diversity Archives - Page 12 of 14

July 29, 2013

New Council Districts Highlight the Growth and Diversity of Asian New Yorkers

July 23, 2013

New York, NY— Today, the Asian American Federation released a briefing paper that details the Asian population, ethnic breakdowns and the major Asian languages spoken in each of the 51 Council Districts based on new lines finalized in May 2013.

“As discussed in our demographics report in April 2012, the Asian population remains the fastest growing in the City,” said Howard Shih, Census Programs Director at the Federation. “But to see the Asian American community as monolithic would be erroneous. The population numbers disguise the diversity of our population. With the upcoming City elections, term limits, and with many of the Council Districts slated for new representatives, we hope this will be a useful tool for the incoming City Council to better serve our Asian community,” added Shih.

Some of the key highlights from the briefing paper are:

In addition to one majority Asian district, eleven other districts had more than one in five residents who were Asian.
Four City Council Districts were home to a very diverse mix of Asian ethnic groups. Each of these districts had seven or more different Asian groups who each had populations of more than 1,000 people.
The diversity of Asian languages spoken in the city is a particular challenge when reaching out to the community.

“This report is an invaluable tool that will serve to help elected officials better understand the growing Asian population in New York City,” said Council Member Daniel Dromm, who represents Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and East Elmhurst. Dromm’s district, one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the City, saw an increase of over 8,000 Asians in the total district population. “The data in this document provides key insight into my district that will enable me to better communicate and understand a vital part of my constituency”.

As the briefing paper points out, Council District 20, centered in Flushing, remains the district with the largest Asian population at 66% of the population. “While I represent the largest Asian population, it is important to note that Asians are living throughout the City. The myth that Asians live in identifiable enclaves [has] long been dispelled. Our city leaders have to be mindful of the diversity of the Asian community, from languages spoken to the cultural practices,” said Council Member Peter Koo. “The onus is on us – the elected leaders – to hear their issues, address their concerns, and make room for them to contribute to their neighborhoods,” added Koo.

Manhattan’s Chinatown still remains as a district with one of the largest Asian populations. “My constituency represents one of the largest populations of Asians and Asian Americans in New York City, and this report highlights what we already know: we must have greater service and resources in these growing communities,” said Council Member Margaret S. Chin, who represents the area. “Cultural understanding, linguistic access, and civic participation are essential keys to ensuring that these voices are heard.”

“The briefing paper shows our growing electoral strength. Asian New Yorkers can play a significant role in determining the next leaders of our city in the upcoming elections,” said Cao K. O, executive director of the Federation. “And our community must re-cast our importance in the city’s civic matters. We have to be willing to embrace this opportunity by going to the polls.”

To access the report, please visit: http://aafederation.org/headlines.asp?hid=141

June 26, 2013

CBAC Reassured by Supreme Court’s Decision in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2013

HNBA Contact: Erika Lopez (202) 223-4777
NAPABA Contact: Emily Chatterjee (202) 775-9555
NBA Contact: Erika Owens (202) 842-3900
NNABA Contact: Mary Smith (405) 761-1723

Coalition of Bar Associations of Color
Reassured by Supreme Court’s Decision in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin

WASHINGTON – The Coalition of Bar Associations of Color (CBAC) – the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the National Bar Association (NBA) and the National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) – is reassured by the Supreme Court’s decision today to reaffirm the principle that diversity in higher education is a compelling national interest. We remain cautiously optimistic about the Court’s decision to send the case back to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Supreme Court partially vacated a lower court ruling that had upheld the right of the University of Texas at Austin to partially consider race in its admissions’ policy. However, in deciding Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, it left intact the precedent it set in Grutter v. Bollinger, which allows schools to consider racial diversity as an admissions factor.

Last summer, CBAC filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court in the Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin case. The brief highlights the progress made in diversifying the legal profession since the Court’s ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger, while discussing the continued need for race-conscious admissions programs to further the diversification of the legal profession.

“We are encouraged that the United States Supreme Court’s ruling affirmed the Grutter v. Hollinger decision which allows racial and ethnic diversity to be considered as one of many factors in a carefully crafted admissions policy,” stated HNBA National President Peter M. Reyes, Jr. “These are important factors to consider when taking a holistic admissions approach, and the Court in a 7-1 strongly supports our position.”

“We are encouraged by the Court’s decision today in Fisher,” said Wendy C. Shiba, president of NAPABA. “A strong majority of the Court has stood in support of diversity as a compelling interest, and members of the Asian Pacific American community are heartened by this outcome. We see evidence of the importance of a diverse workforce every day in the legal profession, and are thankful that our nation’s commitment to the values of diversity and inclusion has been ratified today.”

“Today’s decision underscores diversity as a compelling interest for all institutions of education and higher learning,” stated John E. Page, President of the National Bar Association. “Even with strict scrutiny of the methods used to achieve such diversity, the US Supreme Court continues to agree that many factors, including race, can be a factor in an admissions program.”

