Growing Awareness with Mindy Kao
She’s driven by the desire to see Asian Americans embrace the belief that their votes matter.
Meet a Field Organizer
About Mindy
Pronouns: She/her
Age: 30
Location: Atlanta, GA
Finds joy in: Learning about people through their stories and experiences. And her pets Otis🐶. and Toby 😺 .
Inspired by: Mindy’s parents: Andrew Kao (dad), who instilled values of independence, working hard, and curiosity; and Ming Kao (mom), who invested in her constant learning and growth.
Frequently used emojis: 💛
A Self Introduction
Mindy Kao is a thirty-something Georgia native of Taiwanese descent and the daughter of Andrew and Ming Kao. She’s passionate about building community and advancing racial equity so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and a sense of belonging. Mindy gets to carry out her passions in her professional work as a dynamic project manager with a wealth of experience in project planning, oversight and implementation at the intersection of equity, community, and philanthropy in the Metro Atlanta region.
Mindy, in conversation with the Asian American Advocacy Fund. This Q&A has been edited for grammar and clarity. Photographs are from Mindy’s personal collection.
Please share your journey to developing an Asian American consciousness.
Born and raised in Georgia, I spent my formative years in predominantly white communities, with regular interludes with my family into nearby places and spaces made by and for Asian Americans. I would spend my weekends eating and shopping on Buford Highway with my parents, attending our Taiwanese church, going to Kumon and piano lessons, then return to my neighborhood and school where my friends, teachers, and neighbors were mostly white.
Assimilation was second nature to me. I played sports and joined a sorority — choices influenced by where and who I grew up with, rather than my family or Asian heritage. It wasn’t until after I graduated from college, that I really started becoming conscious of my racial identity, its complexities, and its implications. In grad school, I studied urban planning, specializing in community development and housing. There, as we dug into the evolution of cities and suburbs, I began to see and understand the racialized nature deeply entrenched in American culture, society, institutions, and systems.
How are you attempting to fulfill your potential within the community?
For four and a half years, I worked at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, an institution that was well connected to nonprofits and civic leaders throughout the region, in a role that exposed me to some of the most effective homegrown community organizers, social justice advocates, and civic leaders. I was introduced to Asian American organizers and advocates, such as Marian Liou who started the place-based storytelling project We Love BuHi, in response to the immigrant communities’ lack of voice in urban planning. I was also introduced to Kavi Vu and Phi Nguyen — creators of Wake Up Atlanta, a web series specifically targeting young AAPIs in Georgia to increase their civic engagement. That exposure, combined with a perpetual drive to listen and learn, has shaped how I approach working in community.
I’m currently consulting with organizations seeking to operationalize anti-racism and racial equity work. Something I grappled with at my former job is the imbalanced power dynamics within philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. I’ve realized my role is understanding where there is demand, what the needs are, and how I can fill that gap with whatever I can offer (skills, perspective, voice, etc.). Another layer to that is accountability. If I say I’m going to do something, then I really try my best to follow through with that. It’s really empowering when people resonate with the issue you’re trying to address and want to jump onto something that you started.
Can you share an instance of self-empowerment?
When I moved to Adair Park, pedestrians were losing their lives by crossing train tracks because trains would park across the part of the train tracks that was a major pedestrian crossing. So a few neighbors and I started a petition and blasted all our elected officials, Department of Transportation, everyone. WABE, our local NPR station, did a story on it and then our city councilwoman kicked into gear.
Soon after, we heard that the train company had sent a memo to all their conductors saying something along the lines of “Do not park at this area of the train track”. The instances of trains parked across the crossing went down dramatically. That’s how easy it was! But it took us making a good bit of noise to get there. I stay pretty active in my local neighborhood by volunteering with the neighborhood association, helping out with fundraisers, and checking on our elders.
How has it been canvassing for you?
Canvassing aligns with so many things I want, I get to strengthen and explore my connections on-the-ground with the Asian American community. But after my first day, I really wanted to quit! I don’t know who enjoys talking to strangers that much; it’s challenging to have meaningful, unsolicited, AND political conversations.
I think it’s a new and strange experience for Asian Americans in Georgia to be targeted as a valued asset by political organizers. We’re trying to undo the messages that have been internalized by Asian American voters. It’s so worth it when they embrace the belief that “my vote matters”.
It’s also been really humbling to canvas with people younger than myself. I’m probably a good ten years older than most of the volunteers who are still in college and so much better at this than I am! A few weeks ago, I was being shadowed by a canvasser during one of my shifts. We’d go to one house and she’d give me feedback, and we’d go to the next house, she’d have more feedback. I learned a lot that day! Still, when I sense hesitation (especially from an elder), I have to fight the urge to end the conversation right there and instead continue to help them realize how they’re impacted by voting. That person may need just a little more convincing if I could get deeper in conversation.
What possibilities would you like to build upon?
Our individual communities share common struggles — having the language and awareness around that requires organizing. Our multiracial coalition has been building people’s understanding and capacity to get to this point where we have shared goals.
This election has revealed a lot about our potential to make change; let’s make the most of it! I believe that building out our networks to form tight bonds ultimately strengthens a community. I would like to explore building consensus on what is important to Asian Americans and how we position ourselves in the fight against oppression. It’s really exciting to hear from people that look like you, sound like you and speak your language. I’m committed to the long game in representation. Putting down roots takes time.
The Asian American Advocacy Fund is a grassroots 501(c)4 social welfare organization dedicated to building a politically-conscious, engaged, and progressive Asian American base in Georgia.
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#GeorgiaOnMyMind gives voice to diverse perspectives, life experiences, and viewpoints. With a vision for a thriving future, we share this series to shift and shape public narratives about Georgians who organize for and with their communities.
