New Transitions at GAR

Cathy (second row, third from the left) with GAR Staff and Coordinating Committee at the GAR Membership Convening in Los Angeles in July 2023.

After four years of transformative leadership, Cathy Dang will be transitioning out of her role as Co-Director of Grassroots Asians Rising. 

Cathy has been instrumental in shaping GAR since its founding—first as Executive Director of CAAAV in New York City since 2013, and later as Co-Director since 2021, where she strengthened our infrastructure, resources, and organizational culture. After nearly a total of 10 years with GAR, her leadership has left an enduring mark, and we are deeply grateful for her contributions.

While Cathy’s departure marks a significant transition, GAR’s work is far from over. Movements are bigger than any one person, and we are energized by the continued leadership of our staff, Coordinating Committee, and 34 member organizations. 

Our communities are facing escalating threats: from attacks on birthright citizenship and healthcare to the erosion of reproductive justice and affirmative action. At the same time, right-wing forces are actively working to divide and mislead our communities.

In this pivotal moment, GAR’s role in building unity, power, and resistance is critical. As we navigate this transition, we remain committed to strengthening our national organizing ecosystem, defending working-class pan-Asian communities against repression and co-optation, and ensuring GAR is structurally resilient for the fights ahead. 

To continue this work, we need your support! To ensure GAR remains a resilient force for justice, donate today to keep our movement strong! Your donation will help GAR sustain organizing programs that protect our communities, support our staff and Coordinating Committee to facilitate member-led leadership during this transition, and invest in long-term infrastructure to scale our impact.

Your support ensures that GAR can continue to adapt, organize, and fight back so we can honor Cathy’s legacy while building an even stronger future.