Manjusha Kulkarni wins 2024 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award

Manjusha Kulkarni, Executive Director of AAPI Equity Alliance, has won the James Irvine Foundation award for confronting hate and discrimination against AAPI communities with data, partnerships, and policy solutions.

Kulkarni is one of nine leaders from six organizations who received the 2024 Leadership Awards for their dedicated efforts in addressing critical issues impacting Californians.

“This year’s Award recipients are an impressive group of innovators working on a wide range of challenges including teacher preparation, youth justice, college access and completion, and ensuring the health and safety of Asian American and Pacific Islander, LGBTQ+, refugee, and immigrant populations,” according to a press release.

READ: Indian American Manjusha Kulkarni wins Racial Equality Award (March 25, 2022)

As a teen, Kulkarni observed her mother file a successful class action lawsuit against the state over discriminatory policies against non-European doctors, according to her official profile.

This experience, along with incidents that made her feel “othered” as one of the only AAPI students in school, seeded Kulkarni’s activism and compelled her to pursue a law degree and a career in civil rights.

After engaging in critical work in civil rights and health law and policy, she was entrusted to lead the AAPI Equity Alliance (formerly A3PCON) in 2017.

Kulkarni led the forty-year-old organization into a new era, growing it from a behind-the-scenes organization to one that leads groundbreaking work in healthcare access, interpersonal violence, and mental health.

AAPI Equity Alliance is now a coalition of over 40 organizations that serves the 1.6 million Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles and beyond, confronting discrimination, fighting mental health disparities, and pushing for legal and policy changes.

READ: Kamala Harris, Manjusha Kulkarni among Time’s “100 Most Influential” (September 17, 2021)

Kulkarni is also a co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition that collects data and fights racial injustice targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Every year, the Leadership Awards acknowledge individuals and organizations committed to innovation and with a proven track record of success in enhancing lives, creating opportunities, and contributing to a better California, the release stated.

Each Award recipient’s organization receives a grant of $350,000 to further support their work benefiting the people of California, with the potential for expansion, replication, or policy support. Additionally, the Irvine Foundation assists recipients in sharing their successful approaches with policymakers and practitioners.

“The accomplishments of these diverse leaders and their ongoing commitment to improving the lives of Californians are truly inspiring,” said Don Howard, President and CEO of The James Irvine Foundation.

READ: Manjusha Kulkarni, Ranjana Patel named ‘Champions of Change’ by the White House (May 9, 2014)

“Their innovative approaches to solving tough problems have made a positive impact in so many communities. It’s a privilege for the Irvine Foundation to amplify their leadership and provide support as they address some of the most formidable challenges our state is currently facing.”

Since 2006, The Irvine Foundation has celebrated the achievements of over 100 leaders in California.