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Tsui Yee receives the 2013 Dena Coye Outstanding Woman Entrepreneurship Award

Congratulations Tsui! 

February 27, 2013 (NEW YORK) – The National Minority Business Council (www.nmbc.org) is marking the start of its fifth decade by further expanding its annual awards program, now in its 33rd year, by presenting its first award ever for Outstanding Green Initiative, February 28th at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square, New York City.

C.W. Brown, a Westchester County-based general contracting and construction management services firm serving commercial clients in the Tri-State area, will receive NMBC’s first-ever Outstanding Green Initiative Award at the organization’s annual luncheon, beginning at 11:00 AM. Employee-owned and certified as a Woman-owned Business Enterprise, the company’s headquarters building in Armonk, NY was the first green construction in Westchester County to have met the standards of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Certification, the highest certification standard in the U.S. Green Building Council’s rating system. It was the first building in New York State, outside of New York City, and one of only 86 in the United States to achieve this distinction.

NMBC is also reinforcing its strong working relationship with government agencies by featuring as this year’s keynote speaker Craig Collins, vice president of administration, New York City School Construction Authority (SCA). Collins is responsible for Contractor Qualification, Administrative Services, Human Resources, Business Development Division (BDD) and Policy Development, all of vital interest to any business eager to become qualified as government contractor.

“Last year, reaching our 40th Anniversary was a significant milestone for NMBC. But clearly, our work is not complete,” said John F. Robinson, President and CEO of the national organization that is headquartered in New York City. “Over the years, our advocacy work for minority-owned businesses has expanded as the definition of ‘minority-owned’ has grown. "Minority-owned businesses, whether their principals are people of color, women, veterans, members of the LGBT community, immigrants to our great country, or people with disabilities, have proven time and again that they not only have what it takes to survive but thrive. The men and women being honored at our 33rd Annual Awards Ceremony are testimony to that and are an inspiration for future generations of business owners of all backgrounds and from all walks of life, regardless of color, gender, or national origin.”

Several of the awardees noted that this achievement is recognition of their personal and professional commitment to the same goals and ideals of NMBC. “Working with diverse firms is a priority at Skanska, and we’re honored to accept the 2013 Outstanding Corporate Supplier Diversity Award from the NMBC,” said Tom Webb, executive vice president and general manager for Skanska USA Building’s Metro New York region. “We’re committed to collaborating with and creating opportunities for minority businesses which help fuel the local economies where we all work together.”

Tsui Yee, a founding partner of Guerrero Yee LLP, shares this year’s Dena Coye Outstanding Woman Entrepreneurship Award with Data Blue, a customized storage, backup and server virtualization and consolidation firm with offices in New York and Atlanta. “I am honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Yee, who practices immigration and nationality law in New York. “I deeply respect NMBC which provides tremendous support to minority entrepreneurs such as me. Being a member of NMBC has enriched my professional life and business in innumerable ways.” Yee is Co-Chair of the Immigration and Nationality Law Committee of the Asian American Bar Association of New York and Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Practice Committee at the New York County Lawyers Association.

“We are thrilled to be recognized by the NMBC as the recipient of its 2013 Outstanding Media Award,” added Robert Levin, Chief Executive Officer and publisher. “Our Manhattan-based publication is relied upon by more than 100,000 business owners and executives in the tri-state area. Along with NMBC, we are there for those business owners that are seeking better ways to grow their companies." Mistress of Ceremonies at this year’s Awards Luncheon is Suzanne Veira, Senior Director Business Development, NYC School Construction Authority. The complete list of NMBC 2013 award recipients follows:

  • Outstanding Green Initiative: C.W. Brown
  • Outstanding Corporate Supplier Diversity Award: Citnalta Construction Corporation, Skanska USA Building, Inc., and Plaza Construction Corporation
  • Outstanding Minority Business: Padilla Construction Services, Inc., First Choice Mechanical, Inc., and Velez Organization.
  • Dena Coye Outstanding Woman Entrepreneurship Award: Data Blue and Guerrero Yee, LLC. The award is named in honor of a long-time and deceased employee of NMBC.
  • Outstanding Educational Institution:Medgar Evers College
  • Outstanding Veteran Owned Business Award: RCL Burco, LLC
  • Charles T. Haffey Community Service Award: Cause Effective. The award is named in honor of a former vice president of corporate purchasing at Pfizer, Inc., an early associate and strong supporter of NMBC.
  • Outstanding Global Business Award: Target International Shipping
  • Outstanding Media Award: The New York Enterprise Report.

About NMBC:

The National Minority Business Council, Inc. (NMBC), a not-for-profit 501 ©(3) corporation, was founded in December 1972. The primary purpose of the organization is to enhance the success and profitability of the small business community through the provision of high-quality services, programs, advocacy and networking support. The secondary purpose is to act as an information clearinghouse for the women- and minority-owned business enterprise (MWBE) community.

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National Movement to Push for Real Immigration Reform

Asian-led Community Organizations Call on Asian Pacific American New Yorkers to Join the National Movement to Push for Real Immigration Reform in 2013!

New York, NY – Today, February 28, Asian-led organizations citywide came together torally the Asian Pacific American community to join the national movement for immigration reform. The groups endorsed the New Yorkers for Real Immigration Reform Campaign, coordinated by the New York Immigration Coalition and supported by over 150 labor, faith, grassroots and immigrant organizations across the state.

The groups announced their campaign plans, including postcards calling for“real” immigration reform, an Asian Pacific American community-led town hall forum on March 28th at LaGuardia Community College, and a large mobilization on April 10th to Washington, D.C.

“2013 represents our best chance in decades to win immigration reform. The Asian Pacific American community must capitalize on the political power we demonstrated during last November’s election,” said May Chen, President of the New York State Immigrant Action Fund.  “It is critical to have the Asian Pacific American community push Congress and President Obama to pass real reform that keeps families together, protects workers and safeguards our civil rights.

David Chen, Executive Director of the Chinese-American Planning Council, emphasized, “The Asian Pacific American community must be ready to join the fight for immigration reform. The last package was passed over twenty years ago and we cannot wait another moment to fix this outdated system. Immigration reform is the most important legislation of our time and we must act now!

Steve Choi, Executive Director of the MinKwon Center for Community Action outlined three simple ways community members can join the campaign and urged them to “take a minute to sign the postcard, a few hours to participate in a community townhall or a day to travel down to Washington, D.C on April 10 to join thousands of others in a national march.

“Not only should individual community members act, but our sister organizations serving Asian Pacific American New Yorkers must also mobilize and reach out to their Congressional representatives,“ said Vanessa Leung, Deputy Director of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families. “There is too much at stake for us and this nation, and as Asian Pacific Americans we need our voices heard.”

Explaining what is at stake, Elizabeth OuYang, President of OCA-New York, added, “The current Senate “Gang of Eight” framework does not provide a realistic pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living and working in the U.S. We must tell Senator Schumer that our immigrant community members are the backbone of America and we should not have to wait decades to become fully participating members of our society. The process must be shortened and streamlined.”

“As an organization of undocumented South Asian immigrant workers and youth, we welcome immigration reform that is truly just and humane,” said Monami Maulik, Founder and Executive Director of Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) and the Global South Asian Migrant Workers Alliance. “However, we will not sacrifice one community for another. We cannot trade off any more human and civil rights violation, the militarization and deaths of migrants at the borders, the profiling of communities in the name of national security, and the separation of families through arrest, detentions, and deportations. Reform must be rooted in full human rights.“

Highlighting the importance of family reunification, Mae Lee, Executive Director of the Chinese Progressive Association, stated, “The back family visa categories are a major problem for our communities. Currently, it can take decades for an Asian Pacific American citizen or green card holder to be reunited with a family member. We must demand our New York Congressional representatives to push for a comprehensive immigration reform that keeps families together!”

