Tag Archives: India

Rochester New York Heralds the Joint Origins of National Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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Hon. Ruby Moy, First Asian American Pacific Islander professional working in the White House, as former Chief of Staff to Congressman Frank Horton from Rochester NY, Hon. Norman Mineta, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and founder of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus CAPAC and Mary Ho, China Millennium Council President at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. recount their historical efforts to proudly establish legislation and Presidential proclamation designating the month of May as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

May 26, 2015 Washington DC – Thirty eight years ago, Representatives Frank Horton from Rochester NY (R-NY) and Norman Mineta (D-CA) introduced House Resolution 540 (Pacific/Asian Heritage Week) in Congress to proclaim the first ten days of May as Pacific/Asian Heritage Week now known as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. May was denoted to commemorate the first Japanese immigrant to the U.S., and also to mark the anniversary of the completion of the trans-continental railroad, the majority of the tracks laid by Chinese workers. Subsequently President Jimmy Carter signed the Joint Resolution on October 5, 1978. In 1992, President Bush signed legislation into law designating the month of May as we know now as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Law HR-5572 originally introduced by Horton and Mineta, was unanimously approved by both the House of Representatives and Senate during the 102nd Congress.

During the first ever White House Summit on AAPIs, U.S. Surgeon Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy M.D. was installed as the new co-chair of WHIAAPI. President Obama proclaims, “The rich heritage of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders spans the world and the depths of America’s history. Generation after generation, Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders have forged a proud legacy that reflects the spirit of our Nation. During AAPI Heritage Month, we honor the perseverance of those who courageously reached for their hopes and dreams in a new land, and we celebrate the important impact the AAPI community has made to our Nation’s progress…As we commemorate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we pay tribute to all those in the AAPI community who have striven for a brighter future for the next generation. Together, let us recommit to embracing the diversity that enriches our Nation and to ensuring all our people have an equal chance to succeed in the country we love.”

The Multicultural Edge of the Rising Super Consumer

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Ken Sato, Business and Social Entrepreneur Owns and Operates Small World Foods and Mary Ho, China Millennium Council President at the iconic Wegmans Food Markets Headquarters located in Upstate Rochester New York, participate in the New York State Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council

Multicultural consumers are transforming mainstream U.S. marketplace business economy. Propelled by twin engines of population growth and expanding buying power, they are at the leading edge of converging demographic and social trends, redefining the increasingly diverse consumer marketplace. By understanding the cultural landscape that drives multicultural consumer behavior today, marketers and advertisers can anticipate future business market trends and forge long-term relationships with the most robust and fastest growing segment of the U.S. consumer economy.

THE NEW MAINSTREAM

  • African-Americans, Asian American Pacific Islanders, Latino Americans et al comprise 38% of the U.S. population with U.S. Census projections forecasting multicultural populations will become the numeric majority by 2044
  • 92% of the total growth in the U.S. population from 2000-2014 came from multicultural consumers
  • U.S. multicultural buying power is currently $3.4 trillion

MULTICULTURAL BUYING AND SUPER CONSUMERS

  • Super consumers represent top 10% of a category’s household consumers and drive minimally 30% of sales, 40% of growth and 50% of profits
  • Super geos are geographic regions and metropolitan areas with very high concentrations of Super Consumers of categories

CULTURALLY DRIVEN BEHAVIORS

  • 82% of multicultural heavy consumers actively use a smartphone vs 70% of non-multicultural counterparts
  • Multicultural heavy consumers are 32% more likely to be the stop segment of mobile users averaging 73 website visits per month and more likely to use an average of 46 apps per month

Adapted from Nielsen, An Uncommon Sense of the Consumer™ www.nielsen.com

 

 

U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy M.D. Keynote Speaker at 21st Annual APAICS Awards Gala

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Mary Ho, China Millennium Council President & U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy M.D. and newly appointed Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian American Pacific Islanders at the 21st Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies APAICS Annual Gala Awards Dinner celebrating Asian Pacific Heritage Month in Washington, D.C.

