Request: Pro Bono Guardian for Incapacitated Member of Chinatown Community Member
The New York Legal Assistance Group has passed along a request from the Chambers of Justice Visitacion-Lewis, New York State Supreme Court. The Court is currently seeking a person who would be willing to become a pro bono guardian for an incapacitated person who has close ties to the Chinatown community. The incapacitated person speaks English and some Mandarin. Knowledge of the Chinatown community would be key.
If you are interested in helping this person, please contact Tina Janssen-Spinosa at NYLAG directly at [email protected].
Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU and Asia Society’s The Escape and Rescued Memories: New York Stories
The Escape and Rescued Memories: New York Stories
Thursday–Friday, May 8-9, 2014, 8PM
by Lenora Lee Dance with Kei Lun Martial Arts & Enshin Karate, South San Francisco Dojo
Directed by A/P/A Institute at NYU Visiting Scholar Lenora Lee, the interdisciplinary performance works The Escape and Rescued Memories: New York Stories excavate the lives of early 20th century Chinese women migrants through dance, martial arts, film, and music.
The Escape is inspired by stories of women who, after being trafficked into the United States, sought refuge in San Francisco’s Donaldina Cameron House, a faith-based social service agency that today continues to serve Asian communities living in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Rescued Memories: New York Stories retraces the life of Bessie M. Lee (Bessie You Toy–b. 1894), who spent two years in indentured servitude after migrating to New York City to work for a wealthy Chinese family.
Both evenings’ performances will be followed by special conversations featuring the artists, community organizers, and scholars.
Image credit: Robert Sweeney.
Chinatown NYC Restaurant Week
All you can eat sushi + hot pot under $20/pp + prix fix lunches + just pick-from-the-menu lunches +
Follow us Twitter @ChinatownRW and like us on Facebook at ChinatownRestaurantWeek.
For a media tour + customized pitch ideas + interviews with restaurants + inform us of your presence, please contact Chinatown Restaurant Week [email protected] and (917) 807-0718.
AAF: New York State Senate and Assembly Districts Highlight the Growth and Diversity of Asian New Yorkers
(212) 344-5878, x217
New York State Senate and Assembly Districts Highlight
the Growth and Diversity of Asian New Yorkers
According to Asian Americans of the Empire State: Growing Diversity and Common Needs, published by the Asian American Federation earlier this year, New York State is home to the second largest population of Asian Americans. “While the fastest population growth and the newest communities are in the upstate region, most Asian American New Yorkers live in the New York City metro area,” said Howard Shih, Census Programs Director at the Federation. “The Asian American community is culturally and economically diverse.
Some of the key highlights from the briefing papers are:
- For the first time, one State Senate district is majority Asian.
- Three Assembly Districts are now majority Asian, up from only one in 2002.
- Chinese is the most spoken language other than English in 5 Assembly Districts and 3 Senate Districts. Korean is the most spoken language other than English in one Assembly District (District 26).
- The second most commonly spoken Asian language group consists of the languages of the fast-growing South Asian population.
According to the Assembly district briefing paper, District 40 in Flushing has the largest Asian population, followed by District 25 in Northeast Queens. In District 40, 64% of the population is Asian. “This briefing paper is a tool for elected leaders because it is so important to know what ethnic groups we are serving in our different Assembly districts, and base our services and communications on the needs of different groups. As the only Asian American elected to a state office and the prime sponsor of Data Disaggregation bill, data breakdowns like this enable the state leaders to provide better access to the services that our constituents deserve. I will personally be promoting this tool and sharing it with my colleagues in the New York State Assembly so that we can continue to have stronger connections with our state’s growing Asian American community,” said Assemblymember Ron Kim (D. 40).
“By providing information on the diverse and growing communities across the city and in individual districts, we move one step closer to making state government accessible to everyone it serves. I look forward to working with all the great groups serving the Asian American community to ensure even greater language access to public information,” said Assemblymember Nily Rozic, who represents District 25 which has over 67,000 Asians, or 54% of total population.
On the State Senate side, the district with the largest Asian population is District 16 in Flushing Queens, represented by Senator Toby Ann Stavisky. District 16 has over 176,000 Asians, making the district 55% Asian. “This paper by the Federation highlights one of the most fascinating parts of my district—our incredible culture of diversity and inclusion. I am glad that New Yorkers of all backgrounds, from the Chinese population in Flushing to the South Asian population in Jackson Heights and the Korean population in Murray Hill have decided to call Queens home. I remain committed to ensuring that my constituents have in-language assistance to services, civic participation access, and other opportunities to have a stronger voice in their community. This insightful research helps me better understand and better serve all of the people of the 16th district,” said Senator Stavisky.
District 11 had the second largest Asian population, with over 1 in 3 residents who are Asian. The third largest Asian population is District 26, which encompasses Lower Manhattan’s Chinatown. 24% of the population in District 26 is Asian. Upon review of the briefing paper, Senator Daniel Squadron remarked, “As New York’s Asian American population continues to grow, it’s critical that the community has real partners and a real voice in government. This report only underscores how important that partnership is, on everything from language access in education and government to protecting small businesses.”
“In a few months, the 2014 election cycle for state offices will begin. We hope these briefing papers are tools for elected leaders to reach out and engage the Asian Americans living in their districts. Oftentimes, outreach to our community is overlooked, but having tools like these that show the breakdowns of the top languages in New York City’s state assembly and senate districts, as well as the disaggregation by the top 19 Asian languages spoken in each district, will better equip our leaders to engage residents. In turn, these papers will facilitate community leaders and advocates to show that our civic voice is growing and that we need to better connect with our elected officials to offer our expertise, ask for help and support,” said Cao K. O, executive director of the Federation.
http://www.aafederation.org/cic/briefs/NYCAssembly2012.pdf
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Join AABANY at the Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival on May 18
The 34th Annual AAPI Heritage Festival will take place in Manhattan this year on May 18 at Confucius Plaza from 11 am to 6 pm. From the organizers:
Organized by the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans since 1979, this annual festival is the longest running and largest event celebrating pan-Asian heritage nationwide. It celebrates not only the value of families, but also our heritage which make us proud to be Asian American and Pacific Islander.
The festival is free and open to the public thanks to generous contributions over the years from sponsors such as Nielsen, Verizon and Macy’s as well as from supporting companies: McDonalds, Con Edison, Toyota, Pepperidge Farm, Campbell Soup, Different Roads to Learning, and many Asian communities and organizations.
AABANY will be among the exhibitors at the event. Stop by, bring your friend and families, enjoy performances, sample delicious Asian food and check out exhibits from other community groups and vendors. The video above is from last year’s festival, and as you can see, it’s a lively and fun event.
Hope to see you in Manhattan Chinatown on Saturday!