“Three generations of my family have paid a heavy toll because of the backlogs and outdated quotas in family visa categories,” said Angie Kim, an undocumented Korean American and recent DACA recipient, “Though I am the grandchild of U.S. citizens, I lived over a decade of my life undocumented and in limbo. If we are going to keep families together, family reunification must be the bedrock of a reform package.”

Advocating for the rights of immigrant workers essential to New York’s economy, Luna Ranjit, Executive Director of Adhikaar said, “We strongly oppose the work history requirement in the current proposal. It is going to be very difficult for domestic workers, restaurant workers, nail salon workers, day laborers and other informal sector workers to prove employment history in the U.S., let alone continuous employment. The work history requirement will also make it easier for unscrupulous employers to take advantage of the workers seeking to adjust their status, and will further drive millions of workers into the shadows.”

“Comprehensive immigration reform must try to close the gap between the rights of immigrant Americans and U.S.-born Americans,” said Margaret Fung, Executive Director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.  "Recent laws have increasingly promoted racial profiling and resulted in civil rights violations against immigrants. Reform cannot stop short of laws reflecting human rights standards that ensure all workers make a decent living and all families can stay together.“

Rio M. Guerrero, Immigration and Nationality Law Committee Co-Chair of the Asian American Bar Association of New York added, “We support comprehensive legislation that will continue to make the U.S. the destination for world class businesses and the best and brightest workers.”

The APA Table in support of the New Yorkers for Real Immigration Reform Campaign include:

Adhikaar, Asian American Arts Alliance, Asian American Bar Association of New York, Asian Americans for Equality, Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund, APICHA Community Health Center, Chinese-American Planning Council, Chinese Progressive Association, Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, Desis Rising Up and Moving, Gay Asian & Pac Islander Men of NY, Hamilton-Madison House, Korean American Association of Greater New York, Korean American Family Service Center, Korean American Association of Queens, Korean Americans for Political Advancement, Korean American Business Council of New York, Korean Community Services of Metropolitan NY, MinKwon Center for Community Action, OCA-New York, Q-WAVE, South Asian Council for Social Services, South Asian Lesbian & Gay Association, South Asian Youth Action!, United Chinese Association of Brooklyn, Wonkwang Community Service Center (list in formation)

For more information, contact:
Christina Chang: (718) 460-5600
May Chen: (347) 234-9387
Fahd Ahmed:(718) 205-3036

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Past President Vincent Chang Quoted in Law360 Article on Prof. Rivera

Rivera Flap Shows NY High Court Picks Can Expect Scrutiny
By Pete Brush

Law360, New York (February 11, 2013, 8:02 PM ET) – The New York State Senate confirmed law professor Jenny Rivera to the state’s highest court Monday on a voice vote, but a bitter debate over her resume signals to Gov. Andrew Cuomo that upcoming judicial nominees can expect heightened scrutiny, especially if they don’t have bench experience.

Rivera, a law professor at the City University of New York, becomes the first judge ever in the Empire State to leap straight to the New York Court of Appeals from academia.

An expert in Hispanic and women’s civil rights issues, Rivera replaces the court’s first and only Hispanic judge, Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick, who was forced to retire at the end of 2012 after reaching the age of 70.

“Professor Rivera has dedicated her career to public service,” Cuomo said after the vote. “Her extensive experience in civil rights law and her passion for making our state a fairer and more just place will greatly benefit New York.”

That Rivera’s Senate confirmation came on a voice vote suggested Republican opposition wasn’t uniform, experts said. But that didn’t stop several influential Republicans, including Middletown, N.Y., Republican John J. Bonacic from taking to the Senate floor in opposition.

“To put someone who has such narrow legal experience on the highest court of this state for 14 years … and pass over other highly qualified nominees is not something that I can support,” said Bonacic, whose judiciary panel advanced Rivera’s nomination without recommendation after a testy Feb. 4 hearing that was carried over until the next day.

