Asian American Justice Center

Terry M. Ao

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:08:26 GMT

Terry M. Ao is the director of the census and voting programs for the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC). A national expert on decennial census and census policy matters, Ms. Ao co-chairs the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights’ Census Task Force with the National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials (NALEO) and sits on the U.S Department of Commerce’s 2010 Census Advisory Committee as a permanent substitute advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Ms. Ao has been consulted on matters pertaining to the privacy and confidentiality of census data, planning for the 2010 census and the American Community Survey, and other important issues. Ms. Ao is a leading expert on section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, and election protection. In 2006, Ms. Ao published an article in the Alabama Law Review discussing the impact of the immigration debate on the reauthorization of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, entitled When the...

Summer Development Internship

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:21:45 GMT

Now Accepting Applications for Fall 2008!

The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) is accepting applications for a paid development internship for graduate and undergraduate students. The intern will work in the development office, assisting staff with the organization’s many fundraising activities. Responsibilities include some prospect research, writing and editing, assisting with special events and general administrative duties. This position requires strong writing and organizational skills, ability to juggle multiple tasks and attention to detail.

The internship pays $11 per hour and requires 14 to 21 hours per week. Start and end dates are flexible, but a commitment to the position for the fall semester is essential. Pending the intern’s interest, there may be an opportunity to extend the internship into the spring semester.

Please send resume and a cover letter to:

Lisa Campbell-Thornton

Office Manager

Asian American Justice Center

1140 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.

Suite 1200

Washington, D.C. 20036

2008 Summer Clerks

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:13:05 GMT

Ivy Cheng is a summer law clerk in the affirmative action and anti-Asian violence programs. She is a rising 2L at the University of Michigan Law School, where she serves on the executive boards of the Michigan Immigration and Labor Law Association and the Organization of Public Interest Students. She graduated cum laude from Tufts University in 2007 with a B.A. in Political Science and American Studies. During college, she was actively involved in Asian American political activism through her leadership in organizations such as the National Asian American Student Conference and Asian American Curriculum Transformation, and her work with organizations such as the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and Greater Boston Legal Services. Her clerkship at the AAJC is supported by the Sonnenschein Scholarship Program and the University of Michigan APALSA Public Interest Fellowship. Naju Lathia is a summer clerk in the affirmative action program. She is a rising senior at Rutgers...

AAJC Staff

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:17:24 GMT

Karen K. Narasaki: President and Executive Director Vincent A. Eng: Deputy Director Operations Lucy M. Lee: Director of Operations Lisa Campbell-Thornton: Office Manager June A. Jimenez: Director of Development Hannah Stone: Development Associate Vacant: Development Associate Programs Aimee J. Baldillo: Director of Programs Terry M. Ao: Director of Census and Voting Programs Tuyet G. Duong: Senior Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program Ronald H. Lee: Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program Aarathi Deshmukh: Staff Attorney, Affirmative Action Vacant: NAPABA Partners and In-House Counsel Community Law Fellow, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program Pang Houa Moua: Director of Community Education and Outreach Joshua Packman: Community Education Program Assistant Communications Leonie Campbell-Williams: Director of Communications Jerry Johnson: Web Content Editor The Rights Working Group Margaret Huang: Executive Director Jumana...

American Courage Awards Sponsors

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:32:03 GMT

Chairmans Circle Presidents Circle Directors Circle Executive Circle Benefactors Circle Advocate Partner Skip Rhodes and Associates Supporter Neil Horikoshi Sponsorship opportunities for the American Courage Awards are still available, please click here for more information or contact June Jimenez at (202) 296-2300, x138.

AACEP Partner Benefits

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:19:23 GMT

AACEP Partner Benefits Participate in regional and national convenings to further the goals of your own association while simultaneously advocating for the AACEP Gain access to lawmakers and other influentials on Capitol Hill Attend or present in Webinars hosted by the AACEP related to affirmative action issues Learn to educate your members on how to take advantage of local affirmative action programs as well as mentor/protégé programs. AACEP Partners Alaska 8(a) Association Asian Business Association of Los Angeles ASIAN, Inc. Association of Asian American Investment Managers Chinese for Affirmative Action Council of Asian American Business Associations (CAABA) Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Houston Minority Business Council Insight CCED Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association Minnesota Hmong Chamber of Commerce National Council of Asian American...

