Miss Asian American Colorado Dao Than hosted a fundraiser for the Asian Pacific Development Center’s ReLAY After School program on Saturday, April 21 at the Tivoli Student Union at Auraria Campus.

“ARTiste” which stands for Art is Shown Through Expression was an art gala that showcased a dance performance by the refugee youth in ReLAY and their art projects that Than had been working diligently on with them for weeks prior to the event. It was not only a showcase, but it was a celebration of art. Local artists’ artwork were on sale with
proceeds donated to ReLAY, while live performances included a lion dance by Colorado Asian Cultural Heritage Center, dance by Machinez Remainz and rap by Ann Mariano.

Than was recognized with a plaque of appreciation by Bryan Yee for her service to the ReLAY program.

In its fourth year, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network proudly announces the 2012 Asian American Heroes of Colorado:

Dr. DJ Ida, Executive Director of National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
Sum Nguyen, President of Unified Vietnamese-American Council of Colorado
Dr. Suegie Park, Clinical Pharmacist and Health Professional
Dr. Jaime Yrastorza, Founder of Uplift Internationale
Young Asian-American Hero AWARD: Pakou Xiong, Hmong community leader and Asian-American activist
Lifetime Achievement AWARD: George Yoshida, Retired social worker and war veteran, Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer awardee

Heroes were selected by a committee comprised of members from OCA Colorado, Asian Chamber of Commerce, Asian Avenue magazine, Mile-Hi Japanese American Citizens League, Colorado Asian Pacific Youth Association, Asian Pacific Development Center, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network, and National Association of Asian American Professionals – Colorado.

Fourth annual Asian American Heroes of Colorado Award Ceremony and Brunch
Date: Saturday, May 26, 2012 Time: 10 a.m. to noon
Location: Kings Land Restaurant, 2200 W. Alameda Ave, Denver
Tickets: $20 each | $15 for students
To purchase tickets: Checks made payable to CACEN can be sent to:
CACEN, P.O. Box 221748, Denver, CO 80222

Or purchase online at: www.cacenetwork.org
For questions, call 303-937-6888 or email info@cacenetwork.org.

The award ceremony will include a dim sum brunch, recognition of the 2012 Asian American Heroes of Colorado, young hero award and lifetime achievement award recipients, acceptance speeches, and sharing unique stories of service. Come and be inspired!

 DR. DJ IDA

Colorado native DJ Ida has more than 30 years of experience working with the Asian American Pacific Islander communities. Dr. Ida is a co-founder of Asian Pacific Development Center (APDC) and serves as executive director of the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA). Dr. Ida is a strong advocate in promoting mental health well-being within Asian American and Pacific Islander communities nationwide.

“Mental health is the core of so many things,” Dr. Ida said. “My goal is to make sure issues in our community don’t get lost.”

Dr. Ida’s work has a large impact with Asian-American communities, various nonprofit organizations and government agencies; she is frequently asked to speak on cultural competency and mental health issues.

Nominated by JR Kuo, Program Coordinator of NAAPIMHA, he said, “DJ devotes all her professional and personal time to empowering mental health consumers and fighting for their rights.”

A third-generation Japanese-American, Dr. Ida said her parents inspired her to pursue a career in mental health. Her mother was born in California and was not able to pursue a master’s degree due to post-World War II prejudices against Japanese-Americans; Dr. Ida dedicated her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Colorado to
her parents.

“My parents gave me the push early on in life to give back to the community because they always had,” she said.

Dr. Ida said it is a great joy to her to see Asian communities flourish on a national level. Although her work is nationwide, she refers to Colorado as “home base”; she works with APDC and other nonprofits in the Denver metro area.

Dr. Ida considers herself very lucky to be able to do work that she really loves. “Find that passion and that will get you
through the rough days,” Dr. Ida said. “Have a sense of pride in who you are and reach out to people who need help.”

Sum Nguyen

Sum Nguyen still recalls the exact date he fled communist Vietnam—it was April 30, 1975 when he and his family escaped the country to find freedom and peace elsewhere. They boarded a ship armed with nothing but hope and faith.

“We won’t survive; we can’t survive,” Nguyen said he thought to himself as he and his family sailed away from their homeland. “But we did.”