“Diversity is important to educational opportunities for all and furthers classroom discussion and understanding,” said Mary Smith, President of the National Native Bar Association. “We are heartened that the Supreme Court has recognized the importance of diversity.”

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June 17, 2013

From CUP: Seeking New York’s Next Diverse Leaders

CUP Logo Long

We are excited to announce that the Council of Urban Professionals is launching New York’s Next Diverse Leaders, an effort to identify and promote talented cross-sector leaders for consideration in the forthcoming New York City mayoral administration.

Coming on the heels of similar successful efforts by CUP to identify and place leaders of color and women in President Obama’s Administration in 2008 and 2012, and in Governor Cuomo’s Administration in 2010, we are excited to announce our initiative to ensure the next Mayor of New York City has a diverse slate of candidates to consider for top public sector roles.

We work every day at CUP to connect, empower and mobilize the next generation of diverse business and civic leaders. Through a series of forums, leadership development programs, and peer networks, CUP empowers aspiring diverse professionals to develop relationships, expertise, and opportunities that best position them for top leadership positions so that they can make a strong positive impact on organizations, as well as on the people and communities that the organizations serve.

To submit your resumé for a range of public sector roles, as well as New York City boards and commissions, please click here. To be considered, resumes must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2013.

Feel free to circulate this message and the instructions for resumé submittal to your networks. Once our new Mayor has been elected we will schedule an information session via conference call with a municipal administration official, who will explain their internal process further and answer any questions.

Your patience is greatly appreciated and we would also recommend that you continue to think of other connections in your network that may help advance your professional goals.

Best regards,

Chloe Drew

Executive Director, Council of Urban Professionals

June 10, 2013December 4, 2018

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On June 7, AABANY took part in the 10th anniversary Caren Aronowitz Unity in Diversity celebration at the New York State Supreme Court Rotunda. This annual event is one of the highlights of the year at the courthouse, bringing together bar groups, community organizations and unions to celebrate diversity and promote greater understanding and tolerance within the courts and the wider community.

AABANY and participating organizations provided delicious food representing the diverse cultures of New York. AABANY’s table was filled with dim sum items from Nom Wah and was easily among the most popular tables at the event.

Thanks to our interns, Stephanie Yu and Max Zimmerman for staffing the table, along with interns from the chambers of Judge Doris Ling-Cohan.

May 31, 2013

2013 Michael Oshima Diversity Essay Competition

The following opportunity may be of interest to Law Students

THE 2013 MICHAEL OSHIMA

DIVERSITY ESSAY COMPETITION

The City Bar Committee on Minorities in the Profession is now accepting applications for the 2013 Michael Oshima Diversity Essay Competition. Monetary awards will be made to 3 candidates on the basis of their essay and their having demonstrated significant personal achievements and strong community involvement. The first place winner will receive an award in the amount of $1,500, second place will be $1,000, and the third place winner will receive $500.

For Eligibility Requirements, Process & Instructions, please visit: www.nycbar.org/oshima

The deadline for the submission/receipt of all materials is

May 31, 2013. Prize winners will be notified in July 2013.

The Michael Oshima Diversity Essay Competition was established in honor of Michael Oshima, an individual who dedicated much of his legal career to ensuring that our profession remains diverse and open to all people no matter their race, ethnic or national origin, sex or sexual orientation. Michael contributed countless hours to the betterment of the legal profession and he served on a number of bar committees, including as Chair of the Committee on Minorities in the Profession of the New York City Bar Association. The Committee on Minorities in the Profession is sponsoring this scholarship to honor the life and memory of such a worthy man.

Before his untimely passing, Michael was Deputy General Counsel at Safe Horizon Inc., an organization that provides support, prevents violence, and promotes justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families and communities. Prior to joining Safe Horizons, he served for six years as the Administrative Partner for the New York office of Arnold & Porter LLP. At Arnold & Porter, Michael counseled corporate officers and foreign governments in Latin America and around the world in securities offerings, lending transactions, loan restructurings and corporate governance matters. Michael was also very active in pro bono work and, for example, helped a battered woman who was not a citizen of the U.S. obtain a self-petition to remain in this country under the Violence Against Women Act. In addition, Michael championed initiatives to increase diversity at Arnold & Porter. During his tenure as Administrative Partner, the New York office twice received (in 2003 and 2005) the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Thomas L. Sager Award, which recognizes law firms’ efforts to improve diversity.

Born on April 4, 1957, Michael was raised in Kona, Hawaii and was a graduate of Brown and Harvard universities. Michael received his J.D. in 1987 from New York University School of Law, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Annual Survey of American Law. Michael was also active as a Board member of the Asian American Arts Alliance, Inc. and the Japanese American National Museum. In his biography, Michael described himself as an experienced leader and attorney with strong interpersonal skills, a sense of humor and a grace under fire. He could not have said it any better. The legal community suffered a great loss when Michael passed away suddenly on July 11, 2008.

