CITY HALL, NY - Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Council Members John C. Liu, Robert Jackson, Alan J. Gerson, Sara M. Gonzalez and Vincent J. Gentile will host a celebration of Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month at City Hall on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The celebration will highlight the achievements of youth leaders from throughout the City and feature a panel discussion on Asian Pacific Americans in Journalism.  Council Members will also take a moment to recognize two New Yorkers who have given exemplary service to the community: outgoing Queens Poet Laureate Ishle Yi Park and award-winning journalist Ti-Hua Chang.

Council Member John C. Liu stated: "APA Heritage Month is an opportunity for New Yorkers to recognize and reflect on the tremendous contributions made by Asian Pacific Americans to our City and nation. This is the City Council's best City Hall event and we expect a packed house as we recognize inspiring community pioneers like Ishle Park and Ti-Hua Chang, as well as celebrate the promising service, leadership and activism of our rising APA youth leaders."

The following recipients of the 2007 APA Heritage Month Youth Leadership Awards were selected based on service, leadership and activism in their respective schools and community: Zhixiang Chen of Manhattan, Junior at Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day High School; Olivia Cheng of Manhattan, Junior at Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction; Sobia Jahangir of the Bronx, Senior at Liberty High School Acad-Newcomers; Hiu Fung Kong of Queens, Senior at Aviation High School; Gerald C. Lara Jr. of Staten Island, Sophomore at the College of Staten Island High School for International Studies; Cindy Lin of Queens, Junior at John Bowne High School; Jian Liu of Brooklyn, Senior at Lower East Side Preparatory High School; and Raymond Yu of Brooklyn, Senior at Sheepshead Bay High School. The Leadership Award Selection Committee is made up of community leaders Morshed Alam, Margaret Chin and Grace Lyu Volckhausen.

Photo: Recipients of the 2007 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Leadership Award (with certificate) and elected officials from left to right: Hiu Fung Kong, senior at Aviation High School; Zhixiang Cheng, junior at Manhattan Comprehensive Night and Day High School; Olivia Cheng, junior at Urban Assembly School of Design and Construction; Hon. Doris Ling-Cohen, NYS Supreme Court Justice; Hon. John C. Liu, NYC Councilmember; Hon. Robert Jackson, NYC Councilmember; Cindy Lin, junior at John Bowne High School; Sobia Jahangir, senior at Liberty High School Academy; Raymond Yu, senior at Sheepshead Bay High School; Gerald C. Lara, Jr., sophomore at College of Staten Island High School for International Studies; Jian Liu, senior at Lower East Side Preparatory High School. Behind the students are supporting school faculty, friends and family.  Photo courtesy of Sharon Lee