Rest in Peace George Carlin... a truly innovative comedian who also made you think.
A recent article in Asian Week recognizes my cousin Christine for all her efforts in the Asian American community.
Asian Pacific American Women Coalition Honors Five Young Leaders
SAN FRANCISCO — The Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition honored young Asian Pacific Islander women leaders at the Monarch Leadership Awards at the Hotel Kabuki in Japantown on June 1.
Broadcast journalist Jan Yanehiro was the mistress of ceremonies, and Hawai‘i Congresswoman Mazie Hirono was the special guest speaker. Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown also made an appearance.
Hirono, the first immigrant woman of Asian descent to be elected to a statewide office, and more recently the first woman of Asian ancestry to serve in Congress, spoke of her humble beginnings: She was born in a small village in Fukushima, Japan, and then immigrated to Hawai‘i with her mother and sisters.
“It was the promise of America that brought my mother,” she said, “the promise of fulfilling our dreams.”
She applauded the women being honored because they were enabling others to fulfill their dreams.
“You are extraordinary,” she told them. “It gives me hope for the future. Women, you are doing life-changing work.”
However, she added that there was a “long way to go before we help Asian Americans. … Keep doing what you’re doing. There’s more work to be done!”
Over the past 25 years, PAAWBAC has recognized 101 “Women Warriors” for their distinguished contributions in work and community. In 2006, the group established the Monarch Awards to recognize emerging API women leaders who inspire those around them and who are making outstanding contributions at a young age.
This year PAAWBAC honored five new awardees: Angela Chan, staff attorney at the Asian Law Caucus; Yuri Futamura, administrator of the New Field Foundation; Buu Thai, public affairs director of Planned Parenthood Santa Clara/San Benito and Coastal Region; Christine Padilla; and Amy Sujishi.
PAAWBAC Awardee
Amy Sujishi
Sujishi, a fourth-generation Japanese American and San Francisco native, is currently the executive assistant to senior VP, marketing and PlayStation network of Sony Computer Entertainment America. In her spare time over the past four years, Amy has acted as board chair of the Japanese Community Youth Council, serving Bay Area children, youth and their families. Her involvement with the group began when she was 11 years old.
Other volunteer work includes acting as 2006 and 2007 co-chair of “Sansei Live!,” organized by Kimochi Inc., a Japantown-based agency that provides senior citizens and their families with 24-hour care and other services. She will be co-chairing “Sansei Live!” again in October.
Sujishi is involved in the Nihonmachi Street Fair and also volunteers for the Cherry Blossom Festival’s Queen Program, which partners with the three remaining Japantowns in the United States and provides an opportunity for young women to become an ambassador for the Japanese American community.
PAAWBAC Awardee Christine Padilla
For the past three years, Padilla, a Bay Area native, acted as the field representative/special assistant to the late Congressman Tom Lantos. She advised him on Asian American Pacific Islander and Latino issues, as well as supported his human rights agenda by collaborating with local, national and international human rights advocates.
For four years, Padilla has been program director for the Asian Heritage Street Celebration, an event that she helped found. She is also currently involved in the San Francisco-Manila Sister City Committee and traveled with Mayor Gavin Newsom to the Philippines as a delegate. She serves on the Filipino Mental Health Initiative Oversight Committee, as well as the Overcoming Relationship Abuse Kumares/Kumpares. She is on the national summit steering committee of the Filipina Women’s Network, and also works for the Pistahan Parade and Festival steering committee and the Bay Area Asian Pacific American Legislative Staffers. She was formerly executive director of the Contemporary Asian Theater Scene in San Jose.
Here is a family pic with (from left to right): Lance, Christine, Me, Rochelle
two brothers and two sisters...and in the article picture... Christine is the second one in from the right...
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