Tag Archives: community

Grace Han Wolf Governing From a Simple Philosophy

  By Michelle Phipps-Evans Photos courtesy Grace Han Wolf City Councilmember Grace Han Wolf believes that her philosophy as a governmental leader on the Herndon Town Council is simple, yet impactful. “My job is to make sure our community is well run, that the community is safe, and that there’s economic development,” said Wolf, 49, a Korean-American, and one of …

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What a Recent Fundraiser Taught Me about our Changing Community

By: Lily Qi I recently hosted a political fundraiser for a local campaign. It was a fabulous event by all accounts—we reached our fundraising goal; we had a large turnout with a good mix of community leaders and businesspeople, and most importantly, everyone had a great time and felt that they were part of something special and meaningful. But what …

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Conference Highlights Strategies for Marketing Health to Asian Americans

By Jenny Chen Washington, DC – Forget Asian says professors and marketing expert Bobby Kumaki of the Ronin Group. Forget Asian and think Asian American. Asians in America are very different from Asians in Asia. In his presentation Understanding the Asian Market Segment during the Multicultural Health National Conference Kumaki noted that the best way to reach Asian Americans is …

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APA Youth Launch National Immigration Road Tour

Several Asian American and Pacific Islander undocumented youths, members of Congress, and National AAPI leaders convened on July 31 on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building to raise awareness for immigration reform. The youths, recently approved under DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, demonstrated at the House Triangle today as part of their nine-city tour, “DREAM Riders: Road …

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Resilient DC: Creating Community Infrastructure to Mitigate Disaster

By Jewel Edwards In the wake of the Boston Bombings and a rash of destructive tornadoes in the Midwest, emergency preparedness is arguably more important in the U.S. than ever. Resilient DC is working to construct a framework by which communities in the Metropolitan area can map their assets, organize, and respond to disasters before they strike. The program is …

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HealthCare.Gov Provides Tools to Help AAPIs Get Health Insurance

  The  stereotype that casts Asian Americans as a “model minority group” fails to account for the fact that, like other ethnic and minority groups in the United States, AAPIs suffer disproportionately from chronic diseases such as hepatitis B, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. AAPIs are also the least likely among all racial groups to receive routine mammograms and pap …

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Fiesta Asia Will Feature Over 100 Acts

Now in it’s eighth year, Fiesta Asia, sponsored by the Asia Heritage Foundation, will be more colorful than ever. The street event will take place in downtown DC this weekend on May 18th from 10am – 7pm and feature over 100 performers and vendors. A new highlight of the festival this year is the Fiesta Asia Emerging Stars talent competition …

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Struggling Asian American Homeowners Hesitate to Seek Help

By Devika Koppikar Gaithersburg, MD—Jisu Nelson, a Korean American hairdresser was making a modest income during the dot-com boom. So when her then-teenage son wanted to attend a special ROTC program in Rockville, she moved the family from Virginia to Maryland and became a homeowner. It took holding down two jobs, but the single mother was able to make her …

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Door Mat, Not Welcome Mat: Immigrants Tell of Re-Entry Hurdles

By Devika Koppikar Nearly two years after the termination of the controversial NSEERS program (for National Security Entry-Exit Registration System) (http://www.dhs.gov/dhs-removes-designated-countries-nseers-registration-may-2011) many immigrants continue to face barriers at U.S. ports-of-entries when returning from overseas trips. A majority of the immigrants facing reentry barriers have legal status and are simply returning to jobs, families and communities, activists say. Yet, they face heavy interrogations …

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CONNECTIONS: “Asian Americans for One City” MEET-UP

Photos and text by Mary Tablante It’s happening all over the D.C. metro area: young Asian American professionals using social media to network, meet and find ways to advance their careers or just make friends. Making connections is one of the ways political Washington works; it’s one of the ways the business world works, too. And now the AAPI community …

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Editor’s Journal: A Lack of Respect

By Dottie Tiejun Li I don’t question D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier’s original decision to close the under-utilized Chinatown sub-station that was home to the force’s Asian Liaison Unit. Big-city policing has evolved since the unit was formed in 1996, and the Chief has helped create progress. She has incorporated the latest technologies so her officers can spend their time …

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Aloha ‘Oe, Fond Farewell from the Community

Floyd Mori, former national executive director emeritus, Japanese American Citizen Alliance: As a young Mormon missionary back in 1959, when walking down the Main Street in Hilo, Hawaii, I ran into this distinguished gentleman with one arm. He was quick to shake my hand and tell me how his mother on Oahu often invited the Elders in for a cool …

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