Comfort and Connection and AAPI Employment Disruptions

To celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Washington Post asked Asian chefs and celebrities what role food plays in their lives.

In interviewing chef and restaurateur Niki Nakayama, she describes how her latest challenge included opening a second restaurant during the pandemic, n/soto, which features bento boxes with collaborations. Among others, she has worked with Los Angeles’ Japanese American National Museum and supported the Little Tokyo Community Council, which provided other restaurants with grants during the pandemic.

According to our report with the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, some 233,000 Asian small businesses between February and April 2020 closed due to the pandemic, constituting a decline of 28 percent, compared to 17 percent of non-Hispanic White small businesses.

For more details, access the article here >>> Comfort and connection

Access the mentioned research brief here >>> COVID-19’s Employment Disruptions to Asian Americans