By Jennie L. Ilustre Lauding a recent law that removed the $4 million and $6.5 million caps on government awards to women business owners, the US Small Business Administration (SBA), American Express (Amex) OPEN and Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) recently launched a new partnership called “ChallengeHER.” “We’ve never seen opportunities like they are today,” American Express Vice President for …

Youth Voices is a blog written by Asian American youth around the country. Kara Chyung is a high school sophomore in eastern Pennsylvania. A second-generation Korean-American, she is fortunate enough to experience the advantages of two different cultures. She is a passionate student, an avid tennis player, a clarinetist, a student council officer, a member of her Scholastic Scrimmage team, and a vocalist …

By Jenny Chen Rancho Mirage, Ca. – In the picturesque Sunnyland Estates in Rancho Mirage, California, President Obama greeted President Xi Ji Ping in a historic meeting that signified stronger communication between the United States and China. The two leaders met from June 7-8, 2013. “Our decision to meet so early, I think, signifies the importance of the U.S.-China relationship.  …

By Jenny Chen The term “glass ceiling” has been circulating since the late 80’s but there’s a new ceiling cropping up – the “bamboo ceiling.” The term is used to describe the difficulty Asian American professionals have in reaching the C-suite due to cultural and racial barriers. Jane Hyun, author of “Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling” described in a recent NPR …

Announcing our new blog: “Flavors of Asia” by one of Asian Fortune’s own – Amanda Andrei. Amanda became interested in the historical, cultural, and symbolic meanings of food after conducting anthropological fieldwork in southeast Asia and writing her thesis on the perceived lack of Filipino restaurants in the DC area. The Asian continent spans a diverse geographies and climates, not to mention The …

On May 7, the DC Office of Asian Pacific Islander Americans hosted a panel discussion on how food is part of the Asian American identity. You’ve seen the photos here, now check out the video!

By: Nathan Strauss When Patricia Richie-Folks first saw an ad for an office manager in the Manassas Observer, she had no idea what she was going to be in for. As it would turn out, Asian Fortune, a free, English-language publication that serves the Asian-American populations in D.C., Virginia and Maryland, had placed the ad. Richie-Folks was hired shortly afterwards, …

By Tamara Treichel Everything is bigger in Texas. When it comes to celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, this may be true: since May was officially made Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in 1992, Houston has been celebrating it in a big way. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States and has one of the nation’s largest …

By Yi Chen Washington, D.C. – Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s 2013 Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebration will take place on Thursday, May 30 at the historic Lincoln Theater. “Each May, our Nation comes together to recount the ways Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders helped forge our country.” President Obama said in his proclamation, “Their story is …

By Suchi Rudra Singer Teresa Lee may not speak fluent Chinese, but that hasn’t made any difference to the hordes of her devoted fans in China. In fact, since Lee and her indie pop band PaperDoll were invited to play at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, the New York City-based group has been back to tour the country of …

There may just be too many women in Korea. Or at least, too many girls who fit the traditional ideal of beauty. A beauty pageant held in Daegu, South Korea has 21 contestants competing for the title of most beautiful. But many worried that the contestants looked too similar for there to be a fair competition. Daegu is home to …

by Khalil Abdullah, New America Media BALTIMORE — As one of America’s top 10 wealthiest states and one that trends heavily Democratic, Maryland was among the nation’s first to move full throttle to implement the Affordable Care Act. The decision puts the state well out ahead in expanding access to some 300,000 people who will qualify for free or subsidized …

Virginia – On April 30, the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce (VACC) and Virginia Asian Foundation (VAF) will host Build Virginia, the first Pan-Asian Construction Alliance of Virginia (PACAV) seminar at the KBS Training Center in Richmond. The PACAV is made up by a consortium of larger size private and public sector construction companies, general contractors, and Pan Asian American …

April, 2013 — Former laboratory director at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dr. Tien C. Tso, better known as “T.C,” died April 9, 2013 at his residence in Riderwood in Silver Spring, of natural causes.  He was 95. A long time resident of Beltsville, MD, he began forging a distinguished USDA career in 1950 at the Tobacco Research …

Washington, DC – It can be lonely to serve your country while you’re abroad, away from all your friends and family. Diageo, a global premium drinks company, has donated funds to iPads for Soldiers, a nonprofit organization that has provided iPads to hundreds of servicemen abroad so that they can connect with their families. To date the iPads for Soldiers program …

Now in it’s eighth year, Fiesta Asia, sponsored by the Asia Heritage Foundation, will be more colorful than ever. The street event will take place in downtown DC this weekend on May 18th from 10am – 7pm and feature over 100 performers and vendors. A new highlight of the festival this year is the Fiesta Asia Emerging Stars talent competition …

By CeCe Wang April 28, 2013 – Today, an enormous number of Chinese students and young professionals fly to the United States via airport with their legal student and work visa to seek better life opportunities. However, in the 19th century, Chinese civilians who were seeking to escape war and poverty by selling labor to American and Canadian railroad recruiters …

The Fairfax County Asian American History Project (FCAAHP) will co-sponsor the 5th Naturalization Ceremony on May 24 for 100 New Americans at the Fairfax County Government Center in Virginia. “This event is in honor of the Asian American Heritage Month in Fairfax County,” said FCAAHP Founding Chairman Corazon Sandoval Foley. “It’s a key program of the county’s largest minority group …

By Tamara Treichel Born into a regular suburban family in Detroit, Michigan, Rick O’Shea realized he didn’t want to lead a Brady Bunch-like existence. “I was a regular kid headed for a traditional American future of school, marriage, 2 cars, 2.3 kids, and become a lawyer, doctor, or accountant, etc. I had absolutely nothing to rebel against – only the …

Washington, DC – Today CAPAL threw it’s biggest bash of the night at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC with a twist – guests were encouraged to get a “personal ride” from the start up company Uber – which takes “taxi” to the new level with it’s iPhone and Android apps. In her remarks, Doua Thor, Executive Director of …

Roger Lin’s push for low cost, high performance homes    By Suchi Rudra These days, building a net zero energy home isn’t exactly a cutting edge idea. But what about an entire community of net zero homes, each moderately priced for the average consumer? This is exactly what real estate investor and entrepreneur Roger Lin has in mind for the …

WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus and Co-Chairman Sharon Day released the following statement commemorating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: “This month, we honor the countless contributions Asian Americans, South Asians, and Pacific Islanders have made to our great country,” said Chairman Priebus. “In every field imaginable–from arts and entertainment and science and technology to public …

It’s official: Obama has signed a declaration to make May Asian Pacific Islander Month! Read the full declaration below. ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, 2013
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION Each May, our Nation comes together to recount the ways Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) helped forge our country. We remember a time …