Litigation Briefs

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:23:09 GMT

Below is a partial listing of our litigation briefs. For briefs not listed, please e-mail Vincent A. Eng. Bartlett v. Strickland The Asian American Justice Center filed a joint amicus curiae brief with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. The question presented is Whether a racial minority group that constitutes less than 50 percent of a proposed districts population can state a vote dilution claim under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The joint amicus brief argues that the answer should be yes. Herring v. United States Challenge to an arrest based on inaccurate information in a government database. Amici argue that inaccurate government databases will have implications for voter registration databases, employment verification databases, immigration databases, as well as criminal records databases. Varnum v. Brien Amicus brief in support of marriage equality pending before the Iowa Supreme Court. California Marriage Cases Joint Asian American...

Summer Clerkship

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:19:52 GMT

Important Dates Applications: Rolling (recommended by January 14, 2008) First Round Offers: Sent by February 1, 2008 First Round Acceptance Deadline: By February 15, 2008 Second Round Offers: Sent by March 14, 2008 Second Round Acceptance Deadline: By March 28, 2008 Eligibility Law Students Graduate Students Undergraduate Students Recent Graduates About The Program The AAJC summer clerkship program is a highly competitive program that recruits approximately eight law and undergraduate students from an applicant pool of over 300 applications for the summer clerkship program. Decisions are often based on the written applications and interviews are not necessarily given. Unfortunately the position is an unpaid/uncompensated position. We can, however, assist you in finding funding resources and housing. Our program is designed to compete with the large law firm summer associate programs, with respect to program design, quality of supervision and feedback, and activities. In...

Community Partners Conference

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:27:25 GMT

13th Annual Community Partners Conference Join us in Washington, D.C. on September 15-16, 2008 for the 13th Annual Community Partners Conference! Travel stipends are available for out of town participants. To register online, click here. Conference Description The AAJC 2008 Community Partners Conference will bring together leaders from different sectors (research, legal, social services, policy) across the nation to begin to evaluate the issues facing Asian Americans today and how to address those issues in light of the upcoming presidential transition. The conference will also focus on how advocates and community-based organizations can use new technologies to improve their advocacy. Conference Goals 1. Enter into intensive discussions on important policy goals with partners at the national and grassroots levels. 2. Determine major research, infrastructure and services needed for the Asian American community to reach those goals at a local and national level. 3. Produce...

National Advisory Council

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:00:27 GMT

Anne H. Chow: Chair AT&T Neil Horikoshi: Member IBM Bill Imada: Member IW Group, Inc. Douglas Jackson: Member Magnus, LLC June Jee: Member Verizon John T. Komeiji: Member Watanabe Ing & Komeiji, LLP Yul Kwon: Member Bill Lann Lee: Member Lewis, Feinberg, Lee, Renaker & Jackson, P.C. Deanna Lee: Member Asia Society Mari Matsuda: Member Georgetown University Law Center Sylvester Mendoza Jr.: Member Northrop Grumman Dale Minami: Member Minami Tamaki LLP Leslie Moe-Kaiser: Member State Farm Insurance Companies Don T. Nakanishi: Member University of California Los Angeles Angela E. Oh: Member Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks & Lincenberg Henry Ramos: Member Mauer Kunst Consulting Skip Rhodes: Member Skip Rhodes & Associates, LLC Robert S. Sheen: Member First Capitol Consulting, Inc. Linda Mar Weidman: Member Marriott International, Inc. George R. Willy: Member George Willy, PC Frank H. Wu: Member Wayne State...

