Category Archives: Social Equity

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist José Antonio Vargas and Actor Maulik Pancholy Welcome AAJA Media Institute Fellows

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AAJA Media Institute W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellow Mary Ho and White House Initiative Asian American Pacific Islander AAPI Commissioner and Actor Maulik Pancholy Reminisce Their Camaraderie at the 25th Annual Scholarship & Awards Gala at the National Convention in Washington, D.C.

2014 AAJA Media Institute Fellows, President of Asian Chamber of Commerce Linda Toyota, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist José Antonio Vargas, China Millennium Council President Mary Ho and YALSA Director-at-Large Candice Mack at the 25th AAJA Annual Scholarship & Awards Gala

Asian American Journalists Association proudly celebrated their 25th Annual Scholarship and Gala with keynote speakers Pulitzer Prize award winning journalist José Antonio Vargas and Presidential Advisory Council Commissioner and actor Maulik Pancholy.

José Antonio Vargas spoke of his dilemma of his recent detainment at the Texas border as an undocumented immigrant and coming out of the closet as a gay man to his grandmother. He is a highly acclaimed and controversial journalist and documentary film writer, producing visual and editorial commentary impacting AIDS and immigration policies in the U.S. Vargas’ national and international appearances include Nightline, The O’Reilly Factor and The Colbert Report.

Maulik Pancholy’s accolades include the popular roles he portrayed as Jonathan in the award winning comedy tv show 30 Rock and Showtime’s award winning Weeds as Sanjay. His recent appointment as Commissioner on the President’s Advisory Council of the White House Initiative on Asian American Pacific Islanders brings to focus the social disparities and stereotypes AAPI still encounter and address the issue of bullying in new social media.

AAJA also launched their inaugural Media Institute Fellows Program led by renowned media experts Pamela Wu, Emmy nominated former news anchor & television host; and Ellen Lee, freelance journalist and former staff writer at the San Francisco Chronicle. Distinguished speakers included Jan Yanehiro, Emmy award winning national broadcast journalist and author; Sharon Pian Chan, associate opinions and digital editor of the Seattle Times; Cefann Kim, general assignment, live newscast reporter, broadcast journalism NYC; and Chris Nguyen, anchor and breaking news reporter, Sacramento CA. The Media Institute Fellows Program was sponsored by Gannett, General Motors, and funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

APAICS Celebrates 20th Annual Gala Honoring Outstanding Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Leadership

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Keynote Speaker George Takei, Actor of Star Trek Fame Sulu and Mary Ho, President of the China Millennium Council Discuss the Critical Importance of Civic Engagement and Social Equity & Justice for the Asian American Pacific Islanders Community.

Master and Mistress of Ceremonies Paul Song, M.D. Biotechnology Executive and Lisa Ling, Executive Producer and Host of Our America on OWN Oprah Winfrey Network Reminisce Earlier Days with Mary Ho, China Millennium Council President at the APAICS Twentieth Annual Awards Gala.

President Obama Urges American Business, Labor and Community Leaders to Support Modernization of U.S. Immigration Policy

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President Obama with Vice President Biden, Addresses U.S. Business, Labor and Community Leaders including the National American Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship ACE Delegation champion Modern Immigration Reform in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on October 24, 2013

President Obama invited leaders from the business and labor sectors including community groups who are united around one goal, advancing and modernizing the current U.S. immigration system. Earlier this year, the Senate passed a bill with bipartisan support that addresses “the core challenges of how we create a immigration system that is fair, that’s just, that is true to our traditions as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.”

By modernizing the U.S. legal immigration system, the capability to train future American workers grows exponentially, and in attracting and retaining entrepreneurs with high skill sets from beyond our borders can only enrich the business growth of the U.S., critical to its long term growth and sustainability. It would make sure that everybody plays by the same rules by providing a pathway to earned citizenship for those who are here illegally — one that includes passing a background check, learning English, paying taxes, paying a penalty, getting in line behind everyone who is trying to come here the right way.

More importantly, if the bill was passed and became law, it would grow the U.S. economy by $1.4 trillion over the next two decades while cutting the deficit by nearly $1 trillion. Awesome!

Former Commissioner of the Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Stuart Ishimaru, Director of the Office of Minority & Women Inclusion of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Mary Ho, President of the China Millennium Council Discuss Critical Issues Affecting the Healthcare Reforms for the Asian American Pacific Islander Population, in the East Wing of the White House in Washington, D.C.

2013 PGA 95th Championship Tournament Hosted at Historic Oak Hill Country Club

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U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, PGA Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Christine Garrity, Esq., and Mary Ho, China Millennium Council President Celebrate the 95th PGA Championship Tournament on August 5-11, 2013 hosted by the Historically Renowned Oak Hill Country Club in Upstate Rochester New York

Rochester New York became the global venue to host the 95th PGA Championship Tournament at the majestic Oak Hill Country Club located in the bucolic town of Pittsford. Spectators and challengers came as far as from Asia and Australia across Europe, South Africa and the U.S., drawing enthusiastic crowds of over 200,000. The world’s top two golf champions Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were no match for newcomer Jason Dufner winning his first 2013 PGA championship tournament. As Dufner extolled and beamed with pride, holding up the Wanamaker Trophy engraved with his name, ” Nobody can take that away from me… It’s a great accomplishment for me and I’m really excited about it”.