May 18, 2015 Washington DC – Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy M.D., M.B.A. was confirmed as the 19th U.S. Surgeon General on December 15, 2014. Dr. Murthy oversees the operations of the U.S. Public Health Services USPHS Commissioned Corps, comprised of over 6,800 uniformed health officers who serve in global locations to promote, protect and advance the health and safety of our nation. Moreover, Dr. Murthy’s announcement during the first ever White House Summit on AAPIs as Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian American Pacific Islanders WHIAAPI stressed the importance of connecting and mobilizing the AAPI community for collaborative goals.”We need to learn from communities across the country to make sure we’re lifting up all communities together,” Murthy remarked.

Dr. Murthy is the son of immigrants from India and discovered a love for the art of healing early in his childhood while spending time in his father’s medical clinic in Miami, Florida. He has devoted himself to improving public health through service, clinical care, research, education and entrepreneurship. Caring for patients he considers the greatest honor in his life and served thousands of patients and trained hundreds of residents and medical students as a clinician-educator.

Dr. Murthy has over two decades of perspective improving health in communities across the country and the world. He co-founded Swasthya, a community health partnership in rural India to train women to be health providers and educators. Moreover, he co-founded VISIONS, an HIV AIDS education program in India and the U.S.

Seen as a progressive leader who can use 21st century approaches and technology to modernize the role of Surgeon General, Dr. Murthy focuses efforts on building cross-sector community partnerships to resolve health issues including obesity and tobacco-related disease, reduce the stigma related to mental illness, improve vaccination rates and promote preventative health strategies. Dr. Murthy strongly believes our American nation’s greatest strength comes from its peoples. Improving the health of our peoples means strengthening our communities and our country. Unite Learn Prosper!

Konrad Ng, Director of the Asian Pacific American Center at the Smithsonian Institution, Mary Ho, China Millennium Council President and Monica Pham, Esq., U.S. House of Representatives Senior Policy Advisor celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month and the White House Summit on Asian American Pacific Islanders in Washington, D.C.

 

U.S. Dept. of Labor Deputy Secretary Christopher Lu Keynote Speaker at National ACE Conference & Awards Ceremony

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China Millennium Council President Mary Ho, U.S. Dept of Labor Deputy Secretary Christopher Lu and Asian Chamber of Commerce Houston President Linda Toyota at the 2015 National ACE Conference & Awards Ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington D.C. emphasized the Value of Collaborations of Unite Learn & Prosper.

U.S. Department of Labor Deputy Secretary Christopher Lu stated emphatically the Value of Collaborations during his keynote opening remarks at the Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship 2015 National ACE Conference & Awards Ceremony held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. Honorable Christopher Lu serves as the Chief Operating Officer of a 17,000 employee organization that strives to create greater opportunities for all Americans. Earlier Lu served as the White House Cabinet Secretary and Assistant to the President. As one of the highest ranking Asian Americans in the Obama Administration, Lu was also the Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

National ACE brings together the leadership and insights of business owners, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and government officials from across the country. Unite Learn & Prosper theme showcased the issue of invisibility among the AAPI community in all industry sectors including higher education, business and workforce labor areas. Establishing a pipeline with fair access to opportunities critical to ensure inclusion and success of AAPI community. Latest findings on the Asian American Pacific Islanders AAPI business and consumer communities were shared by Nielsen, CNBC and ACE leadership team. Highlights included remarks by Honorable Maria Contreras-Sweet, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration; Ken Niumatalolo, Head Football Coach at the U.S. Naval Academy; and Dominic Chu, Markets Reporter for CNBC and Cornell University School of Hotel Administration graduate.

