Katrina Second Anniversary - News, Actions

As long-time Villagers may know, our cyberspace resource is produced by New Orleans-based publisher, IMDiversity, Inc., so over the past 2 years we've made a special effort to provide news and views on the goings-on in the region. Approaching the anniversary of the one-two Katrina/Rita punch that swept through and destroyed, damaged or dispersed so much in the Gulf, including our own HQ and staff, we will be posting information throughout our network, on IMDiversity.com and THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Online, about a number of events, as well as follow-up analyses of the rebuilding progress -- or lack thereof -- throughout the week.

Just a few items of interest this week is a supplemental package of AP News stories at our Career Center focusing on the ongoing impact of the hurricanes on regional employment, small business planning, insurance and housing. Among the bad news is a new study by LSU finding that even after 2 years, employment in areas hit by the storm remains woefully down. In N.O., for example, employment is still down nearly a third after the city lost nearly 21% of companies. Our section will also include featured job opportunities in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi that employers have posted to our job bank.

As a company, we're also supporting as series of actions, including a coalition call for A DAY OF PRESENCE in New Orleans on 8/29, which aims to invite a multicultural gathering of concerned citizens from nationwide to gather for a whirlwind of events ranging from scholarly conferences and policy panels to mass demonstrations demanding a "Marshall Plan" for restoring the Gulf Coast. Among other interesting activities to commemorate Katrina is an ambitious observance by the African-American Leadership Project, "Hands Around the Dome," on September 1, which envisions a multicultural throng of thousands joining hands to encircle the Superdome, as just the crowning activity following a week of observances and volunteer service activities.

On Asian American Village, we're also interested in some other developments, and have been on a kind of "Bobby Watch" -- as in Bobby Jindal's trials and progress towards possibly becoming the first Asian American governor of Louisiana. After his easy reelection in November, partially credited to his resolute conduct during the Katrina crisis, he may have a better chance than in his first strong 2003 run against now-outgoing Governor Blanco.

We also want to give a shout to the great organization, SOS Boatpeople, which did a great job with providing relief centers in multiple locations throughout the Gulf, and made headway in the past year with rebuilding projects. SOSBP reports that many of the 30,000 Vietnamese in the Gulf Coast region are still seeking timely help and information, and invites the national community to read more about and support its relief & recovery efforts.

(On a related front, see the recommended Refuge From The Storm from Nguoi Viet, a Q&A by Anh Do: "Two years ago this month, the deadliest and costliest catastrophe in U.S. history unfurled just as Tram Nguyen started her new job with the much-lauded Virginia-based charity, Boat People SOS. Nguyen, now 26, recounts the drama on the second anniversary of the storm that resulted in more than $80 billion in damages.")

Finally, we'd also like to keep up with local community news and views, and invite people to share their stories or comments about the anniversary and recovery on the blogs. If you hear of any more resources like SOSBP or know of commemorative events in the community, please let us know.

Profiled: Heidi Shyu, VP Corporate Technology and Research, Raytheon

Of interest from our sister-site, the Professional Women's Village, a profile of Heidi Shyu, the recently appointed Vice President, Corporate Technology and Research, of Raytheon Company.

A recipient of the 2004 Asian-American Engineer of the Year Award, among many others, Shyu describes her path to the senior circles of the industry giant, where she also serves as Chair of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board. In a Leaders Corner Q&A from Raytheon's Technology Today, Shyu discusses her approach to "creating an enterprise-wide technology vision and direction, the importance of disruptive technologies and radical innovation, and her penchant for taking on – and reaching – 'unachievable' goals."

The piece is of real interest to those concerned with high-level discussion of innovation and leadership in technology, but IMDiversity additionally invited Ms. Shyu to write for us on a topic of strong personal concern to her in America’s New Deficit: A Shortage of Technology Specialists.

In this original op-ed, Ms. Shyu observes that what she calls a 'holistic approach' is key to solving what is becoming a critical national technologists shortage, and particularly in attracting more women and minority scientists and engineers to pursue leadership roles in the industry. Underscoring the challenges of global competition and educational differences between the U.S. and countries like China and India, the Taiwanese-American Shyu stresses the necessity of promoting science education in our schools. While this call is becoming commonplace among leaders in science and technology industries of all kinds, Shyu's prescription is not merely "more funding for more science classes," although this is important. She also calls for the use of corporate programs and the use of media targeting young people -- especially girls -- to foster a respect for scientists, who may be considered role models in other countries, while too often considered just "geeky" here in the U.S.

She recalls from her own experience:

As a young girl growing up in Taiwan, I was mesmerized by science and
mathematics. I read books on female and male scientists and they became my role models. In America, we need to do the same for our kids, especially girls.
Earmarking additional resources for students to help them discover and enjoy
math and science would make the technology fields far more appealing and not
“boring.” Children are naturally curious, so interactive explorations of
our planet and learning how things work in our solar system can create a lot of
excitement. Look at how fast digital animation has advanced in films in
just the last 10 years. We can now visualize things that were impossible
to perceive just a few years ago. Media helps to shape our lives in many
other ways, so why not in the science and engineering field?

In this, the editors found Shyu's insights in these two linked articles doubly valuable -- both their the global and Asian-specific perspectives arising from her personal background, as well as for the authority of her role at a $20.2 billion industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. She has a great deal to say about how America can keep its edge as a global technology leader, and says it with great style and clarity. Check it out.

Announcement: AAV Launches Secret Asian Man DAILY

Quick note to all the long-time SAM-Fanatics who have written us over the years.

You dreamed of it.
You asked for it.
You got it!

We're going daily with this baby! Stop in for your daily dose at the New Secret Asian Man DAILY section, with a new short black-and-white strip from UFS every day.

We'll still have the archives, big full-color specials, and Random SAM, of course. For those who missed it earlier this month, check out Open Letter to SAM Fans by Tak Toyoshima for a preview of what's in store with the strip.

Census: More than 300 counties now 'Minority-Majority'

Food for thought courtesy of the Census Bureau, via the IMDiversity.com Career Center Home Page:

A new release by the Census gives further food for thought about what it means to be a "minority" and a "majority" in the U.S. The Bureau today announced its findings that more than 300 counties now has a 'minority-majority' -- that is, nearly one in every 10 of the nation’s 3,141 counties is now home to population that is more than 50% minority, which includes all those who are not "white" alone. The release follows another release from earlier this year reporting that the U.S. minority population had topped 100 million.

Full release, broken down by ethnicity and details on select counties

Featured Opportunities posted at Asian American Village Jobs Center

A good, highly time-sensitive posting for a paid internship came our way that we wanted to get the word out about right away, because we only got the heads up today and its projected start date is August 20.

Paid P/T Internship – Asian American Center at Northeastern University
Northeastern University AAC located in Boston Mass.

They write that it's an "8-month part-time internship for anyone looking to gain experience working in higher education or with the Asian American community" by working at the Center. Other details:

Responsibilities will include:
• Work closely with the director to continue and develop programming initiatives for the Asian American Center, including the Asian American book club, Brown Bag/lunch discussions, workshops, and special events.
• Coordinate Asian American Center communications, including the website, weekly newsletter, and office calendar
• Support and advise student organizations and the Pan Asian American Council• Assist in day to day activities at the Center, including supervising student staff, scheduling in the Center, and general office duties.

Qualifications:
Individual must be a self-starter, highly dependable, and able to connect easily with students. Must be knowledgeable about the Asian American community specifically pertaining to Asian American college students. Experience working in the college setting a plus. Marketing and communications experience (specifically, website design/maintenance, Adobe Illustrator) also a plus.

To see the whole description, go to the Asian American Village Jobs Center - Jobs for US Center or directly to the posting.

The pay is not huge, but it's pretty darned respectable at 16 bucks an hour (better than ant internship I had in school, that's for sure). If you know anyone looking for an internship who's into exploring AA culture and community activity, spread the word.

------

Also on AAV Jobs Center this week is a featured posting for a Bilingual Relationship Manager - English/Mandarin or Cantonese with Citigroup and apparently, the position could be in either New York or San Francisco.

