AAPI Montclair Co-Founder Named To NJ State Commission

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A member of one of the largest Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) groups in North Jersey was named to a groundbreaking state commission on Wednesday.

Amber Reed, co-founder and president of AAPI Montclair, is among the 27 inaugural members of the New Jersey Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission. The group will serve as advocates for one of the largest populations of AAPI residents in the United States.

• Read More: NJ Asian American Pacific Islander Commission Names Inaugural Members

“I would like to express my profound thanks to Gov. Murphy and our state legislators for making this crucial long-term commitment to the social and economic welfare of New Jersey's 1+ million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders,” Reed said.

“I am honored to bring professional experience advancing equity in public education through research, policy and data analysis to the commission's work, and am grateful to the governor for ensuring grassroots voices such as AAPI Montclair will be centered and heard as we seek to advance policies that plant the seeds of generational change for all of New Jersey's wonderfully diverse AAPI communities,” Reed added.

AAPI Montclair is a grassroots organization of more than 600 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Montclair area.

Wednesday’s announcement comes during AAPI Heritage Month, which has inspired celebratory and educational events across the state, including Montclair.

For the second year in a row, AAPI Montclair will illuminate the park with thousands of lanterns to remember those killed and harmed by racialized violence and injustice – including anti-Asian hate – on Friday, May 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. A rain date is slated for Saturday, May 21.

• Read More: Lantern Festival Returns To Montclair For AAPI Heritage Month

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