Asian Avenue magazine - February 2014

asian avenue magazine

Connecting Cultures Linking Lives

February 2014 Volume 9 Issue 2

Denver chef

Leah

Eveleigh

wins Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen

Korean idols revolutionize

pop music Asian Avenue celebrates

OCA of

Lunar New Year at Chinese banquet

COLORADO

advances the welfare and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans

Restaurant Peeks Wasabi Sushi Bar The Orange Crunch

Commercial Business Banking

Harry Budisidharta

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Dear Asian Avenue readers,

We hope your year is off to a great start! Welcome to the year of the wood horse, a fastpaced and energetic year! This is an excellent year for travel and for romance. Thank you for celebrating the lunar new year with us at our annual banquet on January 24. What a fun evening with performances by local youth and young people, including the Colorado Asian Cultural Heritage Center performing the lion and dragon dance, Denver Buddhist Cultural Society students giving a kung fu and staff demonstration, and the crew of Machinez Remainz dancing with their unique robotic and popping moves. The emcee for the evening, Thuy Trang, is the current Miss Asian American Colorado and also a student at CU-Boulder.

As I shared that evening, Asian Avenue is an advocate for youth: building their confidence, celebrating their talents and encouraging them to stay connected to their culture and heritage. We did just that with many young people taking the stage that night. We appreciate all of the support from the community!

Lunar new year events are still around the corner, including the banquets for OCA of Colorado, Asian Pacific Development Center, and Denver Kunming Sister Cities. Colorado Chinese Language School will host its annual lantern festival at Thomas Jefferson High School on February 9, and lion dances are scheduled to take place throughout the rest of the month. So you still have a chance to get your lunar new year celebrating on!

Congratulations to Chef Leah Eveleigh, a local Filipino-American chef for winning Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, and becoming the first Denver chef to win. Her culinary achievements began years ago, winning local competitions at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival and with Westword. She has advanced her talents to the national scale and we are proud that she represents Colorado’s Filipino-American community.

You may have noticed the K-pop and Korean drama craze sweeping the nation. In this issue, staff writer Brenda Velasquez delves into the influence of Korean pop culture—including that of Psy, known worldwide for his song Gangnam Style—which has spread to Colorado, where locally a Colorado Korea Day Festival was held last year.

The festival not only brought Korean stars to Denver, but hosted its own K-pop singing content.

Lastly, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network completed its fourth American Cultural Study Tour for students from Kunming, China last month. This program is truly one of cultural exchange, as the students lived with American host families during their stay in Denver and visited with American students at three different schools. Thank you to Sims-Fayola International Academy, John F. Kennedy High School and University of Denver for welcoming these students. Our city is such a diverse melting pot, mixed with openness and generosity. I am grateful for the many kind people I have met in my role serving the community over the years. Xiè Xie! Enjoy this issue,

asian avenue magazine

staff & support

Publisher & Founder: Christina Yutai Guo President: Annie Guo Production Manager: Peter Bui Senior Designer: C.G. Yao Designer: Jonathan Nguyen Staff Writer: Patricia Kaowthumrong Staff Writer: Mary Jeneverre Schultz Staff Writer: Brenda Velasquez Photographer: Trang Luong Intern: Akemi Tsutsui

advisors group

Patty Coutts, Donna LaVigne, Nestor J. Mercado, Sum C. Nguyen, Alok Sarwal, Peter Warren, John Yee, Nai-Li Yee, George N. Yoshida

contributing writers

Johnny Poon, Marcus T. Smith Harrison Tu

contributing photographers Gil Asakawa, Sean Choi, Franciz Photography

on the cover

K-pop sparks aesthetic revolution. The girl band, Top Girls, performs at the Colorado Korea Day Festival in August 2013 at Infinity Park in Glendale.

Photo by: Sean Choi

subscriptions

To subscribe, e-mail marketing@asianavenuemag azine.com. A one-year subscription is $25 for 12 issues, a two-year subscription is 40 for 24 issues.

Please make checks or money orders payable to Asian Avenue magazine. For details about special corporate or group rates, please call during business hours: Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm. Shipping and handling included.

Annie Guo, President Asian Avenue magazine

advertising

Asian Avenue magazine offers businesses the most cost-effective way to reach consumers in the Denver/Boulder metro areas and beyond. For more information, call during business hours or e-mail us at marketing@asianavenuemagazine. com for our media kit and ad rates.

editorial 40

To submit story ideas, letters to the editor, or listings for the Events Calendar, e-mail to editor@ asianavenuemagazine.com.

Asian Avenue magazine (ISSN 1932-1449) reserves all copyrights to this issue. No parts of this edition can be reproduced in any manner without written permission. The views expressed in articles are the authors’ and not necessarily those of Asian Avenue magazine. Authors may have consulting or other business relationships with the companies they discuss.

Published by Asian Avenue Magazine, Inc. P.O. Box 221748 Denver, CO 80222-1748 Tel: 303.937.6888 Fax: 303.750.8488 www.asianavenuemagazine.com

Asian Avenue magazine is in association with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.

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February 2014 | President’s Note

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Restaurant Peeks

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12

12

On the Cover

Korean pop culture grows its fan base as ‘Korean fever’ takes off across the world!

Contents

Known for its Filipino deep fried empanadas, The Orange Crunch food truck can be found at many local breweries around town

19

Wasabi Sushi Centennial invites you in to enjoy

their new ‘full-belly’ (all-you-can-eat) sushi menu

On Scene Mile-high area events 20 Students from Kunming, China visit Denver 21 Asian Avenue hosts annual Lunar New Year to ring

February 2014

18

in the year of the horse

5-6 Upcoming Events Rising Star 7 From a passion to a career, Henry Duong

8

Spotlight 8 Chef Leah Eveleigh displays not only her

culinary skills, but her wit and sass as the winner of Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen

Inside Stories 10 OCA of Colorado brings together local

11

21

pursues a master’s degree in student affairs

22

After 60 years of serving Colorado, FACC goes strong Mending Faces host music fundraiser in support of medical missions to the Philippines

23 National News 24 Breaking News

Hundreds attend funeral for Kim Pham

Book Review

25

Amy Tan’s The Valley of Amazement inspired by photos of her grandmother

Feature

26

The State of Asian American Women in the United States: Asian American women are a growing and influential constituency

community with events such as annual lunar new year banquet

The first fitness DVD of its kind, SumoFit, focuses on strength and stability using sumo exercises

Chinese Idiom

420 February 2014 | Table of Contents

28

Burning Peastalks to Cook Peas

u

upcoming events

1

Lantern Festival Celebration Sunday, Feb. 9, 4:15PM to 7PM

Thomas Jefferson High School 3950 S Holly St. | Denver, CO 80237 Cost: $5 children (4-12); seniors (over 70) $10 adults RSVP to Lily Shen at 720-256-8888 or lilyshen@comcast.net, or Annick Chen at 720-490-2654 or annickchen2006@yahoo.com Colorado Chinese Language School, Colorado Chinese Club and Denver Chinese Cultural Center invite you to celebrate the Lantern Festival!