After traveling to Singapore safely, then to Marine Camp Pendleton in California, the Nguyen family would find a permanent home in Denver under the sponsorship of Denver Lutheran Church within a year of their departure from Vietnam. From serving as a carpenter’s helper to a warehouse shipping clerk, Nguyen worked in various industries to support his family. He eventually went back to school to receive his bachelor of science in electronic engineering technology and became an assistant engineer.

Before he left the country, Nguyen served in many positions in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam; he was promoted to captain and served as a boat group commander and the transportation office chief.

Now a U.S. citizen, Nguyen is the division commander of the United States Vietnamese American Veterans Alliance, Colorado Division. He was given the title of full colonel in 2010 by the commanding general of the United States Vietnamese American Veterans Alliance.

Through his service roles, Nguyen has made contributions to the veteran and Vietnamese communities, and to the city of Aurora as a whole. He said his goals included promoting education among younger generations and helping Asian Americans come together as a community. His current positions include president of the Unified Vietnamese-American Council of Colorado, advisor to Denver Public Schools and Ambassador for Peace to the Universal Peace Federation.

“I try my best to connect communities together to forget about hatred,” Nguyen said.

A strong believer in the importance of education, Nguyen is currently studying for his master’s in business administration from Colorado Technical University. He and his wife Anh have been married for 51 years and have ten grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.

 Dr. Suegie Park

Clinical pharmacist Suegie Park didn’t receive her doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center until 2005 even though she obtained her bachelor of science in the field back in 1983. Dr. Park continued to work hard for her education, and her experiences as a Korean immigrant and healthcare professional have inspired her to help other Asian-Americans achieve better health.

“I like to help others keep a healthy life,” said Dr. Park. “There are immigrants here with language barriers who are not familiar with the healthcare system.”

As a victim of chronic pain, her passion is to help those who are suffering and don’t know how to get help. Dr. Park is the office manager at Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice, a safety net clinic that provides medical clinic services at affordable prices. Dr. Park is also actively involved with the Asian Pacific Development Center;
she served on their Board of Directors for six years.

In addition, she has volunteered at the 9Health Fair yearly since 1995. Dr. Park helps translate wellness information for Korean communities and provides important health screenings. Some of her other achievements include working with various organizations to promote Hepatitis B prevention and serving as vice president of the National Unification Advisory Council of Korea.

Dr. Park and her family came to the U.S. in 1975 from South Korea. She served in the U.S. Army for three years and in the Colorado National Guard while she was a pharmacy student. Dr. Park said her experience obtaining a degree at an older age has made her a strong advocate of education and helping youth in the community. She has served the Korean Heritage Camps for more than 20 years by fundraising and preparing food at the yearly events.

“I like to contribute to the community, and my goal has always been to emphasize education,” Dr. Park said. “I want to help young people with whatever situations.”

Dr. Jaime Yrastorza

Jaime Yrastorza calls himself an active Rotarian and a proud American citizen. Dr. Yrastorza left his home in the Philippines in 1950 after graduating from high school. He earned his bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Minnesota and a doctorate in dental medicine from Washington University. Then he received specialty training in oral-maxillofacial surgery from Georgetown University. Dr. Yrastorza maintained a private practice in Wheat Ridge for 35 years before retiring in 1995.

In 1989, Dr. Yrastorza founded Uplift International, an organization that gathers a team of medical professionals and volunteers to travel to the Philippines yearly to provide care to children born with facial deformities, primarily clefts of the lip and palate. The volunteers provide care at no cost to families.

“It is a haven for healthcare experts who want to share their expertise in care of the impoverished,” said Dr. Yrastorza.

Dr. Yrastorza also served as program consultant in oral-maxillofacial surgery for the Phillippines for the United Nations; he helped organize and develop a training program with his expertise for a hospital in Manila.

Dr. Yrastorza said his work is fueled by awareness that there are countries in the world that have a high number of impoverished individuals and the U.S. has an abundant source of individuals who could participate in this wisdom. A father to five and a grandfather to 14, he encourages people to take advantage of the many opportunities the country has to offer.

“This is a country that is full of opportunities to achieve your dreams and a country that gives commensurate awards for hard work,” he said.

Young Hero Award: Pakou Xiong

Pakou Xiong developed a love for community service at a young age; her work in the Hmong community has inspired her to encourage others in the Asian-American community to get involved.

“I think the Colorado community is so unique,” she said. “I think everyone can contribute their culture.”

