Hello from AIISF’s New Executive Director, Edward Tepporn

Dear AIISF family,

I am humbled, honored, and excited to be joining the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation in its efforts to preserve the site as well as to continue to lift up the historical and contemporary stories of immigrants in the United States. My own immigration story began in 1974 when my parents and I moved from Thailand to Texas. We settled in Houston where -- like many other immigrants -- we faced significant racism, discrimination, and xenophobia. One of my childhood experiences that exemplifies what it was like to grow up as an Asian immigrant in Texas was when I and my fellow 5th graders had the chance to attend a week-long outdoor camp.

I remember how on the bus ride over, I felt so excited my skin was tingling. But when we arrived, we were told to assemble on the field. As they called out our cabin assignments, one of my friends said quietly under his breath, “This is so wrong.” Shortly thereafter, my name was called. And as I walked over to join my new cabin mates, it suddenly became clearer to me that all of the White kids were in the other cabins. And I was in the cabin where all the minority kids were concentrated.

That was the moment I learned the hard lesson that being Asian meant that I might be considered different from and “less than”. And while this experience pales in comparison to what Angel Island’s detainees endured, this and other life experiences instilled in me the personal values of respect, fairness, and kindness that have shaped who I am today as person and as a leader.

These values sparked and continue to inspire my 25 year-long career in the nonprofit sector. For the past 17 years, I have served on staff at the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health, most recently as their Executive Vice President. In this capacity, I facilitated numerous board and community discussions to help ensure that the organization remained forward-thinking, impactful, and relevant. I also helped to secure over $30 million and contributed to an increased national profile and presence for APIAHF through communication campaigns, national partnerships, and speaking engagements.

Next year’s opening of the Pacific Coast Immigration Center marks a truly exciting time to be involved with AIISF. I hope that you’ll consider making a contribution during our Giving Tuesday or end-of-year campaign; marking your calendars for our 2020 Gala and Immigrant Heritage Awards taking place on April 16, 2020; and joining us for opening day of the Pacific Coast Immigration Center in September 2020.

I welcome the opportunities to learn more about your immigration and family stories as well as to hear your ideas and hopes for AIISF’s future programs and efforts.

With gratitude,

Edward Tepporn
Executive Director