A diverse pool of more than 150 area young professionals crowded into the K Street Lounge as the AAA-Fund YP explained its June 2006 initiative to financially support even more political candidates nationwide.

“The AAA-Fund’s Young Professionals initiative recognizes that the key to unlocking the doors to political participation in the APA community rests with its young people,” said Paul Tiao, co-founder of the AAA-Fund. 

“In one evening, this group successfully drew young professionals from different political and social backgrounds to promote active involvement in the political arena,” said Jeanette Moy, an event organizer.

The event featured Mat McCollough, a former appointee to the Department of Agriculture and Department of Justice. Coming from a background that includes work with the DC Developmental Disabilities Council and the National Service Inclusion Project, McCollough stressed the importance of diversity in political leadership. The DC Metro has chosen McCollough for the face of the new Priority Seating Campaign. 

“(We) have to rally our community together or we will be faced with this alternative:  A community that lacks political identity within the American social consciousness, while our social services and needs are either inaccessible or insufficient,” said McCollough.

McCollough also challenged the young professionals to think about the social and political needs of the community.

“(The group) will be an example of effective collaborative campaign efforts,” said Joe Montano, an event attendee. “It is a true form of political empowerment.”

AAA-Fund YP is a subsidiary of AAA Fund, a Democratic political action committee that aims to address under-representation of Asian Pacific Americans in the political realm.