Meet Ann Kono | Founder & Entrepreneur & Activist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ann Kono and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ann, what was your thought process behind starting your own nonprofit?
TeachAAPI was founded by a group of passionate parents who were deeply concerned about the well-being of their children during the pandemic. Many of our children faced microaggressions and discrimination due to COVID and anti-Asian sentiment. We came together with the determination to make a difference and find a solution that would prevent such experiences for future generations.

Our team recognized that early and meaningful exposure to Asian American and Pacific Islander arts, culture, and curricula was crucial in fostering connection, understanding, and empathy for students of all backgrounds. We also realized the importance of instilling a sense of pride in our children’s identities by celebrating the diverse ethnicities within the Asian diaspora.

At TeachAAPI, our approach is uniquely innovative in its immersive and digital delivery, which has enabled us to reach over 11, 000 students across the country in less than two years! This success has only been possible through the hard work and dedication of our team and supporters.

Let’s talk shop. Tell us more about your career and how it has affected your work at TeachAAPI.
My entire career path has prepared me for the work we do at TeachAAPI.

I spent over 20 years in Finance, making it to the C-Suite of a public company. In order to find success, I learned to navigate complex situations, craft strategies and lead teams to deliver on them. The day–to–day demands of a senior, high profile position forced clarity in approach, communication and grit.

I also had the privilege to be the Chair of the Board of another educational nonprofit, Junior Achievement of Southern California. This role required building skills of influence and advocacy on behalf of our important cause. I learned how to communicate impact and mission to those in my network in order to gain financial support for JASocal.

Most recently, I am serving on two corporate boards and advising companies through Leda Advisory Group, which combines all of my prior experience to work with senior executive leadership.

During these many years, I found allies in all forms. I really take pride in building meaningful and long lasting relationships with the community around me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
LA is a city with a distinct soul. It is a city that you can only truly know as a resident. My perfect day in LA takes you on a loop through the city, starting on the Westside, heading east and back.

I would grab a hike on Temescal Canyon, taking in sights of the coastline while insulated with the brisk cool of the marine layer. We could head to Farmshop at the Brentwood Country Mart for a wonderful farm to table brunch and people watching. We could then head downtown to the Broad to see some inspiring modern art followed by lunch in the Arts District at YangBan Society for some incredible Korean Casual Fare.

After lunch we could pickup some flowers at the Flower Mart and drive home on Olympic Blvd through MidCity, past the Old Farmer’s Market and past Beverly Hills.

We would end the day at Santa Monica Beach watching the Sunset.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Thank you to our founding board and schools who believed in our cause before it became a reality. Thank you for taking the call to hear our vision and to support our mission. Specifically, Renee Yang, Ellen Chen, Serena Minikes, Gloria Chang Yip, Jeanne Yang, Carol Koh Evans, Calvin Cheng, Maya Dharwarkar, Brooke Thatawat, Katie Chin, Betty Wan, and Jennifer Yen. I am also grateful to have the example of activism from my parents Kenneth and May Yee. Growing up, I watched them activate voters and mobilize for change over and over again in Boston. Lastly, I would like to thank the TAP spouses and family who have supported all of us. Thank you Sean, Kyle and Blake for inspiring me everyday.

Website: https://teachaapi.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teachaapi/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/teachaapi/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Teach-AAPI/100065852315591/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd625QJKOCecA7RI0qPsgJA

Image Credits
The profile picture with Ann only Kimberly Genevieve