The Power of Community: Dakin Receives AAPI Award

(From left: Emma Chen-Banas, Meg Talbert and Molly Biechele)

Dakin had a pretty special moment to celebrate recently. On March 1, Dakin was honored with the Harmony & Compassion Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community Impact Award.

The award was presented during the Chinese American Cultural & Heritage Society’s 2026 Lunar New Year celebration, held at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield—a meaningful and festive setting for such a thoughtful recognition. The honor was given on behalf of the AAPI community, many of whom have been positively impacted by Dakin’s outreach and services.

Emma Chen-Banas, who serves as a Commissioner with the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission (AAPIC) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, noted, “On behalf of the AAPI community, I want to share how much we truly appreciate the meaningful work Dakin is doing in western Massachusetts. Many members of the Asian community have personally expressed how they have benefited from Dakin’s services and outreach. Its impact is both visible and deeply valued. We were also especially touched to learn that Dakin’s founder, Janet Frances Wilder, was born in China—a meaningful historical connection that resonates with our community.”

Emma’s family has its own special history with Dakin. Her daughter, Anna Banas-Chen, received a Dakin Humane Youth Award at just eight years old in 2021. Inspired by her love of animals, Anna wrote her own book, Rainbow the Cat: Makes New Friends, in 2019—and generously donated all proceeds to Dakin Humane Society, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and Little Free Library. She’s even gone on to write a second book, Rainbow the Cat: Goes to the Farm. Anna also adopted her beloved cat, Pumpkin, from Dakin in 2024.

The 2026 Lunar New Year event marked the Year of the Horse, and is one of the most significant cultural celebrations in Chinese and East Asian communities. It is a time for families and communities to come together to honor traditions, embrace renewal and share hopes for prosperity and happiness in the year ahead. The gala’s theme celebrated the spirit of togetherness and the richness of cultural heritage, and featured world-class Chinese performing artists and internationally recognized groups, traditional music, dance, martial arts, acrobatics and more, in addition to the awards presentation.

Dakin’s Executive Director Meg Talbert, who accepted the award on behalf of Dakin, thanked the AAPI community for the honor, and noted, “As we welcome the Year of the Horse, we reflect on its spirit of strength, resilience, and forward momentum. At Dakin, compassion is more than a value—it’s the daily work of caring for animals, supporting families, and building lasting harmony in our community. True progress happens when we come together to protect the vulnerable, guided by purpose and sustained by compassion—something we strive to live every day.”

Honors like this esteemed award remind us just how powerful community connections can be—and how much can grow from a shared love of animals.