>>The White House Welcomes Actor Kal Penn
>> Pinay Power 2012: FWN Invites Nominations
>> Pelosi Introduces the Lim Poon Lee Post Office Act
>> Push to Weed Out Toxic Fish in Asian Markets
>> VIZ Media Announces NANA Anime Now On iTunes
>>“BREAKSHOT: A Life in the 21st Century American Mafia”
>> Staged Reading With Lea Salonga and George Takei
>> William Poy Lee Book Signing
>> Sinag-tala Benefit Night Auditions
>> Sinag-tala Benefit Night
Compiled by Melissa He
NATION
The White House Welcomes Actor Kal Penn
Washington D.C. – A familiar face to television and the big screen, the Indian-American actor steps into his new political role in the Office of Public Liaison, with the hopes of bridging the gaps between the administration and A/P/A populations of the U.S..
Actor Kal Penn started a new job Monday as a liaison between the White House and Asian communities.
The Indian-American actor is taking a break from Hollywood to work as an associate director in the Office of Public Liaison, with a focus on connecting President Barack Obama with the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities, as well as arts groups.
Penn had a recurring role on Fox’s TV show “House” and starred in several films including “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” and its sequel, “Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”
Penn, who backed Obama during the campaign, said the new job has nothing to do with his life as an actor.
“I expect to be treated just like any other staff member,” he told reporters on a conference call.
-Associated Press
Pinay Power 2012: FWN Invites Nominations
The nationwide search for the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S. is a campaign of FWN’s Pinay Power 2012 – identify the Filipina women who are shaping the Filipino American community’s influence in American society today and double the number of Filipina leaders by 2012. This prestigious recognition is a working award – the FWN 100 are invited to womentor a protégée. Both leaders are invited to return to the Filipina Summit in 2012.
FWN invites nominations in the following categories: “Founders Pioneers,” “Innovators and Thought Leaders,” “Policymakers and Visionaries,” “Behind the Scenes Leaders,” “Emerging Leaders Builders,” “Nicole.”
Online submissions only by July 30, 2009. Contact: Filipina@ffwn.org, or call (415) 278-9410. Visit www.filipinawomensnetwork.org for submissions and info.
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BAY/CAL
Pelosi Introduces the Lim Poon Lee Post Office Act
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced the Lim Poon Lee Post Office Act this week with a bipartisan group of 35 original co-sponsors. The Lim Poon Lee Post Office Act will commemorate the life of the first Chinese American Postmaster in the United States. The post office located at 867 Stockton Street in San Francisco’s Chinatown will be dedicated as “The Lim Poon Lee Post Office” to honor the life of a dedicated public servant and proud American.
President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Lim Poon Lee Postmaster of San Francisco in 1966. At the time, it was the highest federal appointive post ever held by a Chinese American. Lee transformed the face of San Francisco’s postal service, increasing the hiring of women, minority, and disabled postal employees. In 1977, Lee established San Francisco’s Chinatown Post Office, the post office located at 867 Stockton Street.
Push to Weed Out Toxic Fish in Asian Markets
Westminster, CA – Authorities say the white croaker has become a popular catch in local Asian communities. But when reeled in off a stretch of California’s coastline southwest of Los Angeles, the fish has been laced with cancer-causing pollutants stored from decades of chemical dumps near the scenic shore.
A team of wardens from the California Department of Fish and Game are hunting down the white croaker on fishing piers, landings and in Vietnamese and Chinese markets across Southern California, where in recent years the silvery, fatty fish could be found in droves.
For years, the fish didn’t have much of a market and was used as bait but became more popular as the region’s Asian population grew, experts said. The EPA focused on the Vietnamese and Chinese communities after a study showed their fish-eating habits put them at higher risk for toxin exposure.
The groups are urging consumers to use only the fish fillet, and steam fish so the fat drips out, and with it, the toxins.
-Associated Press
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ARTS
VIZ Media Announces NANA Anime Now On iTunes
VIZ Media announced today that the popular shojo animated series NANA is now available on the iTunes Store. NANA will be exclusive to iTunes until August 31, 2009. (Plus, every purchase of a NANA Season 1 pass will include a free, bonus episode download.)