Xiong has been involved with organizations such as Hmong Colorado Radio, Hmong American Association of Colorado, National Association of Asian American Professionals, Colorado Dragon Boat Festival and Miss Asian American Colorado. She served as program coordinator for the Asian Women’s Health Program at Asian Pacific Development Center and was an executive director for the Hmong American Association of Colorado.

Although Xiong values all of the organizations she’s been involved in, she said the Hmong Student Association of Colorado is the group that is dearest to her and still serves as one of their advisors.

“The young people are the future, so I want to make sure the organization is always going in the right path,” Xiong said.

Xiong said the best part of her work is all of the relationships established and the trust she’s gained from other community members.

She hopes to use that trust to influence others to be active in their community.

“People like me do what we do because we love the work and never ask for anything in return; saying thank you is already enough,” said Xiong. “So to be recognized is truly an honor.”

Xiong advice to others is to always think positively, stay true to oneself and be confident in the decisions you make to avoid any regrets in the future.

Young Asian-American Hero defined as under 35 years of age.

Lifetime Achievement Award: George Yoshida

“Never in my wildest dreams coming to Colorado did I imagine I would be involved like this,” said George Yoshida, a retired social worker who has been recognized for his exemplary volunteerism many times. Nearly 80-years-old, Yoshida proves that a desire to help others transcends age.

A Korean War veteran and Hawaiian native, Yoshida worked as a clinical social worker for 35 years at Denver’s National Jewish Hospital. He retired in 1979, but decades of service and dedication to his community followed. Yoshida was awarded the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award and is now active on the committee that selects yearly honorees from the Denver metro area.

“If I’ve made some difference to someone, then I know I’ve achieved something,” Yoshida said.

Yoshida’s endeavors include acting as an advisor to Asian Avenue magazine, packing up medical supplies for developing countries in need with Project C.U.R.E., helping launch an Asian Film Festival and volunteering with the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival.

He is also known for spending a lot of time on the computer keeping people updated on diverse activities in the community.

Yoshida said he is grateful that his wife still edits all of his work.

“I like the spontaneity of doing different projects,” he said. “It keeps me busy.”

He said his hope to improve human relationships propels his work and encourages individuals to take advantage of the endless volunteer opportunities available. A father to four and a grandfather to five, Yoshida plans to continue volunteering for as long as he can.

In conjuction with Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Memorial Day, “Every Day Is a Holiday,” a warm and intimate portrait of Paul Loong’s secret past as a POW in Japan and his journey to becoming an American will premiere on public television.

While growing up in suburban New Jersey, Chinese-American filmmaker Theresa Loong knew little about her father’s past. Then, one day she discovered his secret diary, written when he was a teenager and POW in a Japanese work camp during World War II. In it, he vowed to make “every day a holiday” if he ever survived.

Told through Loong’s eyes, “Every Day Is a Holiday” tells the life-affirming story of her father’s unlikely journey, from Chinese Malay teenager and Japanese POW, to merchant seaman, American soldier, Veterans Affairs doctor and proud citizen of the country that liberated him: the United States. Using intimate conversations, rare archival footage and his wartime diary, the film traces how, through sheer strength of will and a remarkably positive outlook, Paul Loong overcame the horrors of war and obstacles as an immigrant, truly making “every day a holiday.”

This is an inspiring and moving portrait of an unforgettable American. Growing up, filmmaker Theresa Loong recalls a cheerful father who loved to laugh and play pranks on his children, but underneath all that laughter, he would show occasional flashes of anger and sadness. When one day young Theresa asked him innocently about a curious scar on his back, he simply said, “Everyone has secrets.” It wasn’t until Theresa discovered a hidden diary her father kept while imprisoned, that she uncovered what those secrets were.

With a steel-trap memory and joyful spirit, at 88 years old, Paul is commemorating his 66th year of freedom. “Every Day Is a Holiday” celebrates the freedom that comes with confronting the past and facing the future with resilience,
forgiveness, and love.

For more information, visit www.itvs.org/films/every-day-is-a-holiday.

Overall, during the 2007 to 2010 economic downturn, Asian Americans experienced lower unemployment rates than whites, which may be due to Asian Americans’ higher education levels. The unemployment rate for Asian Americans with a high school education and less was 18.6 percent, compared to 24 percent for whites.

But highly educated Asian Americans suffered from higher unemployment rates than similarly educated whites. Specifically, Asian American workers with at least a bachelor’s degree are more likely to be unemployed than white workers with the same level of education—a fact that is particularly striking because 57.2 percent of the Asian American labor force falls into this category.

