By 
Eddy Zheng, a Chinese American immigrant who was caught up in the school-to-prison pipelineas a teenager, discovered a profound sense of belonging with other people of color while in prison. Today, he leads the New Breath Foundation (NBF), a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community impacted by incarceration, deportation, and systemic violence by building bonds across different communities.
“Understanding our shared traumas liberated me mentally long before I was physically free,” said Eddy, recalling the life-changing insights he gained during his time in prison. The relationships he formed and the books he read not only taught him English but ignited his passion for advocating for racial equity.
“There’s so much more that unites us than divides us,” he shared. “The system seeks to weaponize us against each other because it knows the magnitude of our voices when joined.”
Eddy’s journey began when he immigrated to the United States as a teenager, speaking only Cantonese and Mandarin. Confronted by a language barrier and a lack of resources, he faced academic challenges and social isolation, which ultimately led him to the wrong crowd and incarceration.
In prison, he naturally gravitated to other people of color and realized the parallels in their struggles. Intrigued by that, he began reading the stories of freedom fighters like Frederick Douglass, Yuri Kochiyama, and Grace Lee Boggs. He discovered the interconnectedness of oppression and how civil rights activists paved paths to freedom through collective action.
“I saw myself in each of their stories,” he said. “I realized how the system directed me into the school-to-prison and deportation pipeline as a person of color, and I became determined to help prevent that experience for other immigrants and marginalized communities.”
After 21 years behind bars, Eddy emerged inspired by the leaders who paved the way for justice. He committed himself to fighting systemic oppression within the AANHPI community and beyond, forging pathways of cross-cultural solidarity.
In 2019, he founded New Breath Foundation to uplift AANHPI lives and advocate for the collective liberation of all people of color. Through trust-based grantmaking, advocacy, and cross-racial movement building, NBF amplifies the voices of communities of color nationwide.
“The aim is to address the challenges within our community and invest our insights into other communities of color, engaging in a collective healing process,” he explains.
Eddy believes that true strength stems from the trusting relationships nurtured across cultures. He highlights an example that makes him proud: the annual joint Black History Month and Lunar New Year celebration, a powerful movement that unites AANHPI and Black communities, fostering connections and shared learning.
“When the event started 14 years ago, people celebrated separately,” he recalls. “Now, they come together, sharing their rich cultures and traditions.
”A few other cross-racial initiatives NBF has supported include:
- Collaborating with VietRise, National Day Labor Organizing Network, and Harbor Institute for Immigrant and Economic Justice on deportation issues.
- Supporting Southeast Asian (SEAC) Village, a multiracial organization, in uniting the Southeast Asian community with the local Black community in Charlotte, North Carolina, against police violence.
- Partnering with the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (IM4HI) to unite diverse faiths in the fight for immigrant rights and against mass incarceration.
“When we learn from one another and build together, we change the narrative and invite more allies into our fight against oppression,” said Eddy.
Beyond grantmaking, NBF fosters cross-racial solidarity by creating opportunities for dialogue and connection. The organization also empowers grassroots organizers and volunteers through coaching, helping them strengthen their capacity for impactful change.
“This isn’t my job; it’s my identity,” he said. “Our shared history shapes our lives, and our vision for collective liberation embraces everyone, including white allies.”
Eddy calls on community leaders to unite with others in the struggle against shared oppression, championing a future where liberation is truly collective.
To learn more about how NBF engages in cross-racial solidarity and collective liberation, visit https://new-breath.org/updates-events/blog/.
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