The NANA anime is based on the popular manga by Ai Yazawa, which has sold over 43 million copies in Japan, and is published in North America by VIZ Media under its SHOJO BEAT imprint. It is considered an all-time best selling shojo title from Japanese publishing giant Shueisha, and was the recipient of the Shogakukan Manga Award in the Girls’ category. Its tremendous success further inspired two live-action feature films which are available on DVD in North America from VIZ Pictures.
NANA follows the adventures of two girls, both named Nana. While they share the same name, they couldn’t be more different. Although these two young women come from different backgrounds, they quickly become best friends while chasing their happiness and dreams.
“BREAKSHOT: A Life in the 21st Century American Mafia”
Beverly Hills – Phoenix Books is proud to present BREAKSHOT: A Life in the 21st Century Mafia, the salacious tell-all memoir of Kenny “Kenji” Gallo, the playboy Japanese-American gangster who is the most controversial figure in the American underworld over the past thirty years. In a stranger-than-fiction career that included stints with Pablo Escobar’s Medellín Cartel, Los Angeles’ Milano Mafia Family, New York’s Lucchese and Colombo Mafia Families, and the California porn industry, Kenji employed guile and brute force to become the most famous Asian-American gangster in modern history.
Look for “BREAKSHOT” releasing this August.
EVENT: Staged Reading With Lea Salonga and George Takei
DESCRIPTION: SF New Theatre Workshop presents a world-premiere reading presentation of selected scenes and songs from Allegiance, a new musical about love, loss and heroism during the Japanese American internment. Sarring Tony-award winning actress Lea Salonga & George Takei.
DETAILS: Free, Mon. 7/13, 7-10PM, Japanese American National Museum Democracy Forum, 111 N. Central Ave., LA
CONTACT: RSVP to info@sfntw.org or call (415) 812-4667
EVENT: William Poy Lee Book Signing
DESCRIPTION: The event will feature the author’s The Eighth Promise, and William will read excerpts from his book that portrays the relationship between an American-born son and his Toisanese mother.
DETAILS: Free, Fri. 7/17, 5PM, Jack Kerouac Alleyway, outside Vesuvio Cafe, 255 Columbus Ave, San Francisco
CONTACT: Jeanette Huie, (415) 984-1488
EVENT: Sinag-tala Benefit Night Auditions
DESCRIPTION: Auditions are being held for the September Benefit celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Sinag-tala Filipino Theater and Performing Arts Association.
DETAILS: 7/10-7/11, 7PM and 7/12-7/13, 1:30PM, Sinag-tala Studio, 8275 Florin Road, Ste. 180, Sacramento
CONTACT: Cristine Lacerna, chie1000pix@comcast.net
EVENT: Sinag-tala Benefit Night
DESCRIPTION: The benefit will feature dinner, live performances by Sinag-tala artists, raffles, silent auctions, live band and dance, awards, induction of new Board Members and a keynote speaker. All proceeds will benefit the production of 2009 Sinag-tala: A Theatrical Revue
DETAILS: $32, Fri. 9/25, 6:30PM-midnight, Holiday Villa Restaurant, 7007 S. Land Park Drive, Sacramento
CONTACT: RSVP by 8/31/09. Cristine Lacerna, chie1000pix@comcast.net. Visit www.SFTPAA.org for more info.
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COMMERCE
Two Full Time Positions Available At SAALT
SAALT is excited to announce two full-time positions in our DC area office. The positions include: Director of Programs and Partnerships and Development and Operations Manager.
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is a national, non-profit organization in the U.S. that advocates around issues affecting South Asian communities through the use of a social justice framework.
Applications will be accepted until July 31, 2009 but interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. Please email cover letter, resume and short unedited writing sample (maximum of 5 pages) to Deepa Iyer, Executive Director, at saalt@saalt.org with the subject line “Development and Operations Manager Application.” Only qualified candidates will be contacted. No calls, please.
For more information about SAALT, please visit www.saalt.org.
