Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH) sponsored a study tour to the U.S. for a group of officials from the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) on a recent study and exchange visit. VNAH works with its technical partner, the Center for Intercultural Education and Development of Georgetown University (CIED), to organize meetings and discussions.

The Mongolian school of the National Capital Area, Inc. (www.mongolianschool.com.) presented "A Taste of Mongolia 2009" at its 3rd annual fundraising dinner and concert, held at Wilson School in Arlington, Virginia. The program featured Mongolian choir songs, male and female singers, traditional throat singing/khoomi, traditional instrument ensemble, horse-head fiddle, opera songs, and traditional dances about Galloping Horses. Photo courtesy of Khishigtogtokh Khulan

D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty led the celebration of the Asian American Heritage Month, held at the Martin Luther King Library. The event was organized by the Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs, headed by Soohyun "Julie" Koo. Photo courtesy of Elliot Lee

Montgomery County observed the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a panel discussion and community reception. County Executive Isiah Leggett gave the opening remarks at the annual event, co-sponsored by the County Executive’s Office of Community Partnerships and the Asian American Advisory Group. House Majority Leader Kumar Barve and Delegates Susan Lee and Saqib Ali discussed their work in the legislative session, as well as issues of concern too the Asian American community.

The Broadcasting board of Governors, International Broadcasting Bureau and the Voice of America (VOA) hosted a Diversity Day Celebration on May 6.The keynote speaker was Gail Events, author and former CNN Executive VP. Mira Yang, president of the Asian American Music Society, sang the national anthem. From left: Bernard Hayes, VOA Telecommunications Manager; Mira; Blanquita Cullum, member, Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG); Evans; VOA Executive Editor Steve Redisch; VOA Director Dan Austin; Mya Mya Myaing, EEO Specialist, BBG Office of Civil Rights; and Jay Henderson, Director, VOA East Asia and Pacific Division. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

USDA's Office of Workplace Diversity and Inclusion sponsored an Asian American Heritage Month celebration. Keynote speaker was Chancellor Michelle Rhee of D.C. Public Schools. From left: Dr. Joe Leonard, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights; Jim Miller, Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; Rhee; Sae Mi Kim, Program Manager; Elaine Ho, Director, Office of Workplace Diversity & Inclusion, and an unidentified participant. Photo courtesy of Saw Mi Kim

Breeze 6, a local singing group, entertained the audience at the Asian American Heritage Month celebration of the U.S. Department of Commerce on May 5. Secretary Gary Locke made welcome remarks, followed by keynote address by retired Maj. Gen. Antonio M. Taguba. The program, emceed by NBC4 News Anchor Eun Yang, was jointly sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Postal Service. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

The Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. held its annual networking and awards dinner at New Fortune Restaurant in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The awardees were: Jay sunny Bajaj, founder and CEO of Digital Management, Inc.,the IT strategy and solutions company; Judge Chung K. Pak; James Chang, CEO and co-founder of Acacia financial Advisors, LLC; and Vinh Nguyen, Principal Broker for Westgage Realty Group, Inc. Photo: Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a free workshop on How to Do Business with the Commonwealth of Virginia. Topics included the state's electronic purchasing system; what products and services government buyers are seeking from small businesses this year and in 2010, and how the minority business state certification works. David Fuller from the Virginia Department of business Assistance gave a presentation to about 30 participants. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

Connie Hom, president of Buckingham Greenery Interior Landscapes, chats with visitors at her booth during the Virginia Business Opportunity Fair on May 4 in Richmond. It is the annual event held by the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (VMSDC) for minority business owners. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

The Asian American LEAD (AALEAD) held its first Lotus Festival to celebrate Asian American Heritage Month, showcase its newly-renovated community center, and thank the volunteers and supporters who helped make the youth’s achievements possible. Photo courtesy of Rick Chen

A ribbon-cutting ceremony started the Annual Cherry Blossom Freedom Walk at the entrance of Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism. From left: African American guests; Minister Motohiko Kato; Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki; former U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; Floyd Mori; Cherry Blossom Goodwill Ambassadors Grace Lee and Gregory Bennett; Dr. Craig Uchida, and Mrs. Fujisaki. The event is sponsored annually by NJAMF and the Japanese American Veterans Association. Photo by Chris Ikejiri

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF); the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH); the National Council of Asian and Pacific Islander Physicians (NCAPIP); and the Association of Asian and Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), recently joined together to inform Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities about the H1N1 flu virus. From left: Dr. Ed Chow, San Francisco Health Commissioner; Dr. Ho Tran, APIAHF CEO and president; Dr. Eric Leung, NCAPIP co-chair; and AAPCHO Executive Director Jeff Caballero. Photo by Grace-Sonia Melanio

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), is the recipient of a $15,000 grant from the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF/the Health Forum). The APIAHF mission is to enable Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to attain the highest possible level of health and well-being. Photo shows JACL National Executive Director Floyd Mori and APIAHF.Policy Director Deeana Jang.

Jason Garcia Ignacio, "Outstanding Emerging Artist" in the recently concluded 24th Annual Mayor's Arts Awards in Washington, D.C., was the guest performer at the “Vagina Monologue” presentation at the Kennedy Center last April 11.

