TAP-NY is excited to welcome six new board members: Amanda, Arthur, Autumn, Brandon, Shaun, and Valerie! Learn more about them below – and be sure to make it out to an event to meet them.
What drew you to TAP and why did you decide to join the board?
I saw TAP-NY board members at a mutual Taiwanese event, which sparked my interest and pushed me to attend my first dinner series in 2023! I’ve felt super welcomed at all TAP-NY events and wanted to give back by fostering that same warm welcome to others.
What do you hope to accomplish in your role? New event ideas?
As Community Chair, I’d like to help TAP-NY partner with and support other AAPI organizations & small businesses in the city to host different events for our members. Some new event ideas include a mini night market, a mahjong fundraiser, and many more local volunteering opportunities!
What is your favorite aspect of Taiwan?
The beautiful landscapes no matter where in Taiwan you are!
What drew you to TAP and why did you decide to join the board?
Back in November, I attended a TAP dinner series event and had a great time getting to know everyone who came. I was inspired by TAP’s mission to support the Taiwanese American community and wanted to give back myself. I’m excited by the opportunity to form new friendships and help others find their tribe, especially for newcomers to the city.
What do you hope to accomplish in your role? New event ideas?
As professional chair, I want to be a source of support for those experiencing setbacks in their career and for those who just want to level up their skills. I intend to collaborate with universities and career coaches to hold workshops on professional topics ranging from resume writing to leadership. I look forward to learning from Jasper’s work and continue carrying forward his initiatives, creating opportunities for mentorship, networking, and lifelong learning. I know that I have done my job if people feel emboldened to tackle challenges head-on, knowing they have the resources and support to navigate any challenges.
What is your favorite aspect of Taiwan?
Family, friends and food!
What drew you to TAP and why did you decide to join the board?
I attended a ba-wan making workshop with TAP in the first couple months I moved to NYC, and met lots of really kind and welcoming people!
Having just graduated and come from TASA at school, I was eager to be part of a taiwanese american community again, and be able to curate fun eventsthat will bring more people together.
What do you hope to accomplish in your role? New event ideas?
As culture chair, I hope to be able to make fun, accessible events for people who are a bit too introverted and get intimidated easily by happy hours or networking.
Ideas I have are a mahjong night, taiwanese cultural event nights such as spring couplets writing night (春聯). One thing I’ve always wanted to do was a taiwan/usa snack exchange (much like penpals but with local snacks) with college kids or young professionals in Taiwan!
What is your favorite aspect of Taiwan?
I loved how easy it was to grab a midnight snack. There’s always so many options open, and so many places just a few minutes’ walk away.
What drew you to TAP and why did you decide to join the board?
I was drawn to TAP because of its welcoming community and their fun events. When I moved to New York in July of 2022, I was eager to find a community that was able to balance volunteer, social, and cultural experiences. TAP was the perfect organization for this, and I was able to make a lot of new friendships by attending these events. I decided to join the board because I wanted to give back and expand a group that helped me find a new home in New York where I am able to grow amongst supportive and friendly individuals and members.
What do you hope to accomplish in your role? New event ideas?
As incoming membership chair, I hope to grow membership and engagement, welcome every new and existing member with a smile, and be the point of contact for any members that have questions about the organization. I will work with our social chairs to put on events for members new to New York, new to the workforce, or new to joining this type of group (food may or may not be used as an incentive).
What is your favorite aspect of Taiwan?
The food!
What drew you to TAP and why did you decide to join the board?
I attended a lot of TAP events when I first moved to NYC and it gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of new friends that I could culturally identify with. Having moved here with not many friends, it was amazing to have inclusive and publicly available events to go to which helped me ease into the giant city of NY!
What do you hope to accomplish in your role? New event ideas?
I hope to bring more people together and grow the community even further by spreading awareness of TAP through capturing authentic moments during events and activities! Some new event ideas would be to host photography or video workshops/walks so everyone can learn to capture memories and moments in their lives for whatever purpose.
What is your favorite aspect of Taiwan?
My favorite aspect of Taiwan would be the uniqueness of the country across different areas. Similar to NYC in a way, you’ll find that both the culture and landscape change in many ways when you travel from city to city. And the food is amazing of course!
What drew you to TAP and why did you decide to join the board?
I was first introduced to TAP through the mentorship program at the Taiwanese student club back in school! The board and all the mentors were so fun and so sweet — after attending more TAP events, I knew I wanted to join! I love meeting all different kinds of people and seeing the community come together. Super excited to give back and continue building the TAP network for more people!
What do you hope to accomplish in your role? New event ideas?
I’m looking forward to bringing in more members and facilitating events to get everyone excited! I’d love to see how we can connect more with local Taiwanese businesses in the city. I’d also love more hands-on artsy classes like pottery, candle-making, etc — it would be so fun to get to know our members more in-depth and see what inspires them!
What is your favorite aspect of Taiwan?
Seeing family and friends always puts me in a happy place, and I’m always in the mood for bubble tea and the delicious (and endless) restaurants & street vendors!