Harry Belafonte, Art Chong and Seymour Hersh to Receive 2008 Justice in Action Awards at AALDEF's Annual Lunar New Year Gala

(New York, NY) The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) will honor activist Harry Belafonte, Art Chong, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Safeco Corporation, and investigative journalist Seymour Hersh with the 2008 Justice in Action Award at its Annual Lunar New Year Gala on Thursday, February 21, 2008 at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers, in New York City. Author Walter Mosley, Harvard law professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr. and retired U.S. Army Major General Antonio M. Taguba will be presenting the awards. ABC News Correspondent Juju Chang will be the emcee for the evening.

The AALDEF Justice in Action Awards are presented to exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in advancing justice and equality. Past recipients include the late civil rights icon Fred Korematsu, Maya Lin, David Henry Hwang, Lani Guinier, Yoko Ono, Mira Nair, Harold Koh, and Deval Patrick.

Proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala benefit AALDEF's legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equality, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct and human trafficking.

Date: Thursday, February 21, 2008
Location: PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers in New York City.

The nomination deadline for Aspire's 1st Annual Outstanding Woman of the Year Award is March 1, 2008.

Asian Sisters Participating In Reaching Excellence (ASPIRE) is looking for young Asian American women who are role models for their community and is committed to ASPIRE's mission of empowerment for their 1st Annual ASPIRE Outstanding Woman of the Year Award. The award will be presented at the 2008 ASPIRE Asian American Women in Leadership (AAWIL) Conference on April 26, 2008 at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. This year's keynote speakers include SuChin Pak, Correspondent, MTV News and Kyung Yoon, Vice Chairman, Heidrick & Struggles.

ASPIRE's Outstanding Woman of the Year award celebrates a female high school or college student of Asian American decent that is a proven leader with the initiative and determination to make a change in her community. Nomination Deadline is March 1, 2008.

"We're very excited to create this award for young Asian American women across the nation who are making a difference in their communities," said Grace Niwa, Chair, ASPIRE. "This is a wonderful opportunity for ASPIRE to share their stories by recognizing and acknowledging those that empower and inspire others to give back."

The Grand Prize Winner will receive an all-expense paid trip to Boston to attend the AAWIL Conference where she will receive the award from ASPIRE's high-profile keynote speaker, the opportunity of a lifetime to spend a day with an Asian...

Kelly Hu, Yul Kwon, and Deputy Secretary of Southern Nevada Chris Lee are manning phone banks for the AAPI vote.

(Las Vegas, NV) Actress/Model Kelly Hu, Winner of Survivor: Cook's Islander Yul Kwon, and Deputy Secretary of Southern Nevada Chris Lee join local community members and volunteers at phone banks in Henderson, NV, a day before the caucuses on Friday, January 18th at Noon for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to attend this Saturday's Caucuses.

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is a key electorate in Nevada and the Asian population is the fastest growing population, highest of all races, in Clark County, Nevada. There are about 130,000 Asian Americans and 17,000 Pacific Islanders in Clark County. In 2004, 75% of Clark County's AAPI registered voters turned out to vote and 77% of Nevada's AAPI registered voters turned out to vote.

"Kelly, Yul, and Chris are prominent members of the Asian American Pacific Islander community who have contributed their time to ensure that many more AAPIs will caucus this Saturday." said Daphne Kwok, APIA Vote Board Member. "We hope that our community members will join them in their efforts-- whether it's to phone bank, to caucus, or to canvass, and ensure that our voices get heard in the electoral process."

Celebrity Phone Banking
WHO: Kelly Hu, Yul Kwon, Chris Lee and volunteers
WHAT: Phone Banking to get AAPIs out to the NV Caucuses this Saturday
WHEN: Friday, January 18, 2008, Noon to 1PM
WHERE: 2475...

AAJA Convention to Emphasize Skills Training for Journalists to Succeed in Today's Newsrooms

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 26, 2007) - With newspapers across the country experiencing dramatic changes in recent months due to consolidation, convergence and staff downsizing, the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) today called for the nation's newspaper editors not to lose sight of the importance of diversity in newsrooms and in the coverage of the country's diverse communities.

"Now more than ever as we navigate tremendous challenges, it is crucial for industry leaders to ensure diversity at all levels. Diversity is fundamental to fair and accurate coverage of communities of color, which are growing exponentially nationwide," said AAJA President Jeanne Mariani-Belding, attending the convention of the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE), held March 27-30 in Washington, D.C.

AAJA's call for ensuring diversity came in response to today's release of the ASNE annual newsroom census, showing an overall decrease in minority staffers for only the second time since ASNE began undertaking the survey. Asian Americans now comprise 3.27% of the total newsroom workforce in the U.S., a slight increase of 0.05% from last year. That still falls short of achieving parity with the current Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population of more than 5%.

There also was 1% increase in the number of AAPI newsroom supervisors this year.

"While it's encouraging to see the number...

Barack Obama's ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH, 2009 Proclamation

The vast diversity of languages, religions, and cultural traditions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continues to strengthen the fabric of American society. From the arrival of the first Asian American and Pacific Islander immigrants 150 years ago to those who arrive today, as well as those native to the Hawaiian Islands and to our Pacific Island territories, all possess the common purpose of the fulfilling the American dream and leading a life bound by the American ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we remember the challenges and celebrate the achievements that define our history.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have endured and overcome hardship and heartache. In the earliest years, tens of thousands of Gold Rush pioneers, coal miners, transcontinental railroad builders, as well as farm and orchard laborers, were subject to unjust working conditions, prejudice, and discriminationyet they excelled. Even in the darkness of the Exclusion Act and Japanese internment, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have persevered, providing for their families and creating opportunities for their children.

Amidst these struggles, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed in great and significant ways to all aspects of society. They have created works of literature and art, thrived as American...