Growing up in Wilmington, Delaware, my sister and I were one of the only Asian Americans in our neighborhood and schools. It wasn’t until we attended a Chinese family summer camp in the Poconos during our high school years that we met other kids who looked like us and had similar lived experiences as children of Chinese immigrants in the United States. We made instant life-long friendships and looked forward each year to returning for one week in the summer to spend time in a space where we felt like we truly belonged.
In Episode 5 of The Leadership Dance, I chat with one of the good friends I met at that camp, Norman Chen. Norman is CEO of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), and during our conversation he shares his journey of self-discovery and advocacy. From his upbringing in a predominantly white community in the U.S. to living in Hong Kong for 20 years, Norman reflects on how his cultural identity shaped his mission to build safety, belonging, and prosperity for the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
Norman also talks about the character traits he’s learned from playing basketball, the importance of community, and the ways we can all make an impact in our lives. I hope you’ll tune in to hear Norman’s empowering story now, available on all podcast platforms and YouTube!
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