Meet and Greet United Way

Join the Asian Pacific American Legal Center for a special gathering in honor of Elise Buik, the new President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Elise will share her vision for how United Way of Greater LA will continue and expand its role in LA County and in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities. She will be available to answer questions.

A staff member since 1994, Elise is quite familiar with Los Angeles and its diverse needs. Under her leadership, the organization implemented a new community investment plan focusing on measurable impact, as well as provided significant support for APALC’s demographic profile, “The Diverse Face of Asian & Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County”.

As a nonprofit organization that helps the working poor break the cycle of poverty through education, economic empowerment, and basic needs, United Way of Greater Los Angeles is an important partner in the community—helping to bring together individuals and institutions in an effort to plan, support, deliver, and evaluate effective human service programs.

Thursday, July 28, 2005
3:00 pm
Light Refreshments will be served

Asian Pacific American Legal Center
1145 Wilshire Blvd (corner of Lucas Ave)
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Park at Athena Parking located at 636 Lucas Ave, adjacent to the APALC’s office.

Please RSVP to rsvp@apalc.org by Monday, July 25.

7-15-05 Meet & Greet the new mayor of Los Angeles with Little Tokyo Community Council

LITTLE TOKYO COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Japanese American National Museum
George & Sakaye Aratani Central Hall
369 East First Street, Los Angeles, California 90012
Telephone (213) 625-0414 Ext. 5720 Facsimile (213) 625-1770 email: ltccjb@aol.com

Tuesday, July 26, 2005
11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

7-15-05 SIPA invites you to their event as well..

(07/12/05) Search to Involve Pilipino Americans presents "PAGYAMANIN/APOYO: Nurturing Youth, Families and Communities - SIPA's 2nd Annual Open House Merienda Reception" on Friday, July 29, 2005 from 4pm to 6pm at The Temple Gateway Youth and Community Center, 3200 West Temple Street in Historic Filipinotown. The event will commemorate the second successful year of the Temple Gateway Youth and Community Center.

New "wooden bricks" on SIPA's Individual Donor Wall will be unveiled to commemorate loved ones and major supporters. Interested individuals who would like to participate in this now, annual giving campaign contact SIPA's Events Hotline at Tel (213) 382-1819 x123, Fax (213) 382-7445, email: info@esipa.org. Help enhance SIPA's efforts to improve the lives of youth and families in Historic Filipinotown and the Southland.

Founded in 1972, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) provides health and human services, community economic development and arts/cultural programs to youth and families in multi-ethnic Historic Filipinotown as well as for the Los Angeles Pilipino American community. With the recent completion of facility renovations at the Temple Gateway Youth & Community Center - the capacity to provide more services and for more clients has increased and last year, SIPA served more than 5,000 clients.

SIPA is located at 3200 West Temple Street in Historic Filipinotown. For more information or to RSVP, please call Gerlie Collado, Special Events and Communications Manager at (213)382-1819 x117 or email: gcollado@esipa.org.

7-15-05 Pinoy Pride-- an invitation...

Akwa Restaurant cordially invites you to enjoy an evening to benefit the
FILIPINO AMERICAN HERITAGE INSTITUTE and FILIPINO AMERICAN LIBRARY with

music, appetizers, and special friends. No host bar.

Where: 1413 5th St., Santa Monica, CA
When: Friday, July 22, 6:00pm

$25.00 admission at door
$20.00 pre-sale (call us as soon as possible)

For information/pre-sale, please call (213) 382-0488.

The Filipino American Heritage Institute is a non-profit tax-exempt
organization. Tax ID# 95-4282571.

www.filipinoamericanlibrary.org

7-11-05 Mark your calendar: API YOUTH VIOLENCE Conference

This is a Statewide Dialogue on Asian and Pacific Islander Youth Violence sponsored by California State Attorney General Bill Lockyer and a consortium of organizations, public officials, and individuals throughout California. The Dialogue will take place at the Sacramento Convention Center from 9am to 4:30pm, on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 (registration begins at 8am).

Asian and Pacific Islander (API) youth are both the victims and the perpetrators of violence representing conflict within and outside their respective ethnic groups. What is clear about these incidents is that although they are occurring throughout the state, they could be happening in our own neighborhoods. Consider the following incidents:

• Five Chinese youth in San Francisco were brutally beaten and harassed with racial slurs by 15 to 20 white male teenagers, only one of whom was identified, prosecuted, and found guilty of two felony and one misdemeanor hate crimes. (see http://www.asianlawcaucus.org/newsletter/oct_2004_72.pdf)

• A young Hmong male was shot and killed as he waited to make a left-hand turn in Sacramento; a Hmong female has been arrested as the driver of the car from which several gunmen emerged to commit the homicide (Sacramento Bee, February 28, 2005, and April 12, 2005).

• Shootings and fights in San Mateo County among Tongan youth have resulted in a community effort to help keep Tongan youth out of gangs and out of trouble (San Francisco Chronicle, February 27, 2005).In the city of Lennox in Southern California, young Tongan adults were shot in front of the Sheriff’s office (April 2005).

Through this Dialogue we hope to identify the needs of youth and their families, understand law enforcement responses, voice the concerns of community members, and begin to examine approaches that can stop the violence. Although gangs are part of the dialogue on API youth violence, this is not specifically an Asian gang conference.

You are invited to be part of a discussion that addresses the diversity of API groups and their specific needs and issues. Participants will include youth, community members, advocates, law enforcement, legislators, media, and foundations.

The day will begin in the morning with speakers and an overview of API youth violence throughout the state. Tentative workshops topics include API Youth Victimization, Law Enforcement Responses to API Youth Violence, Collaborations Between Faith Based Organizations and Law Enforcement, School-based Mediation Programs, and What to Do When Your Child is Arrested. There will also be a concurrent Youth Program focusing on issues such as Youth Organizing, Conflict Resolution and Mediation, and Know Your Rights. The Dialogue will be concluded with a reconvening of participants for a summary of the workshop sessions and a discussion on the necessary next steps. A continental breakfast and light lunch will be provided.

Please e-mail SpeakAsianAmericans if you need (free) transportation !

6-06-05 This weekend: Echo Park Lotus Festival ! ! !

Caveat: BRING lots of sunblock ! ! ! It's gonna be hot and... HOT. Check out the dragonboat races as well. This is truly a multicultural event of the year in Los Angeles. Enjoy!

WHAT:
2005 Lotus Festival sponsored by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks


WHEN:
Saturday, July 9, 2005 - 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m.Sunday, July 10, 2005 - 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.(Dates coincide with the blooming of the Lotus Flower)


LOCATION:
Echo Park in Los Angeles, California, located on Park Avenue between Glendale Avenue and Echo Park Boulevard, just north of the Hollywood (101) and Pasadena (110) freeway junction, near Dodger Stadium


GENERAL PARKING LOCATIONS
LOGAN STREET SCHOOL:1711 W. Montana Street, Los Angeles. Cross streets Lemoyne St. and Montana St.
ECHO PARK BASEBALL DIAMOND:1632 Bellevue Ave, Los AngelesCross streets Temple St. and Glendale Blvd
CITY OF ANGELS MEDICAL CENTER:1711 W. Temple St, Los AngelesCross Streets Temple St. and Glendale Blvd.


MISSION:



To develop, promote and create an atmosphere of understanding in which Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Southern California are brought together for two (2) days of cultural sharing. To preserve and enlighten the public with a sampling of distinctly different and unique Asian and Pacific Islander customs and traditions in the arts, music, dance, drama and food.
Providing a fun and enjoyable festival for the entire family.


HIGHLIGHTS:





















Opening Ceremonies begin on Saturday at 12:00 p.m., as we earmark the 28 th Annual Lotus Festival, which include live music, dance and entertainment from a variety of performers representing many of the diverse countries of Asia and the Pacific Islands . This year the Festival will highlight the people and culture of " Korea ". A fabulous fireworks finale over Echo Park Lake will conclude the day's activities at 9:00 p.m., with legendary Taiko Drummers playing the background.
Asian and Pacific Islander personalities from the media and acting professions will act as emcees/hosts during this two-day event.
Artisans-at-work will be on hand to demonstrate their skills on the beautifully decorated Flower Island Pavilion. Their artwork illustrates their spirit, tradition and pride of the Asian and Pacific Islander handiwork. Includes: paper-cutting, hand painted scrolls, calligraphy, plant and flower expertise, fish, birds and other Asian artifacts.
The Health Fair will feature educational lectures on holistic fitness. Other services to be provided include: free screenings, information and referrals.
The Community service are will feature a variety of organizations offering free information, assistance and referrals in areas of employment, social services, immigration, legal services, education, housing and translating.
The Art Show Exhibit will feature artwork with the "lotus flower" theme painted by students from Junior and Senior High Schools and Senior Citizens throughout the Southern California communities. Professional artists will judge entries. The 2005 exhibit will be opening for viewing during Festival hours at the Cathedral Center of St. Paul, 850 Echo Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA. (located across the street from the boathouse)
The International Marketplace will offer a variety of Asian and Pacific Islander items and gifts for sale, including clothing, jewelry, artwork, hand-made crafts, incense, body oils and much more.
Children's Courtyard will give children the opportunity to learn Asian and Pacific Islander arts and crafts, enjoy live music, stories, songs and dances.
Queens and Princesses representing their local communities will be in their native cultural dress.
Dragon Boat Races are held both days with media and community service groups, political and business organizations and local colleges and universities will be competing for awards, while enjoying a day at this Festival on the lake.
The Food Booth area will provide a variety of Asian and Pacific Islander cuisine, that will feature enticing delicacies, which are traditional to the Asian and Pacific Island cultures.
Last year's estimated attendance alone was well over 100,000 with the population composed of the diverse cultures that make-up Los Angeles!


CONTACT:



2005 Lotus Festival3900 West Chevy Chase DriveLos Angeles, CA 90039(213) 485-1310; FAX (213) 485-8746
Mary Ezell Bingham, Festival ChairpersonIrena Seta, Festival Planning & Marketing Assistant
Email: Lotus@rap.lacity.orgWebsite: www.laparks.org/grifmet/lotus.htm

7-01-05 WHITE SNAKE!

"THE LEGEND OF THE WHITE SNAKE," A MARTIAL ARTS PLAY, TO BE PERFORMED IN AN OUTDOOR PARK SETTING AT THE SYLVAN AMPHITHEATER, EAGLE ROCK

Los Angeles, CA—(June 6, 2005) The popular Chinese mythical drama about a snake that turns into a woman after a thousand years of meditation, “The Legend of the White Snake,” will begin a four week run at the Sylvan Amphitheater in Yosemite Park, 1840 Yosemite Drive in Eagle Rock, starting on Thursday, July 21. The play, performed every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through Saturday, August 13 at 7 p.m., is presented by the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock and the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

Written and directed by Henry Ong, “The Legend of the White Snake,” will include elements of Chinese martial arts, tai chi and “movement.” Ong, an eight-time Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department grant recipient, originally developed the story as a play for youth, entitled “Lady White Snake.” He later expanded it to “The Legend of the White Snake,” a version that explores themes relating to the meaning of life, meditation, “inter-species” or “inter-alien” relationships and the nature of love transcending the boundaries of time and space.

Ong is an internationally-produced playwright whose signature play, "Madame Mao's Memories," based on the life of Chairman Mao's widow, was performed at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego as well as in many U.S. and international cities. Other credits include "People Like Me" (to be published in the fall by Norman Maine Publishing), "Fabric," and "Sweet Karma."

Suggested donations (for the performers) are $10. For more information on the production, call the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock at (323) 226-1617; or call (818) 634-8464.

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