It is time to get ready for the 28th annual American Courage Awards! Join us as we celebrate incredible leaders within the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community who have shown an extraordinary commitment to advancing civil and human rights. 

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC's annual signature event is scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 3, at The National Press Club.

Michelle Li
Emcee

 Michelle Li is an award-winning, veteran journalist who co-launched the Very Asian Foundation in January 2022 alongside friend and fellow journalist Gia Vang.  

Her response to a racist voicemail became a global movement of unity and caught the attention of The Ellen Show. Ellen’s monetary gift of $15,000 helped start the seed money to create a non-profit focused on shining a light on Asian life through advocacy and celebration. Not only did the Very Asian Foundation raise tens of thousands of dollars for AANHPI nonprofits in its first 100 days, but it also launched a national awareness youth literature campaign called The May Book Project, and started the Very Asian Creators microgrant program for people who needed startup funds to pivot in their careers.  

Tarah Prakash
Youth Performer

Tara Prakash is the first Youth Poet Laureate of Maryland and the 2024 Montgomery County Youth Poet Laureate. She studies at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC. Her work has been recognized in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards (where she won a National Gold Medal and a National Silver Medal), National YoungArts, the New York Times, Blue Marble Review, and Bow Seat's Ocean Awareness Contest. Her poem was chosen as a finalist out of over 630 entries in Hollins University’s Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest.

Tara loves writing poetry, flash fiction pieces, and creative nonfiction essays. In her free time, she can be found camping with her Scouts troop, hiking with her golden retriever, or playing ping-pong with her brother and grandmother. You can learn more about her at taraprakashwrites.com.