** UPDATE **

MNAPABA has thought long and hard about this year's gala, and unfortunately we have decided to move to a 100% online gala for September. We had been looking forward to an in-person gathering at the Crave rooftop, but believe this decision is in the best interest of our members and friends in light of the rising Delta variant cases. Our speakers will remain the same, and sponsors will receive the same prominent recognition. For sponsors, due to this change, we have upgraded the number of attendees and complimentary MNAPABA memberships to reflect the same benefits we provided last year (updated numbers are reflected in the chart). We had a successful virtual gala last year, and would love for you to join us again this year.

The Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MNAPABA) appreciates your friendship and membership to our organization. We thank you for your patience as we have adapted and worked to transform our programming to meet the challenges of 2021 and beyond. We are proud to announce that we are hosting this year's Annual Gala in person on September 1, 2021 at the Crave Rooftop in downtown Minneapolis. 

We have been unable to meet in person over the past year and a half, and are extremely excited for the opportunity to reconnect at this outdoor, more casual version of our annual gala. We invite you to join us and consider sponsoring MNAPABA for the upcoming year. Your generous sponsorship will help fund MNAPABA’s programming for the 2021-22 bar year starting on October 1, 2021. It is our tradition to recognize our sponsors who make our work possible at this annual gathering of our community. Over the past year we have been focusing more of our efforts on diversity, inclusion, and antiracism. Your contributions have resulted in the formation of an Anti-AAPI Racism, Discrimination & Violence Outreach Working Group; efforts to encourage the enactment of state and national policies against anti-Asian violence; events to discuss the direct and indirect impacts of racism; monetary donations to Stop AAPI Hate, and more. Your support is not only appreciated, but also it is vital to our efforts.

Our gala theme is “Uniting in the Face of Adversity.” This year has highlighted the absolute necessity to further advance diversity and inclusion. MNAPABA stands for the advancement of APA attorneys toward equality and inclusion, and we cannot effectively achieve this goal without recognizing we are part of broader efforts to advance diversity and inclusion and combat prejudice in our professional and greater communities. We must amplify efforts to support each other in our diverse community of professionals, whether Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, or other affinity. It is clear that in these times, we must unite in the face of adversity. The gala will feature keynote speaker Gia Vang, Sunrise Anchor at KARE 11. She will discuss her experience reconciling the pressure to assimilate and the desire to be authentic, media coverage of anti-AAPI violence and the Chauvin trial, and how the media and legal community can partner to address systemic racism.

Sponsorship details are listed below. To become a sponsor, you may fill out our online form. Please register by August 13, 2021, in order to ensure your inclusion in our gala materials. 

Please contact President Sukanya Momsen (sukanyamomsenmn@gmail.com) or President-Elect Mayura Noordyke (mnoordkye@cozen.com) with any questions.