On August 15, 2024, AJSOCAL’s downtown Los Angeles office buzzed with the energy of volunteers, staff, and community partners who came together for our annual Summer Service event. This year’s event powerfully demonstrated what we can achieve through collective action, as participants from various employee resource groups (ERGs) and corporate teams united to prepare outreach and court kits for low-income, limited-English proficient Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) immigrant community members in need of legal support.
The event began with a warm welcome from our CEO, Connie Chung Joe, who emphasized AJSOCAL’s ongoing mission to provide critical legal services to the most vulnerable members of our community. With over 90 staff members across our Los Angeles and Orange County offices, AJSOCAL serves 15,000 clients annually. Connie’s message underscored the importance of pausing from our busy lives to give back, especially as we witness the challenges facing our neighbors right outside our doors.
We were thrilled to see remarkable participation from a variety of corporate teams who all brought their company’s spirit and dedication, including Amazon Web Services, Cathay Bank, East West Bank, Health Net, Microsoft, SoCalGas, U.S. Bank, UBS, UPS, Wilson Sonsini, and Yang Law Offices.
Volunteers packed hygiene kits, wrote encouragement cards, and assembled court kits for survivors of domestic violence. The outreach kits will be distributed at community events, such as the Monterey Park Resource Fair, providing essential support to recent Asian migrants, while the Survivor and Family Empowerment (SAFE) court kits will be given to survivors of domestic violence to assist them during their court appearances. Additionally, volunteers prepared 1,000 Lunar New Year red envelopes, which will be filled with chocolates next year, adding a festive touch to our community outreach.
The atmosphere was filled with camaraderie and purpose as volunteers worked together fueled by delicious savory bites and sweet treats – all catered by AAPI community member, Chef Dora. Throughout the Summer Service event, everyone strengthened their bonds within the AAPI community by connecting, sharing stories, and celebrating their collective impact.
As the event drew to a close, the enthusiasm was evident. Volunteers had packed over 1,000 bags of resource items, ready to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it most. The day was a beautiful reminder of what we can achieve when we come together with a shared purpose.
As we look forward to next year’s Summer Service event, we carry with us the memories of a day filled with hard work, laughter, and giving back. AJSOCAL is deeply grateful to everyone who participated, and we remain committed to our mission of advancing justice for all.
Thank you for making Summer Service 2024 an unforgettable experience. Together, we are stronger as we continue to build a brighter future for our community.