Filipino American leaders presented Eve Ensler's “Vagina Monologue,” and a reading of “A Memory, A Monologue and A Prayer: Writings to Stop Violence against Women and Girls” at the Terrace Theatre of the Kennedy Center.

From left: Shirley Yin, Travel Specialist, Delta/Northwest Air Lines, Joseph Chen, Travel Consultant, New York; Richelle Domingo and Mac Cruz, The Travel Outlet; Kevin, owner-chef, The Sushi Place, Town Center, Virginia Beach; Herman Ayayo, IT Specialist, Alexandria, Virginia; Roy Estaris, president of The Travel Outlet; Naomi Fitzwilliam, CEO, Just Go Philippines, Inc., and Bill Branigin, The Washington Post. Photo: Bing Cardenas Branigin

Maryland Department of Aging Secretary Gloria Lawlah and her staff spent their unpaid furlough hours volunteering with the Vietnamese Senior Association at the Long Branch Senior Center, Silver Spring. Lawlah was joined by David Lee, executive director of the Governor’s Office on Asian Pacific American Affairs; County Health and Human Services Director Uma Ahluwalia; Aging and Disability Services Chief Dr. John Kenney, and Lam Bao Nguyen of the Vietnamese Senior Association. Over 60 low-income Vietnamese seniors regularly participate in the senior lunch program and other programs at the center.

The Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST) USA held its 17th Annual Convention, "Business and Technology Development," in Washington DC.

The Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST) USA held its 17th Annual Convention, "Business and Technology Development," in Washington DC.

The McDonald’s Family Restaurants of Greater Washington, D.C., recently honored 43 local McDonald’s Educates Scholarship winners and their families at a Capitol Hill reception. The awards recognize outstanding academic and community service achievements. Each winner received a $1,500 scholarship toward college tuition. Photo courtesy of Jaime Fraser and Maria Vera

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and OCA National (OCA) formerly the Organization of Chinese Americans, recently completed the 11th annual joint JACL/OCA DC Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. State Farm sponsored the event, and its representative, Leslie Moe-Kaiser, participated in the four-day conference and presented a workshop on leadership.

Over 490 benefit from the BAPS Charities Health Fair, held at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Beltsville, Maryland, with free health screening, including numerous tests. Sixty-five professions, including doctors, pharmacists, dentists and nurses carried out more than 10 different types of examinations. Photo courtesy of Naresh Patel

Over 490 benefit from the BAPS Charities Health Fair, held at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Beltsville, Maryland, with free health screening, including numerous tests. Sixty-five professions, including doctors, pharmacists, dentists and nurses carried out more than 10 different types of examinations. Photo courtesy of Naresh Patel

L to R: Jack Garrity, Executive Director, Asia Society Washington, Karl Jackson, Director, Asian Studies Program, School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), John Hopkins University, and Jong-Wha Lee, Acting Chief Economist, Asian Development Bank. The Asian Development Bank and the SAIS Southeast Asia Studies Program, together with the Asia Society at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, last April 13. The ADB's Asian Development Outlook (ADO) examines medium-term trends and prospects, and includes comprehensive economic analysis and forecast for 40 and plus economies in developing Asia and the Pacific, spanning the vast geographic area that begins with the Caucasus and extends all the way to the Pacific Islands, the Peoples Republic of China, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Georgia, Fiji, and Indonesia are among the countries covered in the 2009 ADO. Photo by Bing Branigin

Area CPA Celso T. Mataac, Jr. (left), National Association of Japanese American Societies treasurer and executive board member, is shown with Japanese American astronaut Daniel M. Tani of NASA. Mataac gave a presentation in Houston for the Societies, where Taki was guest speaker. Taki timed his presentation as if attendees were at the Kennedy space Center, linking them as in a TeleVideo. One of Mataac’s clients is the Space Development agency of Japan.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health, hospitals, health care providers and community partners recently held a Korean-American Health Festival at Pascal Senior Center in Glen Burnie. Activities included health screenings, healthy food demonstrations and information on cancer screening, tobacco prevention and a variety of County services. Photo 1 - Ho U. Kim (left) and Chae S. Ban Striffolino, R.N., of Harbor Hospital. Photo 2 - Hui Chae Hwang, vice president of the Korean-American Women's Society of Maryland in Severn, Maryland, provides samples of healthy eating for the day’s participants. Courtesy of Elin Jones.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health, hospitals, health care providers and community partners recently held a Korean-American Health Festival at Pascal Senior Center in Glen Burnie. Activities included health screenings, healthy food demonstrations and information on cancer screening, tobacco prevention and a variety of County services. Photo 1 - Ho U. Kim (left) and Chae S. Ban Striffolino, R.N., of Harbor Hospital. Photo 2 - Hui Chae Hwang, vice president of the Korean-American Women's Society of Maryland in Severn, Maryland, provides samples of healthy eating for the day’s participants. Courtesy of Elin Jones.

Over 60 teams participated in the 8th annual Washington, D.C. Dragon Festival, held at the Potomac River in Georgetown. The event was sponsored by the Chinese Women's League, Washington, D.C. chapter. Photo by Bing Cardenas Branigin