In other words, the higher education an Asian American has obtained, the more vulnerable his or her job security is during economically hard times.

The report also indicated that, in 2010, Asian Americans had the highest share of long-term unemployed workers (for more than half a year) when compared with white, black, and Hispanic workers. Among workers with a high school diploma, white men earned an average of $11,000 more than white women and Asian American men and women. That year, nearly half of all unemployed Asian Americans fell into the higher education category.

The conclusion of the research is not to imply that Asian Americans should not pursue higher education to avoid being the victim of racial biases in top level jobs. Instead, it presents the need for better career planning by Asian Americans, which should include careful scrutiny on the quality of employers. Finding a job in a company of equal opportunity and that is highly diverse may increase career success.

There are numerous websites that ask workers to evaluate employers. Some specifically emphasize how Asian Americans are being treated by their companies. Asian Avenue magazine selected two sites and have reported their current results, which may help in career planning and identifying companies that value diversity.

The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans

• These companies’ board of directors average 6.3% Asian Americans, compared with 2% nationally. (LEAP)
• Top level management (CEO and direct reports) are almost 5% Asian.
• Asian Americans represent an average of 13.6% of their companies’ workforces, compared with 4.8% nationally. Asian
Americans represent an average of 14.3% of managers in these companies, compared with 6.1% nationally. (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• There are nine CEOs of Fortune 500 companies who are of Asian descent, which is less than 2%.

No. 1: Deloitte
No. 2: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
No. 3: Johnson & Johnson
No. 4: IBM Corp.
No. 5: PricewaterhouseCoopers
No. 6: Kaiser Permanente
No. 7: Abbott
No. 8: American Express
No. 9: Procter & Gamble
No. 10: Well Fargo 

100 GREAT EMPLOYERS FOR ASIAN AMERICANS

Accenture – New York, NY
Adobe Systems – San Jose, CA
Advanced Micro Devices – Sunnyvale, CA
Allergan Inc. – Irvine, CA
Allstate – Northbrook, IL
American Family Insurance – Madison, WI
American Express – New York, NY
Amgen Inc. – Thousand Oaks, CA
Applied Biosystems – Foster City, CA
Applied Materials – Santa Clara, CA
Ariba Inc. – Mountain View, CA
AstraZeneca – Wilmington, DE
Autodesk – San Rafael, CA
AXA Financial Inc. – New York, NY
Bank of America – Charlotte, NC
Bearingpoint – McLean, VA
Bechtel Group Inc. – San Francisco, CA
Bingham McCutchen – Boston, MA
Bloomberg – New York, NY
Booz Allen Hamilton – McLean, VA
Boston Consulting Group – Boston, MA
Central Intelligence Agency – Washington D.C.
Chevron – San Ramon, CA
Cisco Systems – San Jose, CA
Community Health Systems – Franklin, TN
Coach Inc. – New York, NY
Comerica – Detroit, MI
Computer Sciences Corp. – El Segundo, CA
Deloitte & Touche USA – New York, NY
Electronic Arts – Redwood City, CA
EMC Corporation – Hopkinton, MA
Federal Bureau of Investigations – Washington, D.C.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts – Toronto, Canada
Fluor Corporation – Irving, TX
Genentech – San Francisco, CA
General Dynamics – Falls Church, VA
Gensler & Associates Inc. – San Francisco, CA
Genzyme Corporation – Cambridge, MA
GlaxoSmithKline – Triangle Park, NC
Goldman Sachs – New York, NY
Google Inc. – Mountain View, CA
Hamilton Sundstrand – Windsor Locks, CT
Health Management Associates Inc. – Naples, FL
Humana – Louisville, KY
Hyatt Corporation – Chicago, IL
Hyperion Solutions Corporation – Sunnyvale, CA
i2 Technologies – Irving, TX
IBM – Armonk, NY
Infosys Technologies – Fremont, CA
Intel – Santa Clara, CA
Irell & Manella – Century City, CA
Internal Revenue Service – Washington, D.C.
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. – Pasadena, CA
Johnson & Johnson – New Brunswick, NJ
Jones Apparel Group Inc. – Bristol, PA
Juniper Networks Inc. – Sunnyvale, CA
Kaiser Permanente – Oakland, CA
Kindred Healthcare – Louisville, KY
KPMG – Montvale, NJ
Latham & Watkins – Los Angeles, CA
Lockheed Martin – Bethesda, MD
LSI Logic Inc. – Milpitas, CA
Macromedia – San Francisco, CA
Marathon Oil – Houston, TX
McKinsey & Company – New York, NY
Medtronic – Minneapolis, MN
Methodist Hospital Systems – Houston, TX
Microsoft – Redmond, WA
Morrison & Foerster – San Francisco, CA
Nike – Beaverton, OR
National Security Agency – Ft Meade, MD
NVidia Corp. – Santa Clara, CA
Oracle – Redwood Shores, CA
Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker – Los Angeles, CA
PeopleSoft, Inc. – Pleasanton, CA
Perkins Eastman Architects – New York, NY
Pixar Animation Studios – Emeryville, CA
Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation – New York, NY
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP – New York, NY
Qualcomm – San Diego, CA
Raytheon – Waltham, MA
RTKL Associates Inc. – Baltimore, MD
Science Applications Int’l Corp. – San Diego, CA
Siebel Systems, Inc. – San Mateo, CA
SRA International – Fairfax, VA
Starbucks – Seattle, WA
State Farm – Bloomington, IL
Tenet Healthcare Corp. – Dallas, TX
Texas Instruments – Dallas, TX
Unisys – Blue Bell, PA
U.S. Secret Service – Washington D.C.
U.S. State Department – Washington, D.C.
Valero Energy – San Antonio, TX
The Vanguard Group – Valley Forge, PA
Verizon Info Systems – New York, NY
The Walt Disney Co. – Burbank, CA
Washington Mutual – Seattle, WA
Wellpoint Inc. (Anthem) – Indianapolis, IN
Wells Fargo – San Francisco, CA
Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo – Honolulu, HI
Xerox – Stamford, CT
Yahoo! Inc. – Sunnyvale, CA