AAV's Center is one of the many Jobs QuickSearch Sections powered by IMDiversity.com Career Center site. It's an editors' choice section where we occasionally post featured jobs that are of specific interest to Asian American and NH/PI jobseekers. The general Featured Jobs section and main job bank search tools can be accessed from there as well.

H.RES. 121 "Honda Resolution" Passes; Coalition Responds

121 Coalition Statement on the Passage of H.RES.121

Monday July 30, 2007

With the passage of H.Res. 121, the United States House of Representatives reaffirms its promise as a powerful advocate for human rights.  
 
We commend the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Mike Honda, and Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Tom Lantos, as well as all 167 cosponsors for their passionate, bipartisan support for this resolution.
 
We also want to thank Congressman Lane Evans and Congressman Henry Hyde who championed and supported H.Res.759.  When H.Res 759 failed during the last Congress, many supporters felt defeated; but others did not give up.  The 759 campaign became the foundation for a national movement behind H.Res.121.
 
We highly commend survivors Ms. Lee Yong Soo, Ms. Kim Koon-Ja, Ms. Jan Ruff O’Herne, as well as all survivors, living and deceased, who advocated for truth and reconciliation, and testified courageously about their agonizing captivity in military rape camps, also known as “comfort stations” during WWII.
 
We extend our gratitude to the American electorate who supported this resolution by sending thousands of letters and petitions to Congress members from all over the United States.  
 
The so-called “comfort women” issue is not only about the past.  It is also about the present and the future.  Tragically, Japan’s wartime military rape camps were the precedent for  human trafficking, rape, and sexual slavery that continue to this day.  H.Res.121 delivers a strong message that we must protect civilians left vulnerable to violence and exploitation during armed conflicts, especially girls and women.  The perpetrators of these deeds must now take notice: the world will hold you accountable.  
 
This resolution is in no way an insult to the great nation of Japan.  Rather, it is a challenge to leaders of all nations who would deny historical truth for political gain.  The people of Japan have long understood that this issue can only be resolved with openness, honesty, and mutual respect.  Leaders who deny history, like those who deny facts, serve no one but themselves.  The people of Japan deserve an opportunity to put this terrible chapter of human history to rest, and reconcile with the world community in peace and in friendship.
 
Ethnic and sectarian conflicts in the Middle East serve as reminders that crimes such as these become fodder for future violence if the wounds they cause are allowed to fester without reconciliation, justice, or acceptance of responsibility.
 
Today, we stand with the United States House of Representatives to urge the people and the government of Japan to accept an invitation from their friends, the citizens of the United States, to officially acknowledge, apologize, and take responsibility for Imperial Japan’s role in the atrocities committed during WWII.  We thank those who have sent us messages of support from around the globe, and we express our support for the citizens of Canada and Australia as they seek to pass similar resolutions.  We see the success of H.Res 121 not as the end of our campaign, but as an auspicious beginning — one that will continue in partnership with human rights advocates in this country, in Japan, and around the world.

Statement From M. Evelina Galang,
Filipina American Coordinator, 121 Coalition

The passage of House Resolution 121 is an invitation to transcend past crimes against humanity, and a boon to the efforts of surviving “Comfort Women” who have been seeking justice for over 15 years. It is an opportunity for healing and reconciliation as well as a statement that defines what is and is not acceptable even during times of war. It is my hope that Japan accepts the invitation to bear witness to the women’s experiences and to honor and respect them by delivering a formal and unequivocal apology to all surviving “Comfort Women” of WW2.  
 
On September 18, 1992 Rosa Maria Henson was the first Filipina “Comfort Woman” to step forward and ask the Japanese government to accept full responsibility for the WWII systematic rape and abduction of over 200, 000 women and girls throughout Asia.  Following her lead, 173 of the estimated 1000 Filipinas subjected to the Japanese Imperial Army’s “Comfort Stations” also came forward and began to reclaim their dignity through organized campaigns designed by feminist grassroots organizations such as Liga ng mga Lolang Pilipina-Gabriela (LILA Pilipina).
 
Of the 173 Filipinas who have come forward, 54 have died.  Today, only a handful of women in their 80’s and 90’s are actively involved.   
 
The passage of House Resolution 121 demonstrates that the United States Congress and their constituents have heard these women.  It is a great sign of respect and support.  Let Japan follow the example of the United States House of Representatives as they pass House Resolution 121.  Let them look to the women, see their faces and hear their stories.  Let them acknowledge the past and take responsibility.
 
Novelist and University of Miami Professor M. Evelina Galang served as Florida Coordinator and Filipino American Outreach Coordinator for 121 Coalition

 

Secret Asian Man Creator Addresses Fans at AAV

Following up on our posting from last week regarding the syndication of the famed Secret Asian Man comic strip, the editors have published a new letter by the strip's creator and long-time Village contributor Tak Toyoshima, addressing Asian-American Villagers' questions about the changes we can expect to see as the strip evolves for daily distribution to more diverse and mainstream audiences.

In An Open Letter to Secret Asian Man Fans, Tak discusses the challenges and rewards he's experienced so far as an artist, and looks ahead to how America's favorite Asian-American comic hero might be affected by his success.

For those missed the previous announcement, United Features Syndicate has picked up "Secret Asian Man" for national distribution in daily and weekly newspaper packages. It is considered to be the first strip with an Asian-American lead character to be nationally syndicated, and will be made available for direct personal subscriptions as well as through newspapers.

If anyone wants to leave a message for Tak, we encourage them to post their comment to the Village blog at http://asianamericanvillage.blogspot.com/.

APAs for Progress Announces Wrap Up, Outcomes of National Townhalls on Hate Crimes

In follow up to our posting from June... we've posted a short item on the Village summarizing some of the follow-up reports from APAs for Progress about the summer series of "townhall" events addressing hate crimes and commemoratig the 25th anniversary of the Vincent Chin's murder.

In the end, events featuring expert panel discussions and screening of the film Who Killed Vincent Chin? were held at 14 sites, sponsored by APAP and partners including many leading local and national groups, and reaching an estimated 1,000 attendees.

While the size and scope of the events varied widely from place to place, the good news is that it created opportunities for diverse Asian Americans to spotlight a scourge affecting all of our subcommunities, to build coalition with other groups targeted for hate discrimination, and to commemorate Chin by discussing issues of social justice in a fresh, contemporary context. In fact, although the series was to officially end by July 19, additional groups in more cities have contacted APAP regarding their interest in hosting townhalls well into the fall. APAP board members also said that the summer's events were filmed, so with luck, some form of the proceedings may some be accessible to much wider audiences who were unable to attend the first time around.

For more bacgkround, see our longer post at the Village, or go directly to the APAP site at http://www.apaforprogress.org/.

Secret Asian Man Comic Strip Gets National Syndication

Secret Asian Man character created by Tak Toyoshima

Beloved strip considered the first syndicated strip to feature Asian-American lead character

The editors at IMDiversity.com Asian-American Village are thrilled to announce that our own hometown boy, Secret Asian Man, created by longtime Village contributor Tak Toyoshima, has officially entered the BIG TIME, having been picked up for national newspaper syndication by United Features Syndicate!

According to the UFS release, the move makes SAM the first Asian American lead character of a nationally syndicated strip, joining the ranks of such icons as Charlie Brown, Marmaduke, and Dilbert.

For SAM fans, the best news is that Tak will have to step up the pace, making two versions of the strip available -- as a daily strip and as a weekly/Sunday full color strip. He talks about his observations of the shift to the big leagues on the Secret Asian Man blog.

Editors interested in picking up SAM can go to the UFS FeatureBank for details.

Read the full story about SAM's syndication, and check out this week's bonus SAM strips while you're there!

Villager response to NAM Article by Mai Der Vang

Editors' Note:

It is inherent in the effort to publish to the highly diverse collection of people known as "Asian Pacific Americans" or APIAs that every so often, a hot-button issue or provocative article reveals the fact that there can be as many differences among us as there are commonalities, and that trans-Pacific conflicts can remain real divisions between ethnic groups here in the U.S.

