Feature Article Archives

Catholic Church Appoints First Asian-American Bishop

Sandra Lee

The Catholic Church appointed its first bishop of Asian ancestry in the United States this week, signaling the church's efforts to better reflect its multicultural congregation.

Monsignor Ignatius Wang will serve in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, where 25 percent of the 450,000 members is Asian American, according to Maurice Healy, a spokesperson for the diocese.

'It is a common belief among Asian people, especially among the Chinese, that the Catholic Church is a western Church,' Wang said. 'This is one concept I will help to correct.'

Educational Pioneer Supports UCLA Asian-American Center

TJ DeGroat

The University of California system is a model for diversity, with Asian Americans
making up nearly one-third of the student population at the flagship Los Angeles campuses. But Sue Ann Kim's experience as a graduate student in the late 1960s was one of alienation.

Kim, the first Korean-American student to receive a doctorate from UCLA, is doing
her part to support the 11,500 Asian Americans at the campus by establishing the Sue Ann Kim Endowed Scholarship, which will help fund the university's Asian-American Studies Center.

New Study Reveals Affluent U.S. Filipino Market

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In what could indicate a significant opportunity for the savvy marketing executive, a recent study found that the average Filipino household in the United States is well-educated and affluent, and 60 percent of these households have children under 18 years living at home.

"There is no longer an absence of credible research data on the Filipino community," said Rafael Lopez, vice president and managing director of ABS-CBN International.

Creative Marketing Fuels Western Union's Profits

Chan Cho

Having increased profits by more than a third in the first quarter, with a 15 percent growth in revenues, the financial performance of Western Union continues to be a beacon in the currently dismal economy.

A major engine for its success in recent years has been the company's strategic outreach to the Asian immigrant population in the United States, a group that is noted for sending money to loved ones in their native countries.

Health Information Lacking for South Asians

TJ DeGroat

A recent report from the South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA) found that there is little information about the health status, needs and concerns of the country's South Asian community.

The Washington, D.C.-based organization created the Brown Paper, the first national initiative to investigate and publicize the general health of South Asian Americans with the hope that the medical community would further research this fast-growing population.

Asian Diversity News Briefs

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Chinese basketball fans tune in to watch Yao Ming make his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets . . . Winners of the 7th annual Kiriyama Prize announced . . . the Financial Times plans an Asian edition despite the recent advertising slow down...

AD Job Fair: Nov. 14-15

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The first event of its scope and breadth, the inaugural Asian Diversity Job Fair and Conference this week will provide an unprecedented opportunity for job seekers to meet with recruiters looking to tap into the Asian-American talent pool.

Organizations from the private and public sectors will connect with the more than 20,000 expected attendees at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City Nov. 14-15.

UC Chancellor Dies At Age 67

TJ DeGroat

Chang-Lin Tien, the first Asian American to head a major American research university, died at age 67.

Tien, who served as chancellor of the University of California's flagship campus in Berkeley, died from complications of a brain tumor first diagnosed in 2000.

An expert scientist, Tien was equally comfortable conducting research and interacting with students.

U.S. Provides $85 Million To Eliminate Health Disparities

TJ DeGroat

Disparities in minority healthcare are so pervasive that many ethnic communities are oblivious to the risks they face.

Last week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services took a step toward eliminating inequities in healthcare when Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the department would award $85 million to community health organizations.

Legal Benchmark: Calif. Appoints Its First KA Judge

Sarah Siritaratiwat

Paving the way for Asian Americans in the legal field, Tammy C. Ryu last month was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, making her the first female Korean-American judge in California.

Although Ryu has always had a strong attachment to the Korean-American community, she takes particular pride in being a role model for Korean-American women in law.

TV Roles Remain Elusive for Minorities, Women

TJ DeGroat

Primetime television remains a white man's world where women and minorities are vastly underrepresented, according to a new report released this week by the National Organization for Women (NOW).

"On television, persuasive myths still exist about gender, race, sex, violence, class, age — you name it!" said NOW Foundation President Kim Gandy. "Network programming sends a distorted, often offensive, image of women, girls and people of color. Television remains very much a man's world, with women serving primarily as eye candy."

