The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) under the U.S. Department of Agriculture held an Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration on May 21. Under the theme “Diverse Leadership for a Diverse Workforce,” the event featured speeches by Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety Jerold Mande and Antony Thompson, Assistance Administrator of the Office of Management, and musical performances by the Korean American Metropolitan Women’s Choir, conducted by Mr. James Joo. Dr. Vivian Chen, Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Office of Public Health Science, moderated a panel discussion joined by Farook Sait, president of the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC); Dr. Pat Basu, APANA president, and Ms. Dottie Li, Managing Director of TransPacific Communications. Photos by Jay Chen

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) celebrated Asian American and Pacific Heritage Month on May 10 with a panel discussion. Present at the discussion were: Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis; Patricia Shiu, Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs; Phillip Tom, Director of the Center of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership; and Yul Kwon, Deputy Chief, Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission. Photo by Jay Chen/Asian Fortune

Former Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) president Charles Fan, pose for a souvenir photo after the APA month program with, from left, Housing and Urban Development officers Teresita C. Tamita and Reasmy Norin.

The D.C. Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month on May 18 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty's Community Service Awards were presented to members of the community and government. Congressional Asian and Pacific American Caucus Chair Mike Honda (CA-15) was the keynote speaker. From left: David Chung, Julie Koo, Assistant Chief Diane Groomes, Honda, and Sherri Ly (Fox5). Photo courtesy of Dory Peter

Philippine American Foundation for Charities (PAFC), officers and volunteers posed for a photo after their meeting recently. PAFC is the host of the annual Philippine Festival, and the host organization of the Asian festival held in Reston, Virginia held annually during the first weekend of August. Photo: Bing Cardenas Branigin

McDonald's recently awarded 43 area high school seniors with a total of $65,000 Annual McDonald’s Educates Scholarship fund. Dr. Kerri Briggs, State Superintendent of Education for D.C., addressed the winners and their Families and guests at the reception at the glamorous Kennedy Center Roof Terrace Restaurant. The recipients were selected based on a variety of criteria including: academic records, commitment to their communities and letters of recommendation. Each winner received a $1,500 scholarship towards college tuition. Photo courtesy of Jaime Fraser/GolinHarris

Feed the Hungry, received a Certificate of Recognition from the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), Office of the President of the Philippines, for its help with almost two million dollars worth of development assistance since 1993. CFO Executive Director Jose Maria Palabrica, fourth from left, presents the award to FtH co-founder Tess Calderon, fifth from left, and beside her, Fely Dumo and Manny Dumo of Las Vegas and Pablito Alarcon.

The Chinese American Republicans Virginia Association recently held its annual dinner party, with Sasha Gong, CARVA member and a 2009 candidate, noting it has been actively involved in almost all election events, with its campaign effort helping in the landslide victories of the top three Virginia GOP candidates.

During the May 15 World Hepatitis Day, Dr. Mark Li conducted public awareness session to some 85 residents in Maryland. The OCA-Greater Washington D.C. Chapter will again hold more information sessions in the area, along with other health groups. Photo shows Dr. Li (fifth from left) with OCA leaders.

Fairfax County Asian American History Project Manager and Filipino American Team Leader Cora Foley, in her presentation to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, said FCAAHP’s next project is a virtual museum of the county’s Asian American history, a gift for the county’s plan to build a Fairfax County History Museum. The county plan is currently suspended for economic resons, she said, but she believes it would be revived. Also in photo are Grant Ichikawa, the FCAAHP participant with the longest residency in Fairfax County and County Chairman Sharon Bulova.

Kevin Owens, author of the science fiction “Martian Panahon Virus,” autographs his book for community leaders Nanette and Ador Carreon at a book signing in Arlington, Virginia. Community supporters turned up to purchase the book and enjoy the Karaoke (sing-along). 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.

Hollywood actor and producer Mike Douglas graciously obliged for a souvenir photo with Fred Paras, associate at Sans Rival Catering in D.C., during the annual White House Correspondents Dinner recently.

Ming Gee Chan, 20, son of Bob and Yen Chan, residents of Potomac, Maryland, graduated from George Mason University on May 15. He finished his 4 year college courses in 3 years. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Politics with a major concentration in Political Theory and Law; he is also minored in Law and Philosophy. Ming Gee is a few courses from getting a MBA. He plans to go to Beijing or Shanghai to study Chinese language this Fall, then come back to apply for law school.

Jessica Sutton held a party with family and friends to celebrate her graduation from Virginia Tech with a degree in Human Resources. From left: and 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

Former CBS news anchor Connie Chung delighted moviegoers at the Newseum on May 13 when she and her husband, talk show host Maury Povich, watched “The Paper.” The film is about struggles with newspaper ethics, integrity and business economics. The couple later joined veteran newsman Nick Clooney in a Q &A. When Chung was asked how to keep relationships, she quipped, “The secret to a good marriage is never do anything together.” The 1994 film was directed by Ron Howard and starred Micheal Keaton and Glenn Close. Photo courtesy of Lou Emery/www.LouEmeryPhoto.com

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 National Institutes of Health held its first Asian American Heritage Month celebration by recognizing the contributions of APAs and the value of diversity which strengthens its workforce. Keynote speaker was Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Koh oversees the HHS Office of Public Health and Science, the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, and the Office of the Surgeon General. He also serves as senior public health advisor to the HHS secretary. Participants included NIH Director Francis Collins; NIBIB Deputy Director Belinda Seto; NIH Intramural Research Deputy Director Michael Gottesman; and Kuan-Teh Jeang, Senior Investigator and Chief of the NIAID Molecular Virology Section. Photo courtesy of Don Ralbovsky/ NIH Office of Communications and Public Liaison

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