Bonacic was referring to a list of seven candidates, sent to Cuomo by the State of New York’s Commission on Judicial Nomination on Dec. 1, that included three state appellate division judges and two practicing attorneys.

“The nominee has a very limited law practice experience,” said Bonacic, adding that he had “concerns that she will be prone to judicial activism.”

Even though they didn’t have the votes to mount a serious challenge, Republicans are making it clear they will do what they can to make sure Cuomo doesn’t steamroll them at every turn, according to Pace University law professor Randolph M. McLaughlin, who also works as of counsel on civil rights matters at Newman Ferrara LLP.

“The Republicans were trying to send Cuomo a message, that they’re not a rubber stamp,” he said. “My gut instinct tells me, given the range of folks he has in the wings, that Cuomo will pick a sitting judge next.”

Cuomo won’t have to wait long before his next pick. After Rivera is sworn in, she will become the only the sixth sitting member on a court that is supposed to have seven judges.

The court had been operating with a relative skeleton crew of five judges after Ciparick’s retirement and the Nov. 6 death of Judge Theodore T. Jones. A slate of nominees to replace Jones is due to hit Cuomo’s desk in early March.

“If Cuomo doesn’t want to go through this brouhaha again, he’ll pick someone who is a judge,” McLaughlin said.

Cuomo also may find himself under heavy pressure to replace the deceased Jones, the court’s lone black judge, with another African-American, according to Albany Law School professor Vincent M. Bonventre.

“I will be shocked if the next list doesn’t have two or three African-Americans on it,” Bonventre said.

While Republicans attacked Rivera for a lack of experience, McLaughlin noted they also took issue with her academic writings, in which she espouses progressive views on civil rights, racial justice and women’s issues.

“They were trying to knock her down, embarrass her, or get her to say something stupid,” McLaughlin said. “It was pretty embarrassing to see her raked over the coals.”

The charge that Rivera lacks experience is not necessarily fair, according to experts, including Wollmuth Maher & Deutsch LLP<http://www.law360.com/firm/wollmuth-maher> partner Vince Chang, who heads the New York County Lawyers Association’s federal courts committee chair.

“A lot of people say the criticism of her experience was just a pretext,” Chang said, noting that state bar associations went over her record carefully and universally recommended her qualifications. “Many very fine judges were professors.”

Opposition to Rivera’s nomination didn’t come exclusively from Republicans on Monday. One of the state Senate’s mavericks, Bronx Democrat Ruben Diaz, said Cuomo, in nominating Rivera, seemed keen on pitting Hispanics against the state’s Republicans.

Diaz, an outspoken and often bombastic critic of Cuomo, added that past Hispanic nominees for other high offices in the U.S. didn’t receive the same support from New York’s Latino population when they were nominated by Republicans, including former President George W. Bush.

“Where were you when George Bush nominated Alberto Gonzales and Miguel Estrada?” Diaz asked his Latino counterparts from the Senate floor.

Overall the proceedings were a departure from the state Senate’s typical Court of Appeals approval process, which over the decades has been staid, with one or two minor exceptions, Bonventre said.

A fierce critic of state Senate inaction on high court nominees, Bonventre applauded the Legislature for subjecting Rivera to tough questions.

“They’ve made it clear to the governor that he can’t just nominate anybody and expect them to roll over,” Bonventre said. “They’re obviously going to start taking their constitutional responsibility more seriously than they have in the past. In the past, they have been complete rubber stamps.”

–Editing by John Quinn and Richard McVay.
All Content © 2003-2013, Portfolio Media, Inc.

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National Bar Association Accepting Applications for 2013 Advocacy Competition-Deadline February 28!

The National Bar Association (NBA) is accepting applications for its 2013 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition. More than $25,000 in scholarships will be awarded to high school juniors and seniors who place in the regional and national competitions. To compete, eligible students must submit an essay by February 28, 2013. For the fourth consecutive year, MetLife is proud to be the Platinum sponsor of the program.

