San Francisco Kicks Off AAPI Heritage Month 2025 with Celebration and Recognition
San Francisco proudly kicked off AAPI Heritage Month 2025 with the annual APA Heritage Awards Gala—an evening dedicated to celebrating culture, community, and the incredible contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders across generations.
This year’s event honored four milestone community organizations whose legacies have shaped the cultural fabric of our city:
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Chinese Culture Center (60 years)
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Japan Society of Northern California (120 years)
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SF–Seoul Sister City Committee (45 years)
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National Japanese American Historical Society (40 years)
In a powerful new tradition, the Youth Changemaker Awards were launched to recognize the vision, passion, and leadership of young people making a difference in their communities.
Among the inaugural honorees was Titus Lawson, a 15-year-old student at Lowell High School, whose advocacy continues the legacy of his grandfather, Vicha Ratanapakdee Foundation. Through projects like community murals, street renaming, and a justice-focused website, Titus is keeping his grandfather’s memory alive while inspiring others to stand up against hate and violence.
We also celebrated Charlotte “Lottie” Nguyen, 12, founder of Creative Righters, a nonprofit helping youth build confidence and storytelling skills.
The Justice for Vicha Foundation is honored to witness and support the next generation of leaders who carry forward the spirit of advocacy, unity, and justice.
Recap: Songkran New Year Festival 2025
A Historic Celebration in San Francisco
Dear AAPI Community and Friends,
Happy Songkran New Year 2025 and Happy AAPI Heritage Month!
We hope this season brought you joy, renewal, and meaningful connection with loved ones.
Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, is a time-honored celebration marked by water-splashing festivities, acts of merit, and reverence for elders. It holds deep cultural significance for Thai, Southeast Asian, and AAPI communities around the world.
This year, the Justice for Vicha Ratanapakdee Foundation, together with our AAPI community partners, was proud to support two historic events that officially recognized Songkran in the City and County of San Francisco:
April 9, 2025 — San Francisco City Hall Reception
Hosted by: Mayor Daniel Lurie
Held in the Mayor’s International Room, this gathering brought together city officials, community leaders, and cultural performers to honor the spirit of Songkran. It marked the first official celebration of the Thai New Year at San Francisco City Hall.
April 10, 2025 — State Building Celebration
Hosted by:
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California State Treasurer Fiona Ma
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State Senator Scott Wiener
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State Controller Malia Cohen
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Assembly member Matt Haney
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Assembly member Catherine Stefani
This vibrant, standing-room-only event took place at the Hiram Johnson State Building. It united state leaders, families, and advocates in a powerful celebration of Southeast Asian heritage and cultural recognition at the state level.
Cultural Performances That Lit Up the Stage
We were honored to showcase a vibrant lineup of performers whose artistry reflected the beauty and diversity of our community:
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Thai Cultural Dance
Performed by: Thai Culture Center & Wat Mongkolratanaram, Berkeley -
Burmese Performing Arts
Performed by: One Myanmar Community -
Thai Cooking Demonstration
Performed by: Chef Chai Sriyan, Marnee Thai Restaurant (Chaiwatt Marnee Thai) -
Muay Thai Martial Arts
Performed by: World Team USA, Warakanya Mai -
Vietnamese Cultural Performance
Performed by: Southeast Asian Community Center (SEACC) -
Thai Performing Arts (Wat Buddhanusorn, Fremont)
Performed by: Thai Cultural Council of Fremont, Kingkarn Smitamorn Guio -
Cambodian Flute Performance
Performed by: Cambodian Cultural Dance Troupe of San Jose, Ryan Boun
Your talents honored the richness of Thai and Southeast Asian traditions. We are deeply grateful to each performer, volunteer, and supporter who made this event a resounding success.
Photos by: Sapasorn
สุขสันต์วันสงกรานต์ — Happy Songkran New Year Festival 2025
As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, we proudly honor the vibrant cultures, histories, and contributions of our communities. This year’s Songkran celebration was more than a cultural event—it was a milestone of recognition, unity, and pride.
With gratitude,
Monthanus, Eric, and Jonathan
Justice for Vicha Ratanapakdee Foundation
Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors & Partners!
Your generous support of the JFV Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, makes this celebration possible. For more information on 2025 sponsorship opportunities, please contact Monthanus Ratanapakdee at justiceforvicha@gmail.com.
EMPOWERING AANHPI FAMILIES AND ADVANCING JUSTICE FOR ALL
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Our community’s greatest strength lies in its hardworking families. However, many immigrant
families, like Kunni and Karaphat, face overwhelming challenges in San Francisco’s Tenderloin
neighborhood. The Justice for Vicha Ratanapakdee Foundation (JVF) is dedicated to supporting
these families by advocating for justice, providing English language assistance, and offering
resources for social-emotional wellness.
Kunni, a Thai immigrant who arrived in San Francisco in 2008 seeking a better future. After
earning a Master’s degree in Business from Lincoln University. Today, she works tirelessly as a
bar manager while raising her 9-year-old daughter. After a traumatic hate crime incident, she
sought help from JVF for victim rights advocacy. Like Karaphat, another Thai resident who
endured multiple attacks within a year, Kunni faces barriers to justice due to language and
cultural challenges.
"Monthanus (JFV) helped me connect with the Office of Victim and Witness Rights at the
Mayor's office and guided me to the victim advocate at the District Attorney’s office. I didn’t know
how the justice system worked, and I was traumatized. At first, I didn’t want to deal with it
because I was scared. But after not receiving justice, I felt even more afraid and helpless."