Entrepreneur Spotlight: Bryan B. Min

Sandra Lee

In the past few months, Bryan B. Min has pocketed top awards from the United States Small Business Administration and the San Diego Chamber of Commerce for the remarkable achievements of his fledgling company, Epsilon Systems Solutions.

Since its inception in 1998, Epsilon has grown steadily and earned more than $12 million in revenue last year. The company's list of clients includes the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of the Interior, and Department of Transportation.

The cornerstone of this enormous success has been Min's principled leadership and his relationship with his employees.

First Asian-American Congresswoman Dies at 74

TJ DeGroat

Patsy T. Mink, a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Congress, died of pneumonia Sept 30, just a week after winning the Democratic nomination to continue representing Hawaii's 2nd district.

A political trailblazer, Mink was running for her 13th term in Congress.

Born Dec. 6, 1927, Mink grew up outside of Maui. After receiving her bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii in 1948, Mink couldn't find a medical school that would accept a woman. That, coupled with her difficulty finding a law firm that would hire a female lawyer, motivated her to support the women's and civil-rights movements.

Revolutionary Cancer Program Lands at UC Davis

TJ DeGroat

Researchers investigating ways to minimize ethnic disparities in cancer rates have a new home at the University of California - Davis, thanks to a $7.6 million endowment from the National Cancer Institute.

The university last month announced it would serve as the national headquarters for the newly created Asian-American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Treatment (AANCART).

Hit the Road Jazz: Asian Festival Goes National

Sarah Siritaratiwat

The little-known Asian American Jazz Festival has sputtered along for the past 21 years with little to no national attention. But suddenly the festival is a hot commodity.

Originally a Bay Area tradition, Asian American Jazz went national for the first time this year. A collaboration of African-American and Asian-American jazz and electronic music, it is the largest of its kind in the United States.

Calif. State Assembly Names First Asian-American Speaker

TJ DeGroat

It was a historic day for the California State Assembly on Oct. 4 as Wilma Chan, D-Oakland, was named majority leader, making her the first woman and first Asian American to hold the party's top position.

"Ms. Chan brings with her a wealth of experience I expect to tap extensively as we deal with the significant legislative challenges in the upcoming session,' Assembly Speaker Herb J. Wesson Jr., D-Los Angeles, said.

Kiriyama Prize Finalists Announced

TJ DeGroat

As globalization forces countries to become more knowledgeable about their neighbors, the Kiriyama Prize, which honors books that help people to better understand the nations of the Pacific rim, is taking on greater importance.

"In light of the cataclysmic events of this past year, and with rumors of war in the air, the need to recognize and listen to voices of all kinds from around the world has never been more imperative," said Peter Coughlan, administrator of the prize.

Spotlight on Keiko Harvey

Chan Cho

Keiko Harvey has been named one of the 'Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business,' by the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC).

Harvey was born in Japan and came to the United States when she was 17 years old. A graduate of Rutgers College of Engineering, today Harvey is Verizon's senior vice president of Advanced Services and is responsible for the company's consumer and small-business digital subscriber line (DSL) and dial-up Internet services, as well as building its nationwide long-distance network.

Asian Business Incubator Awarded Federal Grant

TJ DeGroat

The U.S. Department of Commerce last week awarded a $2.5 million grant to a Vietnamese-owned business incubator based in Garden Grove, Calif. The award marks the first federally funded project focused on the Asian-American business community in Orange County.

The E-Business Development Inc. Incubator, a 30,000 square-foot complex, will assist Asian-American businesses in economically troubled cities overcome language and cultural barriers in order to expand into mainstream markets. The organization aims to create at least 500 new jobs.

Asian Games Open With Unification Theme

TJ DeGroat

This summer, Paradorn Schrichipan's success on the U.S. hardcourts prompted celebration in Thailand, Yao Ming's ascent to the top of the NBA draft class raised the profile of Chinese competitive basketball and the recent World Cup pumped millions of dollars into the South Korean economy.

This week's opening of the 14th Asian Games continues the celebration of Asian sports success, bringing together nearly 10,000 athletes from 44 nations to compete in 38 sports in Busan, South Korea.