We've written widely on the topic of "just what is an Asian American?" in the past on the Village, and will likely do so again as the definition and demographics of our community keeps shifting.

Meanwhile, we continue to occasionally receive and post reader messages that respond to controversial topics in articles by various newswires and contributing sources that appear on the Village, especially when they seem to introduce opportunities for substantive discussion on serious topics that affect our communities. Most recently, we have been publishing stories covering the accusation that General Vang Pao and a number of associates plotted an overthrow of the Laos government, and follow-up analyses of how the case is having a significant impact on the wider Hmong American community.

The following reader letter was sent sepcifically in response to the article, "Vang Pao Case Highlights Hmong Community's Losses," by a writer for New America Media. We post it here and encourage engaged readers to post their own follow-up comments as well.

--- LETTER ---

My response to Mai Der Vang, New America Media
on her article "Vang Pao Case Highlights Hmong Community s Losses"

I just saw this article and I would like to share my opinion:

Hmong are hill people. They live in the hills of Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Hmong also live in China where they have a long history there.

http://www.hmongnet.org/hmong-au/chmong.htm link to article about Hmong
history in China.

I was born in Laos but I am not Hmong. I am Laotian, meaning I speak Lao, practice the culture and I am Buddhist.

Hmong people's primary language is Hmong, they practice a hmong culture and their religion is shamanism. The only thing that makes a hmong person laotian is that they live in Laos.

There are about 256,00 Hmong in Laos and they are a minority. The Lao are the single largest ethnic group in Laos.

Reference:
http://www.omf.org/omf/us/peoples_and_places/people_groups/hmong_of_laos

I was very shocked to learn that Vang Pao attempted a coup on a country that
historically is not there. The historical ties of Hmong are really in China and
they have not had onwership claims to any country in for centuries. I am also
offended at Hmong people who claim to be Laotian yet don't practice the
language, culture or religon. The Hmong in America have mis-represented
themselves to the American culture by claiming to be Laotians when in truth,
they are hill people who have never been associated with any country they have
lived in.

I constantly have to correct many American's that I am not Hmong when I tell them I am from Laos. I also educate them that Laos is primarily Laotian. I don't condone the Lao Army or goverment practicing genocide as Laos is a country with many different ethnic groups in addition to the Hmong. The recent attempt of Vang Pao to overthrow the Lao goverment only angers Laotians particularly when they have made no attempt to learn or adapt to the Lao culture.

National Townhall on Hate Crimes, June 19 - July 14

Asian Pacific Americans for Progress (www.apaforprogress.org) presents...
National Townhall on Hate Crimes

June 19th-July 14th
Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Washington DC, Boston and more.

In June 1982, Chinese American Vincent Chin was killed in Detroit by two unemployed white autoworkers. This hate crime, motivated by anti-Japanese sentiments, served as a rallying cry for the Asian American community and is often considered the beginning of a pan-Asian American movement. Twenty five years later, Asian Pacific Americans for Progress and local partners around the country look back in time and assess where we are now. Each event will include a special screening of the Academy-Award nominated documentary, "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" and panels with local community leaders.

Receptions in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles sponsored by Imaginasian TV. Official media sponsor: Asianweek

NEW YORK
June 19, 6:30 PM
Co-sponsored by the Museum of Chinese in the Americas
MOCA (70 Mulberry Street, 2nd Floor)
John Liu (New York City Councilman), Liz Ouyang (Executive Vice President, OCA), Darwin Davis (President and CEO, New York Urban League)

GRAND RAPIDS, MI
June 19, 6:00 PM
Co-sponsored by the Asian Victimes Relief Fund
St. Mary Magdalen Family Center, 1213 52nd St., Kenwood
Dan Levy (Chief Legal Officer, Michigan Dept. of Civil Rights) Pravina Ramanathan (Asian American Liaison, Michigan Dept. of Civil Rights), Ingrid Scott-Weekly (Director, City of Grand Rapids Equal Opportunity Dept.)

CHICAGO
June 20, 6:30 PM
Co-sponsored by the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum (JAHHM), Japanese American Citizens League, Organization of Chinese Americans
JAHHM, 800 South Halsted, Chicago
Bill Yoshino (Midwest Director, JACL), Diana Lin (VP, Asian American Institute), Myron Quon (Legal Director, Asian American Institute)

DETROIT
June 23, 9:00 AM
Sponsored by the Organization of Chinese Americans and the Allstate Foundation
Co-sponsored by the American Citizens for Justice, Governor's Advisory Council on Asian Pacific American Affairs and APAP
Chinese Community Center, 32585 Concord Drive, Madison Heights, MI 48071
This full-day event is being organized by the Detroit Chapter of OCA as part of their Initiative on Hate Crimes. APAP is proud to be a co-sponsor. In addition to the screening of "Who Killed Vincent Chin?", there will also be a series of panels and a visit to the gravesite at Forest Lawn Cemetary. Panelists include Frank H. Wu (Dean, Wayne State Law School), Roland Hwang (President, ACJ), Stephanie Lily Chang (ACJ) and many more.

WASHINGTON, DC
June 23, 10:30 AM
Martin Luther King Jr. Library, 901 G. Street (Chinatown)
Co-sponsored by South Asian American Leaders for Tomorrow (SAALT), Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), Sikh American Legal Education and Defense Fund (SALDEF), University of Maryland's Asian American Studies Program, and the DC APA Film Festival.
Moderated by Eric Byler (director, Americanese and Charlotte Sometimes). Keynote by Larry Shinagawa (Professor, Univ. of Maryland)

BOSTON (QUINCY)
June 23, 2:00 PM
665 Hancock St., Quincy, MA
Co-sponsored by Asian American Resource Workshop, American Chinese Federation, Chinese Progressive Association

LOS ANGELES
June 24, 2:00 PM
Co-sponsored by National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (NCPD), Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission, South Asian Network, Muslim Public Affairs Council
NCPD, 111 Center St.
Hamid Khan (Executive Director, South Asian Network), Stewart Kwoh (Executive Director, APALC), Robin Toma (Executive Director, LA County Human Relations Commission), Renee Tajima (Director, "Who Killed Vincent Chin?")

SAN FRANCISCO
June 27, 6:30 PM
Co-sponsored by Chinese Historical Society
Chinese For Affirmative Action, 17 Walter U Lum Place (across from Portsmouth Sqare; on Clay between Grant Ave and Kearny St.)
Helen Zia (author and activist), Honorable Yvonne Lee (Member of the SF Police Commission and former Commissioner of the President's Commission on Civil Rights), Malcolm Yeung (Staff Attorney, Asian Law Caucus), Kavneet Singh (Managing Director, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

PORTLAND, OR
July 7, Time TBD
Location TBD
Co-sponsored by Thymos

RALEIGH/DURHAM
July 14, 2:00 PM
Co-sponsored by the National Association of Asian American Professionals-North Carolina and North Carolina Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Korman Communities - Theater, 300 Seaforth Drive, Durham, NC 27713

Additional events in other cities to come. Contact www.apaforprogress.org if you would like to host your own screening and discussion.  Please distribute.

Happy "Loving Day!" 40th Anniversary of Loving v. Virginia

Happy Hapa Day!

Asian American Village News: "40 Years after Landmark Ruling, Interracial Marriage Flourishing
June 12 Marks 40th Anniversary of Loving v. Virginia"

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision that did away with a Virginia statute barring whites from marrying nonwhites, and paving the way for the nullifcation/overturning of similar bans in 15 other states.

It also paved the wave for lots more hapas, like filmmaker and frequent Village contributor, Eric Byler, who's holding a party tonight Virginia to celebrate the Loving decision. It's just one of many such celebrations taking place across the country, so hug your favorite hapa or your other-racial squeeze and hop over to LovingDay.org to find the fiesta nearest you!

