By Jennie L. Ilustre   The saying “One person can make a difference” holds true with Naomi Osaka, the world’s No. 2 champion and, according to Forbes magazine, “the highest paid female athlete ever.” On the tennis court, biracial Osaka has been an advocate of Black Lives Matter, winning praise for wearing face masks with the names of black victims …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   For the first time, Asian American history will be taught in public schools across the country, starting with Illinois in the 2022-23 school year.   Illinois will become the first-ever state to require that Asian American history be taught in public schools, according to Politico, a leading newspaper in the nation’s capital. Illinois may be …

AAPI Victory Fund President Varun Nikore praised New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Yang “on his well-fought campaign,” although falling short in the recent Democratic Party primary.     Yang had conceded he would not be the city’s next mayor. Early results showed him in a distant fourth place. The primary will decide the party’s official candidate in the November …

The journey ahead in the 2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo has been expanded with the addition of the Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine. Mazda’s newest crossover blends sophisticated designs, ample amenities, nimble driving dynamics, and thoughtful proportions to help the vehicle standout in its segment. The new 2021 CX-30 2.5 Turbo’s performance and capabilities encourage a willingness to embrace adventures and …

Venue is packed with a host of premium driver safety and convenience technologies and is the perfect fit for those seeking a seamless combination of style and versatility. Venue will be the most affordable Hyundai SUV, and joins its larger siblings including the North American Utility of the Year Kona and Kona Electric, Tucson, Santa Fe, the 8-passenger Palisade and …

  GR Supra 3.0 Gets Power Boost and Revised Chassis Tuning New GR Supra 2.0 is First-Ever Four-Cylinder Version, with 255 Horsepower and Lower Weight New GR Supra A91 Edition with Exclusive Color and Design Features 8-in. Central Display Screen Now Standard on All Models Brimming with history and reverberating with the echoes of legends, Daytona International Speedway, where the …

Redesigning your home is the perfect opportunity to channel your artistic energy. Whether it’s revamping a small corner of your room or redoing the entire space, there’s something about renovating your home that can be so refreshing and help you get in the right space of mind to start something new. So, if you’re in the mood to bring in …

The launch of the fourth generation Mazda3 stirred emotions with its bold yet sophisticated styling. Renowned as the World Car Design of the Year, fans were captivated by its mature interpretation of Kodo design, but some asked for more power and Mazda listened. For 2021, the Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine has been added to the 2021 Mazda3 powertrain offering. The …

Asian Americans are finding a ray of sunshine this year, amid the ugly and alarming racism occurring nationwide. Reason: The growing trend of candidates from both parties running for office, with Kamala Harris, an American of Asian ancestry, getting elected as the nation’s vice president last year. In the coming November 3 elections, a total of 45 Asian American and …

Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) has joined other top community organizations in lauding the signing of the Covid-19 Hate Crimes Act into law by President Joe Biden. The president has consistently denounced the surge in racism against Asian Americans as “un-American.”   Remarked APIAVote Executive Director Christine Chen: “APIAVote applauds Congress for passing this legislation, and President Biden …

Following a complete redesign in 2020, the 2021 Sonata model line features available 19-inch wheels and tires, Safe Exit Warning and a 6-way power passenger seat on the Limited trim. The 19-inch alloy wheels with 245/40 R19 Pirelli P Zero™ tires are now standard on the turbocharged SEL Plus trim. P-Zero All Season tires are for driving enthusiasts who want …

The fourth-generation Toyota Highlander Hybrid’s bold, distinctive design takes it one step further for 2021 with the now standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+) and LED headlamp enhancements for LE and XLE. Setting off the bold design, the LE and XLE grades feature a black front grille with silver-colored paint surround, while the Limited and Platinum grades are distinguished …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Americans of Asian ancestry have reasons to celebrate Asian American Month this May, given several developments lately. Although there’s still a lot more issues that need to be addressed, they can point to at least five recent developments that are a cause for celebration.     1 Senate Passes “The Covid 19 Hate Crimes Act” …

“The surge of Covid-19 infections and deaths in India is nothing short of heartbreaking”, says Vice President Kamala Harris By Geeta Goindi Washington, DC, May 8, 2021 – Vice President Kamala Harris has said the surge in coronavirus cases and fatalities in India “is nothing short of heartbreaking” and the US is determined to help its friend in its hour …

  Some businesses still fail to recognize how important it is to keep employees happy and motivated. If a company wishes to retain its best talents, offering lackluster work conditions will not get them too far.    At the same time, negative words travel fast, and if a potential candidate hears bad things about a business, they will not bother …

Technology and Design Updates, plus a New Model • New standard 10.25” large center display with latest-generation Mazda Connect infotainment • Carbon Edition offers unique styling and premium features to the three-row, midsize crossover • 2021 Mazda CX-9 goes on sale with a starting MSRP1 of $33,960 The Mazda CX-9 is the brand’s flagship three-row midsize crossover SUV, able to …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Two American lawmakers of Asian ancestry have introduced “The Covid 19 Hate Crimes Act” in the 118th U.S. Congress to address the surge in racist acts against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, or AAPIs, which began when the pandemic started last year. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D, HI) said the bill would, among other things, …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Asian American leaders hailed the “historic” appointment of Assemblyman Rob Bonta as the first Filipino American California Attorney General, and linked it to addressing anti-Asian hate acts and violence.   In his first statements, Bonta indeed vowed to combat hatred. “This will be one of my first priorities as your Attorney General: to ensure those …

English for Heritage Language Speakers at Georgetown University– Native speakers of critical languages are in high demand in the U.S. government. EHLS trains advanced English speakers to be effective communicators and strong candidates for federal jobs. All EHLS participants receive a full scholarship from the National Security Education Program (NSEP) that includes tuition and a $3,600 monthly living stipend for the full time program January to …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Successful technology entrepreneur Andrew Yang is running for mayor of New York City. He launched his candidacy on January 14, with the grandson of America’s civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr. as co-chair of his mayoral campaign. At  the launch, US Congressman (NY-15) and campaign Co-Chair Ritchie Torres called Yang “a problem solver who’s …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Asian American advocates have lauded President Joe Biden’s policy changes addressing their urgent concerns, which they assert are Mainstream America issues as well. These are: 1) Immigration reform, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA; 2) anti-Asian American racism; 3) the Census; 4) a fast-tracked, concerted pandemic response, and 5) the $1.9 trillion economic …

No cake company celebrates the Lunar New Year like Lady M Confections. For the 2021 Lunar New Year, Lady M ushers in the Year of the Ox with a special Red Bean Mille Crêpes cake.  Originally created as an exclusive cake for the Lady M Boston boutique and unveiled as a nationwide limited time offering in 2020, the Red Bean Mille Crêpes cake is made …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   The year 2021 will see more Asian Americans take public office at all levels, some of them making history in the process. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was not the only American candidate of Asian ancestry who won big in the November elections. According to the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS), a total …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   President-elect Joe Biden’s promise to reverse immigration policies, and to protect the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program on Day One–after his noontime inauguration on January 20, 2021–is welcome news to some 700,000 DACA recipients. The figure includes 16, 000 Asians. The DACA and immigration reform issue is in Biden’s stack of Day One …