inclusion in the industry, both on-and-off the court,” said APEX Co-Chairs Cassidy Rooke and Casie Mei.
The AAPI community has experienced strong representation and movement coming out of the pandemic in 2020. We saw the cinematic industry push films with major Asian American roles in movies like Crazy Rich Asians, Jeremy Lin Documentary, and…
Read the full article here