AAV Jobs Center Featured Job: Wang Center Coordinator

Opening posted this week to the Asian-American Village Jobs Center - Jobs for US Center:

Coordinator for Wang Center’s Asian/American Programs
SUNY Stony Brook - Stony Brook, NY

Description Summary: Responsible for managing and administering programs planned by the Director of Asian and Asian American Programs; provides support in the management of the budget for the Wang Center; works closely with the Director of Asian and Asian American Programs in the planning of programs and is responsible for the coordination and execution of programs initiated by the Director of Asian and Asian American Programs, in keeping with the Wang Center’s mission of promoting an understanding of Asian and Asian American cultures.

Required: B.A./B.S. degree in any discipline. In lieu of degree, a combination of education or directly related experience totaling four years will be considered. Three full-time years of complex and diverse administrative experience to include supervision and program coordination. Excellent verbal and written communication as well as interpersonal and organizational skills. Strong knowledge of word processing, spreadsheets, and e-mail software programs. Night and weekend work required.

Preferred: Demonstrated experience in diversity, multicultural, or minority affairs programming. Demonstrated experience in Asian and/or Asian American public programs and/or events. Experience working in an academic culture and/or non-profit environment.

Asian Americanists

ryuta said...

Hi! Just came across this blog while trying to spread the word about a new
collective blog written by Asian American graduate students.

Please check us out if you have a chance and help spread the word!!

Ask and ye shall receive --

We checked it out, and this blog by a team of current/former AAS grad students intends to be "like a virtual TA Lounge for Asian Americanists". Good for discussion and news tid bits from around the world.

APA Month feature: Mapping The Atlas of Asian-American History

Who decides whose stories are worth telling in recording and preserving "history" is a theme we've returned to again and again in our past APA Month editions, but this we were very pleased to get some good insight into the process in a new feature, Mapping The Atlas of Asian-American History. This award-winning APA history text, published by the uber-reference publishers Facts-on-File in NY, has won multiple awards for its expansive attempt to capture Asian American history in a vivid, detailed, illustrated but hefty tome that is popular at schools, libraries and other institutions. We invited the editor and the writer of this work, Monique Avakian and Carter Smith, to tell us about the challenges they faced in recording and reporting the histories of underrepresented Americans, in this book and in other areas.

We were fortunate to get their surprsingly frank and instructive account of how a book like this is made, and the real-life decisions and challenges that historical publishers face in determining how to expand the definition of "American history" to include minorities, including Asian Americans.

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Population hits 1 Million Mark

The latest release on race demographics by the U.S. Census has a number of milestones to report this month, not least of which is the news that the collective U.S. Minority Population has topped 100 million. That means, according to Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon, that “about one in three U.S. residents is a minority.”

But we have another milestone to mark for for APIA Month -- and this time, for once, it's all about the "PIs".

According to the release,the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population rose by 1.7 percent, or 17,000, from 2005 to 2006. Unsuprisingly, Hawai'i had the largest population (275,000), followed by California (260,000) and Washington (49,000. In Hawai'i, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders comprised the largest proportion (21 percent) of the total population, followed by Utah (!) (1 percent) and Alaska (0.9 percent).

The Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population in 2006 was younger, with a median age of 28.6, compared with the population as a whole at 36.4. About 30 percent of the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population was younger than 18, compared with 25 percent of the total population.

More...

Andy Toy Poised to Become Philadelphia’s First APA Councilman

This week, Philadelphia stands to make history, with a good chance of electing of its first-ever Asian American city councilman, Andy Toy. Smart, experienced, personable and extremely knowledgeable about the intersection of economic, crime, education and green neighborhood development issues, Toy has wide cross-ethnic support in his bid for one of the open at-large seats in the May 15 election. He's also been endorsed by virtually every serious and major publication in the region including the Inquirer and the Daily News, and major green, labor and neighborhood organizations.

He has also enjoyed the backing of Asian American organizations and activists nationwide. Known as a leader in the movement that saved Philadelphia's historic Chinatown from being wiped out by a sports stadium, for serving on Governor Rendell's Asian American Commission, and almost 15 years of successful economic development in poverty stricken, polluted neighborhoods, he has attracted support of APAs for Progress, among other national groups, and volunteers fropm California, New England, the Midwest and Virginia have been heading to the city of bortherly love to stump for him.

He's a great candidate not because he's Asian American, but because he has what it takes to help solve this city's considerable problems, and the city needs him even though it has never elected an Asian American before.

Most recently, noted filmmaker and frequent Village contributor Eric Byler (Charlotte Sometimes, American Knees, My Life Disoriented) came to Philadelphia to create a campaign video for Toy that has been spreading through Youtube. com and offline distribution to out-of-town volunteers, donors and supporters.

Check out the article on Andy Toy's race for Philadelphia City Council here and the Toy for City Council video here if you have trouble with the Youtube control below.

Of Interest @ YouTube Andy Toy 07 campaign video by Eric Byler

Just a Quickie: AAV Weekend News Entertainment Supplement

As we often do, we've added a supplement to the news for the weekend where we recap AP items of interest on a theme -- this weekend, a round-up of entertainment and media tidbits. We know they're not always easy to find for those who don't read all of the regular Main News Headlines, so here they are, FYI...

Report: Ang Lee spy thriller not ready for film festivals yet

Manager: Pop star Rain likely to debut in Hollywood

Ash Rai to play warrior queen, Rani Lakshmibai, in movie

Theater: How do you say 'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change' in Mandarin?

Radio host apologizes to HI state senator

What Asian American Villagers are reading

In the miscellany category, AAV's editors share our analysis of our Amazon Associates account, where we recently tabulated the all-time bestsellers from the nearly 10 years of the Village.

The top Asian American titles list is here.

APA Month - Updates from Asian American Village

Okay, we've been a little behind getting our draft updates posted. Still, new history features added so far this week as part of our updates for APA Month include...

Lolas’ House: Women Living with War
Excerpt from Filipina American author M. Evelina Galang's upcoming history of the "comfort women" of WWII, continues our thread from Women's History Month at Asian American Village, and ties into her incredibly moving, real-life stories of meeting with surviving "comfort women" who were forced to work as sex slaves during the Second World War and her blog on the topic, as well as coverage of CA Rep. Mike Honda's resolution to demand an apology from Japan.

Hanford’s China Alley
By historian and Asian American Studies professor Susie Ling, a look at a little-known historical Chinatown nestled in California’s Central Valley and some of its major early figures

Notes for Those Responsible for Commemorating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2007
By S.D. Ikeda, Editor
So, you've been drafted to program Heritage Month activities this year, and don't know where to start? This year's section introduction offers some quick tips based on past years' panicked inquiries from the well-intentioned draftees who want to do something substantive to commemorate the Month but need help.

And. of course, Tak Toyoshima tackles APA history in his own, unique Secret Asian Man way with a new strip, Working on the Railroad, plus several bonus strips of his past years' takes on APA Month from the AAV archives

More updates to come...

Something you'll probably never hear anyone say...

Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month!

We're starting our annual update of our APA Month section, with features, essays, links, news, activities for kids, historical interest, books, and more...to be updated on an ongoing basis throughout the month!

Featured Job: APIAVote.org

This came up on our job bank, from our friends at APIAVote.org. Some long-time Villagers have seen the excellent, free, nonpartisan contributions they've made to our site in the past, especially around elections seasons. This is a terrifically worthy group that provides (honestly) nonpartisan education and support to Asian American voters, from the early season activities such voter awareness drives, to instructional material translation annd phone help, to monitoring and publishing detailed information about community turnout, and more.

They told us they're looking for top-notch organizer who's deeply knowledgable in diverse Asian American community concerns. If you're that kind of people, take a look:

National Field Organizer and Trainer - Asian Pacific Islander American Vote
APIAVote.org
Washington, DC

National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Statement on VT

April 18, 2007

Washington D.C. - The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) joins the rest of the nation in sending our heartfelt condolences to the families, and friends of the victims of the tragedy at Virginia Tech and the campus community. We would also like to express our concern for the well being of the entire student body and all those impacted by this senseless loss of life.

NCAPA is a national coalition of organizations that serve Asian Pacific American communities around the country, with expertise on a range of issues - from mental health to inter-ethnic student dialogue and civil rights. We stand ready to commit our resources and support and to work with the administration and student body at Virginia Tech in the days and months to come to begin the healing process and provide a safe atmosphere for the entire Virginia Tech campus community.