May 1, 2013

NYLJ: Asian Americans Find a Voice Within the Law

The indifference toward Asian American equality is a result of our having been classified under the rubric of the ‘model minority’ and thus viewed as achieving success by keeping our heads down and working hard. But Asian Americans have not achieved the success and equality that we are perceived to have reached, particularly in the legal profession.

Congrats to Mike Huang, AABANY President, whose Law Day article appears in the May 1st issue of the New York Law Journal.

May 1, 2013December 4, 2018

March 8, 2013

AABANY WELCOMES AND APPLAUDS THE CONFIRMATION OF PAMELA K. CHEN TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

NEW YORK – March 5, 2013 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) welcomes and applauds the confirmation of Pamela K. Chen to serve as a federal district court judge in the Eastern District of New York. On March 4, 2013, the United States Senate confirmed Pamela Chen by a voice vote to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. “AABANY is delighted to learn that Pamela Chen has been confirmed to serve on the Eastern District of New York bench,” said Mike Huang, President of AABANY. “Ms. Chen is the first Chinese-American female Article III judge outside of California and the second-ever Chinese-American female federal judge in U.S. history, continuing to add to the rich legacy of the Second Circuit and New York State. AABANY applauds President Obama and Senator Schumer for their continued commitment to diversifying the Federal Judiciary.”

Asian Pacific Americans (“APA”) are significantly under-represented in the Federal Judiciary, including in New York State. In fact, according to the 2010 Census, approximately 8.3% of the population of New York State and 14.0% of the population of New York City consists of Asian Americans, and the APA percentage continues to grow at a rate that outpaces all other ethnic groups in the State. In the Eastern District of New York, Ms. Chen joins Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto as the two Article III judges of APA descent in a district that serves the growing APA communities of Flushing, Queens and Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

“With her confirmation, Ms. Chen joins the growing number of Asian Americans who have been recognized for distinguished service on the federal courts,” said Theodore K. Cheng, Co-chair of AABANY’s Judiciary Committee. “Although Asian Americans remain under-represented at all levels in the Federal Judiciary, President Obama and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand ought to be commended for their tireless dedication to increasing diversity on the federal bench.”

After spending the first five years of her career in the private sector, Ms. Chen began a dedicated and much longer career in public service, with a distinct focus on civil rights work. Ms. Chen served as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. She then moved to New York City in 1998 and became an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (“USAO EDNY”). There, she was promoted to Chief of Civil Rights Litigation, Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Section, and then finally to Chief of the Civil Rights Section. Ms. Chen held that last position since July 2006 except for a brief period of time in 2008 when she accepted an opportunity to serve as the Deputy Commissioner for Enforcement in the New York State Division of Human Rights. She soon returned to the USAO EDNY and has remained there ever since.

AABANY thanks President Obama for nominating Ms. Chen and Senator Charles E. Schumer for recommending her to the President.

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].

The Asian American Bar Association of New York was formed in 1989 as a not-for-profit corporation to represent the interests of New York Asian-American attorneys, judges, law professors, legal professionals, paralegals and law students. The mission of AABANY is to improve the study and practice of law, and the fair administration of justice for all by ensuring the meaningful participation of Asian-Americans in the legal profession.

Additional information about AABANY is available at www.aabany.org

Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/aabany

January 26, 2013

Press Release: Congratulations Lillian M. Moy, Recipient of NYSBA’S 2013 Diversity Trailblazer Award

The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) applauds the selection of Lillian M. Moy, as the recipient of the 2013 New York State Bar Association (“NYSBA”) Diversity Trailblazer Award. The NYSBA Committee on Diversity presented the 2013 Diversity Trailblazer Award at an Award Presentation and Networking Reception during the 10th Annual Celebrating Diversity in the Bar Reception held on Monday, January 21, 2013 at the New York Hilton in New York City.

“We are thrilled that NYSBA has recognized Lillian with the Diversity Trailblazer Award. Her commitment and dedication to promoting diversity in the legal profession is well known to us, as she has been a constant and passionate proponent of getting AABANY and other diverse and specialty bar associations more involved with NYSBA and other mainstream bar associations. Her work has greatly improved the visibility and participation of lawyers of color in bar groups and the legal profession. We are proud to count her among our most prominent members in AABANY. Congratulations, Lillian!” said Yang Chen, Executive Director of AABANY.

To read the full text of the press release go to http://www.aabany.org/associations/6701/files/PR%20012413%20-%20Lillian%20Moy%20NYSBA.pdf.

December 7, 2012

Rochester Legal Diversity Clerkship Program

From our friends at the Monroe County Bar Association comes an announcement about a paid clerkship opportunity for first-year law students.

Program Overview
The Rochester Legal Diversity Clerkship Program is co-sponsored by the MCBA (through its Diversity Committee), the Rochester Black Bar Association (RBBA), and the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys (GRAWA). This program seeks to increase diversity in the legal profession in the Rochester area by attracting qualified first-year law students from historically under-represented groups within the legal profession, including racial and ethnic minorities, to work in paid positions with Rochester area law firms and other legal employers.

Follow the link in the title for further details.