Small makers, big impact
AKASSA’s mission is to amplify the work of those who identify as AAPI or women. Our events and activations unite small makers with shoppers so that together, as a community, we can celebrate our heritage while making strides in supporting important local charities.
Our story
July 2020
The very first AKASSA event happened in July 2020, before AKASSA was even an idea. Three friends, Ashlee Lam, Annie Jalota, and Serena Brown were experimenting with fluid art paintings during the pandemic. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests, we wanted to bring together our passion for art and philanthropy and see how we could help. Our fluid painting hobby turned into a charitable endeavor called “Heart to Art”, where we went on to raise nearly $2,300 for the NAACP.
March 2021
Soon after, Ashlee had the idea to try to turn this into a regular project and see where it would go. We hosted the next fundraiser in March 2021 for Women’s History Month, where we raised almost $3,000 for The Loveland Foundation. In putting together this fundraiser, we enlisted the help of more friends and formed the “AKASSA” name by borrowing the first letter from each friend’s name: Ashlee Lam, Kristen Kumagai, Annie Jalota, Serena Brown, Sara Edmonds, and Anne Bone. We felt like our work was creating “a casa” or a home for the people we were bringing together.
September 2021
After a second successful event, co-founders Ashlee and Annie decided to see if they could turn AKASSA into a thriving business. They rolled up their sleeves, opened up their wallets, and took a leap to incorporate AKASSA as an LLC in September 2021.
2021 & beyond
All the previous events were done mostly with donations from other makers and by reaching into our own teams’ wallets. Since 2021, we’ve tried to change our focus and see if we can create a sustainable business that can also uplift AAPI and/or women makers while maintaining philanthropy as a central pillar of our work.
While our initial donation amounts are smaller since we’ve made the switch (from 100% fundraising to an incorporated business), we’ve continued to have successful events driving upwards of $5,000 in sales. Our events put money back into the hands of small, local makers and businesses - something that’s as important to us as giving towards charitable causes.
Our team continues to work on AKASSA on the side while we maintain full-time jobs, but we continue to dream big and keep an open mind as we learn more with each event.
Meet the team
AKASSA was formed by a group of women who wanted to bring together their passions for art and philanthropy. Our hope is for AKASSA to be a home for women and AAPI-identifying artists, where we elevate diverse voices, empower our communities, and share creative talent.
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🇵🇭 Filipino, British, and American
✨ Loves dreamy, moody, and romantic things
🐶 Reader, gamer, and amateur dog petter
🦸♀️ I care about: Empowering women, building community, and the oxford comma
🖌️ Role at AKASSA: Master doodler, merch mommy, and low-performing dry humorist
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🇮🇳 Indian-American
🌈 Love bright, colorful, cheerful things
🧸 Will steal your plushies
🫶🏽 Favorite causes: Women’s rights and children’s education
💼 Role at AKASSA: Marketing and BTS admin work (yes, I do our taxes!)
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🇻🇳 Vietnamese-American
🕶️ Modern, contemporary, and minimal
🎨 Serial crafter, jewelry maker, and business developer
❣️ Women’s rights and equality, AAPI-focused charities, and mental health awareness
💼 Role at AKASSA: Jill of All Trades
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🇵🇭 Filipino-American
🍃 Whimsical, imaginative, & nature-inspired
📖 Master storyteller & ceramicist. I play with words & clay.
🎨 Causes I care about: AAPI & and the arts
💬 Role at AKASSA: All about communication. I work with our vendors and wordsmith our copy.
Let’s create something amazing together.
We’re always on the lookout for new partnerships and opportunities. If you have an idea in mind or you’re interested in collaborating with us, fill out this form or email us at hello@akassa.co.