Attached is a letter that we are sending to the President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

NCAPA Member Organizations
www.ncapaonline.org

National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Asian American Institute
Asian American Justice Center
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO
Asian Pacific Islander American Vote
Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment and Leadership
Chinese American Citizens Alliance
Hmong National Development, Inc.
Indian American Center for Political Awareness
Japanese American Citizen League
Korean American Coalition
Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics
National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging
National Association for the Education and Advancement of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans
National Federation of Filipino American Association
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
Organization of Chinese Americans
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Sikh Coalition

Additional readings will be posted at Asian-American Village in both its main content departments and its news headlines section

On Imus' Heels, OCA Slams Power 105.1 FM Radio Segment as Racist

OCA Condemns Power 105.1 FM Radio Segment as Racist
The ink was barely dry on Imus' pink slip as the latest release to come our way again demanded an apology and meeting station officials for another tired, stereotype-ridden radio "shlock jock" segment.

The release, by the Organization of Chinese Americans, specifically targets the "Are You Smarter than an Asian?" segment on the Ed Lover Show with Egypt and Ashy.

I don't know -- if there's anyone on the program's staff or in its audience who still finds that any humor can still be squeezed out of the same tired old "Hung Lo" jokes and sing-song broken English accent gags, maybe they've answered their own question in abundance. Maybe it's just me, but I am finding it harder and harder to get too bent out of shape about these types of shock jock offenses, because they announce themseleves to be the products of people who are not as smart as Asians -- even dumb Asians.

If I listed all the readings and releases we've run over the past few years on the Rosies and Corollas and Jersey Boys and Sarah Silvermans of America, my wrist would fall off.

There Must Still be Something Out of Kilter
By Lloyd Williams
Commentary: Either it’s ovah for Imus, or, as sister Sojourner Truth said so many years ago, there must still be something out of kilter.
Asian Americans Take Action against Offensive Radio Remarks in Toledo, Ohio
By Theresa J. Mah, Ph.D., Department of Ethnic Studies, Bowling Green State University
Coalition seeks removal of DJ "Lucus" on Tower 98.3 FM for prank call segments ridiculing Asians
N.J. Radio Station Hosts Accused of Hate, Anti-Asian Sentiment
By LYNDA LIN, Assistant Editor, Pacific Citizen
Among other comments, 101.5 FM’s ‘Jersey Boys’ call APAs ‘fringe people’ and stir up debate about free speech and hate media
HOT 97’s Miss Info’s Future Still Unknown
By the Pacific Citizen Staff
March 2005- The Asian American radio host who objected to the tsunami parody song says she will not return to hostile work environment

...ad nauseum...

And, before we allow ourselves to get all holier-than-thou, it's worth a reminder that some of these racist shock-commentators are in fact dumb Asians (Kenneth Eng, anyone?), who are and should be targeted for our protests as well.

But, as the editors and many contributors have observed in the past -- and the Imus and Eng firings partially show -- the remedy to these sorts of incidents is to act up. Sure, make noise, protest, meet with stations, demand apologies, but above all flex the muscle of your pocketbook. Using financial pressure to voice your protest and communicating your displeasure to a station's sponsors and advertisers is not censorship, or an infrignement on free-speech. Shock jocks have the right to find humor in cliched racist jokes and get their lame thrills out of feeling they've gotten away with something naughty and so-not-P.C. and express it on the air or in print. The station has a right to employ them. And you have a right to loudly refuse to buy the products and services of anyone associated with them, and to actively discourage everyone else you know from buying them.

But first, in all cases, it's also worth giving a listen to judge for yourself. Here's the link to the online version of the show where you can hear the stream, see who's sponsoring the program, and determine what you might want to do.

U Penn Screening My Life Disoriented, Americanese Preview

A note from Chinese American filmmaker activist and frequent AAV contributor, Eric Byler:

Byler will be appearing this week at a series of talks and screenings in the Philadelphia area, discussing both his works for the silver screen and tube, and his more recent forays into producing guerilla public service and community politics videos.

Public screening tonight gives Philly folk a chance to see a screening of My Life Disoriented, and Asian American family drama he created for PBS' series Independent Lens, and bits of Americanese, a new feature-length film starring Chris Tajima, Allison Sie and Joan Chen, adapted from Shawn Wong's classic American Knees.

Eric Byler Talk, Screening of My Life Disoriented
April 18, 2007
University of Pennsylvania
402 Logan Hall
249 S 36th Street
Philadelphia, PA

Byler will also be appearing on April 19th at nearby Swarthmore College.

Dean Frank Wu Resigning 2008

Michigan's Wayne State University Law School Dean and author of Yellow--Race in America Beyond Black and White Frank H. Wu announced his resignation as dean, effective May 2008. Wu, who has been dean of the Law School since 2004, gave family reasons, specifically the health concerns of his wife, as the reason for his resignation and need to return to Washington DC. Wu plans to focus on several initiatives before his departure, in particular the continuing progress on the fundraising for the Damon J. Keith Classroom Building & Center for Civil Rights at the Law School.

Frank Wu has been a friend of Asian American Village for many years, as well as a prolific former columnist. As the first Asian American law school dean, he has been an incredible role model for our community. He has also been at the forefront of our battles for affirmative action and diversity at Michigan.

We at the Village wish you and your wife, Carol Izumi, the best. We know we will still hear from you in Washington DC. But Michigan will miss you! Check out his blog and if you haven't read Yellow--Race in America Beyond Black and White yet, read it now, it's brilliant!

Weekend in Paradise - @ AAV News

Asian American Village News: "Weekend Focus: Hawai'i Culture"

As regular Villagers know, the editors have been spending a lot of time in the islands over the past few years, a series of readings from the AP got us in an island mood this weekend. Many of them are following up on the Merrie Monarch festival, the annual fest for "the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture through education." But another one got us to thinking -- the good, thorough article by the AP's JAYMES SONG, "Once near extinction, Hawaiian language making strong comeback".

Richly annotated with a historical timeline sidebar and list of "fast facts," the piece gives a good sense of how community, academic and public partnership can work to preserve what would otherwise be lost.

It's an important lesson. Very, very often, preparing the news for our sister site, The Native American Village, we see disheartening reports of indigenous languages fizzling out with the passing of elders -- usually an especially long-lived woman -- known to be the last speaker of various tribal languages. Across the country, dedicated linguists and academics are working at saving such languages, but the efforts are likely doomed without the support and particpation of local families.

As Song observes, for example, the parents of children in an immersion school for Hawaiian language must out of necessity actively participate in their kids' study: "With very few children's books available in Hawaiian, parents paste translations on top of the English text. So, for example, Shel Silverstein's popular book, The Giving Tree, becomes O Kumula'au Aloha."

Of the criticism that such immersion schools will put students at a disadvantage because their focus on an "unviable" language would presumably detract from their learning English, Song cites studies that suggest that "highly bilingual students tend to have higher cognitive abilities."

More at the article here.

More resources elsewhere at:

Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library
Hawaiian Dictionary
'Aha Punana Leo language program
University of Hawai'i at Hilo's College of Hawaiian Language

Asian American Activists Call White House Immigration Paper ‘Anti-Family’

Asian American Activists Call White House Immigration Paper ‘Anti-Family’:

Newly leaked White House immigration draft could be as devastating as the Chinese Exclusion Act, according to Asian American community leaders

New America Media, News Report, Eugenia Chien, Posted: Apr 06, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO -- Asian American community leaders called a newly leaked White House immigration draft “inhumane” and “un-American” because it calls taking away the right of legal immigrants to sponsor their relatives to join them and breaking up families as a result.

The document containing “a set of principles” for immigration reform drafted by key Republican Congressional representatives was circulated in Washington last week. The plan creates temporary visas for undocumented immigrants and new workers, but it also puts more limits on American citizens’ ability to bring their parents, children over age 21 and siblings to the United States.

