Rep. Trăm Nguyễn speaks at the Western MA AAPI Business Roundtable & Breakfast at UMass Amherst on October 21.
Held in the Cape Cod Lounge in the UMass Amherst Student Union, the breakfast was the first regional event of its kind. It brought together AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) small business owners, local legislators, and community allies for a morning of conversation and connection.
Organized by the Asian Business Empowerment Council (ABEC), the event aimed to build visibility for AAPI-owned businesses across Western Massachusetts and create new opportunities for collaboration. Rep. Trăm Nguyễn, a founding member of the Massachusetts House Asian Caucus, was one of the featured speakers, who also included Representative Mindy Domb of the Third Hampshire District and Representative Tackey Chan, Chair of the House Asian Caucus.
Executive Director of the Asian Business Empowerment Council and organizer of the event, Qingjian (Q.J.) Shi, said in a recent report, “While AAPI-owned businesses have taken root, it’s crucial to recognize and address different realities and needs that exist and build equitable opportunities for all.”
Shi led a panel discussion during the breakfast with entrepreneurs Emma Chen-Banas (AAPI Commission, Chinese American Cultural & Heritage Society), Lena Phommathan (Soulao’d Kitchen), and Matt Yee (Enlite Cannabis Dispensary).
Partners for the event included the Bean Restaurant Group, the UMass Amherst Asian & Asian American Studies Certificate Program, and Greenfield Savings Bank.
