On Nov. 9, Parsadaan Bangso Batak (PBB) Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia hosted a performance of  traditional Batak culture featuring songs, dances, choir and traditional clothing to highlight the unique culture of this ethnic group. Photo credit: Will Kim

Photos by Geeta Goindi Rockville, MD – For patrons of performing arts, the annual show by Natananjali School of Dance themed “Om Namah Shivay” was a treat for the eyes, senses and soul.  Some 56 students, ranging in age from 6 to 35 years, gorgeously embodied the concepts and intricacies of Bharatanatyam, displayed their skills in an ancient dance form …

Photo shows members of the University of the Philippines Sigma Delta Phi at their World Reunion, held recently in Chevy Chase, Maryland. They celebrated the 80th anniversary of the sorority and its 25th year since the first reunion of sisters overseas held in 1988 in Washington, DC. Guest speaker was Lilia Calderon of Clemente Capital, Inc. (middle row, fourth from …

Asian Americans find comfort, success in online platforms like YouTube By Whitney Pipkin Fueled by a desire to connect with and share their culture, Asian Americans have taken to the Internet, using tools like YouTube to tell their stories and, in some cases, launch successful business ventures. Jay Kim, managing director of AAAZA (Asian American A-to-Z Agency), calls the generation …

Compiled by: Mary Tablante  1. U.S. Holocaust Museum Displays “The Plight of the Rohingya” Washington, D.C.—Photographs showing Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims in exile were projected on the outdoor walls of the Holocaust Museum, in association with FotoWeek DC 2013, beginning on Nov. 4. The Rohingya have no basic human rights, including no legal status in Burma, and they face discrimination and …

Thanksgiving is almost upon us. This quintessentially “American” holiday harkening back to the days when colonists would share a feast with the Native Americans has morphed in Asian American households across the country. We asked some of our regular contributors to share some of their unique Thanksgiving memories as Asian Americans. If you have any Thanksgiving memories you would like …

In this blog post, our blogger, Amanda, talks about the fusion of different cultures at her family’s Thanksgiving table. Read more stories from our writers in the print edition of the November 2013 issue! There are five types of carbs on my plate. Sure, it’s Thanksgiving, and you’re not supposed to think about calories from the last Thursday in November …

By Chris Peden According to IRS Publication 463, Travel Entertainment, Gift and Car Expenses, you can deduct the costs of meals and entertainment when they “are both ordinary and necessary and meet one of the following tests: Directly-related test Associated test So what does all that mean? “Ordinary” means that it would be the type of expense that a normal …

November marks the beginning of a season of entertaining. But oftentimes it can be hard to find a place that suits your needs in terms of size, menus, and pricing. But don’t worry! Asian Fortune has compiled the top five restaurants to hold your next event at. Here are the five, in particular order… (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Asian Fortune is …

By Vania Cao and Jenny Chen Councilmember Marc Elrich has proposed a bill that would increase the minimum wage in Montgomery County over a three-year period. “Maryland’s minimum wage at $7.25 per hour is the equivalent of $15,000 a year for a full-time, year-round employee, and that leaves a wage earner and their family below the federal poverty line,” said …

By Jane Chun Photo Credit: Jasmine Zhou DC Fashion Week (DCFW) featured many local designers at the Emerging Designer Showcase at the Washington Post Conference Center on Sep.28. Among the designers include the first Chinese-American designer Jasmine (Lingfei) Zhou, founder and CEO of Hudiefly. Hudiefly is a graphic and ready to wear brand founded in 2012. According to the Hudiefly …

On November 12, 2013 President Obama spoke with President Aquino of the Philippines to express deep condolences on behalf of the American people for the lives lost and damage caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda, one of the strongest storms to ever hit land. President Obama discussed with President Aquino the need for a speedy assessment of what further American resources …

By Michelle Phipps-Evans In the 2012 presidential election, Asian Americans turned to the Democratic Party and voted in favor of President Barack Obama by a ratio of three to one over Republican challenger, Governor Mitt Romney. According to a survey by the Asian American Justice Center, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) and the National Asian American Survey, 73 …

By Vania Cao Bethesda, Md. – The 2013 Asian American Music Society (AAMS) International Competition took place on October 26th in Bethesda, Maryland. The Bethesda Presbyterian Church saw a steady stream of performers from as far as New York and Washington State, as young musical artists competed for cash prizes at their assigned competition time in the categories of Strings, …

By Josephine Liang Making up around 5% of the nation’s whole population, and growing at a rate of 46% from 2000 to 2010, Asian Americans are a significant slice of the American pie. In the 2012 election, 73% Asian Americans cast their votes for the re-election of president Obama, which is the highest percentage ever for any candidate. However, as …

Washington, DC – On Saturday, November 2, 2013, the National Japanese Memorial Foundation hosted its annual Gala at the Marriott Wardman Hotel. The gala opened with a stunning taiko drum display by Nen Daiko. Four awards were given at this year’s gala dinner: the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Award for Constitutional Rights, the Special Recognition Legacy Award, and the Chairmen’s Award. …

By Tamara Treichel Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) who run small businesses have a lot of reason to smile recently: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has taken measures in the past year to create more opportunities for AAPI small businesses. The importance of AAPI-owned businesses to the U.S. economy shouldn’t be underestimated: At present, the United States has …

          The Honorable Raymond T. Chen is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Judge Chen was appointed by President Obama in 2013, unanimously confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2013, and assumed the duties of his office on August 5, 2013. Judge Chen previously served as Deputy General Counsel for Intellectual …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Etian Huang, 5, is just like any other kid. He likes running around the yard, barefoot, with friends. He rarely stands still. He likes to skip, hop and jump around guests. He has fun making faces at the camera, but doesn’t like interviews. Just like any kid. Except unlike other kids his age, he already has …

Virginia governor candidate Terry McAuliffe and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli as well as other candidates running for political office participated in the first minority forum organized by the Asian American Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce on Oct 6th.  During the forum, candidates discussed their plans and goals to …

By Tamara Treichel Han Sung Oak, a popular Korean restaurant in Falls Church, Virginia, has closed its doors after more than two decades, eliciting a strong reaction among its patrons. The restaurant, located in Barcroft Plaza on Columbia Pike, has been shut down by Fairfax County because inspectors have found that the gas-fired system used for cooking Korean food at …

As a co-founder of The Brain Trust, Rohan Grover is the company’s “Model Minority Modeler,” harnessing technology to help AAPI organizations build savvy, data-driven campaigns for the digital age. Our writer, Derek Mong, is a social justice activist and has worked for non-profit organizations, political campaigns, the federal government, and national civil rights organizations to address issues of social justice, …

by Suchi Rudra A term like “online organizing” may not have been around for long, but in a time where social media is king (and can make or break a business), Olivia Chow and her colleagues–Rohan Grover, Deepa Kunapuli and Vincent Paolo Villano–are driven to grow this niche from within the AAPI community. Unofficially formed in the fall of 2012, …

This month, Asian Fortune is launching its poetry series – a space for local APA poets to share their art, stories, and moments. We encourage all APA poets in the D.C. metropolitan area to submit their work. More information on monthly themes, eligibility guidelines, and prompts can be found on our website: http://www.asianfortunenews.com/poetry-submissions/ Happy writing! Linsanity My dad is the …