“This plan attacks families and offers false hope for those seeking to legalize,” says to Karen K. Narasaki, executive director of the Washington-based Asian American Justice Center. "

More...

ASNE Report Finds Percentage of Minorities in Newsrooms Declining

According to the American Newspaper Editors Association 2007 survey on the representation of minorities in U.S. news media, the percentages of minority and women journalists working in America’s newsrooms both declined in the past year. According to ASNE, it is only the second time since the survey started in 1978 that the percentage of minorities has declined.

In a year marked by news organization layoffs that were headlines in themselves, ASNE’s annual “census” found that the percentage of minorities fell to 13.62 percent, down from 13.87 last year. The percentage of women also dropped from 37.70 to 37.56 percent.

The percentage of minorities in supervisory roles at daily newspapers dropped to 10.9 percent, equal to the percentage from two years ago. The downward trend holds true for student and entry-level employment as well. According to ASNE’s release, the percentage of minority interns stands at nearly 27 percent, “a number that has continued to fall as newspapers cut back” on internships.

The one silver lining in the report seemed to come from online media. ASNE’s census of daily newspapers for the first time counted full-time staffers who work entirely at online publishing activities by their companies. Among online media staffs, the percentage of minorities on staff was an estimated 16 percent, which helped make the drop in overall employment numbers seem less severe than they might have been.

See a fuller report at IMDiversity, ASNE Report Finds Percentage of Minorities in Newsrooms Declining, or view detailed data tables from the census at the ASNE website.

Frances' Japanese Pop Culture Experts on BBC

You can hear Frances Kai-Hwa Wang’s daughters, Margot and Hao Hao, interviewed on the March 27, 2007 “Japanese Culture Report,” on BBC Radio's “The World.” The report is about the increasing influence Japan has on American pop culture. Japanese superheroes are popping up in Super Bowl commercials and manga novels are preferred reading for many young Americans. The BBC was interviewing Roland Kelts, the hapa author of JapanAmerica--How Japanese Pop Culture has Invaded the US, and some other Japanese pop culture experts at a bookstore in Boston, and the girls just happened to be in the bookstore, sitting on the floor, reading a stack of manga as tall as they were.

Margot is the first child's voice listing all her favorite manga. Hao Hao isn't identified by name, only as "Margot's friend" (she's really mad about that), but she's the second child's voice talking about why she likes manga...they're pretty cute...future Asian Pacific American culture critics perhaps?? Here's the link.

Assocation for Asian American Studies in NYC

In New York City at the Park Avenue Grand Hyatt, April 4-8, 2007, the AAAS annual meeting will attract Asian Americanists from all disciplines and different regions of the country. The annual meeting will highlight current scholarly research and developments within the field and bring together experts and professionals with an interest in the field. The theme of the 2007 AAAS Conference is “Crosstown Connections: Asian American Urbanism and Interracial Encounters”.

Ramayana Across Asia at UM

The Ramayana, or Rama’s Journey, is a foundational epic tale in many South and Southeast Asian cultures. Over two thousand years old, the story spread along trade routes throughout the South Asian subcontinent and on to Southeast Asian empires, where it was carved into the reliefs of temple complexes such as Angkor Wat. But the story is not a relic; it remains vibrant and widely known across Asia today. This series explores and presents the Ramayana from diverse cultural and performance traditions in India, Thailand and Indonesia. Includes performances (gamelan concert, classical and contemporary dance, contemporary theatre, more), lectures, and demonstrations. All events are free and open to the public. For tickets and/or more information, please email cseas@umich.edu or call 734.764.0352. Check out the University of Michigan Center for Southeast Asian Studies for schedule, March 28 to April 14, 2007, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Follow up on Coalition 121 "Comfort Women" Resolution Action

This is from one of the organizers:

Based on preliminary analyses by the organizers, Coalition 121's lobby day, a number of U.S. legislators appear to be favorably viewing Congressman Mike Honda's resolution calling on Japan to recognize and apologize to former WWII "Comfort Women". During the Coalition's lobbying day on March 23, activists and volunteers visited some 130 offices on Capitol Hill to urge legislators to support the resolution by signing or cosponsoring it.

The Coalition reports that four representatives -- James McGovern, Jesse Jackson, Linda Sanchez, and Bobby Rush -- have already confirmed their cosponsorships of the resolution.

---

Also, in an only somewhat related item, we've posted a new Secret Asian Man strip, "The Abe Interview," by cartoon satirist Tak Toyshima, a fresh take on the issue for this year's Women's History Month.

Bright Sheng’s Threnody for Pipa and Orchestra, "Nanking! Nanking!"

The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies presents as part of the Arts on Earth Initiative and China Theme Year:

Bright Sheng’s Threnody for Pipa and Orchestra, NANKING! NANKING!
Panel Discussion with Video and Film Viewing
Friday, March 30, 2007, 4:00pm
Schorling Auditorium, School of Education (SEB)
610 E. University, Ann Arbor, Michigan

U-M MacArthur awarding-winning composer and music director Bright Sheng’s symphony Nanking! Nanking! was created in memory of Chinese victims of the 1937 massacre during the Sino-Japanese War. The composer tells the story “through the ‘eyes’ of one person (the pipa) who is not only a victim, but a witness and survivor… it is also a story of humanity’s spirit…” Why have issues of Japanese war nationalism and denial surfaced in this 70th anniversary of the Nanking Massacre in Japan, China, and the United States at a time when these nations reflect on issues of war and war memory? The NM is one of the most explosive metaphors for the still contested Pacific War, and the nationalist ambitions that drive that war and contemporary wars.

Historian Mark Selden of Cornell University will begin the session with an overview of the Nanjing Massacre (40 min), followed by a DVD viewing of Bright Sheng’s Nanking! Nanking! score played by the U-M Symphony Orchestra (18 min), and a panel discussion with Bright Sheng, Mark Selden, music critic Sheila Melvin, and Stanford University conductor Cai Jindong. Nicholas Howson, U-M School of Law, will moderate the panel (50 min). The History Channel’s “Rape of Nanking” documentary film will conclude the program--please note that the video contains graphic film footage of the conflict in Nanking.

A related lecture by Mark Selden is scheduled for Thursday, March 29, entitled “Bombing and the American Way of War: From the Pacific War to Iraq” at 1014 Tisch Hall at 4:00.

PANEL:
Bright Sheng, Leonard Bernstein Distinguished University Professor of Composition, University of Michigan
Cai Jindong, Director of Orchestral Studies, Stanford University
Sheila Melvin, music journalist and a frequent contributor to The Wall Street Journal, The International Herald Tribune and The New York Times
Mark Selden, Research Associate, East Asia Program, Cornell University
Moderator: Nicholas C. Howson, University of Michigan School of Law

Statement by 121 Coalition Supporting H.Res. 121

Call to Action from 121 Coalition
support121.org

About H.Res. 121

Japan's Imperial Army enslaved 200,000 girls and women of Asia during WWII and exploited them as "comfort women."

But there was no comfort and many were not yet sixteen.

These girls and women were victims of gang rape and brutal torture organized by the Japanese military that resulted in death, dehumanization and disease.

It's terrible enough that this atrocity was committed, but the suffering continues because despite testimonies from survivors and official documentation, Japan has not fully acknowledged responsibility for the crime. Their past attempts at apologies were equivocal and vague. And the truth is not taught in schools.

In fact, Prime Minister Abe and the Japanese government are now denying that the government played any role in raping of these women. Now they want to maintain that these girls were well-paid prostitutes at brothels. These women have evidence on their bodies: the knife wounds, broken bones, the diseases, removed uteruses. This is a moral outrage and a threat to global peace.

H.Res. 121, proposed by Congressman Mike Honda, calls upon the Japanese government to make an unequivocal and official apology for committing this war crime. Support H.Res. 121 and stand on the side of human rights, women's rights, global peace, truth and reconciliation.

For a list of organizations in our coalition, to join, or to learn about events and actions, go to: support121.org

Take action now!