Source: www.goldsea.com/Career/Employers/top100emp.html

The Chinese American Post and Confucius Classroom in Denver present the “Legend of the Sun” song and dance show performed by the China Nanning Art Theatre. With shows on Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17, 2012 at 7:00 PM, the Denver Performing Arts Complex’s Buell Theater (1101 13th Street, Denver, CO 80204) will be filled with colorful stage sets, beautiful music and talented Chinese performers.

“Legend of the Sun” is a China Nanning Art Theatre cooperation with national first-class artists performing the Zhuang nationality dance drama. Adapted from beautiful folklore, the play organically integrates popular dances, such as the Cockfighting dance, Hydrangea dance, Shoes dance and Fireworks dance. The music exudes a cordial and fresh concert-like sound with cheerful tones and strong drums. The unique stage set includes an array of large paintings that reflect the Zhuang ancestor’s dance.

The story is about the sun and takes place a very long time ago. The mountains look onward into the horizon of the cold, dark valley are eager to find warmth and light. “Legend of the Sun” depicts the travels of an old man, young man, children and pregnant woman as they travel towards the sun. In search of the sun, a mother gives birth to a boy, Le, whom she educates on how to overcome difficulties and obstacles to complete their mission.

The troupe has shared its national culture in many countries including Australia, Austria, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cyprus, Turkey and Oman. On this visit to the U.S., the 73-person troupe will perform in only three U.S. cities this summer: Chicago, Los Angeles and Denver!

The China Nanning Art Theatre troupe has also won many awards, including the Sixth China Arts Outstanding Productions, the Second Session of the Chinese Dance “Lotus Award” Contest, Guangxi’s Fifth “Golden Osmanthus” Gold Award, and the Eighth Five One Project Award.

Legend of the Sun Show Tickets
Dates: Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17, 2012
Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM; Show begins at 7:00 PM
Location: Buell Theater, Denver Performing Arts Complex
1101 13th Street, Denver, CO 80204
Tickets: Tickets range from $39, $58, $80 and $120. Tickets are available at: http://ticketswest.rdln.com/Artist.aspx?contentID=16709

Contact: For more information, please call 303-934-1773 or e-mail legendofsun2012@gmail.com.

Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! We are pleased to announce the 2012 Asian American Heroes of Colorado. I applaud each of them for their contributions and achievements not only in the Asian-American community, but within their professions and line of work. A hero is defined as a person who is admired for courage or noble qualities and this year’s honorees truly exude such a definition. We invite you to join us on Saturday, May 26th at Kings Land Seafood for dim sum brunch and to honor the recipients at our fourth annual award ceremony.

