This is a transcript of remarks made by President Obama and Secretary of Commerce Nominee Gary Locke at an official announcement before the press:

Indian Treaty Room

11:08 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. Last night, I outlined my vision for our common future — one in which we accept the responsibility to act boldly and wisely to confront the extraordinary challenges of our times, put people back to work doing the work America needs done, and lay a new foundation for America’s growth and prosperity.

Today, I’m pleased to announce that I’m filling out my economic team with a man who shares that vision, and who will play a key role in carrying it out as my Secretary of Commerce: Governor Gary Locke.

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Today, the White House publicly announced the official nomination of former Washington Governor Gary Locke for Secretary of Commerce:

Today, President Barack Obama officially nominated former Washington Governor Gary Locke for Secretary of Commerce. In this key role on the administration’s economic team, Locke will work to foster and promote the nation’s economic development at home, and serve as an influential ambassador for American industry abroad.

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President Obama today launched the White House Internship Program for his administration and announced that applications are currently being accepted for the summer of 2009. Those selected to participate in the program will gain valuable job experience and an inside look at the life of White House staff while building leadership skills.

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Thanks to Nina for forwarding this! Please note the discounted ticket rate for Mango Chutney on Mesa Street!

The Asian Arts Initiative presents Neal Dandade in

MANGO CHUTNEY ON MESA STREEET
Friday & Saturday, February 27 - 28, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
Please note: Doors open at 7 p.m. There is no late seating for this show. Paid tickets will be held until 7:30 p.m.

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Title: SAFO Meeting featuring OFA and NYCforChange
Location: Leela Lounge, 1 W. 3rd Street (between Broadway and Mercer Sts), NYC
Time: 6:30-8:30pm

RSVP on Facebook

Now that the dust has settled after the inauguration and the election, the work REALLY begins.

Join us for drinks as we brainstorm next steps for our grassroots movement in NY and SAFO.

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The White House Press office announced several more key White House staff today, including several AAPIs. Of the appointments below, AAFO would like to note in particular that Shin Inouye, the new Director of Specialty Media, worked with us extensively on planning community service events for the National Day of Service before the inauguration. Congrats to Shin and all of the other great people who will be serving our nation with President Obama.

“Today, President Barack Obama announced the following White House Staff: Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean, White House Research Director; Daniella Gibbs Leger, Director of Message Events; Macon Phillips, Director of New Media; Christina Reynolds, Director of Media Affairs; Dag Vega, Director of Broadcast Media; Dana E. Singiser, White House Office of Legislative Affairs, Amy Brundage, Regional Communications Director; Cammie Croft, Deputy New Media Director; Jason Djang, Deputy Director for Video; Corey Ealons, Director of African American Media and Coordinator of Special Projects; Shin Inouye, Director of Specialty Media; Jesse Lee, Online Programs Director; Katherine Lyons, Deputy Director of Message Events; Luis Miranda, Director of Hispanic Media; Moira Mack Muntz, Regional Communications Director; Katie Stanton, Director of Citizen Participation; Joelle Terry, Deputy Director of Message Events; Gannet Tseggai, Regional Communications Director; and Samantha Tubman, Assistant Social Secretary.

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The AP Seattle Times reports that a senior administration official says that President Barack Obama’s likely pick for Commerce secretary is former Washington Gov. Gary Locke.

And from POLITICO: “Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-Mich.) tells POLITICO that she heard former Gov. Gary Locke (D-Wash.) floated as a nominee for Commerce Secretary in a one-on-one conversation she had at the NGA meeting with another governor.”

And more from The Fix.

Gov. Locke was the first Asian American governor of a Mainland state and the first Chinese American governor in the country. Gov. George Ariyoshi (D-HI) was our country’s first Asian American governor (1974-1986); his successor, John Waihee (D-HI) was our first Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian governor (1986-1994) and Benjamin Cayateno (D-HI) was our first Filipino American governor (1994-2000).

UPDATE:  Article in tomorrow’s Washington Post.

UPDATE (Feb. 24, 5:30 p.m. ET): AP is reporting that President Obama will in fact appoint Gov. Locke to SecCommerce.  Official announcement expected tomorrow.

AFSCME ORGANIZER TRAINING PROGRAMS:

AFSCME ORGANIZER-IN-TRAINING (OIT) PROGRAM is an intensive training program designed for participants to learn the fundamentals of building worker power through union organizing. OIT’s come from diverse backgrounds of work, organizing and academic experience. Participants learn the nuts and bolts of an organizing campaign from talking one-on-one with workers, to developing leaders, and organizing direct actions. Candidates are placed on active campaigns with experienced organizers who provide mentoring and one-on-one training throughout the program. Salary starts at $35,409 with family health coverage, a car allowance, twelve paid holidays, 401k, pension plan and more. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.

For more information, visit www.afscmeorganizers.org or contact Marlan Maralit at (202)429-1202 or at mmaralit@afscme.org. Open to seniors & graduates.

AFSCME ALTERNATIVE BREAK PROGRAM is for student activists interested in exploring a career in union organizing and the labor movement. Read the rest of this entry »

CONTACT: Len Novarro                                       
TEL: 619 521 8008
EMAIL: editorial@asiamediainc.com

 
THE 6TH ANNUAL ASIAN HERITAGE AWARDS ABOARD THE USS MIDWAY MUSEUM
Asia Media and Community Honor Outstanding Asian-Americans this Summer

February 11, 2009

SAN DIEGO, CA - Community leaders from throughout Southern California will come together Saturday, July 25th, aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego to celebrate the Sixth Annual Asian Heritage Awards. Titled “Legacy and Legends,” the event honors outstanding Asian and Pacific Islander Americans for their contributions in 14 fields, ranging from education to youth leadership.

Asia Media Inc.’s signature event, the Asian Heritage Awards allows the general public to nominate individuals or organizations in each of the various categories; after nominees are finalized, it is left to the public to determine the winners by voting. This year, a new category has been created honoring the military. The call for nominations begins Feb. 20. Nominations may be submitted by completing the form appearing in the newspaper ASIA, The Journal of Culture & Commerce.

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Asia Society and Oxfam America invite you to:

The Global Food Crisis: Time for Another Green Revolution?
Friday, February 20, 2009 — 8:00 - 9:30 AM
Asia Society, 725 Park Ave at 70th Street, New York, NY

Please join us at Asia Society’s New York Headquarters or online via live Videocast. Internet listeners will be able to ask questions and offer comments via email during the Videocast. Please send your questions to moderator@asiasociety.org.

In recent years, erratic weather due in part to climate change, fluctuations in energy prices, and increased demand for commodities are all contributing factors to drastic spikes and volatility in food prices. Adding now the impact of the global financial crisis, the number of people around the world considered food insecure has soared to nearly one billion, and counting. Can technological innovation produce another “green revolution” to increase food supply? What role can genetically modified crops play in raising crop yields amidst changing weather patterns and resource scarcity? How can global agriculture production accommodate a growing world population and increasing demand for grain and meat in emerging economies? With agricultural productivity stagnated for decades in Africa and Asia, identifying root causes and finding durable solutions to this ongoing food crisis is imperative, more now than ever before.

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