Yul Kwon

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:57:54 GMT

Yul Kwon won the hit CBS reality show, Survivor: Cook Islands, during 2006’s controversial, racially-segregated season. On his way to victory, Kwon skillfully led a multi-ethnic team, earned a reputation as one of the show's most strategic and honest players, and smashed stereotypes about Asian American men in the media.

Kwon’s recent activities include working as a host for the Discovery Channel, a special correspondent for CNN, a lecturer at the FBI Academy, and a partner in Red Mango frozen yogurt. He has been active in a number of charitable efforts and has organized a nationwide campaign to increase the number of minority bone marrow donors – a cause he began championing when his best friend died from leukemia in college. He has also focused his efforts on encouraging more youth and minorities to get involved in public service and becoming politically empowered.

Kwon obtained his B.S. degree in Symbolic Systems from Stanford University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and received the James Lyons Award for Service. He went on to Yale Law School and served on the editorial board of the Yale Law Journal. Following graduation, Kwon enjoyed a diverse career straddling both the private and public sectors in law, politics, business, and technology. As an attorney, he clerked on the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals and practiced a mix of litigation, appellate, transactional and regulatory work at several law firms. As a legislative aide to Senator Joseph Lieberman, he helped draft portions of the Homeland Security Act, authored a landmark bill on nanotechnology, and organized a bipartisan caucus on science and technology. Several years ago, Kwon transitioned into the business sector, first joining McKinsey as a management consultant and then crossing over to Google's business strategy group.

Kwon was recently named in VIBE Magazine's annual "Juice" list of upcoming people who will change the world, People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive and Hottest Bachelor's issues, and EXTRA TV’s list of Most Eligible Bachelors. In addition, he has received numerous commendations from community and government organizations for his dedication to public and community service.

Board of Directors

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:54:54 GMT

Mark Aoki-Fordham: Member
Starbucks Coffee Company

Michael Isaku Begert: Chair
Bingham McCutchen Murase

Sumi Cho: Member
DePaul University Law School

Ankur J. Goel: Member
McDermott, Will & Emery

Bill Ong Hing: Member
UC Davis School of Law

Julia Huang: Member
interTREND

Lois Ingram: Member
Ingram & Company

Stewart Kwoh: Vice Chair
Asian Pacific American Legal Center

Tuyet Le: Member
Asian American Institute

Paul W. Lee: Member
Goodwin Procter, LLP

Harsha Murthy: Secretary
Konando Pharma Partners

Daranee Petsod: Member
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees

Frank J. Quevedo: Member
Southern California Edison

Wayne Winborne: Treasurer
The Prudential Insurance Company of America

Community Partners

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:27:57 GMT

In any community work, leadership capacity is essential. We have demonstrated this at AAJC via our Community Partners Network, which has expanded to include nearly 100 community partners in 49 cities across 23 states, and Washington, D.C. Created to build the capacity of Asian American communities, we work hand-in-hand with community-based organizations, conducting workshops and trainings on various issues of importance to local communities. The network provides a critical link allowing AAJC to target underserved populations, such as recent South Asian and Southeast Asian immigrants. Community Partners Benefits Members of the Community Partners Network receive a variety of benefits: Newsletters, reports, actions alerts, fact sheets (including translations into Asian and Pacific Islander languages, when available); Technical assistance and information on programs and issues of concern, as well as invitations to conference calls on current policy issues; Invitation...

American Courage Awards

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:33:50 GMT

Save the Date! 12th Annual American Courage Awards Wednesday, October 8, 2008 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm National Press Club 529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor - Washington, D.C. 20045 Since 1997, the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) has recognized and awarded individuals, companies and organizations of merit in its annual American Courage Awards. The American Courage Awards reception features the presentation of the following awards: The American Courage Award goes to an individual, company, or organization that has shown extraordinary courage or commitment to the cause of civil rights. This may include a corporate leader who has taken an important stand, an activist who overcame extraordinary challenges, an artist with a unique vision, or a journalist breaking an important story. The Bridge Builder Award goes to an individual or community based organization that has developed an innovative approach to successful community empowerment. This may include programs for citizenship,...