Sach Takayasu, CEO & President of National ACE, Mary Ho, China Millennium Council President, Ken Niumatalolo, Head Football Coach U.S. Naval Academy, Linda Toyota, President Asian Chamber of Commerce Houston and Betty Lo, Vice President of Community Alliances & Consumer Engagement at Nielsen.

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.

U.S. Department of Interior and White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Salutes New Commissioners

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U.S. Department of Interior and White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Host Ceremony of Newly Appointed Commissioners on President Obama's Asian American and Pacific Islander Advisory Council Sworn-In by U.S Circuit Judge Sri Srinivasan.

Maulik Pancholy, Actor 30 Rock and Newly Appointed Commissioner of the WHIAAPI President’s Advisory Council and Mary Ho, China Millennium Council President, Emulate “I Am Beyond” Theme Capturing the Aspirations of the American Spirit and How Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander Descent Have Always Sought to Excel Beyond the Challenges that have Limited Equal Opportunity in America.

Diane Yu, Esq., Deputy President of NYU Leads Efforts for Innovative International Higher Educational Programs

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Mary Ho, President of China Frontier and Diane Yu, Esq., Deputy President of New York University Meet to Discuss Developing Global Competencies in an Ever-Changing Global Society.

Upstate New York Rochester natives, Mary Ho, China Frontier President and Diane Yu, Esq., Deputy President of New York University recently met to discuss the emerging role of how developing global competencies are critical to the success of higher educational learning in a global economy. Diane Yu’s father, world renowned cardiologist Paul N. Yu, M.D., pioneered the modern medical discipline of cardiology and served as president of the American Heart Association and was Chief of Cardiology at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

As Deputy President, Yu works to ensure the effectiveness of the entire University Leadership Team. She is the founder of NYU’s Women’s Leadership Forum and is the University’s Senior Executive for the Office of Equal Opportunity and Office of Compliance and Risk Management. Yu is the appointed Executive Director of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Scholars Program, a special university student educational and enrichment program which operates in the United Arab Emirates, formed as a partnership between NYU and the government of Abu Dhabi. She also is Executive Director of the NYU Abu Dhabi Summer Academy, an intensive college preparatory program for Emirati high school students.

Along with NYU’s campuses in London, New York and Abu Dhabi, NYU Shanghai is newly established as a comprehensive research university with a liberal arts and science college in China’s financial capital. For NYU, the creation of NYU Shanghai is another major step in the evolution of NYU as the first global network university — standing with NYU New York and NYU Abu Dhabi as a degree-granting portal campus.  The global network provides a new architecture for the University, an organic integrated system permitting faculty and students to move easily from within the system to pursue their scholarly interests.

John Sexton, Esq., President of New York University states, “… In the 21st century, NYU is evolving from being, in the words of its founder, Albert Gallatin, ‘in and of the city’ to being ‘in and of the world.’ New York and Shanghai enjoy a natural affinity as world capitals; as vibrant, ambitious, and forward-looking centers of commerce and culture; as magnets for people of talent. As we did in Abu Dhabi, here in Shanghai we have found visionary partners, and our joint effort to create NYU Shanghai emerges out of a common belief in the indispensible value of higher education and in the special opportunities that can be created when the world’s greatest cities join forces.  This will be a great university and a great partnership.” NYU Shanghai’s first class of undergraduate students will enter in September 2013.

Jeffrey S. Lehman, president emeritus of Cornell University and dean of the University of Michigan Law School, has been named Vice Chancellor of NYU Shanghai. As Vice Chancellor, he is the Chief Executive of NYU Shanghai, in charge of all academic and administrative operations. NYU President John Sexton said, “It would be difficult to imagine  a better vice chancellor for NYU Shanghai than Jeff Lehman…” Since 2007, Vice Chancellor Lehman has been serving as the Chancellor and Founding Dean of the Peking University School of Transnational Law, the first school in China to teach an American law JD curriculum. Recently President Lehman received the “Friendship Award,” China’s highest award for foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China’s economic and social development.

 

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