Asian Avenue magazine

Hello AAm Readers,

July 2009 marks the three-year anniversary of Asian Avenue magazine! These days many print publications have felt the wrath of our economy. And although we have faced our share of adversities, I am pleased to announce that AAm is doing well and we will continue to serve you, our readers, with our monthly publications.

This month’s cover story is dedicated to a beautiful, intelligent and compassionate young woman, Erika Tanaka. On May 30th, she was selected by a panel of distinguished judges to be the 2009 Miss Asian American Colorado. Her story shares the rich cultural roots she grew up with and how she has used these values in her academics and community involvements.

Last month, Erika completed her MCATs in preparation for medical school in Fall 2010. In the next months, she will begin working on her service project focused on teen suicide awareness and prevention. Our state is lucky to have such a mature and responsible representative for the Asian American community. If you would like to book Miss Tanaka to attend any community events, please e-mail info@missaaco.com.

In this issue, we have several exciting Inside Stories that share the diversity and breadth of organizations and events in Denver, including Colours TV, Viet De Leon Fashion Show and Little Grass Shack. The Colorado Asian Health Education and Promotion has also provided several tips in regards to the swine flu (H1N1) scare. In addition to these health tips, Melodie Reagan, CEO of Auromira, shares some tips of her own. She continues her “How to be a Job Winner” series with this month’s article on Interviewing Do’s and Don’ts.

I’d like to thank you for your continued support for the magazine. We welcome any of your feedback or story suggestions to editor@asianavenuemagazine.com and look forward to seeing you at our future events. Our next Joy of Living Club dinner is coming up on Friday, July 24th at Jaya Asian Grill. Come experience Malaysian-Singaporean food, or learn what it is!

Happy reading,

Annie Guo
President, Asian Avenue magazine

Thailand is a diverse and complex country, so it is hardly surprising that the cuisine carries the same characteristics as its nation. Cooking is a source of pride and wonder for Thais and a good cook will strive for a perfect balance of flavor, texture and color in a dish.

Thai cooking stands out in the modern world where speed and simplicity reign. Thai is not an instant cuisine that can be prepared with a flick of a knife or toss of a pan; no, it requires the cook’s attention and effort. Patience is required to hone the skills necessary, but it rewards with sensational tastes.

Thai cooking is the opposite of Western cuisine, where two or three flavors come to make a dish. Thai food blends a bewildering array of robust flavors (sometimes up to 20 items in a single dish), creating a complexity that can be quite dazzling and sophisticated. The diverse flavors work harmoniously to round out and support each other. Balance is paramount.

A Thai meal offers a combination of flavors: sweet, spicy, sour, salty and sometimes bitter. In addition to jasmine rice, there is a variety of dishes including a soup, a curry, a vegetable dish or salad, a seafood or meat dish, and one or two sauces. All dishes are served at the same time and shared by everyone in no particular order.

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On Saturday, May 30th, 17 talented, intelligent and beautiful young women shared their cultural heritage, passions for service and individual talents at Teikyo Loretto Heights University Theater. Together, these women embarked on a 3-month journey of bonding, personal growth, leadership development and giving back to the community. On the night of the event, the theater filled with 700+ attendees from all ages and backgrounds. The diverse crowd was a reflection of the true diversity that makes up the state of Colorado.

The 2009 Miss Asian American Colorado Committee would like to thank all of our supporters this year. We’d also like to congratulate your 2009 Miss Asian American Colorado, Erika Tanaka!

The Results:
2009 Miss Asian American Colorado: Erika Tanaka
First Runner-Up, Miss Unity: Abhinetri Ramaswami
Second Runner-Up, Miss Impact: Christine Thai

Miss Asian American Activist: Pakou Xiong
Miss Network Savvy: Dana Seaman
Best Talent: Laila Nguyen
Miss Heard of Gold: Jennifer Nguyen

To download the program book, click here: 2009 Miss Asian American Colorado Program Book

The Joy of Living Club began its Asian American Film Series with its first Asian American Cinema and Cuisine event on Thursday, May 14th at the Starz Film Center. The event, sponsored by Asian Avenue magazine, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network and The Denver Film Society, opened with a dinner reception and networking event for more than 120 attendees.

Annie Guo, President of Asian Avenue magazine alongside Ann Collier, Partnership Manager of The Denver Film Society welcomed guests and introduced its community partner organizations. Partners included Asian Pacific American Bar Association, National Association of Asian American Professionals-Colorado, AsiaXpress.com, Asian American Journalists Association-Denver, OCA Colorado, Hmong Student Association of Colorado, Mile-Hi Japanese American Citizens League, India Association of Colorado, Miss Asian American Colorado Leadership Program, Next Generation Voices, Philippine-American Society of Colorado, University of Denver’s Asian Student Alliance, University of Colorado at Denver’s Asian American Student Services and Asian Student Alliance.
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Just a few short steps away from the corner of South Teller Street and West Alaska Drive, lies a tranquil oasis of care. Blissful Med Spa is a jewel within the vibrant Belmar, a shopping, dining and retail district located in downtown Lakewood. The spa is a fruition of a life-long dream, careful planning and impressive expertise at the hands of its founders and owners Drs. Eipe and Lisa Kuruvila. What sets Blissful Med Spa apart from the standard roster of generic spas that span the metropolitan area is that its owners are medical professionals. Dr. Kuruvila is a board certified anesthesiologist and his wife Lisa is a retired physician. One could not be in better hands. In addition to providing standard spa treatments, like facials and massages, this spa specializes in skin rejuvenation and cellulite medical treatments.

