Jonathan Lam ’27 Honored by Amnesty International USA

ILR junior Jonathan Lam was recently named the inaugural recipient of the Trailblazer in Organizing and Activism Award given by Amnesty International USA. Lam and others were honored at the People Power Awards ceremony during the organization’s Annual General Meeting, held in February at the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit. The ceremony honored volunteer leaders and activist groups that have played a pivotal role in leading AIUSA’s grassroots movement and fight for human rights.

“Jonathan exemplifies the qualities of a true Amnesty organizer—determined, engaged, and committed to transformative advocacy that changes lives,” said Arielle Newton, senior organizer with Amnesty International USA. “He speaks passionately about how his family history shapes his intersectional approach to AIUSA’s human rights work.

“We are only as strong as the members who believe in the work we do and take action – we are grateful to him!”

The Trailblazer in Organizing and Activism Award recognizes individuals who have shown outstanding leadership and innovation in guiding their state’s Task Force, making a lasting impact on AIUSA’s collective efforts.

“As a son of Vietnamese refugees and coming from Jackson Heights, a diverse immigrant community in Queens, New York City, this award symbolizes to me the resilience that my family and community have taught me,” Lam said. “With the rise of deportations and over-policing in my hometown and within the Southeast Asian community, this award is more than just recognition but a reminder to continue this impactful work and encourage others to take action on resisting these oppressive institutional practices that are separating our families and communities.”

Lam serves as the Community Organizing Coordinator for the New York Task Force for Refugee and Migrant Rights and is an active member of the Youth Collective and the 2025 Board-Youth Mentorship program. He was also the 2024 Global Assembly AIUSA Member-At-Large delegate.

As a mentee in the Youth Board mentorship program, Lam helped organize workshops, participated in an immigration rights action, and passed an historic resolution securing a reserved youth seat on Amnesty’s Board of Directors for members aged 18-24.

Majoring in Industrial and Labor Relations and double minoring in International Relations and Migrations, Lam holds distinctions as a National Meinig Scholar, Cornell Undergraduate Migration 2024 Scholar and Thrive Scholar ’27.

He is a fellow with RFK Human Rights, where he started an advocacy project with Amnesty International staff on regulating the U.S. transfer of weapons. He is also a youth organizer with the ACLU of New York.

“Growing up, my parents often recalled their horrifying experience immigrating to the United States,” Lam said. “They would hear bombs dropping at night, escaped Vietnam by boat and lived on Bidong Island, Malaysia, in a refugee resettlement camp. Their trauma and story are shared with other displaced refugees around the world and other community members back in Jackson Heights, many of whom are immigrants themselves. I've seen how displacement and deportations are all a part of a larger systemic issue that connects to the legacies of war.

“I am motivated by my identity, my family's immigration journey and my community to become involved in social justice and public service in hopes of amplifying our needs. I aspire to become an international human rights and immigration lawyer as I continue to advocate for refugees, migrants and displaced civilians’ rights.”