email: speakAsianAmericans
3-29-05 Black Eyed Peas
Did you know that Taboo from Black Eyes is really cool? So this is what we learned from him, from last night's Kung Fu Hustle premiere:SAA: "So... what's with that lyric..."I'm the Chief, Filipino?" Are you Flipino or not? Cuz you look like a brotha to me."
Taboo: "O nah man. I am just tight with my band peeps (referring to Apl de Ap, who is a proud Filipino American). We all grew up together. I'm mexican. but I'm the chief cuz I got some native blood too you know."
SAA: "I am such a big (insert $%^& words) fan of your music! I'm so glad that you guys rose from underground and now is educating the masses!"
Taboo: "Word brotha. Word."SAA: "What are you doing here for the premiere of Kung Fu Hustle?"Taboo: "Man, I love martial arts. A mexican loving martial arts. haha. I'm gonna be on the cover of Inside Kung Fu for the May 2005 Issue man!"Needless to say... Speak Asian American supports some BEP Pride.Their album drops May 25, 2005. Monkey Business. check it out!
Congratulations 3-28-05
Parry Shen of
Better Luck Tomorrow is going to be... a dad. TODAY!
3-28-05 CAUSE honors... APA Legislators
CAUSE 12TH ANNUAL DINNER CELEBRATES
TRIUMPHS IN ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
Pasadena, CA -- Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) will hold its 12th Annual Dinner on Friday, April 22, 2005, at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown, 333 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles. Reception and check-in begins at 6 p.m., dinner begins at 7 p.m.
Over 30 state and local elected officials have already confirmed their attendance, including City of Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn, who will share his vision for Los Angeles. An invitation was also extended to City of Los Angeles Councilmember Antonio Villaraigosa. Traditionally, the CAUSE Annual Dinner is the premier Asian Pacific American (APA) event in which political and community leaders come together to celebrate APA political participation.
In celebration of twelve years of advancing the political participation of APAs in Southern California through voter registration and education, community outreach and leadership development, CAUSE will take a look at highlights from CAUSEs 2004 get-out-the-vote efforts, the role of APAs in local elections and the future of APA leadership in California.
This year, CAUSE will present a special award to producer and actress Kelly Hu (Scorpion King and X-Men 2) for her role in 2004s national Asian Pacific American get-out-the-vote efforts. Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and Mrs. Christine Antonovich will offer a special presentation to Ms. Hu for her leadership. Also, California Assemblymember Van Tran will receive special recognition as the first Vietnamese American state legislator in the United States. Master of ceremony is Ted Chen, Weekend Anchor for NBC4.
Individual tickets are $125 per person, or $225 per couple. To RSVP or for sponsorship opportunities, contact Kathy Hassan at (626) 356-9838, or Kathy@causeusa.org. More information can also be found online at
www.causeusa.org.
# # #
Kathy Ng Hassan
Director of Administration
Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment
260 South Los Robles Avenue, Suite 118
Pasadena, CA 91101
Tel: 626-356-9838 Fax: 626-356-9878
www.causeusa.org
3-22-05 SDAFF down south... updates
San Diego Asian Film Festival updates!SDAFF News:
1) SDAFF @ the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
2) 2005 SDAFF Early Entry Deadline: April 1st
3) Attention High Schoolers - two SDAFF competitions for you with $$$!
Deadlines in April and May.
4) New play by Korean American playwright, Kimber Lee: Tuesday, March 22
SDAFF News:
1) SDAFF @ the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
SDAFF programmers Michael Chen and Charlie Yi recently returned from an action-packed weekend at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. In between spectacular films, critical discourse and celebrity encounters, Michael and Charlie found time to jot down some notes about their experience.
Check out their blogs at http://www.sdaff.org/staff_blog.php.
2) 2005 SDAFF Early Entry Deadline: April 1st
The SDAFF is launching its 2005 Call For Entries, looking for the best in Asian American cinema. We award in the following categories: experimental, animation, music video, short documentary, feature documentary, narrative short and narrative feature. Early entry deadline is April 1. Final deadline is May 14. The festival is September 29 through October 6.
Join hundreds of award-winning filmmakers like Justin Lin, Greg Pak, Grace Lee, Ham Tran and Victor Vu who have screened their work at our film festival. Winners in each category will be honored at a spectacular Gala Awards ceremony on Saturday, October 1, 2005.
