Simon Tam is an award-winning musician, author, entrepreneur, and social justice activist. Simon is best known as the founder and bassist of The Slants, the world’s first and only all-Asian American dance rock band. His approach to activism through the arts has been highlighted in over 2,000 media features across 82 countries, including BBC World News, NPR, TIME Magazine, NBC, and the New York Times. He has been a performer, presenter, and keynote at TEDx, SXSW, Comic-Con, The Department of Defense, Stanford University, and over 1,200 others across North America, Europe, and Asia. He has set a world record by appearing on the TEDx stage 10 times. Simon has been fighting a landmark case against the United States Trademark Office, which recently helped expand constitutional rights for artists and small businesses. The case is now pending before the Supreme Court. Recently, he was named a “Portland Rising Star” from the Light a Fire Awards, received a “Distinguished Alum Award”​ from Marylhurst University, and was twice-nominated​ for Portland Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” List. He is currently serving on the board of Know Your City, is a member of the Policy and Equity Committee for the Jade District, is a Community Representative on the Cultural Resource Centers Advisory Council for Portland State University, is a member of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement Bureau Advisory Committee, and on the board of directors for the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO).