Cultural Voices 2026: Planting Seeds of Impact Through Entrepreneurship and Mentorship

This AANHPI Heritage Month has been marked by celebration, advocacy and community connection across CASL programs and initiatives. From the passage of our Data Disaggregation Ordinance through Chicago City Council to the launch of our Culture Committee Lunch & Learn series, CASL has spent the month uplifting AANHPI voices across public policy, community partnership and civic engagement.

To close out the month, CASL hosted Cultural Voices 2026: Seeds of Impact on May 28 — a luncheon bringing together more than 160 business leaders, entrepreneurs and community members for conversations centered on entrepreneurship, leadership and community impact through an AANHPI lens.

During the luncheon, CASL recognized Board Chair Bonnie Fong with a commemorative scroll celebrating her 10 years of service and leadership. Over the past decade, Bonnie has helped guide CASL with compassion, empathy and a deep commitment to community development.

We also honored Illinois Senator Dick Durbin with the Community Leader Award in recognition of his decades-long advocacy supporting immigration, civil rights, criminal justice and public health, as well as his continued support for CASL clients and programs before, during and after COVID-19.

This award is important to me,” said Senator Durbin.

“It will remind me of Bernie and CASL every time I look at it.”

This year’s event also celebrated the next generation of leaders through the presentation of six CASL STEM Scholarships supporting Chicago high school students pursuing higher education and future careers in STEM-related fields.

Keynote speaker Tina Fox, founder and CEO of TERN Mentoring, reflected on identity, belonging and the lasting impact of mentorship. Drawing from her experiences growing up as an Asian American military child and later transitioning from a med tech career into entrepreneurship, Tina spoke about the power of human connection and investing in others through mentorship.

“Each of us are but a ripple in the waters of life, and as ripples compound, they become waves,” she shared.

“When you start to invest your own time and wisdom, you’re going to create your own ripple.”

In partnership with CASL, TERN Mentoring will also provide personalized mentorship opportunities for this year’s STEM scholarship recipients.

 

Moderated by Abin Kuriakose, the Seeds of Impact panel featured Sid Bala of KOIOS, Alison Chung of TeamWerks, Teresa Ging of Sugar Bliss, Eddie Lou of CodaPet and Alex Schneider of Clover Capital. Together, the panelists shared candid reflections on entrepreneurship, resilience and leadership in Chicago.

A recurring theme throughout the conversation was the importance of community and mentorship. Sid encouraged attendees to think about “who can be a seed of impact for you,” while other speakers emphasized that entrepreneurship is rarely a solo journey and often depends on strong support systems, relationships and mentorship.

Panelists also spoke openly about adapting through uncertainty and change. Teresa reflected on her journey from leaving a finance career to building Sugar Bliss into a successful Chicago business, sharing, “When you first start it, you’re just like, ‘I just want to survive.’”

Alison discussed building spaces aligned with one’s own values after working in environments that “weren’t really built for her,” adding,

“I don’t need your table anymore. I have my own table. I am not here to audition. I’m here to contribute.”

The conversation also explored sustainability, innovation and the future of entrepreneurship in Chicago. Eddie Lou reminded attendees that “if you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t give 100% to your business,” while Alex Schneider emphasized the importance of visibility and representation in leadership spaces for future entrepreneurs.

Across every conversation, one message remained clear: lasting impact is not only about building successful businesses, but also about investing in people, strengthening community and creating opportunities for future generations.

Following the panel discussion, attendees continued the conversation through networking and community-building with fellow entrepreneurs, leaders and professionals across industries. Guests connected over shared experiences, exchanged ideas and reflected on how they could plant their own “seeds of impact” within their workplaces, businesses and communities.

The luncheon created space not only for learning, but also for relationship-building and future collaboration—reinforcing the event’s central message that lasting impact grows through connection, mentorship and collective support.