High school juniors and seniors from across the country are invited to submit an essay for the 2013 competition. In no more than 1,000 words, students should address the following issue: Consider how Trayvon Martin was killed walking to his home on February 26, 2012 by George Zimmerman, a Florida neighborhood watchman in a gated community. Some have justified Zimmerman’s actions based on Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. If Martin Luther King, Jr. were alive, would he advocate repealing this law and other similar laws? Please discuss why or why not.   

For more information, please visit www.nationalbar.org/mlkcompetition.

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NAPABA APPLAUDS U.S. SENATE BIPARTISAN PASSAGE OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

1612 K Street NW, Suite 1400 
Washington, DC 20006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
February 13, 2013

Contact: Emily Chatterjee 
(202) 775-9555

NAPABA APPLAUDS U.S. SENATE BIPARTISAN PASSAGE 
OF THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN REAUTHORIZATION ACT

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, in a vote of 78-22, the U.S. Senate voted in favor of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds the expansions made in the Senate legislation, reintroduced by Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont) in the new Congress. Some of these expansions include ensuring better access to services for victims of sexual and domestic violence in communities of color, and for the first time extending protections to victims in Native American and LGBT communities.

“NAPABA commends the bipartisan group of senators who voted in support of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act,” said Wendy Shiba, president of NAPABA. “In the United States, three women die each day because of domestic violence. We can wait no longer for reauthorization of this critical legislation. NAPABA urges the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Senate version of VAWA without any further delay.”

The Senate version of the reauthorization bill no longer includes a NAPABA-supported provision that would have increased the number of U-Visas for immigrant victims of sexual and domestic violence. Last year, members of the U.S. House of Representatives pointed to this provision as a cause for rejecting the bill. Senator Leahy plans to include a similar provision in forthcoming comprehensive immigration reform legislation and NAPABA applauds his continued efforts and commitment to protect immigrant victims of sexual and domestic violence.

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 62 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

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Council of Urban Professionals: 6th Annual Leadership Gala

Invitation to CUP's 6th Annual Leadership Gala  
THE COUNCIL OF URBAN PROFESSIONALS
along with
CUP’s Gala Honorary Chair, Co-Chairs, 
and Benefit Committee
Graciously Invite You to Attend our

An Evening of Recognition and Celebration 

TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013
6:00 PM COCKTAILS
7:30 PM DINNER & AWARDS

@ ESPACE
635 West 42nd Street 
(Between 11th & 12th Avenues)

New York City

FESTIVE ATTIRE

A limited number of individual tickets will be available.
To Purchase Tickets, Click Here. 

CUP is offering a limited number of discounted member tickets for current members in good standing. Contact [email protected] for more information.
______

CUP PROUDLY HONORS

KATHY & KENNETH CHENAULT
Philanthropic Leadership Award

LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA
Breakthrough Leadership Award

VIACOM MEDIA NETWORKS
Corporate Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award

______

To Purchase Tickets, Click Here.

_____________________________________________________________________________


HONORARY GALA CHAIR
VALENTINO D. CARLOTTI
Goldman Sachs & Co.