Come for an unforgettable evening of cultural performances such as Chinese folk dance, Kung-fu, Chinese Yo-yo, calligraphy demo, and Chinese music. There will also be fun hands-on activities for all ages, such as riddle solving, riceball making, Chinese calligraphy writing, night market games, and Chinese firecracker and lantern making!

Mehfil

Sunday, Feb. 9, 5PM to 7PM

Broomfield Auditorium 3 Community Park Rd | Broomfield, CO 80020 Cost: $15 per ticket Reserve tickets by calling 720-240-2557 or e-mailing sushma926@hotmail.com.

The Day of Remembrance commemorates the 72nd anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066. The program includes hearing personal accounts from several Japanese Americans who were confined from 1942 to the end of the war. Dr. Patty Limerick will also provide a presentation.

Young Love Concert

Theatre Esprit Asia 2014-2015 Season Auditions

Thursday, Feb. 27, 7:30PM to 9:30PM

Capitol Hill United Neighborhood Community Center Annex | 1290 Williams St. Open to public to audition For more info, visit www.theatre-esprit-asia.org.

Theatre Espirit Asia is seeking actors and actresses for several upcoming plays. All roles are paid and seeking all ethnicities. Bring headshot and resume. If auditioning for song, please prepare 16 bars operetta style piece. No accompaniment and acapella accepted. Monitor will have a sign up sheet. Call backs will be held on Sunday, March 2 from 2pm to 4pm.

Friday, Feb. 14, Begins at 7:30PM KPOF Hall | 1340 Sherman St. 80203 Cost: $20 Adult; $15 Senior Purchase tickets by calling 303-653-2407 or visiting www.denverphilharmonic.org.

University of Denver violin professor Linda Wang will perform Chen and He’s The Butterfly Lovers concerto with the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. As Linda describes it, “This piece is one of China’s most beloved works; a colorful, emotional piece that combines bother Eastern and Western musical traditions. Through melody and musical drama, it tells the ancient tale of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai (which can be compared to the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet) thought a communicative and lush score.” The concert repertoire includes: Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite, Chen and He’s The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2.

Hina Matsuri Japanese Doll & Cultural Festival March 2 & March 3, 11:30am-4pm Simpson United Methodist Church 6001 Wolff Street | Arvada, CO 80003 Cost: Free and open to public For more info, call 303-428-7963 or visit www.simpsonumc.com.

CU Boulder Tet Show

Saturday, Feb. 15, Begins at 7PM

Meander down memory lane with Priya, Vinata, Meera, Purnima, Nabin, Amit, Prabodh, Pradip, Sachin and Krish as they sing and play some memorable ghazals and songs of our era. This is an evening that will remain with you for a long time! Proceeds will go to the Colorado Refugee Wellness Center, a non-profit organization that provides health screenings and social services to resettled refugees and asylees.

Day of Remembrance

Friday, Feb. 14, Begins at 1PM

History of Colorado Museum 1200 Broadway | Denver, CO 80203 Cost: Free - Welcome to visit the museum free Contact Dr. Mark Shimoda at 303-979-1705.

University Memorial Center 1669 Euclid Avenue | Boulder, Colorado 80309 Cost: Free admission and food For more info, visit www.facebook.com/vsaboulder.

Join the Vietnamese Student Association at CU Boulder for their annual Lunar New Year’s Tet Show! There will be food, dances, skits, musical performances and Vietnamese-American standup comedian Dat Phan!

The annual Japanese Doll & Cultural Festival (Hina Matsuri) is a wonderful way for children and people of all ages to experience the culture of Japan. There will be various displays and live performances. Unique Japanese dolls can be viewed, including special dolls for Girl’s Day, which includes the Emperor and Empress and their court. Other displays include kimonos, ikebana (flower arrangement), bonsai, and calligraphy. Live performances are from 1pm to 4pm, including taiko drums, Japanese dance, multiple martial art demonstrations, and Japanese music from traditional Japanese instruments. This is a great cultural event for the entire family. Anyone can try origami and learn about the ancient tea ceremony. Simpson UMC has been part of the Denver community for over 100 years. There are members of the church who have been involved with this festival for all 46 years.

Upcoming Events | asian avenue magazine

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DENVER ART MUSEUM LECTURE: The Iron Powder— The Metamorphosis of Steel in Video Installations and Other Artworks In his artwork, Kim Jongku crosses various media and does not center on a particular material. He uses black, steel powder—the result of an industrial grinding process—and “writes” calligraphic inscriptions resembling landscape forms on the floor of a pristine, white environment, as if the iron powder were Chinese ink. Then, using closed-circuit cameras positioned on the floor, Kim projects his constructed vista onto a screen to evoke traditional Korean ink-andbrush painting. His video installations display a horizontally unfolded landscape that opens up a new place of possibility, hope, and coexistence. In this space, the viewer’s shoes are projected onto the screen and appear to dwarf a mountain, allowing the person to escape from dayto-day limitations and to experience peaceful and free spirituality.

The metamor-

phosis of steel is connected with the artist’s criticism of today’s materialistic civilization.

Kim transforms a mass of steel into powder and then into a horizontal landscape to visualize his aspirations of bringing the vertical system of contemporary society back to an unbiased horizontal system.

Kim Jongku was born 1963 in Choongnam, South Korea, and currently teaches in the Department of Sculpture at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. Kim graduated with a B.F.A. from Seoul National University in 1993 and an M.F.A from London’s Chelsea College of Art and Design in 1996.

He is well-known as the artist of steel powder and has exhibited widely in Europe and Asia.

Lecture by Kim Jongku The Iron Powder—The Metamorphosis of Steel in Video Installations and Other Artworks Hamilton Building, Lower Level Thursday, February 13, 2014 • 7–8 pm Reception MAD Beans & Wine Cafe Acoma Plaza • 8–9 pm Free. Reservations required.

Denver Art Museum 100 West 14th Avenue Pkwy, Denver, CO 80204 Event sponsored by the William Sharpless Jackson Jr. Endowment

Colorado’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Organizations to Host Legislative Training and Day at the Capitol On Saturday, February 22 the Mile High Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Asian Pacific Development Center (APDC), and National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum of Colorado will host a legislative training from 1 pm – 5 pm at APDC (1537 Alton St.). The legislative training will be followed by a day at the capitol on Monday, February 24, and both events are open to all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The legislative training is expected to convene more than 30 local leaders and community members in preparation for the day at the capitol when AAPIs across Colorado will have the opportunity to talk directly to their legislators about issues impacting our communities.

