By Christopher Kang   (This editorial appeared in the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA). Christopher Kang is the NCAPA National Director. He is a former Deputy Assistant and Deputy Counsel to President Barack Obama in the Office of the White House Counsel, where he was in charge of the selection, vetting, and confirmation of the president’s judicial nominees.) …

By Jennie L. Ilustre The demise of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on February 13 has given rise to two important questions. First, should his replacement be confirmed this year, or should that await the results of the Nov. 8 presidential elections? A Feb. 18-21 Pew Research Center survey shows 56 percent of Americans believe the Senate should hold hearings …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   In a show of unity, coalitions of Asian American groups held nationwide rallies and issued supportive letters and public statements, urging a fair and just decision for former New York police officer Peter Liang, while emphasizing that all cops must be held accountable for their actions. Liang was convicted on Feb. 11 on charges of …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Washington, D.C.–All-day rain and wind gusts, not to mention football games, enticed most people to stay at home. And by the way, the event was on a weekend. But Asian Americans, known for their work ethic, showed they are civic-minded as well. Some 200 District residents, 73 per cent of whom were Americans of Asian …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Crystal Steel Fabricators, Inc., an Asian American-owned Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), landed a major contract last May, besting five other bidding companies and joining dozens of sub-contractors for the $1.2 billion-MGM National Harbor project. The Baltimore Sun quoted Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan as saying that the resort complex in Prince George’s County is “one of …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Participants of the first Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) – all 75 outstanding leaders representing ten Asian countries – have flown home, filled with many memorable experiences. But for sure, one thing will stand out: The words of the leader of the Free World acknowledging their achievements and their potentials.             During a one-hour White …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   If you live in Washington, D.C., think of it as having the best seat in the house. It is, after all, the nation’s capital. The media and political types here and across the globe refer to it simply as Washington, with the general understanding that it is different from the other splendid state in the …

Chiling Tong, Founder & CEO International Leadership Foundation In terms of voting behavior, 2016 will prove to be a very interesting presidential election cycle. In 1992, only 31% of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) voted for then-Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton. By 2012, over 70% voted for the reelection of President Obama. As we head into the 2016 presidential elections, Asian …

Next year, the country will elect a new president. But next year is already here. Notice how candidates are already positioning themselves for the primaries and caucuses? It is urgent that now–not next year–is when all candidates must realize that American voters of Asian and Pacific heritage will play a major role in the 2016 elections. Republican Jeb Bush was …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Hongtao Li is one of those people who transcends time and place. His art graces museums and art galleries all over the world. He is the first Chinese artist to have his works showcased in Musee de Louvre in Paris. Political VIPs and Hollywood celebrities, as well as the general public, have a collection of …

By Jennie L. Ilustre American lawyers of Asian ancestry and advocates, noting that most people find the latest immigration reform news confusing, recently underscored the need for accurate, up-to-date information efforts to prevent public misconceptions. “If you have any questions about immigration or immigration reform, make sure to get reliable information – whether from a community group like Asian Americans …

The reviews and the ratings are in for ABC-TV’s “Fresh Off the Boat,” which officially premiered on Feb. 10, and as a saying goes, “We have a winner!” TV by the  Numbers ran a story with the headline, “ABC’s ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ Debuts as Season’s #1 New Show with Upscale Adults 18-49.” The Hollywood Reporter noted, “After its strong …

  2015 is the Year of the Green Wooden Sheep, based on the Chinese zodiac. It is also known as The Year of the Goat and Year of the Ram. The Year of the Sheep begins on Feb. 19, 2015 (the Lunar New Year). It will last until Feb. 7 next year. Others welcome the start on Feb. 4. The …

By Jennie L. Ilustre One word describes Muriel Hom, recipient of the Organization of Chinese Americans’ 2014 Trailblazer Award at its gala night on November 2: Unique. Opera Internationals’ Producer Director Hom is Baldwin Artist, pianist and coach. She has performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and on PBS Television. An international artist, she has also performed …

Alice Guo, Making an Impact with Speaking Academy By Jennie L. Ilustre Everyone has a turning point in life. Something, an event or perhaps a decision, dramatically changes things. For Alice Guo, Founder and CEO of Impact Speaking Academy, her turning point came “when my aunt in China nudged me to leave my comfort zone and come to America with …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Capital College held a graduation ceremony last September 19 in Gallows Road in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Founded in 2010, Capital College is the only known area healthcare school to include classroom instruction and the laboratory training component at the same site. Dr. Stephen W. Chang, president of United Medical Laboratories, Inc., also runs Capital College. He …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Election Day (November 4) will again show the rising trend of Asian American and Pacific Islander or AAPI candidates. Americans of Asian ancestry are running in top national races this year. They also figure in local, city and state campaigns. What makes this year exciting is that more new faces are joining seasoned candidates in the …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Next month, the nation will once again honor its heroes on Memorial Day:  the living as well as those who, tragically, never returned. Jesse Mallares Baltazar, a retired major of the United States Air Force (USAF), will once again wear his crisply starched uniform, with its medals and ribbons from three wars, as he heads for …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Photos by Gino Wang When Dr. Michael Lin, biomedical scientist and national Asian American leader, received the Roscoe R. Nix Distinguished Community Leadership Award from Montgomery County recently, typically he shifted the spotlight on others. He acknowledged the three ladies seated in front: Daphne Kwok, Ginny Gong and his wife Ellen. He was the National President …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, founder of Define American immigration advocacy group, and the nation’s most well-known undocumented, now faces indictment after his arrest on July 15.   Vargas, 33, was arrested in Texas for failure to present a valid U.S. visa. He was in McAllen on the invitation of advocacy groups to focus on …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Everyone has a turning point in life. Something, an event or perhaps a decision, dramatically changes things. For Alice Guo, Founder and CEO of Impact Speaking Academy, her turning point came “when my aunt in China nudged me to leave my comfort zone and come to America with two bags of dreams.” She taught at a …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Photos courtesy of Genie Nguyen On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Voice of Vietnamese Americans (VVA) led several rallies, denouncing China for its aggression in Asia over territorial disputes, including “placing Oil Rig Hai Yang 981 in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Vietnam.” VVA President Genie Nguyen stressed the rallies were a “demonstration for the sovereignty …

  By Jennie L. Ilustre “La Bamba” star Lou Diamond Phillips emceed the 80-minute show. Broadway’s “Miss Saigon” Lea Salonga sang three popular tunes. The Black Eyed Peas’ apl.d.ap rapped. Fox-TV “Glee” and Billboard sensation Darren Criss sang and played the piano. Grammy-nominated tenor Rodell Rosel performed an aria.  Joffrey Ballet’s Christine Rocas worked magic onstage. “Poet of the violin” …

  By Jennie L. Ilustre Picture this: Outside, a storm, with wind gusting up to 30 miles per hour. Inside at the SAALT reception, the atmosphere was sunny and warm, as everybody welcomed new Executive Director Suman Raghunathan. Suman, as everyone calls her, described the atmosphere as “fantastic–very warm, supportive and exciting!”  She said many long-time supporters came, as well …