-----


For more info:
House Resolution 121 : http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca15_honda/COMFORTWOMEN.html
Mike Honda's statement at the Feb. 15th hearing: http://internationalrelations.house.gov/110/hon021507.htm
Mindly Kotler's testimony: http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/kot021507.htm
Dr. Ok Cha Soh's testimony: http://internationalrelations.house.gov/110/soh021507.htm
Testimony of comfort woman, Lee Yong-Soo: http://internationalrelations.house.gov/110/lee021507.htm
Testimony of comfort woman, Kim Koon-Ja: http://internationalrelations.house.gov/110/kim021507.htm
Testimony by comfort woman, Jan Ruff O'Herne: http://internationalrelations.house.gov/110/ohe021507.htm
Dai Sil Kim-Gibson: Silence Broken film and book
Japanese War Crimes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes_in_mainland_Asia
Comfort Women News Archive: http://comfortwomen.wordpress.com/archived-news-articles/

Also: On "Comfort Women" by Secret Asian Man

While we're at it -- looking at Mike Honda's Resolution and the Japanese PM's response, that is:



We dug this out of the archives from a previous Asian-American Village Women's History Month edition. By the wildly popular, ever-controversial Secret Asian Man creator Tak Toyoshima, the strip tackled a similar theme a couple of years back -- this one in reference to the positioning of "voluntary comfort women" in Japanese school textbooks. We called the strip, "Why Japan Needs a Women's History Month".

Yul Kwon weighs in on Comfort Women

Reality TV star Yul Kwon has joined in the movement in support of CA Rep. Mike Honda's call for Japan to accept responsibility for the wartime treatment of "comfort women".

Kwon, who won the competition on last season's Survivor: Cook Islands, is featured in a new video by filmmaker and frequent Asian-American Village contributor Eric Byler now circulating on YouTube, Yul Kwon Supports Resolution Calling on Japan to Apologize.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe remains dug-in in his insistence that there was no forced recruitment of Asian sex slaves by the Japanese military during World War II. The growing clamor on this side of the Pacific, as well as by members of the opposition, is certainly embarrassing to the PM.

Check out the Yul Kwon video

Chinese politician wins in N. Ireland

A fitting story following up on International Women's Day, and for our Women's History Month edition, moving toward St. Patty's Day -- this reported by By SHAWN POGATCHNIK of the Associated Press:

Chinese politician wins in N. Ireland

Anna Lo being called the first Chinese elected lawmaker in Europe

"Lo, a Hong Kong native who has lived in Northern Ireland for 32 years, on
Friday became the first ethnic minority to be elected to political office in
this almost exclusively white British territory. Chinese media reports also
described her as the first Chinese person to be elected as a lawmaker anywhere
in Europe."

and this...

"Lo, the 56-year-old chief executive of the Chinese Welfare Association in
Belfast, said many of the approximately 10,000 Cantonese-speaking residents of
Northern Ireland have lived here for more than three decades — and had never
voted before her candidacy."

Featured Job with JACL - Japanese American Citizens League

It's come to our attention that our friends at JACL posted a job in our job bank looking for someone to direct Development activities in their San Francisco headquarters. The position was posted on Jan 13, and will expire soon. But if you or someone you know might be interested in working with JACL in its civil rights mission, please check it out and make a copy of the posting right away. So far, JACL has not removed the posting to indicate that the search is closed, but check with them directly.

Membership/Fund Development Director
Japanese American Citizens League - San Francisco, CA

A/PIA High School Conference at University of Michigan

Each year, the University of Michigan United Asian American Organizations (UAAO) is proud to present the Asian Pacific Islander American (A/PIA) High School Conference, a daylong event of learning, empowerment, and action. Historically, over 200 high school students come from different Detroit and metro-Detroit area high schools to participate in the conference, which features A/PIA-issue workshops, small group sessions, special guest speakers, and performances. The planning and execution of the conference is a collaborative effort from University of Michigan undergraduate students, faculty and staff, graduate/medical/law students, and members of the A/PIA community. Through careful budgeting and planning, this conference is offered completely free to the high school students.

This year's conference, to be held on March 24, 2007 at the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, will journey through the Asian/Pacific Islander Americans' identities by exploring issues in a multicultural world. "Completing the Puzzle" addresses our cross-cultural identities through workshops that tackle issues of representation in the media, pop culture, history, gender and sexuality, and much more.

Japanese Pop Culture Experts on BBC

On Friday, March 9, 2007, you can hear Frances Kai-Hwa Wang’s daughters, Margot and Hao Hao, interviewed on “The World,” a BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) radio program. The BBC was interviewing Roland Kelts, the hapa author of JapanAmerica—How Japanese Pop Culture has Invaded the US, and some other Japanese pop culture experts at a bookstore in Boston, and there were the girls, sitting on the floor, reading a stack of manga as tall as they were. The BBC asked them what they liked about manga. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what they said. I’ll be listening too.

Annual Asian American Village Women's History Month

The Editors have begun our annual updates to both our Women's History Month archive section and our longstanding annual feature, the Villager-nominated Asian Pacific American Women's Wall of Fame.

As always, the archive will be updated throughout the month with features, news and miscellany on the theme. A few items of interest posted recently or upcoming:

• Update: PepsiCo Elects CEO Indra K. Nooyi as Chairman - after hitting the #1 spot on Fortune's list of the powerful women in business, Nooyi's rapid rise continues past President, then CEO, then CEO and Chair of the mega-company, Pepsico announced in February.


• Series: New Essays by Frances Kai-Hwa Wang focus on beauty standards, self-image and aging in her customary, deeply personal and unique voice. We'll be posting a new essay by Wang every week, starting with her piece, APA Grrrlfriends, which finds the author searching for love and women's friendships in an APA Sex and the City


• News: We'll also be keeping an eye on developments surrounding the outrage over the Japanese Prime Minister's comments about WWII "comorfot women" aka sex slaves, and growing efforts worldwide to bring justice for the surviving victims.

Additionally, we're looking for and will give a shout to events and organizations of note. Just for a couple of examples:

• Reminder: March 8 is International Women's Day. This year's theme is tackling the problem of violence against women, and organizations both private and public are getting involved globally.


• Hat's Off to FWNet - The Filipina Women's Network - for sponsoring again this year a series of "V-Day" fundraisers benefitting efforts to stop violence against Filipinas. This year, they plan V-Day benefit events in NY and SF:

NEW YORK (2 dates)
Friday, March 30, 2007 (Opening Night):
7:00 PM – The
Vagina Monologues (in English & Tagalog)

Saturday, April 14,
2007:
2:30 PM – The Vagina Monologues (English)
7:00 PM – Usaping Puki
(in Tagalog, no subtitles)

SAN FRANCISCO
Saturday., March 24,
2007
2:30 PM – The Vagina Monologues (English)
7:30 PM – Usaping Puki
(in Tagalog, no subtitles)

More to come. Meanwhile, stop by during Women's History Month and drop us your nominations t0 the Wall of Fame.

-- Eds

Professional Women's Village @ Blogspot: Women's History Month 2007

http://womensvillage.blogspot.com/2007/03/womens-history-month.html

AsianWeek Apologizes Following Racist Column Controversy

The San Francisco-based newspaper, AsianWeek, on its website today issued an apology and a rejection of the "biased views" of its columnist, Kenneth Eng, following the wide condemnation of his article, "Why I Hate Blacks".

The paper further announced the author's firing and promised a review of the editorial processes that let the article be published. The paper is reported to be planning a town hall-style meeting in San Francisco in the near future.

More on the apology and Kenneth Eng controversy.

Job: Clinical Counselor Working with APA Students (IL)

Head's up on featured opportunity at IMDiversity AAV:

Clinical Counselor Working with APA Students (IL)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Deadline: March 9, 2007

REQUIRED

Doctorate in Clinical, Clinical/Community, or Counseling Psychology, or Masters in Social Work is required.
2. Demonstrated interest, expertise, and experience in clinical and outreach work with Asian American students are required.
3. Demonstrated competence in multicultural programming and multicultural clinical work is required.
4. Demonstrated ability to function at a high level as a generalist counselor in a setting with both diverse clients and staff colleagues is required.
5. License in Illinois or license-eligible background as a psychologist or clinical social worker is required.
6. Previous experience in a college counseling center is preferred, but not required.