Participants at the legislative training will learn valuable skills to advocate for any issue such as how to write a strong testimony, how to conduct an effective legislative visit, and how to write to your member of congress. Presenters will also provide an overview of current bills related to issues most pertinent to AAPI communities such as immigration and health equity.

Founded in 1929, the National JACL is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States. The JACL monitors and responds to issues that enhance or threaten the civil and human rights of all Americans and implements strategies to effect positive social change. The Mile High chapter of JACL (www. milehighjacl.org) was created in 1938.

APDC (www.apdc.org) is a communitybased, nonprofit organization founded in 1980 to serve the needs of a growing population of AAPI residents throughout Colorado. APDC promotes wellness and self-sufficiency among immigrant and refugee families through culturally sensitive and linguistically proficient services.

NAPAWF (www.napawf.org) is the only national, multi-issue AAPI women’s organization in the country. NAPAWF’s mission is to build a movement to advance social justice and human rights for AAPI women and girls.

For more information, contact Harry Budisidharta, Mile High JACL President at harry@ denverfirm.com or 303-518-9606.

To register for the legislative training or the day at the capitol, please go to:

bit.ly/COAPIAdvocacyDay

620

February 2014 | Upcoming Events

16th Annual

Friendship Cup February 22, 2014 Colorado School of Mines Lockridge Arena

Golden, Colorado

presented by

w w w. C o l o r a d o B u d o k a n . c o m

Friendship Cup 2014 Karate Tournament scheduled on February 22 sponsored by

The Friendship Cup 2014 Karate Tournament will be held on Saturday, February 22 in the gymnasium on the campus of Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. The Friendship Cup is noted for its exceptional professionalism and organization from the use of regulation WKF (World Karate-do Federation) mats and electronic scoreboards to the proficiency and fairness of the referees.

Tournament Date/Time: Saturday, February 22, 2014 Competition begins 9:00 A.M.

Venue: Colorado School of Mines Lockridge Arena 1651 Elm Street, Golden, CO General Admission: $6 (free for children age 4 and under) Tournament Schedule: Referee and Judge meeting at 8:30 A.M. Competition begins at 9:00 A.M 9:00 AM – children/junior (age 17 & under): kobudo, kata, kumite 10:30 AM - team divisions, handicapped/ challenged divisions 12:30 PM – adult (age 18 and up): kobudo, kata and kumite; adult advanced divisions and adult kobudo compete first Online registration available through Feb. 20, 2014 For more information: Colorado Budokan www.coloradobudokan.com E-mail: igtsutsui@coloradobudokan.com Tel: 720-253-7473

H

Henry Duong

aspires to work in student affairs Patricia Kaowthumrong Asian Avenue magazine School Colorado State University (M.S. Candidate, Student Affairs in Higher Education), Metropolitan State University of Denver (B.A., Behavioral Science) Hometown Oakland, Calif.

Involvements GUIDE Involvement Coordinator/ Assistantship in Residence Life at CSU, Student Affairs in Higher Education Journal Board at CSU, Resident Assistant Selection Committee for Residence Life, CSU’s Asian/Pacific American Cultural Center (A/PACC), Colorado Asian Pacific Youth Association (CAPYA) Quote HE liveS by “Be humble and remember what got you where you are, every step of the way.”

DESCRIBED AS Thoughtful, Driven and Includer Hobbies/interests Snowboarding, photography, videography, sports, working out, good conversation, watching Disney Channel Original Movies and Boy Meets World Dream job Full-time student affairs practitioner, and one day, a Vice President or Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs

Duong (right) with the founders of Colorado Asian Pacific Youth Association

Henry Duong attributes the discovery of his career path to a combination of luck, curiosity, finding a sense of security and discovering a way to give back. Additionally, Duong’s involvement in the Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) community and experience as an Asian-American college student helped him discover his passion for student affairs.

“I had to navigate this thing called college on my own as an Asian American,” Duong says. “If I can somehow be there for students who may be feeling similar to what I have experienced, then that is what will make my work fulfilling, knowing I was able to help someone. It is my way of giving back to my community.”

Duong, who’s currently working toward a Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Colorado State University (CSU), is excited to start a career helping students find success. In 2011, he helped establish the Colorado Asian Pacific Youth Association (CAPYA), a nonprofit that provides educational opportunities for APIA youth.

“Juggling cultures can become more difficult in college, because in the case of my first semester of college, I was living away from my parents for the first time while still holding the same family responsibilities,” Duong says. “My transition from high school to college was hard because of many reasons. I look back at it all now and see that part of the reason why I am in student affairs is so that I can try to support student success and make sure students who are struggling know that they have resources.”

Other accomplishments that he’s proud of include getting his Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science from Metropolitan State University of Denver and being able to represent his family as a first-generation university graduate.

“The values that have been instilled in me through my parents have influenced my path,”

With his family’s support, Duong graduates from Metropolitan State University

One of Duong’s hobbies is snowboarding.

Duong says. “I believe the fact that being the oldest child has influenced my career and life path because I have always had to help my parents, so I think helping others has always been something that’s natural for me.”

Duong says he realized how much he enjoyed working in student affairs and with college students at the end of his third year of college. His role as an orientation leader and student coordinator at MSU Denver gave him the opportunity to grow as a student leader.

“Student affairs is my calling card to being able to impact the lives of college students,” Duong says. “Not only that, but it will allow me the opportunity to be in a role in which there are not many APIA student affairs professionals. As an APIA student affairs professional, I feel as if I would be able to support and be a resource to APIA students. In addition, I feel that it helps put another APIA voice at the table in important discussions on a university campus, so that when best practices are being formed, I can make sure it is also inclusive of all communities and identities.”

Duong’s advice for individuals looking to find success in their careers is to “believe in who you are and who you can become.”

“Be okay with feeling lost and be willing to search for answers,” he says. “Allow your passions to create your career. Trust and appreciate the process the entire way.”

Most of Duong’s spare time is dedicated to his role as outreach director of CAPYA, taking photos and videos, snowboarding and finding down time.

“Practicing mindfulness for me has been something I have had to be more aware about over the years because I am an internal processor and do my best thinking when I am not around others,” he says. “So I definitely try to structure time within my spare time to just sit, relax, and think while watching television or YouTube.”

Duong with his Student Affairs in Higher Education cohort at CSU

Rising Star | asian avenue magazine

7

Leah Eveleigh stays true to her roots in her cooking Patricia Kaowthumrong Asian Avenue magazine

Chef Leah Eveleigh used her Filipino roots to become the first Denver chef to dominate her episode on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen, a reality-based TV show hosted by Alton Brown.

“The thing about the show is I stayed true to my roots and I shared that, and it is so wonderful to see that it was appreciated,” says Eveleigh, who beat out the other contestants with Filipino-inspired dishes such as carne asada quesadilla with pineapple, chicken noodle soup with ginger and lemongrass and crispy fried anchovies (the winning dish).