3) Attention High Schoolers - two SDAFF competitions for you with $$$! Deadlines in April and May.
Reel Voices Teen Producer Internship
Earn $500 this summer learning documentary filmmaking as part of the Reel Voices Project, a paid summer internship with the San Diego Asian Film Foundation. Reel Voices will offer training to 10 San Diego area high school-aged students, providing them with the opportunity to learn the craft of documentary filmmaking during a 10-week internship where you will plan, write, shoot and produce your own documentary film. No previous filmmaking experience is required. Professional filmmakers and special guest lecturers will be available to answer questions, share their knowledge and offer creative feedback on your work the Reel Voices Project. Applications must be submitted by APRIL 15. For more information on SDAFF's Reel Voices Project, click here.
High School Film Review Competition
The San Diego Asian Film Foundation supports and promotes the diverse Pan Asian experience through the media arts. We are seeking student candidates for our film review competition, in partnership with The San Diego Union-Tribune and the Asian American Journalists Association of San Diego, to promote careers in arts journalism. The winning review will be published in The San Diego Union-Tribune during the week of the S.D. Asian Film Festival, Sept. 29–Oct. 6, 2005. The winning student will receive a $500 scholarship, VIP Pass to the festival and two complimentary seats at the SDAFF Gala Awards Dinner on Friday, Sept. 30, at the Doubletree Hotel Mission Valley. Applications must be submitted by MAY 20. Click here to learn more about SDAFF's High School Film Review Competition.
4) New play by Korean American playwright, Kimber Lee: Tuesday, March 22
Mo'olelo Performing Arts Company, ASIA: The Journal of Culture & Commerce, and The Taiwanese American Community Center present a play reading of THE SQUIRREL WIFE by Kimber Lee on Tuesday, March 22 at 7 PM at The Taiwainese American Community Center (7170 Convoy Court, San Diego, CA 92111). Kirsten Brandt, the director of The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow at The Old Globe, will direct.
Touching on themes surrounding transnational adoption, THE SQUIRREL WIFE is set in a small town in southwestern Idaho where SaraLee St.Amor leads an apparently conventional life, while quietly hustling pool on the side -- a fact that she judiciously hides from her fiance, Robert. When a tall and mysteriously well-dressed Korean woman appears in town, SaraLee suddenly finds her carefully constructed life threatened. A uniquely American fairy tale unfolds as SaraLee tries desperately to juggle the needs of the present with the overwhelming and inescapable desires of the past.
For more information, please visit: http://www.moolelo.net/squirrel_wife.html.
Call 619-342-7395 or email tickets@moolelo.net for reservations.
3-21-05 Solve for X!
LODESTONE THEATRE ENSEMBLE
under the artistic direction of Philip W. Chung and Chil Kong
proudly presents the world premiere production of
SOLVE FOR X
Written by Judy Soo Hoo
Directed by Jeff Liu
Produced by Vic Chao and Nic Cha Kim
Starring: Roger Fan (Better Luck Tomorrow, upcoming Annapolis), Elaine Kao (Red Doors), Emily Liu (upcoming Only The Brave), Kipp Shiotani (upcoming Only The Brave), Kelvin Han Yee (24), James Huang (Law and Order), Camille Mana (The OC), Linda Shing (ER) and Harry Du Young (Eat Rice)
LOVE. PASSION. BETRAYAL. TEA.
Solve for X is the story of Hannah, a savvy, young math teacher who marries an older tea mogul with a college-aged son. Hannah develops forbidden attractions and finds that unraveling the equation of life and love has never been so hard. Solve for X is a sensual, poetic tale of loneliness, betrayal, and searching…
March 19-April 24, 2005
Friday-Saturday 8pm, Sunday 2pm
March 17-18 previews at 8pm
$15 general admission
$13 students and seniors (w/ valid ID)
$11 (groups of 10+. While supplies last, groups will receive one $15 gift certificate to Kabuki Restaurant!)
March 27th Easter Special 2-for-1 on regular $15 admission
GTC Burbank
1111-B W. Olive Ave.
Burbank, CA 91506
The theatre is in George Izay Park between S. Victory Bl. and N. Griffith Park Bl.
Park near the jet plane at 1111 W. Olive and walk past the Olive Recreation center. The theatre is behind the rec center; the entrance faces the softball fields.
3-18-05 It's here again... Talk of the Block
3-17-05 In Memory of...
For Immediate Release Contact: Chris Freeland
Wednesday, March 16, 2005 (626) 939-8402
CITY OF WEST COVINA ADJOURNS COUNCIL MEETING IN MEMORY OF
BOY JIN WONG, MOTHER OF MAYOR PRO TEM BEN WONG
Tuesday evening’s West Covina City Council meeting was adjourned in the memory of City Councilmember Ben Wong’s mother, Boy Jin Wong, a 48 year West Covina resident, who passed away late Saturday evening surrounded by her loving family.
For nearly 46 years, Mrs. Wong owned and operated the Great Wall Restaurant that she and her late husband, Bing Tew Wong, founded in 1955. Born in southern mainland China in 1914, Mrs. Wong lived a long, productive, and fulfilling life as a dedicated mother, loving grandmother, doting great-grandmother, and successful businesswoman. She is survived by her three daughters – Margie Tam of Montebello, Shirley Hoskin of West Covina, and Cynthia Toy of Steamboat Springs, Colorado – her son, three sons-in-law, her daughter-in-law, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Boy Jin and Bing Tew Wong opened the Great Wall Restaurant in West Covina during the decade of the 1950s, when the city expanded in population from less than 5,000 residents to over 50,000 by 1960. As the community grew, so too did their family business. When the family finally decided to close the restaurant in 2001, then West Covina Chamber Executive Director, Fred Burkhardt said, “The Great Wall is an institution of West Covina that is going to be severely missed.” Her son, Councilmember Ben Wong recalled, “Despite her limited English language skills, countless former Great Wall Restaurant customers will remember being warmly greeted by her and her enduring smile. She treated everybody like they were guests in her home.”
Notwithstanding her humble beginnings, Mrs. Wong was generous in sharing her good fortune. Having little formal education herself, she and her husband donated money to provide scholarships and build a school in their village back in China. Additionally, she participated in and contributed to numerous local organizations and charities. In 1994, she was the Citrus Valley Health Foundation’s honoree for their Annual “Light Up a Life” holiday tree lighting, for her victory over breast cancer.
The family will celebrate Boy Jin Wong’s 90 years of life, starting with a visitation at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier on Friday evening, March 18th from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Memorial services will be held at Rose Hill’s SkyRose Chapel on Saturday, March 19th at 1:00 P.M. and following the graveside committal, friends and family are invited to join the Wong’s at the NBC Seafood Restaurant in Monterey Park.
The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to:
Citrus Valley Health Foundation
1115 South Sunset Avenue
West Covina, CA 91790
626-814-2421
CAUSE (The Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment)
260 S. Los Robles #118
Pasadena, CA 91101
626-356-9838
Chinese-American Citizens Alliance Foundation
763 Yale Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
323-876-6460
3-14-05 Unleashed! Jet Li...
3-11-05 Upcoming
speak.AsianAmericans exclusive
thank you to those who came to the advance screening of Year of the Yao last night! Stay tuned for Year of the Yao in April 2005, Review coming up on Monday, 3/14/05
Interview with Jet Li in May 2005.
You hear it here first !
~Unleashed~ Jet Li's new film.
3-10-05 Election Results, Asian Americans!
LA City
Run-offs.Antonio Villaraigosa and Jim Hahn will runoff on May 17.
Possibility Flora Gil Krisiloff and Bill Rosendahl (for City Council District 11) will runoff on May 17 as well. They are still counting, as their votes are very close.
Mike Gin, Mayoral race, Redondo Beach , also a run off. May 10th
Final Results
John Tran, Councilmember, Rosemead
David Lau, Councilmember, Monterey Park
Mitchell Ing, Treasurer, Monterey Park
Paul Tanaka, Mayor, Gardena
Ronald Ikejiri, Councilmember, Gardena
Ingrid Tsukiyama, Treasurer, Gardena
Congratulations!
3-7-05 MARCH 8th election. GO VOTE!
Contact: Annie Chang
(626) 356-9838
annie@causeusa.org
Remember To Vote On Tuesday, March 8
Pasadena, CA Election day is Tuesday, March 8 and several Los Angeles County cities will have local elections. Polls will be open from 7AM until 8PM. Any absentee (vote-by-mail) ballots must be received by the city clerk's offices on March 8 by 8 p.m. In order to ensure that absentee ballots are received, it is recommended that voters mail ballots by Friday, March 4. Voters may also submit their completed absentee ballots at their city polling places on Tuesday, March 8. If voters cannot personally drop off their absentee ballots, they may have a friend or family member drop off their absentee ballots at a local polling place. The friend or family member must also sign their name on the envelope where indicated, to avoid any processing problems.
Below is a list of Asian Pacific American candidates running in local elections (a complete list of elections and candidates can also be found at www.smartvoter.org):
City of Carson:
Michael Mitoma – City Council
City of Cerritos:
Joseph Cho - City Council
Chan-Yong Kim - City Council
City of Los Angeles:
Flora Gil Krisiloff – City Council District 11
City of Manhattan Beach:
Eric Mah – City Council
City of Monterey Park:
John Y. Wong - City of Council
Jeffery Chao - City of Council
David T. Lau - City Council
Peter Chan - Treasurer
Mitchell Ing - Treasurer
City of Redondo Beach:
Mike Gin – City Council
City of Rosemead:
John Tran - City Council
Polly Low (write-in) - City Council
If voters have questions about polling places, language assistance or other election information, they may contact the CAUSE Asian Voter Assistance hotline at 1-888-809-3888. On Election Day, March 8, voter assistance will be available in Mandarin, Cantonese and Vietnamese.
# # #
Kathy Ng Hassan
Director of Administration
Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment
260 South Los Robles Avenue, Suite 118
Pasadena, CA 91101
Tel: 626-356-9838 Fax: 626-356-9878
www.causeusa.org
SAVE THE DATE!
CAUSE 12th Annual Dinner - Friday, April 22, 2005
Visit www.causeusa.org for details!
Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE), formerly CAUSE-Vision 21, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing the political empowerment of the Asian Pacific Islander American community through voter registration and education, community outreach and leadership development.
15th Annual Asian American Issues Conference
Special (muy special) Nor Cal event:
Asian American Issues Conference, UC Berkeley. Saturday March 5th, 2005
Besides John Cho, the theme of this year's conference is Exhibitions of Expression: Empowerment through Creativity.
SpeakAsianAmericans, along with Ryan Suda from www.Blacklava.net, will be hosting a workshop @ 2pm called I Wear My Opinion! Ahhh! Here is a brief description:
What do you do when the letter-writing campaign to your Congressman just ain't working? What is life after A&F and Details Magazine controversy? Come to this workshop to find out how entrepreneur & graphic artist Ryan Suda of Blacklava.net transformed his political activism in from of… t-shirt designs?!
Ryan Suda is the founder and owner of www.blacklava.net. “Clothing for a new state of mind” is the slogan. Socially conscious T-shirts with an Asian American political edge are what he sells.
SpeakAsianAmericans will also try to give out of some Better Luck Tomorrow posters. So if you were living in a cave and didnt get a BLT poster, now is your chance!
=======
And yes, if you want to meet Mr. Cho up close and personal, I will personally introduce you to him Good ol' Harold.
3-04-05 Early Korean Immigrants in Hawaii: Their Social Backgrounds and Politics, 1903-1915
The UCLA Asian American Studies Center
and
Center for Korean Studies
present....
Early Korean Immigrants in Hawaii: Their Social Backgrounds and Politics, 1903-1915
With
Yong Ho Choe, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, History
University of Hawaii, Manoa
Wednesday, March 9, 2005
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Room 3232, Campbell Hall
Arrivals of 7,200 Koreans in Hawaii to work on sugar plantations in1903-1905 marked a great historical significance as it opened a way forcontacts of Korean people at a grass-root level with the Western world,in which Christian church acted as an important intermediary. Contraryto earlier contentions, newly discovered data indicate rural andagrarian origins of the early Korean immigrants to the United States.With the tragic news of Korea being reduced to a colony in 1910 whenKorea was annexed by Japan, the Korean immigrants in Hawaii played a keyrole in the independence movement to regain Korean sovereignty.Claiming to be the representative organization of all oversea Koreans,the Korean National Association (KNA) was the main instrument of Koreannationalist activities in the United States. In 1915, there was a bigclash over the control of the KNA in Hawaii between two giantleaders-Syngman Rhee and Pak Yong-man. Going beyond the issue of theKNA domination, the 1915 conflict entailed disagreements over thestrategies of Korean nationalist movement abroad.
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Henry LuceFoundation.
For more information contact the AASC at (310) 825-2974.
