Advancing Justice - Atlanta has a new Executive Director
Thank you for continuing to inspire me.
Dear Friends,
When I moved to Atlanta 8 years ago, I never could’ve imagined my path. While I didn’t grow up here, serving as Advancing Justice - Atlanta’s Executive Director and being a part of the Asian American community has made me truly love and appreciate Georgia and the South.
In just 6 years, Advancing Justice - Atlanta has grown from a small staff of 5 to 25, adding several new departments to meet our community's needs. During this time we also expanded our community, we became a movement home for many AAPI Georgians and BIPOC youth, and together we accomplished so much!
We created a space to dream and re-imagine our world and build towards it, nurturing a new cadre of immigrant leaders, activists, and organizers.
We contacted every registered AAPI voter in GA, time and time again. We registered THOUSANDS of new voters, provided in-language voting materials, and led RECORD AAPI voter turnout year after year.
We fought and prevailed against voter suppression in the courtroom and at the polls.
We fought deportations and every piece of anti-immigrant legislation introduced in Georgia. We won an end to 287(g) agreements in Cobb and Gwinnett counties.
When the pandemic hit, we came together as a community for mutual aid. We disseminated food and emergency supplies kits and cash support, and filed emergency injunctions to release detainees.
After the tragedy of the Atlanta Spa shootings, we stood up a rapid response team with Georgian and national stakeholders to meet the needs of the victims and their families, work with social service agencies for emergency needs, and create and distribute The Emergency Fund for victims’ families and survivors.
Together as organizers and advocates, we’ve shown that Asian Americans are a powerful voice for change in the South. That’s why it is bittersweet to announce that I’m stepping down as Executive Director at Advancing Justice - Atlanta.
At the same time, I am so excited to share with you that following an internal recruitment and interview process led by our board of directors and staff, our board has selected Phi Nguyen as the next Executive Director. As Advancing Justice - Atlanta’s Litigation Director, Phi’s passion and experience has brought so much to the organization over the last 4 years. She has led the litigation team to victory, winning our right to have an interpreter of our choice at the polls and consistently raising AAPI voices that advance the important intersection of voting and immigrant rights in GA. She is Georgia raised with deep community roots and I’ve relied on her as a trusted strategic partner in our work. I am so proud to leave the organization in Phi’s capable hands. I cannot wait to watch how far she takes this organization as its Executive Director!
Image description: collage of photos taken at various times showing Stephanie. Starting at the top left to right, Stephanie working with Korean seniors at the voting polls, staff after the Advocacy Day, photo of staff and board at the Community Champions Gala. Below, Stephanie and Phi at the capitol, Stephanie and Aparna at the Atlanta Pride, Large image in the middle show Stephanie speaking to the crowd at the Advancing Justice Conference rally. Images on the right show Stephanie playing Korean traditional instruments and poll monitoring during election day. Images on the bottom show Staff showing off Advancing Justice gears, the middle image shows staff when the Advancing Justice-Atlanta sign went up, and the image on the bottom right shows Stephanie holding a press conference at the state capitol.
While I’m leaving my role as Executive Director, I’m not leaving Georgia or the movement we’ve built together. As the Director of the Democracy (Demo) Lab South, a new Advancing Justice - Atlanta initiative, I’ll keep working to develop, mobilize, and sustain AAPI voting power in the South. Building power at the regional level is an exciting and critical next step for our community, the organization, and me.
To ensure a smooth transition, Phi and I will work closely with our board members and key staff as a transition team. I will remain a part of this transition team until the end of the year to ensure Phi, all staff, the board, our funders, and the organization are supported and able to continue working without any issues during this process.
It’s been an honor to work with all of you and the amazing staff at Advancing Justice - Atlanta in building a more just and inclusive Georgia. I’ve committed to staying in Georgia, raising my child Nari with my partner Erica, and watching all that grows from that love. For me, it has been a humbling and transformative personal journey. Thank you for continuing to inspire me.
Grateful and in community,
Stephanie Cho
Outgoing Executive Director, Advancing Justice - Atlanta