GALA CO-CHAIRS
Nicole Bernard, The Fox Group
Sharon Bowen, Latham & Watkins LLP
David Brown, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
Jocelyn Cooley, BET Networks
Eunu Chun, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
James E. Francis, Paradigm Asset Management Co. LLC
Beatrice Hamza-Bassey, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
David Jones, CastleOak Securities, L.P.
Shawn Lytle, UBS
Keija Minor, Brides Magazine
Martez Moore, BET Networks
Charles Patton, Oak Hill Capital Partners
Luis R. Penalver, Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
David Sutphen, Brunswick Group
Jose L. Tavarez, Bank of America – Merrill Lynch
Rossie E. Turman III, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Wanji J. Walcott, American Express Travel Related Services Company
Kelly M. Williams, Credit Suisse – Customized Fund Investment Group
GALA BENEFIT COMMITTEE
Janelle Alexander, Alprion Capital Management
Sherrese Clarke, Morgan Stanley
S. Jeanine Conley, Baker & Hostetler LLP
Carlos Davila-Caballero, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Lisa Davis, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz
Leonard de Montagnac, Wells Fargo
Joseph Drayton, Cooley LLP
Maria Fernandez-Williams, IBM
A. Mark Getachew, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Keli Goff, Loop21.com 
Roderick Hardamon, Citi
Duane L. Hughes, Morgan Stanley
Cheryl C. Joyner, The Global Ivy Society
Monika Mantilla, Altura Capital Group LLC
Levan Moulton, Goldman Sachs & Co
Reginald M. Rasch, LinkShare Corporation
Johnita Walker Mizelle, Lyxor Asset Management
Gregory M. Weston, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Dawanna Williams, Dabar Development Partners
Katerina Zacharia, PromaxBDA

_____________________________________________________________________
 

CUP is Grateful for the Support of Our

6th Annual Leadership Gala Sponsors:

PLATINUM
Goldman Sachs
Morgan Stanley

CUP’S PIONEER CIRCLE
Valentino D. Carlotti
Amelia & Bayo Ogunlesi
Kim & Tarrus L. Richardson
Angelique & James Francis

GOLD
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Deutsche Bank
New York Life Insurance Company
Wells Fargo
Williams Capital Group, L.P.

SILVER
Barclays Bank
CastleOak Securities, L.P.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
Pfizer, Inc.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
Thomson Reuters
The Fox Group
UBS

BRONZE
Ariel Investments
Bank of America
Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP/ Luis Penalver
Consolidated Edison Co. of New York
Credit Suisse
HBO, Inc.
Johnita Walker Mizelle
Ogilvy & Mather
RBC Capital Markets
The McGraw-Hill Companies

FRIENDS
Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC
Leigh & Jarrod Fong

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

For sponsorship information, please contact:

Samantha E. Erskine, Director of Development, at [email protected].

 View Photo’s from Last Year’s Gala

 To Purchase Tickets, Click Here.

  
For more information on CUP, visit  www.nycup.org.
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AALDEF Press Release: AALDEF 2013 Justice in Action Awards

February 20, 2013 – Congressman John Lewis, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (Georgia), Jose Antonio Vargas of Define American, and Simone Wu of Choice Hotels International, Inc. were honored with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s (AALDEF) 2013 Justice in Action Awards on February 19.

Since 1987, AALDEF has presented the Justice in Action Awards to exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and efforts in advancing social justice. The awards were presented by Rep. Grace Meng, the first Asian American to represent New York in Congress, Tony Award-winning playwright of M. Butterfly David Henry Hwang, and Gordon Smith, CEO of Consumer and Community Banking, JPMorgan Chase.

Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer at Columbia University, both long time supporters of AALDEF, were the co-emcees for the banquet of over 700. They were joined at the end with a surprise appearance on stage from actor BD Wong, who urged the guests to show their support for AALDEF.

Among the guests at Pier Sixty in New York City were Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York, U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Debra James, and past Justice in Action Award recipients Don Liu, Parkin Lee, Alice Young, and Sandra Leung.

AALDEF Board president Tommy Shi wished the audience a happy new year and shared the story that, seven days before the 2012 election, with AALDEF’s national poll monitoring and exit poll project at stake, Hurricane Sandy hit New York. AALDEF staff was stranded in outer boroughs and the office was without electricity. “We put out an emergency call for help,” said Shi. “AALDEF staff and volunteers lugged boxes of voting materials down 12 flights of stairs in the dark. We were lucky that Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP donated temporary space with computers and phones for our staff and volunteers. And Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP opened its conference rooms to us. In the end, the Asian American Exit Poll surveyed over 9,000 voters in 14 states on Election Day, the largest multilingual survey of its kind.”

