About
The Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission was established via legislation in 2022. Consisting of 24 members, the AAPI Commission hosts public bi-monthly meetings, advises the Howard County Executive on policy initiatives, and advocates for issues that impact the AAPI community. The Commission also organizes community cultural events and conducts informative discussions on emerging issues. Through its programming and outreach, it is the Commission's hope that they can foster deeper relationships between the Commission itself and the Howard County AAPI community at large. The Commission is dedicated to cultivating a safe and welcoming community where AAPI residents can feel seen, valued, and heard.
Commission Information
Commission Members
The Asian American & Pacific Islander Commission is comprised of 23 members:
| Name & Role (if applicable) | Term Expiration |
|---|---|
| Dr. Lanlan Xu, Chair | 3/6/2026 |
| Dhaval Shah, Vice Chair | 3/6/2025 |
| Lily Peng, Corresponding Secretary & Student Member | 6/30/2024 |
| Sameer C. Ahirrao | 3/6/2026 |
| Koko Aiolupotea | 3/6/2024 |
| Misako Aoki | 3/6/2025 |
| Jin "JC" Chung | 3/6/2024 |
| Dr. Naresh C. Das | 3/6/2025 |
| Kimberly Eggborn | 3/6/2026 |
| Sanjay G. George | 3/6/2025 |
| Sanjeev Gholap | 3/6/2024 |
| Dr. Tomoko Hoogenboom | 3/6/2026 |
| Dr. Razia Kosi, Ex-Officio, Howard County Public School System | No term limit. |
| Diane Li, Ex-Officio, Howard County Library System | No term limit. |
| Saffiyah Gonzales Madraswala | 3/6/2024 |
| Dr. Khin Rupa Maung | 3/6/2026 |
| Madiha Rahimi | 10/2/2026 |
| Young Ran Smith | 3/6/2026 |
| May-Fong Tsay | 3/6/2026 |
| Jodie Wang | 3/6/2025 |
| Helen Won | 3/6/2025 |
| Dr. Yang Yu, Ex-Officio, Howard Community College | No term limit. |
| Kui Zhao, Human Rights Commission Liaison | 3/6/2024 |
Howard County Government Staff
- Yolanda F. Sonnier, Office of Human Rights and Equity Administrator
- Dr. Denise Boston, Executive Secretary
- Joanna Chen, AAPI Liaison to the Office of the County Executive
- Holly Hoang, Recording Secretary
Meeting Schedule
The Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every other month from 5:30-7:30pm. All AAPI Commission Meetings are open to the public. Please see the Commission's meeting agendas for information on how to attend in person or virtually.
2023 Meeting Dates:
- Tuesday, March 14th – Commission Orientation
- Tuesday, April 11th
- Tuesday, June 13th
- Tuesday, August 8th
- Tuesday, September 12th – OHRE Commission Gathering
- Wednesday, September 13th – Special Meeting (Budget & Rules of Procedure)
- Tuesday, October 3rd (date change)
- Tuesday, November 7th – Special Meeting (Budget)
- Tuesday, December 12th
Meeting Agendas & Minutes
Events & Reports
Howard County AAPI Commission Pioneers Know Your Local Leaders Event
The AAPI Commission hosted Know Your Local Leaders on Monday, October 23rd at Howard Community College's Horowitz Center. The event provided an opportunity for Howard County and Howard Community College community members to learn more about their local representatives and for elected officials to speak directly with constituents on issues impacting the AAPI community and Howard County as a whole. Civic engagement is critically important to making meaningful progress around equity, inclusion and social justice.
Photos from the event can be viewed on Howard County's Flickr page here.
Click the link below to access a report of the event in English.