Congratulations to Dr. DJ Ida, Executive Director of National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association; Sum Nguyen, President of Unified Vietnamese-American Council of Colorado; Dr. Suegie Park, clinical pharmacist and health professional; and Dr. Jaime Alonso Yrastorza, Founder of Uplift Internationale. The Young Asian American Hero Award—defined as under 35 years old—was awarded to Pakou Xiong, Hmong community leader and Asian-American activist. And lastly, the Lifetime Achievement Award goes to George Yoshida, retired social worker, war veteran, and Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer awardee. I am honored to have worked with each recipient in some capacity and look forward to sharing their stories with you in this issue.

This month, my calendar is full of events. That is when I know the Miss Asian American Colorado Leadership
Program is in progress. This year, 14 young Asian American women that represent seven Asian ethnicities are
participating in the program. We have already hosted several great events including a public speaking workshop
led by Krystal Than and a bonding event where we painted our own version of “the tree of hope”. I am
proud of our candidates as well as this year’s planning committee, comprised of past participants. Our finale
show will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at the University of Denver. We hope you will come support the
talented young women in our community.

Our feature story highlights the top 100 companies for Asian Americans. In light of the recent unemployment numbers shared by the U.S. Department of Labor, it is evident that Asian Americans need to do their employer research in order to move their way to the top. Identifying employers that support diversity is key to success.

Lastly, Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Celebrate by supporting local Asian businesses or attending the Asian and Asian-American celebrations around town. Hope to see you!

Annie Guo
President, Asian Avenue magazine

Exactly 100 years ago, the people of Japan presented the United States with over 3,000 cherry trees as a symbol of friendship between the two nations. Today, those cherry trees bloom with glorious blossoms every spring along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C.

As part of the commemoration of that gesture 100 years ago, the Japanese Ambassador and the Consul General of Japan presented four cherry trees to the City of Colorado Springs. The presentation was also in celebration this year of the 50th Anniversary of Sister City relationship between Colorado Springs, which sits at the foot of America’s mountain, Pikes Peak, and Fujiyoshida, which is located at the foot of Mount Fuji, the symbol of Japan.

A cherry tree planting ceremony was held on the afternoon of April 18th at Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs with hundreds enjoying the brief but joyous event. The ceremony began with singing by the local Conservatory followed by brief remarks by Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach and Consul General of Japan Ikuhiko Ono, both expressing gratitude for the warm relationship that exists between Japan and America, and particularly between Fujiyoshida and Colorado Springs. Consul General Ono expressed his nation’s gratitude for the generous assistance extended by the U.S. following last year’s tragedies of earthquake and tsunami in eastern Japan.

U.S. Postal Service Representative Ron Perry then took the stage to inform everyone that a postage stamp had been issued by USPS as a Cherry Blossom Centennial stamp. These “Forever” stamps are now available in post offices nationwide. Perry presented special plaques prepared for the occasion to Mayor Bach, Consul General Ono, and to several other representative groups.

Perhaps the most moving part of the ceremony was the choral presentation by Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale that has, in the past, made several visits to Fujiyoshida. The children began with a beautiful singing of “America the Beautiful”. Then, a Children’s Chorale member played a solo rendition of “Sakura” (Cherry Blossom) that was followed by the entire chorale singing “Sakura” in Japanese.

Upon conclusion of the ceremony in Acacia Park, Mayor Bach and Consul General Ono and several ladies in kimonos walked across the street to the median on Nevada Avenue to plant the cherry tree. The tree was planted in front of the Torii, a sacred gateway to a Shinto shrine, that stands at the Nevada Avenue median as a symbol of Fujiyoshida-Colorado Springs Sister City relationship.
While only one tree was planted at the Nevada Avenue median due to space, three other cherry trees were planted at nearby America the Beautiful Park where a major festival will take place in August to celebrate the 50th Sister City Anniversary.

Many citizens of Fujiyoshida, including their taiko group and a junior high school contingent, are expected to come to Colorado Springs this summer to join local citizens to assist in replicating Fujiyoshida’s famous “Fire Festival” (considered one of three greatest festivals in Japan) on August 4th.

