* Photograph by Shane Van Boxtel / Image Studios
City of Green Bay
At age 32, Tara Yang holds so many key roles in the Greater Green Bay community that it takes her a moment to decide which to use when introducing herself.
She lands on her position as city commissioner for the city of Green Bay, specifically as chair of the Equal Rights Commission that was formed in 2021 to support marginalized communities and educate residents about their rights and available resources.
“In the history of Green Bay, we’ve never really had anti-discriminatory policies,” Yang says. “Our diverse population is growing. At public schools, over 60% of kids are of two or more races, so it’s really important for us to enact these policies now so that it builds a strong, secure future for students in the next generation.”
Nominator Kelsie Thao says that, as chair of Green Bay’s Equal Rights Commission, Yang plays a pivotal role in advancing initiatives to eliminate racism and promote fair housing practices. “Her appointment as the first-ever Asian American city commissioner underscores her groundbreaking contributions to local governance and representation,” Thao wrote.
Yang took a nonlinear path to advocacy work. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she became the youngest brand manager for the organic dairy business Organic Valley, where she supported the development of six new products that helped the company reach its billion-dollar revenue milestone.
At age 24, Yang became chief marketing officer for the Twin Cities startup Union Whey, owned by media moguls the Hearst family. But in 2015 Yang decided to leave the corporate world and apply her skills in the nonprofit sector. It was there she found her calling in supporting underrepresented communities.
Yang’s passion for inclusivity and business development can be seen through her work as vice chair for the Green Bay Economic Development Authority Committee, co-chair for the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce’s DEI Taskforce Small Business Working Group and as co-founder of NEW APIDA Professionals, now called Asian Corporate Entrepreneurs and Leaders.
“Tara’s impact transcends organizational boundaries, as she tirelessly advocates for minority-owned businesses and professionals,” Thao wrote. “Tara’s unwavering dedication to her community, exemplified through countless hours of volunteer work and resource distribution, epitomizes the spirit of selflessness and compassion.”
One of Yang’s proudest achievements was working as a business development director supporting market expansion for more than 200 minority-owned agriculture and food‑focused businesses — increasing the net worth of all 200 businesses by 250%.
“This is where I learned the power of one person, what I can do and then what we can do as marginalized communities,” Yang says. “That just inspired me to work at it even more.”
Yang’s family owns Green Bay’s largest Asian grocery store, Main Oriental Market, which has become an information hub for the Asian American community. In 2022, Yang founded the Asian American Resource Center to fill the gap she saw in social and community resources. She is currently renovating a building adjacent to Main Oriental Market that is anticipated to open this fall.
“We thought it would be really impactful for the community to continue to do business there, but also create a separate space that allows us to give 100% effort to support our Asian American community with technical and social services,” Yang says.
Yang finds inspiration in her parents. Her mother immigrated to the U.S. at age 13, not speaking any English. Her father was diagnosed with cancer at a young age, yet the couple managed to build a business and support four children as first-generation college students.
“No matter what circumstance you’re in, if you have passion and drive, you can really be successful,” Yang says.