Conditions:1. Starting Date: August 1, 2007 or mutually acceptable date.

More details

Asians in Medical Professions vs. the Executive Suite

While rennovating and expanding the IMDiversity Healthcare Industry Careers Channel, the editors stumbled across a few sobering stats about barriers to advancement for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in a field where, stereotypically, one might least expect it.

According to a 2003 aggregate report by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Asian Americans were in some sense "over-represented" in the healthcare field. Asian Americans constituted 5.2 percent of the total Healthcare and Social Assistance workforce, and 7.7 percent of "Professional" positions (including doctors, dentists, nurses, etc.), according to the report. At 4-point-something percent of the U.S. population in 2003, these figures are not too shabby, and seem to give evidence to the idea that we are "doing well," playing a leading role in this all-important, fastest-growing industry.

Chalk it up to what you will -- whether a high number of Indian, Chinese and Filipino doctors, nurses and researchers admitted to help ease the U.S. healthcare worker shortage on special visas, or simply intense parental pressure to be a doctors ... ;-)

However, a closer look at the next column shows that Asian Americans held only 3.0 percent of the "Officials & Managers" positions. Think, the hospital administrators and clinic managers, the behind the scenes and office positions, perhaps the heads of private labs ... or medical school research centers.

For all other minority groups, the percentages holding Professional positions and Official/Management positions were virtually identical.

This seems to make the healthcare profession consistent with other technical fields where a glass ceiling exists. Asians are presumed compentent and hard-working, skilled and highly educated, but perhaps not possessing the stuff of enjoying the fruits of their contributions in management at the top-levels.

One result is that many organizations, scholarships, and official initiatives established to create a measure of equity for minorities in the profession do not include Asians. We may in the aggregate excel at serving as doctors and nurses and technicians. Yet, as important and worthy as these occupations may be, additional research is needed. First, clear disparities in the quality of healthcare exist along ethnic lines, and this goes for Asian Americans as well. This seems counterintuitive; one would think with all those Asian doctors and nurses toiling away out there, Asian Americans would be receiving fantastic, culturally-targeted, in-language medical care more than most groups. But research into the dearth of Asian Americans who are decision-makers and purse-string holders in the management offices of the industry may point the way new kinds of access, research and attention to the benefit of Asian Americans' healthcare.

On a final note: The research into the representation of Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians in the industry is releatively new, and the subject for another day. However, already, it's clear that the disparities are even more pronounced in this group -- in terms of both access to the best healthcare and representation in the professions.

Pipa Sensation Yang Wei

I have fallen completely in love with the pipa, the Chinese lute. The pipa is a stringed instrument that originated in the Middle East as the oud and has existed in China since the Qin Dynasty, 221-207 BC. It is now becoming a “world instrument” like violin or piano.

I recently heard pipa performed as the centerpiece of theatrical dream team Bright Sheng, David Henry Hwang, and Ong Keng Sen's musical theatre opera, The Silver River, at the University of Michigan.

Then pipa virtuoso, Yang Wei, came to the University of Michigan as an artist-in-residence for two weeks and I went to hear him perform and speak four times! Mr. Yang is an incredible musician and a charming person, peppering his performances of classical Chinese, contemporary Chinese, and Western music (Home on the Range, Oh Susanna “...with a pipa on my knee”) with stories about coming to America from Shanghai, drawing parallels between learning pipa and learning English (and how to drive).

Yang Wei is also part of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project which has “a vision of connecting the world’s neighborhoods by bringing together artists and audiences around the globe. Inspired by the cultural traditions of the historic Silk Road, the Silk Road Project is a catalyst promoting innovation and learning through the arts.” This is not just explorations of the traditional instruments and traditional music, but also exciting new collaborations between many of these instruments and musical traditions.

Chicago is the first city in the world to collaborate in a year-long partnership with The Silk Road Project, including performances, master classes, workshops and educational programs featuring Yo-Yo Ma and other Silk Road Ensemble members.

Check out the videos of the Silk Road Ensemble in action on Yang Wei’s website, and try to catch them in one of their upcoming concerts. They are so cool.

More Buzz: APAs and a Dem Weekend

Asian American activists of all stripes gathered in MD suburbs this past weekend for a series of events coinciding with the Dem-fest in DC.

Attending were folks representing national grassroots organizations such as APAs for Progress and Real Americans for Democracy (a next-gen project rising from the success of "macaca-slayers" Real Virginians for Webb), PACs like the Asian American Action Fund, as well as APA staffers from campaigns and Congressional offices, those who had worked APIA outreach for the DNC, and folks from ethnic media and local community service organizations.

In addition to buzzing about the field of new Presidential candidates and debriefing from the midterms, the series of meetings provided an opportunity for a highly energized and diverse body of Asian Americans to network, weigh future cooperative projects, and discuss problems and priorities in the community.

Although as diverse a bunch as you could find -- style, region, ethnicity, age, profession -- I overheard some common themes in the group buzz.

• One was a general sense that the Democratic Party has taken a demonstrable turn in the last couple of elections, paying more attention to APAs and expanding opportunities for them to be involved at multiple levels of the Party.
• Another was that this investment has demonstrably paid off, and it is likely that efforts to outreach to APA constiuencies will probably see continued, increased support in the Party moving forward. We'll probably see more Asian faces at the conventions, on staffs, and out there stumping and canvassing.
• A third was that the midterms saw an increasing number of dedicated APAs, especially younger people, gaining valuable field experience and becoming engaged in campaigns and GOTV at a deeper level than in the past, and as a result...
• Asian Americans may still be far away from having a big umbrella organization like a La Raza or NAACP, but building coalition and cooperation seems to be a common interest among disparate activist groups intrested in affecting elections. (On a related note, see the coincidental release by the new 80-20 Initiative board this weekend, too.)

And what did the group have to say about the candidates? I can't say a consensus favorite emerged this weekend, but on one thing everyone seemed to agree: Asian Americans are looking for Bill Richardson to address The Wen Ho Lee issue, and it probably won't be comfortable for him.

More later...

Buzz: Changing of the Guard at 80-20

After years with founding President S.B. Woo at the helm, the 80-20 Initiative and PAC -- a national organization dedicated to creating an Asian American swing vote through promoting a bloc-voting strategy -- is seeing a wave new faces on its executive committee and board of officers. The organization's new President, Kathleen To, announced the leadership changes in a release circulated on February 3.

The message also acknowledges that Woo (who was term-limited out as 80-20 president this year) leaves some very big shoes to fill. (Woo has said he will continue to play a role in the organization, possibly focusing on a recently developed education foundation project.) Indeed, To will face some challenges as she takes the helm of an organization that has been so closely aligned with the name of the founder. This identification with Woo has created some obstacles for 80-20 in its past efforts to build multipartisan coalition. Although 80-20's decision-making committees are constituted of equal numbers of Democrats, Republicans and independents, Republicans who failed to win the organization's consensus endorsements have routinely accused it of partisanship because Woo had been a Democrat when he served as Lt. Governor of Delaware.

The new leadership change, then, can provide a good opportunity for 80-20 to put some distance between itself and these charges, and to strike out in some new directions, too. The message from To suggests that a key goal is "to reach out and co-operate with all other Asian American organizations, [and] reach out to our Congressional Delegations."

For a time 80-20 was regarded as the only national, pan-Asian political action organization of note that could provide formal endorsements, it got a reputation for going things its own way and not really working in coalition with other organizations who were also dedicated to community concerns, voter participation, and so forth. Further, in its early years, 80-20 had reserved its endorsements and member energies exclusively for presidential races, generally shying from Congressional or gubernatorial races and leaving midterm elections alone.

Beginning last year, however, 80-20's consensus focus on combating glass ceiling discrimination through Congressional hearings gave it an opportunity to weigh in on midterm races, and it received high-level attention on the issue from the new DNC chair Howard Dean.

The new board will be holding its annual meeting in Washington DC in April. We will likely see some more announcements of new directions and deals then.