Making MKE a place where
AAPIs can thrive by being
unapologetically Asian.
WHO WE ARE
ElevAsian is a collective of AAPIs in the Greater Milwaukee area who strive to elevate the visibility of people, business and issues in the AAPI community. We do this by celebrating the successes and shining a light on the challenges facing our AAPI community. We build bridges of understanding by sharing information, experiences, and stories that bring us together.
WHAT WE DO
We elevate the visibility of our AAPI community
VISIBILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
We come together to celebrate our community and expand our networks through social events and curated experiences.
VISIBILITY OF ASIAN BUSINESSES
We promote Asian Restaurant Week every year during AAPI Heritage Month to highlight and support Asian owned businesses in our community.
VISIBILITY OF OUR CULTURES
We believe that education is the bridge to foster understanding and appreciation for our culture. We provide consultation to businesses and training sessions on AAPI history, cultural challenges, and allyship.
ElevAsian was founded by four Milwaukee area AAPI community leaders - Jessica Boling, Erik Kennedy, May yer Thao, and Shary Tran. They kept spotting each other, often the "only Asian people" at community events. This forged a strong friendship and common desire to increase the visibility and presence of other AAPI leaders in the community. "We needed a voice for the AAPI community and a seat at the table." It started with a hashtag. In 2016, #ElevAsian was born. The movement grew and continues to evolve into a community that is changing the narrative about AAPI in Milwaukee, in Wisconsin and in the US.