“The most challenging thing was going into a battle with no idea of what was going to be thrown in front of me. My ability and wit came into play. You have to be in the game, in the moment and bring everything you have,” she says.

Eveleigh, who is a native of the Philippines, moved to the U.S. nearly 30 years ago and decided to call Colorado home in 2000. She gained popularity at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival selling dishes inspired by her roots and opened Chef Leah’s Kitchen, which offers private chef, cooking demonstrations and catering services.

“I love cooking,” Eveleigh says. “I have been passionate about food since I was a little girl. I learned it from watching my mom cook.”

Eveleigh recalls watching her mother cook for three-day periods to prepare for fiesta celebrations in her family’s province. From whole pig and chicken adobo (a national dish of the Philippines) to dozens of sides, soups and des-

Eveleigh (middle) on Good Day Colorado with Fox 31’s Shanna Mendiola and Chris Jose

8

February 2014 | Spotlight

serts, delicious food was showcased and devoured by family and friends, she says fondly.

“A part of my passion is that my cooking connects friends and family,” Eveleigh says. “My heritage, my roots and growing up in the Philippines is a big influence on my style of cuisine.

That is very close to my heart, and I want to share it. I love to experiment making new dishes from scratch, using only fresh ingredients, and I love to entertain my friends.”

Before her TV appearance, Chef Leah Eveleigh found success locally. Her accomplishments include winning first and second place at culinary competitions at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, being named Westword‘s “Best of Denver” in 2008 for her banana lumpia (a fried banana dessert) and finding success as an entrepreneur. Although she was happy to dominate Cutthroat Kitchen, Eveleigh says being chosen as a contestant to work with the host Alton Brown and other talented chefs from all over the country was an achievement in itself.

“You have to believe in yourself and dream big,” she says. “Whatever you’re passionate about, really follow your heart and give everything you’ve got and never give up.”

As for what’s next on Eveleigh’s menu, the winning chef will travel to the Philippines for the first time in 20 years to help her family rebuild after Typhoon Haiyan. Eveleigh also plans to immerse herself into the culture, the food and the Filipino people and bring back the experiences to complete her first cookbook that will be released this year.

In the spring, Eveleigh will attend an accelerated, comprehensive professional culinary program at the Colorado Culinary Academy in

Greenwood Village.

“I want to improve my skills, and I want to be ready for another competition,” Eveleigh says.

In her spare time, Eveleigh enjoys spending time with her family and traveling, which she says allows her to expand her flavor palate by sampling the cuisine of other cultures.

Eveleigh also practices yoga, which keeps her calm and poised and helps her maintain a balanced mind and body.

“I love challenges; that’s what drives me,”

Chef Leah gives a cooking demonstration on Fox 31’s Everyday show

Eveleigh makes margaritas with a blender powered by pedaling a bicycle

“You have to believe in yourself and dream big. Whatever you’re passionate about, really follow your heart and give everything you’ve got and never give up.”

she says. “When I’m passionate about something, I put my heart and soul into it. I want to do the best that I can and have high standards and expectations of myself. I have a lot of goals in life that I’ve accomplished, so this is only the beginning and I‘m excited of what’s to come.”

“I am also grateful for the support of the Asian community, the Denver community and especially the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival for giving me the opportunity to explore my passion in the culinary field.”

For more information, visit her website at www.leaheveleigh.com or contact Chef Leah at 720-339-5252.

Filipino chef showcases her culinary skills during the viewing party of Cutthroat Kitchen

Mary Jeneverre Schultz Asian Avenue magazine

The winning crispy fried anchovies dish made by Chef Leah on the episode of Cutthroat Kitchen that aired on January 19.

O

Fellow Chef Michael Waxelman congratulates Chef Leah on a job well done. Photo by: Franciz Photography

Chef Leah celebrates her win on Cutthroat Kitchen with about 100 people during a viewing party Jan. 19.

Photo by: Gil Asakawa

On January 19, about 100 family members, friends and foodies packed the second floor of Lodo’s Bar & Grill in Highlands Ranch to watch the reality show of Cutthroat Kitchen.

But this viewing party was centered on the cunning and conniving skills of Chef Leah Eveleigh, who was one of the first chefs to showcase Denver and the Philippines.

“The view party was awesome,” said Aurelia Jareno Grinstead, a member of Denver-based Pinoy Pals. “It’s always inspiring to see the Asian community come together with the diversified audience to support such an event.”

Audience reactions ranged from shrieks of laughter to shouts of joy as Chef Leah played the game right by buying tools to foil her competitors’ efforts in making simple entrees such as a quesadilla, chicken soup or fish. Even Chef Leah’s snarky remarks received a lot of yells to show support.

Since it was a Sunday night after the Bronco’s AFC victory game, others took to their personal couches at home to watch the reality show hosted by Alton Brown.

Food cart owner Kathy Geitl loved the

show. “I think the show was great,” she said. “Leah made us proud and made the Filipino community look good. I’m very proud and can only inspire to be like her one day.”

Flat-screen TVs surrounded the second floor of the restaurant, so everyone had the best seat in the house.

During commercial breaks, Chef Leah and her team raffled prizes for cooking demonstrations to keep the crowd entertained and engaged throughout the onehour show on the Food Network.

For most viewers, the best part of the show was Chef Leah biking to make pitchers of margaritas. The other woman chef remarked Chef Leah was about one third of the size of the bike, which prompted giggles and laughs from the viewing party.

While Chef Leah came out on top as the winner, it was amazing for her to dedicate her victory to the Philippines.

“It is another historic event for the Filipino-American community of Colorado,” Jareno Grinstead said with much pride.

Mary Jeneverre Schultz loves Chef Leah’s fried bananas. Follow her on Twitter at @Jeneverre.

Leah Eveleigh | asian avenue magazine

9

Left to right: Woon Ki Lau, Hing Ryder (Vice-President), Febra Coffey (Secretary), Katherine Pillow (Board member), Johnny Poon (President), Benny Cheng (Board member), Candise Sprangers, Diane Cheng, Johnny Hsu,Tina Choi (Treasurer)

OCA of Colorado brings national efforts to address Asian American issues to our state Johnny Poon

President, OCA of Colorado

While the 2014 New Year’s parties are but a distant memory, preparations for the Lunar New Year parties are only getting started.

It’s the Year of the Horse in the Chinese calendar, which officially started on January 31, 2014. To celebrate, OCA of Colorado has its annual Lunar New Year banquet on Saturday, Feb. 8, at the Empress Seafood Restaurant.

Founded as Organization of Chinese Americans in 1973, OCA has since grown to a robust national advocacy organization dedicated to embracing the hopes and aspirations of nearly 19 million Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.

OCA’s national headquarters is located in Washington, D.C., which allows OCA to directly engage in critical public policy issues and to monitor legislation and policy issues affecting Asian Pacific Americans. OCA has over 100 national chapters, affiliates, and partners organized to be actively involved in addressing local issues impacting Asian Pacific Americans. OCA is comprised of members from all walks of life and diverse ethnic identities, and all with the goal of advancing the welfare and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans.

OCA’s Colorado chapter (OCA of Colorado) has been actively involved in Colorado since

OCA of Colorado

1987. In addition to its Lunar New Year banquet, OCA of Colorado sponsors a variety of events each year to celebrate cultural awareness and heritage, including the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Asian Pacific American community picnics, and senior holiday parties.

OCA’s Feb. 8 Lunar New Year banquet includes a 10-course dinner and entertainment, including the traditional lion dance by Shifu Howie Solow and Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu. Tickets are $40. To reserve your ticket or for more information on becoming an active member of OCA, contact ocacolorado@gmail.com or call Benny Cheng at 303-888-0777.

invites you to celebrate the Lunar New Year Saturday, February 8, 2014 Empress Seafood Chinese Restaurant 2825 W. Alameda Ave., Denver 80219 5:00 PM – Cash bar 5:30 PM – Lion Dance kicks-off the evening Your taste buds will be dazzled with a 10 course meal:

House Special Seafood Soup Peking Duck Stewed Abalone with Black Mushrooms Steamed Striped Whole Bass Sauteed Lobster with Ginger and Scallion Fillet Mignon with Black Pepper Sauce Walnut Shrimp Garden Vegetable with Lotus Leaf Wrap Empress Special Fried Rice Fresh Fruit

Tickets: $40 each | Corporate Table (10 Seats): $888 Contact Benny Cheng for ticket or info: 303.888.0777.

2013 Lunar New Year Banquet

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February 2014 | Inside Story

Colorado Dragon Boat Festival

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Yes, that’s Sumo—as in wrestling, and it’s a workout program based on traditional Sumo conditioning exercises!

Nearly a decade ago, while recovering from a martial arts training injury, Helga O’Donovan started experimenting with various karate and jiu-jitsu movements, trying to find the best ones to help her regain strength, flexibility and balance. One day she stumbled upon Sumo conditioning exercises and has been practicing them everyday since.

These exercises are the same ones sumo wrestlers have performed for centuries to stretch, strengthen and stabilize their hips, legs and backs. The exercises constitute one-third of a wrestler’s training regimen, the others being actual wrestling practice and eating.

“I’m a martial artist and professional dancer, and I’ve tried both yoga and Pilates,” O’Donovan said. “In my experience, sumo exercises produce better results faster and more safely than either of those two.

And yet the fitness industry is quite unaware of them.”

As a martial artist of mixed-Japanese ancestry, it was easy for her to get past the Western perception of Sumo as just two glaring “fat guys in diapers”, slapping and pushing each other. In reality, Sumo is an ancient sport with roots in the Shinto religion. It was originally per-

The Creative Director of SumoFit Helga O’Donovan, who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, poses in the exercise known as shinkyaku, or sumo stretch.

formed as a ritual to appease the harvest gods; and later became a beloved sport at the imperial court, before being adopted by the samurai class as a military training system. Sumo gave the world jiu-jitsu, judo, and aikido.

“I have taught sumo exercises in jiu-jitsu and karate classes, as well as in a stretching class for distance runners,” O’Donovan said. The runners experienced improved flexibility and balance, and one runner, who had tried everything from yoga to acupuncture to get rid of nagging hip pain, told O’Donovan the Sumo exercises had “fixed” her hips.

SumoFit has potential to help anyone—not just martial artists and runners—develop stronger, more flexible hips, and better balance.

O’Donovan’s SumoFit DVD officially released on January 1, 2014.

The 90-minute DVD teaches basic SumoFit exercises and exercise sequences. O’Donovan also writes a blog that focuses on culture-influenced health and fitness around the world.

For more information, visit www.sumofit.com or contact Helga O’Donovan at 970-412-8922 or helga@sumofit.com.

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Inside Story | asian avenue magazine

11

K-pop fever

ignites a new era for Asian entertainment in the U.S.

By Brenda Velasquez | Asian Avenue magazine Photos by Sean Choi

Reminiscent of the popular boy and girl bands that dominated the music scene in the 90s, the U.S. is experiencing a revamped pop revival through highly-disciplined and aesthetically captivating, Korean pop, or “K-pop”, bands.

Originating in South Korea, K-pop groups like Girls’ Generation, The Wonder Girls and Super Junior are maximizing the genre merely tapped into by American predecessors. As a vital component of the Hallyu, or Korean Wave, K-pop is amplifying the export of Korean culture across the globe and most recently, across the U.S., in a vibrant cyclone of synthesized music, video art and fashionable outfits.

Pop evolution Modern pop emerged in the 50s in the U.S. and Britain, drawing from an eclectic variety of genres, including gospel, jazz, country, rock, hip-hop and rap. This vibrant package began influencing South Korean music in the late 60s and by the 90s, musicians were experimenting with these American genres, marking the beginning of modern K-pop, supported by teens whose impressionable sensibilities prompted the emergence of addictive idol bands comprising of young, attractive single-sex groups. H.O.T., considered the first K-pop boy band debuted in 1995 and was trailed by other pioneers like Tae Sa Ja and Shinhwa.

The same year, Korean entrepreneur Lee Soo-man realized the increasing demand for these idols and initiated the movement to capitalize K-pop by establishing the industry’s largest talent agency and record label, S.M. Entertainment. Numerous agencies followed suit with three dominant companies being S.M. Entertainment, YG Entertainment and JYP Entertainment, the “Big Three.”

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K-pop hallmarks The growing popularity of television in 1950s U.S. required pop artists to focus on visual design as well as audio composition; this emFebruary 2014 | Cover Story

phasis carried over into and was elevated by K-pop, a feat manifested in the genre’s distinctively vivid music videos. Loren Chhetry, a 25 year-old Nepalese and Native-American K-pop fan of Girls Generation, Sistar, The Wonder Girls, 4Minute, and 2NE1 describes how “The music videos are mostly why I like K-pop; they’re very visually appealing, artistic and unique to watch.”

K-pop’s visual experience begins with the members’ physical looks as record companies seek to recruit young, attractive members whose subtle sex appeal is enhanced by colorful, edgy costuming and sophisticated video designs. Rather than restrict themselves to one style, Kpop artists apply the full palette of fashion by changing their look for each song, setting trends and building viewers’ anticipation.

The next visual technique involves dance characterized by synchronized choreography where members switch positions while singing in harmony. Although not as sophisticated as the costuming or set designs, K-pop’s choreography is simplified in order to invite the fans’ participation. Choreographers keep the viewers in mind when orchestrating the steps, which revolve around a short series of repetitive movements easily memorized so fans can dance along even if— especially if—they can’t sing along.

All the performers take the stage at the Colorado Korea Day Festival.

Drawing from such diverse musical roots, modern K-pop has become a mixture of trendy Western music and high-energy Japanese pop (J-Pop). David Bevan, editor at SPIN magazine describes how the songs, like the groups themselves whose members hail from a range of Asian races including Chinese, Japanese, and Indian, “are constructed for maximum reach: choruses built from catchphrase English, verses in Korean or custom-tailored to target markets.

Sounds, textures and visuals are sourced from various Western hits so the result is a listening and viewing experience that is both bewildering and thrilling, one wherein recognizable pop moments from the past (or present) are copied, tweaked, and improved upon before being fused together in an aggressively polished product.”

Riding the wave of social networks K-pop first gained popularity overseas in Japan in the late 90s, then in India, the Middle East, Europe, and finally Latin and North America. This gradual global spread was facilitated by the rise of social networking which allowed bands to reach wider audiences directly through media-sharing platforms like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. James Brooks from The Pitchfork Review explains how “K-pop has developed a massive presence on YouTube, which overflows with high-budget, attention-grabbing videos and countless reality shows documenting the day-to-day exploits of the country’s most popular groups. And that’s not even getting into the fan-generated content, including hundreds of videos subtitled in multiple languages, ‘dance covers,’ and English cover versions by multilingual super-fans who want to give Western k-pop aficionados something to sing along with.”

After many failures by prominent K-pop bands, the year 2012

marked the industry’s breakthrough in the U.S. with the release of PSY’s unexpected hit “Gangnam Style.” In a boomerang effect, K-pop has finally invaded the same nation whose musical styles first influenced and shaped the genre just five decades ago. Evidence of Kpop’s imprint on the American mainstream abounds: In 2011 Google announced that its subsidiary YouTube will launch its own K-pop channel; the same year, ‘Korea’s Justin Timberlake’ Rain, was voted the most influential person of the year by readers of Time magazine.

Prominent American artists like Missy Elliot, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and even Madonna have sought collaborations with Girls’ Generation, Big Bang and The Wonder Girls while many of these K-pop bands have signed on with American music companies.

Sony Music Entertainment for example, which promotes global artists like Beyonce and Usher, signed a deal with girl band Crayon Pop in hopes of producing the next PSY-a desire clear in the band’s music video for their debut single “Bar, Bar, Bar”, a “Gangnam Style” parody imitating the carousel and amusement park setting, the exaggerated gawking-at-yoga-bending-backsides scene, and the ending explosion.

Crayon Pop’s wacky choreography includes a signature “Straight Five-Engine Dance” that recalls PSY’s trademark horse trot and overall humor. Jeyup Kwaak of WSJ’s Scene Asia blog observes, “The popularity of South Korea’s music scene is moving beyond YouTube clicks, as domestic and global labels bid for K-pop groups as they seek to monetize the genre.”

A controversial business model Keeping up with K-pop’s exploding popularity, South Korean record companies produce more than 60 idol bands each year giving K-pop Fever | asian avenue magazine

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Pascol and Top Girls perform together at the K-pop concert

Local Korean Group The Appa Band

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the fast-paced, competitive industry a reputation as a ‘star factory’but some critics pronounce the name with disdain since the exposure of the industry’s ‘slave contracts.’

To increase the potential of success for a new talent, agencies fully subsidize and oversee the careers of their trainees, recruiting, financing, training, marketing and publishing new artists as well as managing their activities and public relations. To ensure tight control, some companies design highly-restrictive contracts binding recruits to lengthy terms and eliminating distractions by moving them into company dormitories. The young recruits train up to 14 hours a day, seven days a week for years, learning dancing, singing and foreign languages. These recruits are prohibited from owning a cell phone, hanging out with friends or developing romantic relationships before their debut. Lacking security, trainees can be kicked out and replaced at any moment for showing signs of under-performance.

Due to the steep cost of managing a band’s career prior, during and after its debut, companies are compelled to protect their investments; the cost of training, which includes vocal coaches, choreographers, stylists, make-up artists, living expenses and more, thus snowballs into a formidable loan. The profits from the band’s success goes towards paying the hefty bill so that after the company recoups its costs, there is little left for the artists who divide what remains among the group which can have as many as 13 members.

In 2009, three bands took their agency, S.M. Entertainment to court disputing their contracts’ length, restrictiveness, and profit management; the lawsuits prompted the Fair Trade Commission to regulate conditions, knocking down the maximum length from 13 to seven years. The Committee further inspected 20 entertainment agencies finding that 230 celebrities under 19 agencies were subject to unlawful clauses in their contracts such as ‘Star must tell Agency of their exact location at all times,’ and ‘Star cannot retire without Agency’s consent.’

February 2014 | Cover Story

U.S. K-pop contest winner Chloe Jeon

The exposure of these ‘slave contracts’ enraged fans; one sympathizer’s post on the discussion platform Seoulbeats.com argued, “the costs of supporting an idol are nowhere near enough to justify the idols still being relatively poor…The amount of money they’re putting away in the bank is even less than the that of the average cog in the corporate machine. And unlike a white collar worker, after these idols have reached a certain age, there’s no real prospect for a hopeful future anymore.”

Other commentators have defended the agencies’ training method; a post on Beyondhallyu.com responded, “Whilst it might seem severe, it can be seen as the best way to prepare future idols. The experience is tough, and only the motivated and those who really want the lifestyle will make it through…the companies are protecting the prospective idols from breakdowns in the future.

Fans pay a lot of money to see their idols live, so the performances have to be good, therefore copious hours of training must be undertaken…The effortless look of slick, in-time dance moves, pitch perfect vocals and stunning wardrobes doesn’t just cost money; it costs time, blood, sweat and tears.”

BBC News Lucy Williamson reported on how K-pop’s rising overseas success and interaction with foreign music companies has helped push for change in management but entertainment lawyer Sang-hyuk Im reminds the public that while “Attitudes are changing…there are some things that even new contracts and new attitudes cannot fix: Kpop is expensive to produce…music sales in South Korea alone do not recoup that investment.

For all their passion, home-grown fans are not paying enough...The CD industry is stagnant, and digital music sites are seen as vastly underpriced, with some charging just a few cents a song.” Nevertheless, Moon Jae-gap, a former policy director at South Korea’s main artists’ union believes the industry will go through a major upheaval: “Because at the moment, it’s not sustainable.”

Promoting K-pop across media platforms Perhaps the most popular form of advertising K-pop is the crossover of idols into the equally popular realm of Korean drama, or “K-drama”.

When the Korean won was devalued in the 1997 Asian financial crisis, East Asian broadcasters, particularly in Chinese-speaking areas decided that Korean dramas were not only more in tune with local values than Japan’s dramas, but also much cheaper, causing them to adopt these frugal programs, and as a by-product, cultivate an overseas fan base for Korean television, kicking off K-drama’s place in the Hallyu Wave.

