9th-12th Grade: Histories of Westward Expansion

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About AAVEd

A one-sided narrative of America’s complex history is the foundation of bias, stereotypes, and other forms of racial prejudice. At AAVEd, we promote the teaching of Asian American history and that of other underrepresented groups in public K-12 schools. By understanding how our diverse histories and cultures form the nation, we can uproot damaging beliefs and co-exist more peacefully.

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Melissa Paa Redwood

Operations Associate

Melissa joined AAVEd in the fall of 2023, and has lived in the Atlanta area since 2019. Before working with AAVEd, she received her Masters in U.S. History with a focus on Asian American women’s transpacific activism. She also served as the inaugural supervisor for Emory University’s Asian Student Center, established in 2021.

Outside of work she is an avid reader, an amateur painter and a doting cat mom.

Asif Jessani

Board Member

Asif Jessani is a professional volunteer. He currently serves as a board member for Artworks Gwinnett, Gwinnett County Parks Foundation, and Gwinnett County Public Library Foundation. He also serves as an advisory board member for the United Way of Greater Atlanta – Gwinnett and Atlanta Speech School. With a passion for early childhood education, he is also involved with Gwinnett County’s early learning initiative, Building Babies’ Brains. As part of the Ismaili Muslim Community, he has been a volunteer preschool teacher for the past 24 years.

Asif is also actively involved with the communications and outreach team for the Ismaili Muslim Community and previously led the marketing and media team for the United States Ismaili Games. When he isn’t volunteering, Asif takes on the responsibility of partner at CCS: Marketing & Technology, which provides chief marketing and technology officer services and branded items for mission-driven organizations.