Jason Dufner 2013 PGA Championship Winner photo courtesy of Edward M. Pio Roda/Turner Sports www.pga.com

Asian American Leadership Heralds Global Business & Humanitarian Community Impact

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Social Entrepreneur Pamela Roberts Levitt, China Millennium Council President Mary Ho, and Wegmans Food Markets Senior Vice President Larry Damore & wife Gail Damore Celebrate the Asian American Global Business and Community Leadership in Greater Rochester Upstate New York Region

Asian American Pacific Islanders National Leadership Efforts Honored by The White House

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Howard Koh, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Secretary of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Mike Honda, U.S. Congressman (D-CA) and Mary Ho, President of China Millennium Council gather to Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Month of May in Washington, D.C.

Nearly 1,000 Asian American Pacific Islanders AAPI national, state and local community leaders gathered to celebrate the AAPI Month of May in Washington, D.C. and was honored for their efforts and contribution to American society by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) introduced Vice President Biden as he opened his remarks by paying tribute to the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. Vice President Biden addressed the AAPI leaders and community by stressing the critical significance of embodying Senator Inouye’s fervent legacy and values of modern equality, justice and opportunities for all Americans. Moreover, Biden emphasized the importance of how modern immigration reform to the AAPI community can only strengthen the future and foundation of the American economy.

 

Jim Morris, Managing Director of TRAFFIC TECH Headquartered in Sydney, Australia Visits NYC

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Jim Morris, Managing Director of Traffic Tech headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Mary Ho, President of China Frontier and Haley Newman, Designer, Discuss Developing Global Competencies for the Dynamic International Consumer Business Markets

Jim Morris, Managing Director of Traffic Tech Australia, Mary Ho, President of China Frontier, and Haley Newman, Designer, discussed the emerging role of developing global competencies critical for leading sustainable business practices. Traffic Tech is a diverse globally based company situated in Sydney, Australia with business presence in Asia, New Zealand, Europe and U.S. regions.

Traffic Tech is renowned for the development, manufacturing and supply of civil and traffic engineering products including their Preformed Inductive Vehicle Detection Loops. Known as Surface Mounted vehicle detection pads and Sub-Surface vehicle detection loops for the control of traffic lights, boom-gates and other vehicle management and access control systems that require vehicle loops to be installed without compromise to the asphalt pavement or concrete slab structure. Products include EzyLoops – preformed vehicle detection loops, Solar powered flashing light systems – for School Zones and pedestrian crossings, and Tactile switch pads – for passive pedestrian detection.

US Congresswoman LOUISE SLAUGHTER Honors Gallant Efforts of the Vietnamese Asian Americans

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U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter visited the Vietnamese Asian American Community Center located in Rochester, New York to honor and recognize the gallant efforts contributed by the diverse Asian American communities of the 21st century. Slaughter was in hand to commemorate the Vietnamese Americans’ tribute to honor the sacrifices and enormous contributions put forth by their parents and elders comprising the tapestry of America’s rich and modern human legacy.

As U.S. President Obama declared, “Generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders AAPI have helped make America what it is today. Their histories recall bitter hardships and proud accomplishments — from the laborers who connected our coasts one-and-a-half centuries ago and offers us an opportunity to celebrate the vast contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to our Nation, reflect on the challenges still faced by AAPI communities, and recommit to making the American dream a reality for all.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders comprise many ethnicities and languages, and their myriad achievements embody the American experience. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have started businesses, including some of our Nation’s most successful and dynamic enterprises. AAPI men and women are leaders in every aspect of American life — in government and industry, science and medicine, the arts and our Armed Forces, education and sports.

Over the centuries, we have maintained a long, rich history of engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, and our AAPI communities have been essential to strengthening the economic, political, and social bonds we share with our partners around the world.

As we celebrate centuries of trial and triumph, let us rededicate ourselves to making our Nation a place that welcomes the contributions of all people, all colors, and all creeds, and ensures the American dream is within reach for all who seek it.”

-U.S. President Obama, May 2012 Excerpts of President Obama’s Proclamation of Asian American Pacific Islanders

Greater Rochester Asian American Leadership Delegation David Tang Esq., Mary Ho, Founder and Holly Phan Sackett Stand Proud with U.S. Congresswoman Louise Slaughter to Honor and Commemorate the Vietnamese Asian American Communities

DOMINIC BARTER, Renowned Pioneer of Restorative Circles Visits M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

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Inspired by the social complexity and ever-changing dynamics of the diverse populations in Brazil, Dominic Barter founded The Restorative Circles. Originally the award-winning Restorative Justice pilot projects training program was devised for the Brazilian Justice Department, in collaboration with the UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, including the Special Secretariat for Human Rights and State Secretaries for Education in Brazil. Dominic Barter consults globally with governments and community groups providing practice programs cultivating heart-based learning, healing and pathways to address challenging social and legal issues and to ease communications. He directs the Restorative Justice project for the Centre for Nonviolent Communication, www.restorativecircles.org

Dominic Barter, Internationally Renowned Pioneer of Restorative Circles

Kit Miller, Director of M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, Dominic Barter, Founder of Restorative Circles and Valeria Sinclair-Chapman PhD, Director of the Graduate Programs at the David T. Kearns Center for Leadership and Diversity at the University of Rochester