Dr. Sakamoto has spoken to many organizations about his experiences as a minority, his military service, and life in Japanese internment camps. He actively educates youth about the excesses of wartime hysteria, with the goal of stopping it from happening again.

For the past 16 years, Dr. Sakamoto has helped to coordinate the local JACL’s participation in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade, and has marched each year until recently, due to health. He has also helped organize JACL’s booth at the Boulder Asian Pacific Alliance Festival.

In addition to JACL, Dr. Sakamoto’s volunteer activities include service with the Japanese Association of Colorado, the Japanese American Community Graduation Program, and as a bell ringer with the Salvation Army. In all his volunteer activities, Dr. Sakamoto is known for advocating on behalf of youth involvement in leadership and decision-making.

Dr. Sakamoto was honored at a special ceremony at the Marriott Denver Tech Center Hotel on March 22, 2012 for his many years of dedicated service to the Japanese American community. In a proclamation, Mayor Michael Hancock declared March 22 as Dr. Frank Sakamoto Day in Denver. Many leaders of the Japanese-American Community joined the festivities, including representatives of the Japanese Consul General.

The award is accompanied by a $2,000 monetary award, which was presented by Denver Judge Kerry Hada. Dr. Sakamoto designated the award to Mile Hi JACL. Harry Budisidharta, President of the Mile Hi JACL, was on hand to accept the check and congratulate Dr. Sakamoto.

The Hmong Student Association of Colorado (HSAC) is a group of students actively promoting the Hmong culture and pursuit of higher education. On HSAC’s Hmong Culture Night, it is no different. But instead of a booth and fliers, HSAC dazzled an evening with cultural performances, instrument presentation, and education on the culture. The Glenn Miller Ballroom of the University of Colorado at Boulder was fashioned with a catwalk that supported HSAC’s skit and fashion show. They also provided food to accompany the audience’s appetite for knowledge. HSAC’s guest speaker provided an insight to the female identity in hmong culture.
The night was topped off with two special performers; Michael Lor aka B-boy Mpact and Steven Lor aka B-boy Villn. Inspirational speakers and well-known break dancers, Micheal and Steven travel the world spreading their message to follow your dreams. Congratulations to the Hmong Student Association of Colorado for providing such a great event. For more information about the Hmong Student Association of Colorado, visit www.hmongstudent.org or e-mail at hmongstudent@gmail.com.

The third annual Colorado Asian American Leadership Conference took place on Saturday, March 24 at the Aurora Public Schools Learning Center. The conference united Colorado high school students of diverse backgrounds, with a focus on Asian Americans, to address the cultural and societal issues within the community.

The theme of the conference was self-realization, acceptance, and self-empowerment: [I]ndividual [D]iscovery. Fendi Chung, a senior at Smoky Hill High School, and Feyone La, a senior at Rangeview High School, opened the conference as the Co-Presidents of Next Generation Voices. Keynote speaker Joanne Liu, Assistant Principal at West Denver  Preparatory Charter School-Harvey Park Campus, spoke during the opening ceremony by encouraging students to empower themselves. Liu shared personal accounts of growing up as an Asian American. Through empowerment was how she was able to find her identity.

The students then divided into workshops focusing on topics such as individuality, art, dance, sports and volunteerism. The workshops targeted identity struggles and how other successful minorities have overcome racial challenges.

The day concluded with an entertainment section with several performances including dance, spoken word, singing and a “drumoff” between two talented drummers, Aaron Daniels and Jacob Brooks. A closing video showing Asian American issues wrapped up the event, leaving students with a message that they can make a difference and influence change.

The goal of the conference was to evoke an appreciation for the value of self-identification in order to empower future leaders. The NGV executive committee felt it was important for young minorities to embrace their identity. The conference took participants through a journey of passion and self-discovery. The first set of workshops plans to teach students different methods of self-expression. [I]ndividual [D]iscovery is hosted by Next Generation Voices, a non-profit organization established in February 2008 that is operated by Colorado students.

Although originally aimed towards Asian Americans, NGV is currently in the process of broadening its reach to incorporate all ethnic diversity. In order to integrate young leaders into society, the organization promote cultural awareness, acceptance, and activism. NGV programs events to give mainstream society a more complete picture of the world. As a voice for the next generation, NGV has high hopes to bridge the schism found among the various cultures we represent. The organization is currently recruiting for Asian American high school students to join the executive committee.

For more information, please find Next Generation Voices on Facebook.