The James Beard Foundation’s Open for Good campaign supports independent restaurants in order to survive the pandemic, rebuild stronger and more equitably, and thrive for the long term. 
 
In October 2020, we partnered with Chinese American James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and Chinatown activist Grace Young on an Instagram campaign to support Chinese restaurants all across the country.
 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, thousands of incidents of racist, abusive, and increasingly violent behavior against Asian Americans have been reported nationwide. Asian Americans are the target of an alarming and growing number of hate crimes around the country. We stand in solidarity with the AAPI community against this racist hate speech and violence.

Now, we’re joining Grace Young and Poster House on a new campaign, #LoveAAPI. The expansion of this effort is a nationwide social media campaign to support Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and Chinatowns everywhere!

“Sad to say, violence against Asian American Pacific Islander communities continues. Businesses are suffering because people are afraid to come to work, shop, or dine at restaurants for fear of attack. Without our support, we could lose historic Chinatowns and other AAPI enclaves around the country. We can protect and support the AAPI community by standing together in solidarity and speaking from the heart.” - Grace Young


You can make a difference! Fight anti-Asian hate! Here's how:

  • Visit your favorite local AAPI restaurant, grocer, or small business and take a picture or video of the food or product(s) you purchased, and post it on social media with the hashtag #LoveAAPI.
  • Say why you love this business, share a story, and encourage others to show their love by getting involved in the campaign.
Poster of lotus flowers and lily pads on dark blue water with the text Fight Anti-Asian Hate #LoveAAPI Take a video or photo in front of your favorite restaurant or anywhere with your takeout. Post it with a story about why you love Chincatown, Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Little Saigon, or your fave restaurant. Tag #LoveAAPI & encourage your follows to do it too
Poster design: Mihoshi Fukushima Clark of Poster House

The Lotus Flower
There is a Buddhist proverb that states, “The lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest and thickest mud.” In searching for a symbol for this campaign, Grace Young suggested the lotus flower to express the hope that the AAPI community will blossom again.

Download and share lotus images here.
Poster design: Mihoshi Fukushima Clark of Poster House

"From the darkness of anti-Asian hate, we will emerge a stronger, more cohesive community, enlightened and determined."—Grace Young

The James Beard Foundation stands in solidarity with the AAPI community. These efforts to galvanize support for AAPI-owned restaurants and businesses—which are integral to the cultural and economic vibrancy of communities throughout the country—are incredibly important,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO, James Beard Foundation. “We are honored to be a part of #LoveAAPI, not just as a campaign, but as a core alignment with our values."

 

If you're able to donate, support the work of organizations like Welcome to Chinatown, the Asian American Foundation, or the Asian Pacific Fund. For more opportunities to donate in support of AAPI communities, view this list of worthy causes