Edward Tepporn is the Executive Director of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation (AIISF). Since 1983, AIISF has been the primary nonprofit organization working in partnership with California State Parks to preserve the buildings and uplift the histories connected to the former US immigration station at Angel Island. From 1910 to 1940, over 1 million immigrants from 80 different countries were processed or detained at Angel Island. The site primarily served as a detention center to enforce the country's anti-Asian immigration policies. Thus, the majority of the immigrants detained at Angel Island were from Asia and the Pacific
Edward joined AIISF in November 2019, and he has 30 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector. He previously served as the Executive Vice President for the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum where he oversaw multi-million dollar national programs, functioned as chief strategy officer, and served as key liaison to a W.K. Kellogg Foundation-funded national racial equity collaborative. Edward received a B.A. in Biology and Psychology from Washington University. He was also a Nelson Mandela Scholarship recipient in the M.S.W. program at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work. He is a certified professional leadership coach. In 2019, Edward received a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Equity. He is an alumnus of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Fellows program. He currently serves as a board member for the Western Museums Association.
From 1910 to 1940, the US Immigration Station at Angel Island was used to detain, interrogate, and process over 1,00,000 persons from 80 different countries. The majority of these immigrants were from Asia and the Pacific due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and other laws that were passed by the US to try to restrict Asian and Pacific Island immigration. After the site was abandoned in 1946, it's buildings deteriorated and decayed. In the 1970s, the government planned to tear down all of the buildings, but these efforts were stopped by a community organizing effort led by the descendants of former immigrant detainees. Thanks to their determination to ensure that this important chapter in history was not forgotten to time, site's buildings have been transformed into a museum and national historic landmark. Rooms that once were used to process and detain immigrants now contain educational exhibits about historical and contemporary immigration; host cultural and musical performances; and welcome visitors of all ages. Museums have long served as important spaces for education, reflection, and dialogue. Yet they can also serve as temporary refuge from the uncertainty and unrest that often surrounds us. The Angel Island Immigration Museum, embodies this potential by preserving and sharing the stories of those who faced exclusion, racism, and xenophobia while also uplifting stories of their determination, hope, and resiliency. Edward Tepporn, Executive Diretor of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation will discuss how the museum functions as an emotional shelter by offering visitors a space to confront historical injustices, foster empathy, and draw strength from collective memory. By highlighting the experiences of immigrants detained at Angel Island and examining contemporary parallels, the museum creates an environment where marginalized communities and allies can engage in storysharing, dialogue, and solidarity. At a time when history seems to be repeating itself all around the globe, musuems have an important responsibility to serve as spaces for reflection, protection, and empowerment.
Emigration Museum in Gdynia
ul. Polska 1
81-339 Gdynia
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