Today, Kunni continues to receive trauma care and is working closely with the District Attorney's
office victim advocate to achieve her long-term goals, while also caring for her daughter’s
emotional well-being through the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims
Board (CALVCB).
https://ethnicmediaservices.org/stop-the-hate/go-back-to-your-country-shouted-suspect-as-she-
pepper-sprayed-victim/
Karaphat, a queer Thai man and Tenderloin resident, also endured a traumatic hate crime
attack. While walking home, he was assaulted and subjected to racial slurs. Despite the fear
and pain, Karaphat reported the attack to authorities, emphasizing the ongoing need for
advocacy and justice for victims of hate crimes.
https://ethnicmediaservices.org/stop-the-hate/queer-thai-man-punched-in-the-face-in-san-francisco-as-attacker-yelled-out-racist-slurs/
Queer Thai Man Punched in the Face in San Francisco as Attacker Yelled Out Racist Slurs | EMS
Yutthapong, a Thai immigrant and manager at an American restaurant in Oakland, was
assaulted by a customer who refused to pay the bill and punched him in the face, leaving him
unconscious during his shift. A friend in San Francisco reached out to JFV on his behalf.
"Monthanus (JFV) helped me connect with OPD victim advocates and access legal services.
Their support has been invaluable. I am now receiving ongoing trauma care through the
California Crime of Victim Compensation Program (CalVCB) and continuing with the legal
services provided by JFV."
Kunni, Karaphat, and Yutthapong’s stories are a testament to the resilience of our community
and the urgent need for support systems that help families access justice and essential
resources.
Your support will help us continue advocating for justice and providing resources to families in
need. Together, we can foster a safer, more equitable community.
Thanks to supporters like you, inspiring stories like Kunni’s are becoming more frequent. Your
generosity drives our mission forward: fostering a healthy, thriving, and self-sufficient AANHPI
(Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) community and beyond.
Your tax-deductible gift makes a significant impact in the lives of families like Kunni’s. Donate
today and help us continue providing essential support and resources to those in need.
Vicha Ratanapakdee's
New Stairway Project
Located in San Francisco, the Vicha's Mural Memorial stands as a powerful and poignant tribute to the life and legacy of Vicha Ratanapakdee. Crafted with artistic precision and attention to detail, this memorial serves as a visual representation of remembrance, compassion, and the collective call for justice. Adorning a prominent area, the mural not only commemorates Vicha but also serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by marginalized communities. It acts as a catalyst for dialogue, reflection, and action, urging society to address the pervasive issues of violence and discrimination that persist within our midst.
The mosaic artist conceived of staircase is a tribute to Grandpa Vicha, using symbols and patterns to depict his life journey across three segments:
1. Origin & Heritage: The lower stairs feature a mermaid and mouse above ocean waves, echoing Songkhla, Thailand – Uncle Vicha's birthplace. This segment pays homage to his roots and local legends.
2. Journey & Struggle: The middle part illustrates the oceanic theme transitioning into Buddhist symbolism, including the iconic wheel and golden fish. It encapsulates Uncle Vicha's challenges and joys in the U.S., intertwined with Buddhist principles of community and teachings.
3. Legacy & Resilience: The upper stairs are adorned with lotus flowers, representing resilience and growth. Lady justice's scale is a nod to Vicha's enduring legacy and the family's fight against discrimination.
WHO IS VICHA?
Since Mr. Vicha Ratanapakdee‘s passing, Monthanus Ratanapakdee (his daughter) has amplified the voices and contributed her time to fight not only for the Thai community but for all Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and Southeast Asians, by raising awareness to stop hate against Asians and to ensure that what happened to her father will not happen to other community members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, physical and verbal attacks on AAPI and Asian elders have risen significantly throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and across the nation. Mr. Ratanapakdee’s case was the turning point for many Asian Americans in San Francisco. People who saw the video clip of the senseless violence inflicted on Mr. Ratanapakdee as he was shoved to the ground during his routine morning walk were horrified, saddened, and are no longer able to keep quiet. We are asking for justice. Mr. Vicha Ratanapakdee has become a critical icon in the movement that first began to gain traction after the killing of Vicha Ratnatanapkdee. His death sparked the #StopAsianHate Monthanus and Eric have attended marches and rallies to increase awareness and stop the attacks on AAPIs. They participated in many events to Stop Asian Hate, spoke publicly, and built solidarity to keep the AAPI community safe. They have worked tirelessly to ensure that survivors and the families of those victims are supported through SF city services, law enforcement, and the justice system. They both worked closely with the San Francisco Mayor’s Office to have a mural painted to commemorate her father in Chinatown as a historical marker that reminds future generations to Stand for Asians, Stop Asian Hate, and Stand With Asian Americans. They also requested to rename Sonora Lane (located at the intersection of 2300 O’Farrell and Lyon, currently a staircase with no residential addresses) to “Vicha Ratanapakdee Way”. Renaming this street will signify that the City and County of San Francisco values the contributions of Asian Americans, debunks the American perception of Asian Americans as “others,” and believes all SF residents are equal regardless of race. This street will be the landmark for Vicha Ratanapakdee's last walk in the Anza Vista neighborhood. The AAPI community in the Bay Area and nationally is not small. AAPIs contribute significantly to the social and economic prosperity of the nation, and AAPIs loyally and dutifully serve the communities they live in. The AAPI community must unite as one to have a stronger impact in our fight for our rights which have been suppressed, unseen, or ignored. We will not be silenced.
Volunteer Participation and 'Grandpa Vicha' Name Use Form
Request form for participating in volunteering or using the name 'Grandpa Vicha' for related activities.