White House AAPI Initiative to Hold Entrepreneurship and Small Business Summit on Jan. 7 in Silicon Valley

Cross-posted from APAP, by Curtis Chin:

Here at APAP, we’ve reported quite a few times on the number of South Asians running for Congress this election cycle. It’s a stellar group including announced candidates physician Ami Bera in CA-03, Iraq War Veteran Manan Trivedi in PA-06, State Senator Raj Goyle in KS-04 and attorney Ravi Sangisetty in LA-03, as well as rumored candidate Reshma Saujani in NY-14. Now it seems like others are noticing this trend as well.  From the Washington publication Roll Call, we have the article “Indian-Americans Priming the Pump.” (hat tip to Gene Kim for pointing this out.)

Read the rest of this entry »

Cross-posted from AAA-Fund:

The votes are now in, and we are proud to announce AAA-Fund’s 2009 Blogathon winners!

Before going further, we congratulate all of our finalists for their insight and eloquence:  Cameron Feng, Jenny Jiang, Rose Wei, Micah Weinberg.

Read the rest of this entry »

Video of the signing ceremony and Diwali celebration added below. Interviews with AAPI guests and Administration officials at the event now available from AAPI Momentum.

Cross-posted at APA for Progress

Link to the executive order that restores the White House Advisory Commission and Interagency Working Group to address issues concerning the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

THE WHITE HOUSE 

Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                      October 14, 2009

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

AT AAPI INITIATIVE EXECUTIVE ORDER SIGNING

AND DIWALI EVENT

East Room 

3:46 P.M. EDT

     THE PRESIDENT:  Well, good afternoon, everybody.  Please be seated.  Welcome to the White House.  I’m glad you could join us today as I proudly sign this executive order reestablishing the President’s Advisory Commission and White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders.

Read the rest of this entry »

By now, most of us have heard the tragic news that Annie Le, a young, promising PhD student in pharmacology at Yale University, was apparently murdered just days before her wedding.  On September 25, a memorial service was held for Ms. Le in Northern California, attended by her family and friends, as well as Yale students, alumni, faculty, and staff.  Grant Din ’79, Kristina Yee ’89, and Harry Chang ‘84 attended the service to represent the Yale Asian American community and Yale University.  They read and delivered a letter to Ms. Le’s parents on behalf of the Association of Asian American Yale Alumni, of which I am also a member.

Read the rest of this entry »

A little over a month ago, the Asian American Action Fund announced a contest for folks to blog about why we need health care reform.  A panel of judges including me narrowed the entries down to four finalists.  Now it’s up to you, the activists and readers, to vote for the first, second, and third place winners.  You can do so by visiting this post at the AAA Fund blog and leaving a comment with your picks for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

The first place winner will receive $150, 2 free tickets to the 2010 AAA-Fund Gala (a $200 value), and an exclusive invitation to become a featured AAA-Fund Blogger.  Second place receives 2 free tickets to the 2010 AAA-Fund Gala (a $200 value), and an exclusive invitation to become a featured AAA-Fund Blogger, Third place will get a lunch with a AAA-Fund leader, and an exclusive invitation to become a featured AAA-Fund Blogger.

We’ve reposted the text of the AAA Fund finalist announcement below as well.

Read the rest of this entry »

Cross-posted from APA for Progress:

After several weeks of rumors, President Obama officially nominated federal district Judge Denny Chin of the Southern District of New York to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Judge Chin was also recently in the news as the presiding judge of the Bernie Madoff trial. If confirmed, Judge Chin will be the ONLY federal appellate judge of APA descent; Judge Wallace Tashima of the Ninth Circuit has taken senior status and is thus no longer considered an active judge. Judge Chin was also the first APA federal district judge appointed outside of the Ninth Circuit area (Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington), and one of only three east of the Mississippi (the others are Judge Amul Thapar of the Eastern District of Kentucky and Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto of the Eastern District of New York). Judge Judge Chin will fill the vacancy created by Sonia Sotomayor’s appointment to the Supreme Court, creating an interesting confluence of historic firsts.

Read the rest of this entry »

Statement by President Obama on
Mahatma Gandhi’s Birth Anniversary

On behalf of the American people, I want to express appreciation for the life and lessons of Mahatma Gandhi on the anniversary of his birth. This is an important moment to reflect on his message of non-violence, which continues to inspire people and political movements across the globe.

We join the people of India in celebrating this great soul who lived a life dedicated to the cause of advancing justice, showing tolerance to all, and creating change through non-violent resistance. Americans owe an enormous measure of gratitude to the Mahatma. His teachings and ideals, shared with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his 1959 pilgrimage to India, transformed American society through our civil rights movement. The America of today has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi and the nonviolent social action movement for Indian independence which he led. Tomorrow, as we remember the Mahatma on his birthday, we must renew our commitment to live his ideals and to celebrate the dignity of all human beings.

###

Cross-posted from APA for Progress:

Boston City Councilor Sam Yoon may not have made it to the second stage of the mayoral election in November, but don’t count him out yet. In a historic move, Yoon will be campaigning with Michael Flaherty on an innovative “joint ticket” with Flaherty for Mayor and Yoon for Deputy Mayor.  The “unusual partnership,” announced this morning at City Hall by the candidates, is believed to be a first, according to the Boston Globe.

Read the rest of this entry »

By Keith Kamisugi, Curtis Chin and Mike Fong

October’s Filipino American History Month is an opportune time for other Asian American communities to evaluate our progress in supporting the efforts of Filipino Americans in achieving fair and more equal representation for their community in politics.

One glaring fact demonstrates why this issue is ripe for discussion: no Filipino American has ever been elected to the California State Assembly, a body representing a state that is home to approximately 60 percent of Americans of Filipino heritage.

Read the rest of this entry »

A neat little video that encapsulates the essence of the Obama health care proposal in four minutes. Great tool for talking with your family, friends, and colleagues about the need for reform.