Margaret Fung, AALDEF executive director, said that the three Justice in Action Award recipients had taken courageous stands on some of AALDEF’s current priority issues: securing real immigration reform, expanding diversity, and defending the Voting Rights Act before the U.S. Supreme Court.

David Henry Hwang introduced honoree Jose Antonio Vargas as having “one of the great immigrant stories of our time.” Vargas, an award-winning Filipino American journalist, publicly revealed himself to be an undocumented immigrant in a 2011 New York Times Magazine article. “Immigrant rights are human rights,” said Vargas, who acknowledged the work of AALDEF and civil rights organizations by joking that the reason he “was still here” was that he was “all lawyered up.”

Honoree Simone Wu, senior vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary, and chief compliance officer of Choice Hotels International, spoke about the need for diversity and inclusiveness. “So many Asian Americans do not get a chance to share in the model minority myth,” said Wu. “At Choice Hotels we value diversity in all our decisions and our results are better as a result of doing that.”

The evening came to a close with Rep. Grace Meng introducing civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis with a surprise video of the Congressman dancing “Gangnam-style” for the right to vote.

“The right to vote is precious, even sacred,” said Congressman Lewis, who, in 1965, led over 600 peaceful protesters in the march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The marchers were attacked by Alabama state troopers in a brutal confrontation known as “Bloody Sunday,” and the senseless cruelty hastened passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. “I gave a little blood for the right to vote. But some of my friends gave their lives. We have made too much progress to stop now.”

Past Justice in Action Award recipients include Fred Korematsu, David Henry Hwang, Fareed Zakaria, BD Wong, Sandra Leung, Harold Koh, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick,George Takei, Salman Rushdie, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Harry Belafonte, Margaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.

Contact:
Ujala Sehgal
212.966.5932 ex.217
[email protected]

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Image Credit: Lia Chang for AALDEF

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Image Credit: Corky Lee for AALDEF

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Image Credit: Lia Chang for AALDEF

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Image Credit: Corky Lee for AALDEF

View release online >

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.

For further information and updates, please visit us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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From AABDC: SILK ROAD PERFORMANCE

What a way to celebrate the Chinese New Year! From the China Gansu Dance Theatre comes the astonishing New York premiere of a milestone masterpiece of Chinese dance theater: SILK ROAD.

Performed at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center from February 27 – March 3, 2013, this spectacular production features 60 dancers, along with astounding athleticism, artistry and ision. This stunning production is inspired by the magnificent Dunhuang frescoes and follows master painter Zhang, his daughter Yingniang, and Persian merchant Yunus as they travel along the Silk Road.

Come experience this strictly limited engagement… and travel along the Silk Road to a world of wonder, enchantment and extraordinary dance.

SILK ROAD PERFORMANCE @ DAVID H. KOCH THEATER
February 27, Wednesday ,8pm
March 1, Friday, 8pm
March 2, Saturday, 8pm
March 3, Sunday, 1pm

Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more.
For rates and availability please contact Kimberly Giannelli at[email protected] or 212-875-5378.




Copyright © 2013 Asian American Business Development Center, All rights reserved.

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From SDNY/EDNY: Changes to Rules Effective Feb. 25

EASTERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS ADOPT REVISIONS TO JOINT LOCAL CIVIL RULE AND LOCAL ADMIRALTY RULES EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 25

The United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York have adopted revisions to Joint Local Civil Rule 1.5 and Local Admiralty Rules B.2 and C.1. The revised rules go into effect on Monday, February 25 and can be found online at http://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/courtrules.php.
       

The courts adopted new subsection (h) of Local Civil Rule 1.5 to impose an obligation upon an attorney who has been disbarred, suspended, or censured by one court to notify other courts. The courts amended Local Admiralty Rule B.2 to clarify the plaintiff’s notice obligation following an attachment. The courts also amended Local Admiralty Rule C.1 to specify that the Rule applies to a summons issued pursuant to Rule C(3)©.

Click Here to see the revisions.