Annual Reports

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:40:09 GMT

2006 marked the 15th year of operation for the Asian American Justice Center. Over the years, AAJC has successfully helped to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans through advocacy, public policy, public education and litigation. As a nation, we faced the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, which greatly impacted tens of thousands of Asian Americans, especially limited English proficient (LEP) and low-income families. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, AAJC took the lead in organizing culturally and linguistically adapted relief efforts for the Asian American community in the Gulf region. AAJC also released its national demographic report, A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, which is still widely used today by policymakers, media and community representatives.

To learn more about our program highlights, view the full 2005-2006 Annual Report. For our 2006 IRS 990, click here.

Whats New Section

Thu, 29 May 2008 17:22:16 GMT

Save the Date! 12th Annual American Courage Awards

Watch Karen Narasaki's YouTube Video Celebrating APA Heritage Month

Karen Narasaki's 50th Birthday Celebrations

AAJC News (Spring Newsletter)

Past recipients of the American Courage Award

Thu, 29 May 2008 17:20:46 GMT

2007 – Carol C. Lam

2006 – Susan Ahn Cuddy

2005 – Major General Antonio M. Taguba, USA

2004 – Japanese American Military Intelligence Service Veterans. Award accepted by Harry Fukuhara

2003 – Ramu V. Potarazu, Chief Operating Officer of Intelsat, Ltd

2002 – Justin Lin, Director, Writer, Editor and Producer

Lou Diamond Phillips, Actor and Director

2001 – MTV Network, Fight for Your Rights Campaign. Award accepted by Van Toeffler, MTV President

2000 – Rose Ochi, Director of Community Relations Service at the Department of Justice

1999 – George Takei, Actor and Community Activist

1998 – Anna Deavere Smith, Distinguished Actress, Playwright, and Professor

1997 – Chang-Lin Tien, Former Chancellor, NEC Distinguished Professor of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

Past recipients of the Distinguished Service Award

Thu, 29 May 2008 17:19:45 GMT

2007 – Peggy Saika, President / Executive Director of Asian Americans / Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP).

2006 – O’Melveny & Myers LLP

2005 – Current sitting Asian Pacific American Federal Judges. Award accepted by the Honorable Atsushi Wallace Tashima, the Honorable Ronald Lew, the Honorable Denny Chin, the Honorable Susan Oki Mollway, and the Honorable Dana Makoto Sabraw,

2004 – Gilbert Heintz & Randolph, LLP. Award accepted by Mark Packman, Partner

2003 – Hogan & Hartson, LLP. Award accepted by Warren H. Maruyama, Partner

2002 – Service Employees International Union. Award accepted by Patricia Ford, Executive Vice President

Past recipients of the Bridge Builder Award

Thu, 29 May 2008 17:17:59 GMT

2007 – AT&T accepted by Randall L. Stephenson, Chairman and CEO

2006 – The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta

2005 – Bill Imada and the IW Group, Inc. Award accepted by Bill Imada.

2004 – ChevronTexaco Corporation. Award accepted by Peter Robertson, Vice Chairman of ChevronTexaco Corporation

2003 – Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Award accepted by August A. Busch III, Chairman of the Board

2002 – SBC Pacific Bell. Award accepted by Cynthia Marshall, Sr. Vice President and Officer, Regulatory and Constituency Relations

2001 – Merrill Lynch. Award accepted by George A. Schieren, Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel

AACEP Partners

Fri, 23 May 2008 18:43:08 GMT

Alaska 8(a) Association

Asian Business Association of Los Angeles

ASIAN, Inc.

Association of Asian American Investment Managers

Chinese for Affirmative Action

Council of Asian American Business Associations (CAABA)

Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce

Insight CCED

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR)

Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association

Minnesota Hmong Chamber of Commerce

National Council of Asian American Business Associations (NCAABA)

National Minority Supplier Development Council

South Asian Business Associations Network

Southern California Minority Business Development Council

U.S. Asian Business Council

U.S. Asia Center

Washington Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce