News + Opinion

By Jennie L. Ilustre When the $1.4-billion MGM National Harbor casino and international resort formally opened on Dec. 8 amid a lot of fanfare in Maryland, MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO Jim Murren thanked the people that made it happen, including minority businessowners in the area. One of these entrepreneurs is Hedy Leuterio Thomas, president and CEO of Leuterio …

WASHINGTON, D.C. – OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates denounced the plan to institute a “Muslim registry” and the appeal to the unconstitutional Japanese American incarceration during WWII as a possible grounds for justification of the registry. This Wednesday on Fox News, Carl Higbie spoke out in favor of a “Muslim registry” that would maintain a list of Muslim immigrants …

By Jennie L. Ilustre On November 8, the nation will elect a new president. As exciting as that is, other candidates are also on the ballot. These include the candidates for vice president, all 435 incumbent members of the US House of Representatives, and 34 of the 100-member US Senate. Incumbents running for reelection, as well as first-timers from both …

Washington, DC — Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is appalled by the recent “Watters’ World” segment on The O’Reilly Factor on Chinese American voters. The segment exploited Asian American stereotypes and exemplified the very issue of China-bashing the report supposedly sought to assess. This racist and derogatory segment damages Chinese American and Asian American communities and exacerbates negative stereotypes …

By Geeta Goindi Oakton, VA, August 6, 2016 – The fifth edition of Mela Teeyan Teej, a popular festival for ladies, organized by Moni Gill of Punjabi Women Culture Association (PWCA), in the Washington area, was a resounding success. The annual event drew over 800 women and girls, clad in colorful attire, to the Oakton High School on a hot …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   So what exactly happened recently that has a big impact on the November 8 presidential elections? Answer: Two Supreme Court decisions on issues that have divided this great nation: Immigration and Abortion. Leaders from both political parties and Asian Pacific American (APA) leaders predict the decisions would energize voter turn-out on Election Day. Reason: The …

UCLA Study Shows More AAPI Voters is What Really Counts By Jennie L. Ilustre In 2040, one out of 10 Americans would be of Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage. That translates to a projected 37 million, or 10 percent of the nation’s total population over the next 25 years.     But Paul M. Ong, senior editor of UCLA …

‘Asanas’, Dance, Music, Meditation, Mark Yoga Day in Nation’s Capital By Geeta Goindi Washington, DC, June 18, 2016 – The UN-designated International Day of Yoga was celebrated for the second consecutive year in the nation’s capital beginning with an event on the scenic grounds of the US Capitol. Titled ‘Classical on the Capitol’, it featured Indian classical dances, together with …

By Jeffrey B. Caballero Six years later, more than 20 million people have gained health coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). While this is an achievement worth celebrating, millions continue to go without health insurance and finding them can be difficult due to lacking data from previous enrollment periods. Are all communities and groups being counted in enrollment …

By Joanna (Tianchang) Zhang   I can’t count the number of times someone has commented on my resemblance to an Asian peer who is completely unrelated to me, or asked about my mathematics skills. As an Asian American, I am constantly judged based on the Asian stereotype of intelligence and hard work. It doesn’t help that I want to be a …

Eliminating breeding areas for disease-carrying mosquitoes now can prevent illness this summer   With the recent spring rains and warmer weather right around the corner, the Fairfax County Health Department is encouraging residents to “tip and toss” any water-holding containers and take other steps to prevent and protect against mosquitoes that can carry diseases, including the Zika virus. Zika is …

This is a list of young Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) who are making a difference in politics and public service in this great country. Indeed, these stars shine brightly, and their potentials are boundless. Quite likely, some of them will be the kingmaker or the queenmaker in the future, helping elect the president of the United States. In …

  By Jennie L. Ilustre Former New York City Police Officer Peter Liang will not serve any prison time for the fatal shooting of Akai Gurley in November 2014. On April 19, after reducing Liang’s February jury conviction from second-degree manslaughter to criminally negligent homicide, Acting Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun sentenced Liang, 28, to five-year probation and 800 …

By Lily Qi Saturday night, March 26, 2016, exactly one month before the Maryland primary election, over 350 people packed the Cabin John Middle School Cafeteria in Potomac, Maryland, to meet 10 candidates from both the Democratic and Republican parties running for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District seat. According to the candidates, it was the second largest event of the 17 …

Column By Lily Qi I would really love to see a woman succeeding Senator Barbara Mikulski. I admire Congresswoman Donna Edwards for many reasons—her passion, her intellect, and her strong principles. As a single mother, she overcame tremendous odds to become Maryland’s first black Congresswomen. As a woman, minority and immigrant, I find her story particularly inspiring. But I am …

The Robert Chinn Foundation is ecstatic to share with you the entire Class of 2016!  We are proud to honor this incredible group of Asian Pacific Americans including Connie Chung, Bruce Lee, Antonio Taguba, and Kristi Yamaguchi!   Connie Chung Connie Chung started her television journalism career in 1969 at a local station in her hometown, Washington, D.C. She worked …

REUNIFICATION, a feature-length documentary that gives an insider’s view of the contemporary Asian immigrant experience, will have its Washington, D.C. premiere at DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival at Landmark Theatres Atlantic Plumbing Cinema in Shaw/Howard University Neighborhood on Saturday, April 23, 6:00 pm.  Award-winning Director Alvin Tsang will be present for the screening.   Between faded family photographs, old video footage, and interviews collected through the years, Alvin …

Washington, DC (March 14, 2016) – Freestyle Digital Media, the recently-acquired Digital Film Distribution division of Entertainment Studios, announced that the coming-of-age dramedy KTOWN COWBOYS will have a limited theatrical release on March 18, 2016 at the Cinema Arts Theatre located at Fair City Mall, followed by nationwide VOD release on March 25th. Specifically for the March 19th evening screenings, …

By Christopher Kang   (This editorial appeared in the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA). Christopher Kang is the NCAPA National Director. He is a former Deputy Assistant and Deputy Counsel to President Barack Obama in the Office of the White House Counsel, where he was in charge of the selection, vetting, and confirmation of the president’s judicial nominees.) …

By Jennie L. Ilustre The demise of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on February 13 has given rise to two important questions. First, should his replacement be confirmed this year, or should that await the results of the Nov. 8 presidential elections? A Feb. 18-21 Pew Research Center survey shows 56 percent of Americans believe the Senate should hold hearings …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   In a show of unity, coalitions of Asian American groups held nationwide rallies and issued supportive letters and public statements, urging a fair and just decision for former New York police officer Peter Liang, while emphasizing that all cops must be held accountable for their actions. Liang was convicted on Feb. 11 on charges of …

By Jennie L. Ilustre The Asian lunar year of 2016 begins on February 8 and ends on January 27, 2017. Known as The Year of the Fire Monkey, it is supposed to be filled with mischief, clashes and success in the workplace and at home. “The monkey always finds its way out of tight situations,” international feng shui master Marites …

By Tamara Treichel Only several months ago, Lara Casalotti was a vivacious 24-year-old Yoga aficionado dedicated to social causes such as at-risk youth and marginalized groups. That changed dramatically when she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in December 2015. Now, the young half-Chinese-Thai, half-Italian woman with warm brown eyes and a winning smile is using all her energy in …

At MGM National Harbor, diversity and inclusion is a core value that is not only found in their workforce, but equally in the creation of their ideas and minority business engagement. The vision for MGM National Harbor is a resort that provides a world-class experience to all of its guests, and is built, designed and operated by a team representative …