CACF Announces Board Leadership Transition, Welcoming Donna Lee and Farhad Asghar as New Co-Chairs

Organization Celebrates Outgoing Board Chair Art Chang for Three Years of Transformational Leadership

New York, NY (June 5, 2026) — The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), the nation’s only pan-Asian children and families advocacy organization, proudly announces a new chapter in its board leadership as Donna Lee and Farhad Asghar step into the role of Co-Chairs of CACF’s Board of Directors. The transition comes as CACF honors the extraordinary leadership and lasting impact of outgoing Board Chair Art Chang, who has led the organization since March 2023.

Under Art Chang’s leadership, CACF experienced a period of historic growth, statewide expansion, and landmark policy victories for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across New York. During his tenure, CACF helped secure a doubling of New York State investment in AAPI communities, advanced groundbreaking legislation around AAPI data disaggregation, language access, and AAPI curriculum inclusion, and expanded CACF’s statewide policy, youth leadership, and healing-centered work.

A successful entrepreneur, civic leader, and former New York City mayoral candidate, Art brought a visionary and deeply values-driven approach to leadership. The son of Korean immigrant parents, Art has long advocated for policies that support children, families, and future generations. Through his work spanning civic engagement, technology innovation, campaign finance, education, and child welfare, Art consistently centered equity, inclusion, and opportunity.

“Art’s leadership came at a pivotal moment in CACF’s history,” said Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung, Co-Executive Directors of CACF. “He challenged us to think boldly about the future of AAPI advocacy and about what it means to build power with and for communities that have too often been overlooked. His commitment to equity, justice, and solidarity has shaped not only CACF’s strategic direction, but also the way we show up for one another as a community. Art leaves CACF stronger, more visible, and more prepared to enter our 40th anniversary year with ambition and purpose. We are deeply grateful that he will continue to support CACF as a member of our Board.”

As CACF enters this next chapter, the organization welcomes Donna Lee and Farhad Asghar as incoming Co-Chairs of the Board of Directors — a leadership model that reflects CACF’s longstanding commitment to shared leadership and building collective power across the diverse AAPI community.

Donna Lee is a Professor of Law at CUNY School of Law, where she has dedicated her career to advancing public interest law, equity, and justice. Her work has focused extensively on immigration law, gender justice, and community-centered advocacy, particularly in support of immigrant and marginalized communities. Donna also previously served as Board Chair of Womankind, a leading New York City organization serving survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence. Through her legal scholarship, nonprofit leadership, and decades of advocacy, Donna has consistently championed dignity, safety, and access to justice for underserved communities.

Farhad Asghar currently serves as Chief Growth Officer at Bottom Line, a national nonprofit focused on college access and success for low-income students. He previously served as a program officer at Carnegie Corporation of New York, where he oversaw grantmaking focused on postsecondary success and educational opportunity. His leadership experience spans higher education, philanthropy, development, and community partnerships, including leadership roles at the College Board and Bank Street College of Education. A naturalized U.S. citizen who immigrated from Pakistan to Queens as a child, Farhad has dedicated his career to expanding pathways and opportunity for underserved communities.

“CACF has always believed that meaningful change happens through collective leadership and shared responsibility,” said Donna Lee and Farhad Asghar in a joint statement. “We are honored to step into this role together at such an important moment for AAPI communities across New York and the country. As Co-Chairs, we look forward to supporting CACF’s vision for equity, healing, youth leadership, and statewide movement-building. We believe deeply in CACF’s mission and in the power of bringing diverse communities together to ensure that those most marginalized are seen, heard, and supported.”

The leadership transition comes as CACF prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026 — a milestone that reflects four decades of advocacy, coalition-building, and community leadership on behalf of AAPI children and families.

“CACF’s story has always been one of collective power,” said Gundanna and Leung. “We are excited for what lies ahead under Donna and Farhad’s leadership and grateful for the strong foundation Art helped build to bring us into this next era.”

About CACF

The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) is the nation’s only pan-Asian children and families advocacy organization. Founded in 1986, CACF fights for equity and opportunity for marginalized Asian American Pacific Islander children and families through policy advocacy, leadership development, coalition building, and community engagement across New York State.

For media inquiries, please contact: Lakshmi Gandhi, CACF’s Senior Communications Coordinator, at lgandhi@cacf.org.

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