AAARI Spotlight Spring 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AAARI Spotlight Spring 2017 AAARI Celebrates 15th Anniversary, Honoring Outstanding Asian American Alumni and Leaders of The City University of New York L to R: Joyce Moy (AAARI-CUNY), E. Alberto Vill- Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan, NYS Supreme Court Justice man (HAKS), Interim President Vincent Boudreau & Alumna, Brooklyn College/CUNY (City College of New York/CUNY), Aziz Ahmad (UTC Associates), Savio S. Chan (US China Part- ners) & Lily Hui (Raich Ende Malter & Co.) 12/8/16 - This was a special year for AAARI as we public lecture series, conferences and seminars, and celebrated our 15th anniversary as a university- the production and dissemination of original re- wide scholarly research center that focuses on poli- search. The Institute published a report in May 2016 cies and issues that affect Asians and Asian Ameri- on Asian American representation at CUNY and cans. Over 350 guests attended the festive annual Higher Education, highlighting a noticeable lack of gala fundraiser and celebration at Jing Fong Res- representation of Asian Americans in leadership taurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown. positions throughout CUNY. The Institute will address the issues outlined in the report in the coming year Gala honorees included Justice Doris Ling-Cohan of by spearheading a CUNY Asian American Alumni the New York State Supreme Court (Leadership association and leadership initiative to provide net- Award); Husam Ahmad, Chairman & CEO, HAKS working, mentoring, and professional development (CUNY Distinguished Asian American Alumni Award); opportunities for Asian American alumni and others. and Kevin Park, Undergraduate Student, Hunter College (CUNY Thomas Tam Scholarship Award). A major contributor to the gala , in addition to the generous donors who purchased tables, was Dr. Student awardees of the Chynn-CUNY Ethics & Mo- Pearl Tam, sister of the late Dr. Thomas Tam (co- rality Essay Contest, which focuses on the topic of founder and first AAARI Executive Director). Tam virtue, were Ferima Haidara, NYC College of Tech- donated $35,000, with a challenge for matching nology (Best Essay), Joseph Mallo, Hunter College funds to AAARI for the CUNY Thomas Tam Scholar- (1st Runner-up), and Ashley Matos, Brooklyn College ship. Five percent of the matching funds were raised (2nd Runner-up). during the gala event. Joyce Moy, AAARI Executive Director, gave a brief URL: www.aaari.info/2016banquet.htm overview of the Institute’s accomplishments over the past 15 years, including programs such as AAARI’s Outstanding Asian American Alumni of CUNY AAARI has begun a compilation of a list of outstanding Asian American alumni of CUNY whose remarkable achievements demonstrate leadership and excellence so that others may be inspired to follow in their footsteps. They serve as role models for the next generation and beyond. The first edition was released at AAARI’s 15th Annual Gala. This list is a work in progress, and will be expanding over the coming years. In addition, AAARI will be spearheading a CUNY Asian American Alumni association and leadership initiative to provide networking, mentoring and professional development opportunities for CUNY Asian American alumni and the community. If you are a CUNY alumnus or alumna, please let us know by e-mailing us at [email protected] along with a brief bio and contact information. URL: www.aaari.info/notes/2016OutstandingAlumni.pdf AAARI Releases Fourth Issue of CUNY FORUM 10/6/16 - AAARI's fourth issue of CUNY FORUM focuses on how Asian American Studies, as a radical education initiative begun forty-years ago, can become a "change- creator," providing a counter narrative to what is al- ready known or practiced. Here, East Coast scholars, activists, artists and institutions, through their work and research bring critical transcultural perspectives and un- common meanings to both voice and practice. The 152 page journal (Volume 4:1, Fall 2016 to Winter 2017, ISSN: 2329-1125, $15.00) features three sec- tions, each examining through essays, commentaries, and research: 1. Transcultural Voices; 2. Asian American Stud- ies; and 3. Research & Reports URL: www.aaari.info/cunyforum/ CUNY FORUM is also available for purchase at the Mu- seum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, Manhat- tan, NY. New York State Assembly District 65 Candidates Forum 8/14/16 - AAARI co-sponsored a NYS Assembly Dis- trict Candidates Forum held at the Chinese Consoli- dated Benevolent Association in Manhattan’s China- town. Joyce Moy, AAARI Executive Director, co- moderated the forum with Susan Lerner from Common Cause - NY. Candidates Alice Cancel (Incumbent), Don Lee, Gigi Li, Paul Newell, Yuh-Line Niou, and Jenifer Rajkumar discussed critical issues affecting Chinatown and the Lower East Side. Moy and Lerner asked questions concerning afford- able health care, housing, and education; rising com- L to R: Joyce Moy (AAARI), Alice Cancel mercial rents; challenges for small businesses and (Incumbent), Don Lee, Gigi Li, Paul Newell, workers’ rights; and other questions pertaining to the Yuh-Line Niou & Jenifer Rajkumar candidates’ record and positions on key issues. The forum, organized by APA Voice, was co-sponsored by AAARI. Members of APA VOICE include Asian Americans for Equality, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, Chinese American Planning Council, Chinese Progressive Association, Korean American League for Civic Action, MinKwon Center for Community Action & OCA-NY Asian Pacific American Advo- cates. Forum partners included the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Asian American Bar Association of New York, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, CAAAV-Organizing Asian Communities, Common Cause New York, Educational Alliance, Hamilton Madison House, and University Settlement. Baruch College Alumna Elected Lower Manhattan’s First Asian American NYS Assembly Member 11/9/16 - Yuh-Line Niou, Baruch College/CUNY Alumna MPA 11, was elected as NYS Assembly Member for District 65, representing Lower Manhattan, which includes Chinatown, the Lower East Side, Battery Park City, and the Financial District. As the former Chief of Staff to Flushing Assemblyman Ron Kim, also a Baruch College/CUNY MPA Alumnus ‘05 and the first and only Korean American to serve in the NYS Assembly, Niou has the experi- ence to serve the large Asian American constituent population resid- ing in her district. Niou is the first Asian American to represent China- town and the Lower East Side in the New York State legislature. Assembly Member Niou is featured in AAARI’s Outstanding Asian American Alumni of The City University of New York. AAARI Joins Queens Community Organizations to Address Hate Crimes L to R: Mariela Herring, Bureau Chief/Assistant District Attorney, Gang Violence & Hate Crimes Bureau, Queens DA’s Office; Rama Issa, Lead Advisor, NYC Commission on Human Rights; Sapna Raj, Assistant Commissioner, NYC Commission on Human Rights; Mark Magrone, Deputy Inspector, NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force; Honorable Robert Capers, U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of NY BP; Jesse Sligh, Executive Assistant District Attorney, Queens DA’s Office; Michael Brovner, Assistant District Attorney, Queens DA’s Gang Violence & Hate Crimes Bureau; Joyce Moy (AAARI-CUNY) Founding Advisor, Borough President’s Queens General Assembly 8/3/16 - Joyce Moy, AAARI Executive Director, delivered closing remarks at the Queens District Attorney Hate Crimes Forum sponsored by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. Over 50 diverse community organizations gathered together at the standing room only event held at Queens Borough Hall in Kew Gardens to discuss the role of law enforcement when a hate crime occurs, and what can be done to protect the community. The forum was attended by leaders from Asian American, Muslim, African American, Jewish, Latino, LGBTQ, and other organizations with the goal of disseminating the information to the diverse communities of Queens. Speakers included Borough President Melinda Katz, Executive Assistant District Attorney Jesse J. Sligh, U.S. Attorney Robert L. Capers, and many others from law enforcement and the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Moy commented on what could be done by each and every individual to begin the process of eliminating bias and hate, noting the current national discourse. She pointed out that everyday gestures such as events she observed just that morning of an African American worker who stopped what he was doing to help a disabled passenger board a train, and a Hispanic man who offered his seat to young children of a Muslim family, were not just a matter of good manners, they were acts of little kindnesses that showed respect, and the value of a person. Gestures like this each and every day would go a long way to changing mind- sets of those who observe them, and receive them. In collaboration with Chinatown Youth Initiatives and South Asian Youth Action, selected artworks from the OCA-NY Hate Crimes Prevention Art Contest were on exhibit to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin. In 1982, Chin, a Chinese American, was attacked by two white autoworkers who thought he was Japanese, blaming Japan for the loss of jobs in the American auto industry. AAARI Presents the Asian American Leadership in CUNY and Higher Education Report to CUNY's Academic Council 9/16/16 - Ron Woo, AAARI Board Chair, and Joyce Moy, AAARI Executive Director, presented the findings of the CUNY Asian American Leadership Initiative’s report, Asian American Leadership in CUNY and Higher Education, to the CUNY University Academic Council. The report detailed the lack of Asian American repre- sentation in the ranks of CUNY's leadership positions, particularly as chief academic officers, or in positions that impact education policy and the direction of the university. This is despite the fact that Asian Ameri- cans comprise over 20 percent of the university's students, 12 percent of faculty, and 15 percent of New York City's population. Woo and Moy, presented the report at the invitation of Dr.