CASL Joins National Nonprofit Leaders at JLL Panel

Asian American community leaders from across the country gathered with CASL Changemaker sponsor JLL on May 13 for an AANHPI Heritage Month conversation centered on one powerful idea: meaningful community connection creates lasting impact.

Hosted by JLL, “Power of Community Connections at JLL and Beyond” brought together nonprofit leaders serving AANHPI communities across Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Oakland to discuss advocacy, housing, healthcare, immigrant support and community development.

CASL board member Denise Lam hosted a virtual panel with Vanessa Leung of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, Malcolm Yeung from the Chinatown Community Development Center, Grant Sunoo of the Little Tokyo Service Center, Julia Liou from Asian Health Services and CASL’s CEO Paul Luu.

During the discussion, many of the panelists talked about the most pressing trends and challenges in their communities such as affordable housing, food access and data disaggregation.

For these leaders, many shared how such challenges personally affected them growing up, especially as one of few Asians in their communities growing up. Such experiences directly influenced their decision to pursue a career in community leadership.

Many of them referenced growing up as one of the only Asians in their communities growing up in America – an experience which directly influenced their decision to pursue a career in community leadership.

Paul reflected on how his own experiences shaped his path to leadership. After fleeing Vietnam with his family and resettling in Illinois, he received support services through CASL as a child, including ESL classes and food assistance.

Returning to CASL years later, he shared, deepened his roots in the community and gave him the opportunity to help others access the same support and sense of belonging. That support shows up in many ways for CASL clients, including job application assistance, tech support and language classes to help new immigrants assimilate.

The conversation also touched on the realities nonprofit organizations face in sustaining community services. Paul shared that while funding challenges continue, he has seen donors become more personally invested since the pandemic – not only in giving, but in seeking a deeper understanding of how their contributions directly impact individuals and families.

For CASL, that growing engagement reflects a broader desire for meaningful connection and long-term community investment.

Lastly, the panel highlighted the growing role corporate partners can play in strengthening local communities. In addition to the virtual discussion, JLL hosted in-person gatherings across several cities, including Chicago, where local organizations connected directly with employees through community showcases and conversation.

For CASL, partnerships like these create opportunities for deeper engagement beyond a single event. From volunteer initiatives like the Chinatown Cleanup to cultural programs like calligraphy and Tai Chi classes, CASL continues to collaborate with partners in ways that connect employees meaningfully with the communities they support.

As conversations around equity, belonging and community investment continue to evolve, partnerships between nonprofits and corporate leaders remain critical.

The event underscored how shared experiences — from immigration journeys to community advocacy — can become catalysts for meaningful change when organizations come together with purpose.

CASL looks forward to continuing collaborations that strengthen communities, expand opportunities and connect more people to the resources they need to thrive.