Members of the Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe performed on the Arts Council of Fairfax County’s stage - Artsfairfax.org Stage - at Celebrate Fairfax on June 12. Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe is one of the local groups who auditioned and have been selected by the Arts Council of Fairfax County’s International Children’s Festival - Artistic Review Panel to appear as a performing group at the 2010 Festival at Wolf Trap in September.

The Asia Society of Washington, D.C. held its 23rd Gala Dinner last June 9 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. Photo shows the Dhroopad Dance Ensemble, a Bangladeshi Cultural group based in D.C. Photo: Bing Cardenas Branigin

Marie Desuasido of Herndon, Virginia and Angel Santos of Miami, Florida were married on board the yacht Spirit of Washington along the Potomac River, on Memorial Day weekend. Photo: Bing Cardenas Branigin

Congressman Mike Honda chats with Rose Jin, a journalism student from the Oklahoma State University, at 2010 AAGEN Annual Award Banquet held on June 10 at the Doubletree Hotel, Crystal City, VA. Photo by Gino Wang.

Kevin Owens, author of the science fiction “Martian Panahon Virus,” autographs book for community leaders Nanette and Ador Carreon at a book signing in Arlington, Virginia. The book is available on amazon.com and authorshouse.com

The Virginia Asian Advisory Board to the Governor (VAAB) held a town hall meeting on May 21 at the Mason district Government Center in Annandale, VA. This is the first meeting of VAAB under the new governor. The meeting discussed issues related to the Asian American community.

Jessica Sutton held a party with family and friends to celebrate her graduation from Virginia Tech with a degree in Human Resources. From left: Her parents Jeff and Yoly Sutton, Jessica and Sean Mitchell. Photo by Mitch Ocampo

Maddie Embuscado, sorrounded by her cousins, makes a wish before blowing out the candle in her cake. She turned 4 years old recently and the celebration was held at her grandparents’ home in Virginia. Photo: Bing Cardenas Branigin

Some 30,000 visitors at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History on May 7 also enjoyed the 24th Annual of Asian Arts & Crafts Day. Entomology department Scientific Illustrator Vichai Malikul, also the Museum-APAHC committee chair, organized it, with help from the committee and NMNH’s Director Office, Thais For Thai Association Committee and Thai Pepper Restaurant. Among the guests were Thai Ambassador Don Pramudwinai, Dr. Cristian Samper, NMNHs Director, Jerry Sachs Associate Director, Dr. Robert Robbins, Dr Paul Taylor and Dr. Boon Wongananda.

The American Citizens of Taiwan Origin (ACTO) recently held an International Etiquette Seminar on everyday etiquette and manners of American society, with Mrs. Teresa Buczachi. Mrs. Buczachi taught at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute and the John Hopkins University’s School of Advanced Institute Studies, where she authored educational materials for American diplomats. ACTO has close ties with all other Asian American community organizations, and sponsored many programs and projects designed to help promote the community. Photo by Gino Wang

The Pan Asian Women’s Club bid farewell to Nita Tamayo Lott (third from right), author, activist and a long time Census Bureau official, who is retiring to the warm weather of California.

Charles Cuong Nguyen (right), Dean of Engineering School at Catholic University, gave an inspiring speech at Saigon Cafe to a crowd of over a hundred supporters for Hoan Dang, who is running for Delegate in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Author Phong Thu (right) organized a show at James Lee theatre for poet Mien Du (center) from California. Also in photo is author and human rights advocate Jackie Bong-Wright (left).

Dan Choi, Esq., invited CAPAVA members and a hundred guests at an Open House to meet the staff of the Legal Aid Justice Center, an immigrant advocacy program, at their new office in Falls Church, Virginia.

BPSOS Executive Director, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang, (right) presented “In Pursuit of Liberty” awards to Kieu Chinh, well-known actress and philanthropist, and to Daniel Wolf, Esq., for their work in assisting Vietnamese boat people refugees, at the Capitol Visitor Center. Congressmen Anh Joseph Cao and Chris Smith gave welcoming remarks.

The Coast Guard Personnel Service Center in Arlington, Virginia held an Asian American Heritage Month celebration on May 27. The event’s theme was “Leadership to Meeting the Challenges of a Changing World.” Keynote speaker Dottie Li is shown with Lt. Derrick Sangders, Lt. Keedah Simmons and other officers before the program began. Hui O Ka Pua llima Dance Troupe performed a Hula dance. The event also featured the music of the Mekong River. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

Dr. Long Nguyen was the guest speaker at the Asian American Heritage Celebration held at The National Defense University (NDU) on May 27. Dr. Nguyen is the Chairman and CEO of Pragmatics, Inc, a growing information technology firm based in McLean, Virginia, with about 600 employees and $125M in annual revenues. Entertainment was provided by Dong Phuong Group. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

The committee of George Mason University's Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month held its 17th annual program to showcase the beauty and grace of the diverse ethnic group. The program included the NWBI -USA Presidential Dragon Dance Team, representatives the group that took part in the Obama Inauguration Parade; Tai Ji show by Alan Zhao, U.S. National Wushu Team; Alice GuZheng Ensemble; NWBI Creative Wu Shu (Kung Fu) Performance; Dance ETC-American Broadway Dance; Chinese traditional dance by the MuPing Dance Academy; Korean Dance by the Washington Korean Dance Company; Umang Dance Groups Indian folk dance and Hawaii dance. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune