What is the Virginia Asian Advisory Board?

Today, the VAAB serves at the pleasure of Governor Glenn Youngkin and advises him on issues of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) interest so that his administration can best serve the AAPI constituents of Virginia. The recommendations of the Board can be found in the Documents section of this website. 

The purpose of the VAAB shall be to advise the Governor on ways to improve economic and cultural links between the Commonwealth and Asian nations, with a focus on the areas of commerce and trade, art and education, and general government; as well as issues affecting the AAPI community in the Commonwealth.

Authority

The VAAB is directly authorized in the Code of Virginia (§ 2.2-2448).

According to the Code, the Virginia Asian Advisory Board has the power and duty to:

• Undertake studies and gather information and data in order to accomplish its purposes as set forth in § 2.2-2448.
• Apply for, accept and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public, quasi-public or private sources, including any matching funds as may be designated in the Appropriation Act, to enable it to better carry out its purposes.
• Report annually its findings and recommendations to the Governor.  The board may make interim reports to the Governor, as it deems advisable.
• Account annually on its fiscal activities, including any matching funds received or expended by the Board.

What We Do

The Virginia Asian Advisory Board (VAAB) was created to recognize the importance of the contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in Virginia, to advise and inform the Governor on issues facing AAPI constituents and to advocate for the interests of the AAPI community.

AAPIs in Virginia are native-born U.S. citizens from all parts of the country, and foreign-born residents from all over the world. Virginia's AAPI community represents a diversity of cultures and languages, unique needs and skills, countless contributions and endless potential for the Commonwealth.

The mission of the VAAB is to serve these Virginians who enrich our state and to call upon government officials, local communities, and all constituents to take part in the positive changes that are making Virginia an even better place to live.