2026 Asian American Hero of Colorado Awards

Outstanding Leadership, Service, and Heroism

Photo of 2026 Honorees Coming Soon!

2026 Asian American Hero Awards Ceremony

Saturday, May 30, 2026
Awards and Lunch, 11:00am to 1:00pm
Networking Reception, 1:00pm to 2:00pm

Social Fabric Hub:
AANHPI Community and Cultural Center
67 Inverness Dr East, Unit C
Englewood, CO 80112

Since 2009, in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Asian American Hero of Colorado awards are held each May to recognize deserving individuals for their leadership, service, and contributions. Now in our 16th annual year, we are honoring six awardees on Saturday, May 30, 2026:

2026 Awardees include:

Mary Nguyen
Founder/President, Olive & Finch Collective
Chair, Asian Chamber Foundation of Colorado

Meta Sarmiento
Poet, filmmaker, and educator

Dr. Nira Singh
Clinical Director, Cultural Development and Wellness Center Aurora Mental Health & Recovery
Board of Director, National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association

Nga Vương-Sandoval
Founding Executive Director, Refugees + Immigrants United
Vice Chair of Board of Directors, Lutheran Family Services
Noble Ambassador, Christina Noble Children's Foundation

Lifetime Achievement Awards

Jolie Noguchi
Third-generation Owner, Pacific Mercantile
Member, Japanese American Community Graduation Program

Christina Yutai Guo
Publisher, Asian Avenue Magazine and Rocky Mountain Chinese Weekly
Founder, Happy Living Adult Daycare
President, Chinese American Council of Colorado

All proceeds will go towards AANHPI intergenerational learning programs and the sustainability of the community center!

2026 Asian American Heroes Of Colorado

〰️ Photos Coming Soon! 〰️

2026 Asian American Heroes Of Colorado 〰️ Photos Coming Soon! 〰️

    • Founder/President, Olive & Finch Collective

    • Chair, Asian Chamber Foundation of Colorado

    • Poet, filmmaker, and educator

    • Founding Executive Director, Refugees + Immigrants United

    • Vice Chair of Board of Directors, Lutheran Family Services

    • Noble Ambassador, Christina Noble Children's Foundation

    • Clinical Director, Cultural Development and Wellness Center Aurora Mental Health & Recovery

    • Board of Director, National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association

    • Third-generation Owner, Pacific Mercantile

    • Member, Japanese American Community Graduation Program

    • Publisher, Asian Avenue Magazine and Rocky Mountain Chinese Weekly

    • Founder, Happy Living Adult Daycare

    • President, Chinese American Council of Colorado

Since 2009…

This award is given on behalf of Colorado’s Asian American Pacific Islander organizations.

The selection committee was comprised of representatives from: Asian Chamber of Commerce, Asian Girls Ignite, Asian Pacific American Bar Association Colorado, Asian Real Estate Association of America Greater Denver, Asian Roundtable of Colorado, Asian Vibes in Denver, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network, Colorado Asian Pacific United, Colorado Dragon Boat, Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission, Rocky Mountain Asian Student Coalition, and Sakura Foundation.

This year, we will recognize 104 heroes in our thriving community!