In this context, Hong Kong’s YesAsia formed a US division to market K-dramas and films in North America; as a result in 2008, Netflix began offering a small selection of Koran dramas and as of 2010, K-dramas began airing on Hulu. In addition to these fee-based mainstream sites, no-charge niche websites dedicated to K-drama and commentary such as DramaBeans and Viki are managed by bilingual fans who translate and insert subtitles for other viewers.

K-dramas span multiples genres but typically fall under two categories: stories that are set in modern South Korea, such as Coffee Prince and Boys Over Flowers, and stories that revolve around Korean history, involving elaborate costuming, sets and special effects with martial arts and sword fighting, such as Sungkyunkwan Scandal. A growing number of dramas incorporate both modern and historical aspects like in the 2012 Rooftop Prince but all K-dramas portray romance in the same modest manner, which may frustrate American audiences accustomed to more physical displays of affection.

“American dramas, as a result of the image of Americans being more ‘open’, tend to depict romance as more sexualized,” observes one 20year old Vietnamese K-drama enthusiast. “There tends to be more sex scenes, kiss scenes and in general touching. Korean dramas depict romance and relationships as more chaste and ‘innocent.’ There tends to be a huge emphasis on first loves.”

A second 20 year-old Vietnamese fan, Thuong Nguyen supports this conservative convention, saying, “In a way it’s escaping from Western modern society where sex is so commercialized; it’s refreshing to get away from it. It recalls innocent beginner moments like when you first held hands and felt that tingling sensation. Clean K-dramas make it comfortable to watch with others; it can be a family thing to watch the dramas together.”

In addition to its modesty, Chhetry praises K-drama’s depiction of a more balanced romantic experience, relating how “The comedic romances are more relatable than America’s; here it’s more focused on the girl’s perspective whereas in the Korean dramas it’s more centered.”

K-drama producers will often cast K-pop artists who will contribute to the show’s soundtrack, a decision criticized by avid audiences.

“Most serious viewers of k-dramas view the casting of idol members as a joke,” critiques the first enthusiast. “If an idol is casted as one of the leads, I tend to stay away from the drama. I understand the producers’ hope that the show will appeal to a wider audience (i.e. fans of the idol) however, smart producers tend to only cast them as secondary characters, leaving the weight of the show to professional actors.”

PSY breakthrough Many have marveled at how PSY’s success in the West has opened

Coffee Prince and Boys Over Flowers are two of the most popular Korean dramas.

the doors for K-pop bands to root themselves in the U.S. after many household names failed. Park Jae-sang known by his stage name PSY, (short for psycho, referring to his crazy passion for music and performance) unexpectedly broke through Western barriers with his single “Gangnam Style” in which the eccentric 37 year-old raps about the ideal girlfriend-modest during the day and sexy at night- while making audiences laugh with his horse-trot dance. The song’s video bears none of the self-seriousness of many K-pop productions although it includes K-pop cameos by Hyun-a from 4Minute, along with Seungri and Daesung from Big Bang.

Not only does PSY deviate from the standard K-pop image of a young, pretty-face male with his doughy physique, older age, and intentional comedy, the rapper also writes his own lyrics (often deemed obscene by the South Korean government) and choreographs his own videos, both

PSY gained viral popularity with his song ‘Gangnam Style’ released in July 2012.The YouTube video became the first to reach one billion views.

unusual in the industry. So although he falls under the K-pop genre, neither his image nor sound mirrors those of his perfectly-groomed idol peers. Moreover, rather than mold his song into a globally accessible product, PSY’s “Gangnam Style” contains specific cultural references, and is written in largely untranslatable Korean; nevertheless, the song not only transcended the language barrier but most notably negated thousands of hours and millions of dollars’ worth of market research in South Korea, remarks David Bevan.

American support The U.S. has celebrated K-pop through three major events: KCON, founded in Oct. 2012 by Mnet America, the L.A.-based subsidiary of CJ E&M, the largest entertainment company in South Korea and held at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena; KPOPCON held annually at K-pop Fever | asian avenue magazine

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the University of California, Berkley campus beginning in Jan. 2012, organized by fans for fans; and the Korean Musical Festival hosted by news group The Korea Times at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles since 2003. As a small-scale venture, KPOPCON successfully attracted over 300 guests in its inaugural year while KCON secured 10,000 attendees and the Korean Music Festival sold out to 18,000 attendees in just two weeks.

Noticing this rise of Korean cultural entertainment in the U.S., Aurora-based Korean American Community Foundation Colorado (KACFC), established in 2012, organized the first Colorado K-pop Con-

test in December 2012 inside the Denver Post Building auditorium.

The contest, judged by the Consul-General of Korea San Francisco, a former opera singer and a Korean CSU professor, was won by 12 yearold Collette Hong, a student at Aurora’s Fox Ridge Middle School who sang Lee Hi’s “1, 2, 3, 4”, receiving a free ticket to South Korea donated

by Asiana Airlines.

As a follow up, the KACFC hosted the Colorado Korea Day Festival in August 2013 at Infinity Park in Glendale, organizing a U.S. K-pop Contest (which spanned the Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Northern California regions) as well as a regional preliminary round contest for

Colorado Korea Day Festival

hosted by Korean American Community Foundation Colorado

Consul General of Korea San Francisco at the Opening Ceremony

Jennifer Kim, Chairman of Korean American Community Foundation of Colorado

Food booth

Louisville Tae Kwon Do Family Center

Performance of Dudrim, a Korean traditional instrument

Booth for Shin Ramyun, a brand of Korean instant noodles

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February 2014 | Cover Story

the annual World K-pop Festival. The winner of the former received a free trip to Seoul to debut as a singer with an album recorded with Noble Soundz music company while the winner of the latter contest entered the qualifying round for the world festival to compete with international fans.

The festival, attended by 1,000 visitors was emceed by two members of pioneer K-pop boy band Tae Sa Ja and included a Korean Food Trade Show, traditional performances like Taekwondo, and a finale Kpop concert performed by girl band Pascol. Jennifer Kim, Chairman of the KACFC explained the organization’s desire “to bridge the Korean community with the American community here in Colorado. I don’t think the Korean community has tapped into the American community because we’re all so spread out and shuffled; we haven’t had an organization that will bring everyone together.”

Bringing fans into the experience While many question K-pop’s staying potential, one WSJ reporter stationed in Seoul has suggested that the genre’s key to longevity may lie in its conscious inclusivity: “It is really striking how K-pop is resonating with people all throughout the region but also in the United States and Europe. I mean, these are little micro-niches of fan groups and yet they are quite devoted to it,” remarks Evan Ramstad.

K-pop’s efforts to invite their loyal audiences into the experience (simplified choreography, releasing albums in different languages, chiefly Japanese, Chinese and English) has cultivated strong fan communities that will likely continue to support their idols even if the trend disappears from mainstream media a few years from now.

