Executive Director Cayden Mak is leaving 18 Million Rising after nine years of leadership

After nine years at 18 Million Rising, Executive Director Cayden Mak is leaving our organization. Cayden, thank you for your leadership and for all your contributions in building our Asian American political power over the internet. We are grateful for the vision and drive you have brought to our work and the larger Asian American movement.

The principles Cayden instilled in 18MR – experimentation, radical thought and action, and a commitment to the work and our people – will continue to live on in the organization’s next iteration.

The coming months at 18MR will be an intentional transformation process as we move in a new leadership direction. During this time we will deepen and strengthen as a team and with our partners, in pursuit of and in alignment with our principles and values. This leadership transition comes at an already transformational and exciting time for 18MR, as we’re grounding in what it means to be an abolitionist organization.

Every week, our team reflects on our shared vision: to build a more just and creative world where our experiences are affirmed, our leadership is valued, and all of us have the opportunity to thrive.

With gratitude, we celebrate the purpose, drive, and heart with which this organization strives to become your radical Asian American political home.

The 18MR team will continue to educate, organize and mobilize our communities and run programs within the organization as we always have: through our partnerships and in deep solidarity with a vast diversity of people and organizations: online and offline; international and hyperlocal.

In solidarity,

The 18 Million Rising Team

Active Campaigns

  • A bold, colorful graphic with a purple background featuring floral designs and tigers in a textured style. The top reads “18MR” in white text. In large, bright green and 3D-style gothic font, the message says: “OUR COMMUNITY IS OUR REMEDY.” Below that, in a white pixel-style font, it reads: “IN SOLIDARITY WITH MOVEMENT POWER.” Digital-style raised fist icons appear along the sides, representing resistance and unity.

    Give today in solidarity of movement power.

    We’re calling on our community to help raise $25,000 in fierce, unwavering solidarity. 18 Million Rising lost $250,000 in funding for standing with Palestine. But we refuse to be silent in the face of genocide—and we know you do too. This moment calls for courage, care, and collective action. Your support means we can keep […]
  • Graphic with textured blue background. Header text reads: Stop HR 9495. Bit.ly/VOTENO9495. Body copy reads: This bill could be used to target groups working with Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities, reinforcing harmful stereotypes and further marginalizing these communities. It also could be used to target nonprofits that oppose the choices of the executive branch, undermining the autonomy of civil society organizations.

    STOP HR 9495

    Last week showed us that 2025 will be a tough political climate for us. But a proposed bill could make our organizing almost impossible: HR 9495 that would allow the incoming Trump administration to target and destroy pro-Palestine non-profits by claiming that the orgs support terrorism. The bill is set to be voted on by […]
  • ID: Blue graphic with orange duotone photograph. Photo shows Hindu fascist leader Modi with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. There's another photo of Modi shaking hands with Donald Trump. Text reads: TATA BYE / BYE. New York Marathon: Drop TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) as a sponsor! Sign the petition: bit.ly/NYRR_DROPTATA. Join the Protest on Nov 3: bit.ly/marathonaction

    TATA India/Israel NYRR Campaign

    Follow SALAM for updates and indiaisrael.org for more information. We will update you in 2025! TATA India/Israel NYRR Campaign: DEMAND NYC MARATHON DROP TCS BLOOD MONEY! TATA BYEBYE 👋🏿👋🏾 UPDATE 11/4/24 Download our FREE ZINE for you to print out, fold and distribute to your community. Though the Marathon is over, we still must inform […]

Also On 18MR