When Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman asked me to assemble a shipment of sewing machines at Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI) last year, I enlisted a talented engineer friend, and we hauled our tool bags to the RAI shop.
What quiet courage looks like — Finding your voice when it matters
For most of my life, I never thought of myself as someone who would speak up, especially in a group setting.
Letter from RAI staff in response to recent article
We are writing in response to the Northwest Asian Weekly article on January 23, 2026 and Julie Kang’s op-ed regarding the departure of Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman from Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI).
Coalition letter supporting SSB 5574
We, the undersigned community-based organizations, educators, advocates, and allies across Washington State, write to express our strong support for Substitute Senate Bill 5574 (SSB 5574), sponsored by Senator T’wina Nobles.
Letter of support for Refugee Artisan Initiative
As a committed volunteer with Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI) since February of 2024, I was very concerned after reading the article published by Northwest Asian Weekly on Jan. 23 as well as the letter from King County and Washington state elected leaders dated Jan. 9.
When race should (and shouldn’t) matter
We don’t live in a color-blind country, but most of the time, that’s OK.
An open letter on the bamboo ceiling, community leadership, and the removal of Ming Ming Tung-Edelman
I write with gratitude, clarity, and justified anger.
Silence kills
For years, I stayed quiet around my partner’s extended family—not because I didn’t care, but because speaking up was often met with outright dismissal or subtle hostility.
When “free” isn’t enough: Vietnam’s HPV vaccine rollout and the women left behind
I went to Vietnam last summer expecting to help treat common illnesses.
When their stories are forgotten, Filipino nurses bear the burden
The need for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic escalated to such an extent that nurse Rosary Celaya Castro-Olege came out of retirement to join the frontlines.