News + Opinion

In epic competition, each co-winner receives $50,000 among other prizes By Geeta Goindi National Harbor, Maryland, June 4, 2019 – In a marathon, memorable competition, eight adolescents including seven Indian-origin kids, were crowned co-champions of the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee. It was unprecedented in the Bee’s 92-year history which has seen two co-winners in three consecutive years, but never …

By Jennie L. Ilustre The community is celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, in the capital and across the nation, in a variety of events that recognize achievements, raise public awareness on issues, as well as entertain. Starting on May 9, the 1882 Foundation will hold a three-day Symposium on the 150th Anniversary of Transcontinental Railroad.  Venue is the Smithsonian …

Over 40 percent of contestants at JV level are of Indian origin; Karan Menon, 18, tops Varsity Division By Geeta Goindi Arlington, VA, May 14, 2019 – Indian-American whiz kid Samvrit Rao has been crowned the national champion in the Junior Varsity Division of the International Geography Bee (IGB), US edition. All of 11 years old, Samvrit bested 99 students, …

ENGLISH FOR HERITAGE LANGUAGE SPEAKERS Native speakers of critical languages are in high demand in the U.S. government. EHLS trains advanced English speakers to be effective communicators and strong candidates for federal jobs. All EHLS participants receive a full scholarship from the National Security Education Program (NSEP) that includes tuition and a living stipend. The 2020 EHLS Program is open to native speakers of: …

U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jessie Liu withdrew her name from consideration for the third highest post at the Department of Justice, following opposition from conservative lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to two news sites. The National Public Radio (NPR) reported Liu was affiliated with the National Association of Women Lawyers when it opposed the nomination of Samuel Alito …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Who is Andrew Yang, and why is he running for president of the United States? Yang, 44, is a successful businessman in the field of tech investment. He founded Venture for America (VFA). VFA is a national nonprofit fellowship program “that places graduates in struggling communities to help local businesses revitalize the economy.” Yang is one …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Superheroes are big moneymakers in Hollywood today. Do you know that Asian American stars are part of the super-successful “Avengers” Marvel franchise, “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Star Trek”? The good news about Hollywood and TV recognizing Asian American talents keeps coming. Recently, an Asian director was chosen to helm “Shang Chi,” an upcoming Marvel Cinematic …

By Jennie L. Ilustre An American of Asian ancestry is President Trump’s choice to be associate attorney general, the third highest position in the Department of Justice. Trump nominated Jessie Liu, currently U.S. Attorney for D.C., to the top position in early March. Liu, 46, an A.B. summa cum laude graduate from Harvard University who earned her J.D. from Yale Law School, …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Lawmakers, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California), recently filed The Dream and Promise Act in the House of Representatives in the 116th U.S. Congress. Here’s an overview of the legislation, also known as H.R. 6 (House Resolution 6).   What is the Dream and Promise Act? The legislation seeks to provide a path to lawful permanent status …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   The Supreme Court recently announced it would hold a hearing in April on whether to include the citizenship question in Census 2020. It will make a decision by June.             The Constitution mandates that a count of everyone living in the country should be made every ten years. For the …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Two recent developments have raised the stakes on the controversial family separation issue for the Trump Administration and advocates who want to see migrant children reunited with their parents. One is the subpoena expected to be issued in the 115th US Congress by the House Oversight Committee on three Trump Administration officials. The subpoena calls for …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Something wonderful is going on in Hollywood during this award season. Have you noticed the constant spotlight beamed on Asian American onscreen talents? Is this the beginning of their golden opportunities in Hollywood?           Remarked top Asian American leader Karen Narasaki: “The progress being made in Hollywood is exciting. Talented Asian Americans are finally being given …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Asian American advocacy leaders renewed their call to the U.S. Congress to pass legislation protecting nearly 825,000 recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), including 16,000 Asians. This developed even as advocates welcomed the news on January 23 that the Supreme Court had declined to take up the government’s appeal on DACA during this …

  Luther Jackson Middle School Sat, Feb. 2, 2019 (snow day alternative: Feb. 10), 10AM – 6PM There will be live performance, including dragon and lion dances and Han costume fashion show, delicious Asian food, the calligraphy and writing of Chinese names, riddles and raffles, craft and business booths, children activities, as well as a lunar New Year dragon parade. Time …

A Washington suburb is changing the way the community shops for food By Geeta Goindi Herndon, Virginia, December 28, 2018 – A fast-growing suburb of Washington got an economic boost with leading Asian supermarket chain H Mart opening its seventh store in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Known for its modern ‘one-stop-shopping’ experience, H Mart offers many Asian foods catering to …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   The day after the midterm elections on November 6, Advancing Justice/Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) Executive Director John Yang discussed the impact, as well as the message, of the vote results on some Asian American issues, which are Mainstream American concerns as well.   Yang talked about the future of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Some 150 Americans of Asian cultures won impressive victories in the November 6 midterm elections at the federal, state and local levels – even making history along the way.   In the national races, Asian American lawmakers in the U.S. Congress handily won reelection, helping the Democratic Party retake the House of Representatives. Representatives Judy …

Ambassador Navtej Sarna: “Diwali has become emblematic of India abroad” By Geeta Goindi Washington, DC, November 12, 2018 – Addressing a standing room only crowd in the main hall of the Indian Chancery, Sunday evening, Ambassador Navtej Sarna proclaimed that the “festival of Diwali has become emblematic of India abroad” and credited the diaspora for making it the best known …

By Jennie L. Ilustre Lily Qi won in the November 6 midterm elections, making history as “the first Chinese-born state legislator in Maryland.” She won 30,441 votes to represent Maryland’s District 15 as its new delegate in the Maryland General Assembly. “I am excited to be your delegate, and to join a highly accomplished team of D15 state legislators in …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Another tourist attraction and landmark, a state-of-the-art Chinese American Museum, will soon rise in the nation’s capital. The target date for the opening is early 2020, according to Chinese American Museum Executive Director David Uy.   “We anticipate that the public museum will open in 1-1/2 to 2 years,” Uy said in an interview. “Select …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   You can call David Lim “Victor Tan,” the character he plays on CBS TV series “S.W.A.T.” Better yet, you can call him lucky. The role of Victor Tan was especially created for him. He plays the rookie S.W.A.T officer who made his name in the Hollywood Division, then soars to the top of Los Angeles …

By Jennie L. Ilustre American voters of Asian heritage can be a swing vote in battleground districts in the November 6 midterm elections, according to political observers in the community. “Where can Asian American and Pacific Islander voters have maximum impact in 2018?” is the title of Sono Shah and Karthick Ramakrishnan’s piece for Data Bits, the official blog of …

By Jennie L. Ilustre American candidates of Asian ancestry who won their recent Republican and Democratic primaries in Arizona, Florida, Rhode Island and New York were lauded by the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS). The primaries determine the party’s nominees for the midterm elections on November 6. APAICS is led by Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke, who succeeded Floyd …

By Geeta Goindi Annandale, Virginia, October 16, 2018 – Drawing an analogy between ‘Diwali’, the Indian festival of lights, and the political climate in America, Virginia’s junior Democratic senator Tim Kaine has asserted, “The battle is never over. There is always a battle between light and darkness. There is always a battle between good and evil. There is always a …