Blissful Med Spa opened its doors in 2007. The facility is pristine and the ambiance is calming. Each client undergoes a consultation before any treatment is rendered. Clients can rest assured that when they walk through the doors, they will receive treatment from the best of the best.

You are met with a polite and accommodative staff upon arrival and quickly notice the impressive array of skin care products that adorn the shelves of reception and greeting area. Blissful Med Spa carries Clinique Medical®, Physioderme® a respected all-natural botanical line from Switzerland, and Thalgo® a highly regarded marine-based product line from France.
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Often in life there are simple things you can do to achieve your goals. Want to be healthy, watch what you eat and get exercise. Want to get good grades, study. Want to find a job, make it easy for people to find you. Here are some top ways to do that:

Social Networks
If you are not already in it, get on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com). It’s the top professional social networking tool on the market. Consider also getting on Facebook (www.facebook.com) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com). Plus, check out Xobni (www.xobni.com), which makes it easier to grow your network in these tools.

For social networking, it’s not just about being in the system, it’s about using the system. Once you’ve built your profile (use your resume content), build your professional network, adding existing and new contacts, and join relevant network groups (associations, recruitment and more. Once started, these are great tools for maintaining your professional network too.

Job Boards
Post your resume to job boards. Pick at least two (2). Select the boards that fit you best considering industry, locations, and type of jobs. Job boards allow companies and recruiters to find you, and will regularly send you job match listings. Your resume content is used to determine the matches. If they frequently aren’t a fit, consider changing the key words in your resume.
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Eco-Cycle, one of the largest non-profit recyclers in the United States (also known as an international pioneer and innovator in resource conservation) held its annual Earth Day Celebration in Boulder on April 22nd at the Spice of Life Event Center. Zero Waste businesses, schools, local governments, community organizations and individuals were recognized for setting examples, locally and globally, with their Zero Waste efforts.

Boulder Asian Pacific Alliance (BAPA) was awarded the Zero Waste Community Event Award for their “great crew, enthusiasm, and close adherence to Zero Waste practices”. Zero Waste means that resources are recycled or composted in an attempt to divert resources away from landfills. The award was presented in a frame made from recycled soda cans designed by a local artist.

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The Aloha Spirit was alive and well in Fort Collins as Colorado State University’s (CSU) Hui ‘O Hawai’i presented its 23rd annual Lu’au on May 3rd at the Charles A. Lory Student Center. This year’s theme, “He Inoa no na Ali’i”, paid tribute to the Hawaiian Monarchy who ruled the islands before the United States colonized it in the late 1800s.

Students choreographed and performed hula dances honoring rulers such as King David Kalākaua. Dance performances from other Polynesian nations were also a part of the program, including a Maori war chant known as the haka from New Zealand and the sasa, a slap dance from Sāmoa.
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Nearly a year ago, the Hmong Student Association of Colorado (HSAC) developed the HSAC scholarship program. The purpose of the scholarship program is to encourage the Hmong youth to pursue higher education after completing high school and also assist those with financial need who would like to attend college. Through many fundraising efforts, the student organization raised enough money to award two applicants for the 2009-2010 school year.

The recipients, Wendy Vue and Elizabeth Lor, will each be awarded $1,000. Wendy Vue is a graduating senior at Arvada High School and will be furthering her studies at the University of Colorado Denver with a major in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Elizabeth Lor is a graduating senior at Westminster High School. This fall, Elizabeth will be attending the University of Colorado at Boulder with a major in Computer Science Engineering.

“I feel that the success of the HSAC scholarship program this year gives new purpose to the organization and I see a lot of potential for this program to grow in the future,” said Rose Segawa, Hmong community member. “After our applicant reviews, all of us in that review meeting felt motivated to raise more funds so that we can award more students next year.”

Last month HSAC received an award for Outstanding Student Organization from the Student Life department at the University of Colorado Denver. For more information, please visit http://www.hmongstudent.org.

By May Lee
Asian Avenue magazine

The atrium of the new Hamilton wing of the Denver Art Museum is home to a beautiful conceptual art installation by contemporary Japanese artist, Tatsuo Miyajima. His work, titled ENGI, takes the form of eighty mirrors set in the towering angled walls of the museum. Each mirror contains an LED (light-emitting diode) that projects a glowing number representing an individual’s life force - cycling from birth to life to death and rebirth. The artist hopes that his installation, spiraling up through the space, will involve and connect viewers with both the artwork and each other.

The numbers shine either white, cycling from one to nine, or blue, cycling from nine to one. Both directions end with the counters going dark when the cycle reaches zero. But instead of using an actual numeral, Miyajima allows a period of darkness at the end of a cycle to represent the Eastern concept of Ku, or the void, where death occurs and where energy reforms, generating rebirth.
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