These fervent fans channel their passion into well-organized clubs each with its own name and color that visually represent fan groups at concerts where they gather into a sector within the crowd and create a multi-hued “K-pop Ocean”.

At the first YouTube Music Awards, Girls’ Generation won ‘Video of

K-pop fans support their idols with immense devotion.

the Year’ for “I Got a Boy” which received millions of views within its first few hours of release, beating out Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and One Direction. In a surprising proof of devotion, their victory was a win by, for and about the fans as nominees for the awards were selected based on the number of likes, shares, views and other demonstrations of fan engagement; in that aspect, says Jeff Yang of WSJ’s Scene Asia. “K-pop fans stand head, shoulders and starry eyes above the milling crowd as the most dedicated congregation of idolworshippers in the pop culture universe.”

Flowsion Shekar, CEO of K-pop fan site Koreaboo explains, “There are numerous fans on Twitter discussing how they stayed up with friends all night to vote. Justin Bieber has a much larger fan base, but they do not have the desperate drive that K-pop fans have to really be recognized by the rest of the world.”

“The reason why K-pop has become such a global phenomenon is because of the never-ending efforts of the fans, who constantly work to spread and bring more awareness to the genre and their favorite artists,” states Johnny Noh, CEO of 6Theory Media, which operates AllKpop. com. “It’s why although many believed and still believe that K-pop is just a bubble, I’ve been saying all along that this genre is here to stay.”

Nominate 2014 Asian American Heroes of Colorado!

Now in our 6th year, we honor deserving members of the Asian American community, the unsung heroes, the shining stars, the selless leaders.

For more information or to download the application, visit www.cacenetwork.org, e-mail info@cacenetwork.org or call 303-937-6888.

Each selected hero will receive a plaque of recognition and be featured in the May 2014 cover story of Asian Avenue magazine.

We need your help to nominate!

This program is presented by the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network in collaboration with several APA organizations in Colorado.

K-pop Fever | asian avenue magazine

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Parked at local breweries, The Orange Crunch showcases favorite snacks from the Philippines.

The snacks include empanadas, fried nanners (fresh bananas sautéed in brown sugar inside a pastry wrap, topped with a thin layer of powdered sugar and lumpia (Filipino egg rolls). Other menu items include siopao (steam bun with seasoned chicken filling, crackling pork belly, pancit and adobo over white rice.

Filipino empanadas usually contain ground beef, pork or chicken, potatoes, chopped onions, and raisins—similar to the Cuban picadillo—in a somewhat sweet, wheat flour bread. There are two kinds available: the baked sort and the flaky fried type.

Empanadas in the northern part of the Ilocos are different. These usually have savoury fillings of green papaya, mung beans, and sometimes chopped Ilocano sausage (chorizo) and egg yolk.

The food cart shares its humble beginnings through a visit to Batac, Philippines. The husband and wife team, Leshner and Sarah Del Rosario, learned how to make the delicious snack from a local vendor.

The Orange Crunch started its food cart enterprise in May 2012. Since then, the family business developed relationships with microbreweries. Hand in hand, microbreweries and food cart business entice brew lovers and foodies to The Orange Crunch and various breweries.

“Great beer comes fresh right at the microbreweries and great food should be approached the same way as well – made fresh in front of you and made to order,” Del Rosario, co-owner of The Orange Crunch.

They have parked at local breweries including: Left Hand Brewing Company, Industrial Revolution Brewing Company, Echo Brewing Company, Former Future Brewing Company, Odd 13 Brewing Company, Big Choice Brewing Company, Westminster Brewing Company, Wit’s End Brewery, Gravity Brewery, Station 26 Brewery and River North Brewery.

“Since our opening, we have developed great relationships with microbreweries,” Del Rosario said.

Pairing the Filipino food complements the brews offered at these breweries north of downtown Mary Jeneverre Schultz Asian Avenue magazine

Denver. For example, Del Rosario shares the Milk Stout Nitro of Left Hand Brewing Company is ideal with the cart’s award-winning hickory smoked bacon and four-cheese blend “Special Empanada.” Another winning combination is the Bison Empanada with Left Hand brews of the Stranger and Sawtooth, respectively.

The Orange Crunch is hosting “Foodies and Breweries”: A Colorado Gathering of Beer and Food Enthusiasts on February 23 from 4pm to 9pm at Wings Over the Rockies, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., #1, Denver, CO 80230.

Tickets are selling at $45 before the event at www.brownpapertickets.org, while at the door the costs will jump to $50. More than 20 microbreweries, seven food carts and a live band will be on hand for this event. Funds will go towards the victims of the Haiyan /Yolanda Typhoon in the Philippines.

Visit The Orange Crunch’s website at www.theorangecrunch.com. To check Orange Crunch’s schedule, follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DenverOrangeCrunch or the cart’s feed on Twitter at @DenverOC.

SAMPLE MENU The special empanada Fresh egg, shredded green papaya, mung bean with choice of meat: bacon, bison, sausage, chef special filipino traditional Chicken adobo over a bed of rice with a choice of lumpia, whistle bomb or fried nanner Fried nanners Fresh bananas bathed in brown sugar in a pastry wrapper topped with powdered sugar crackling pork belly Pork belly over a bed of rice with a choice of lumpia, whistle bomb or fried nanner

Owners Leshner and Sarah Del Rosario

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February 2014 | Restaurant Peek

Pancit Fresh egg noodles, carrots, celery and chicken

Peter Bui Asian Avenue magazine

Wasabi Sushi Bar 12073 E. Arapahoe Rd., #140 | Centennial, CO 80112 Tel: 303.708.0888 Lunch: 11AM - 4PM Mon to Fri | Dinner: 4PM - 9PM Daily

All you can eat sushi bars are becoming more popular among patrons that are looking for a good deal. This oftentimes sacrifices quality for quantity but that’s not the case for Wasabi Sushi Bar and their new all you can eat Full Belly Sushi option.

Wasabi’s head chef Sung Ben Ahn believes that the quality of food should always be the same for both menus and that there is no cutting corners when it comes to the Full Belly menu. In fact, all the sushi dishes offered on their standard menu can be ordered with the all you can eat dinner. The Full Belly also comes with a free drink or beer. Wasabi takes pride in being one of the few restaurants in town that offers Japanese beers on tap, including Kirin and Asahi.

Ahn’s extensive knowledge and experience comes from 15 years of managing Wasabi restaurants back in St. Louis, Missouri where there were 8 locations. Now his focus is on the Centennial location which has been open for

Dine In and Take Out

All You CAn Eat

$27 Full Belly Dinner Daily 4:30PM - 10PM $16 Lunch Sat. Only 11AM - 2:30PM Free drink with Full Belly Option Can also order full belly ‘to-go’

two and half years. His expertise can be seen in the food prepared and the new dishes created at Wasabi Sushi Bar. Wasabi’s menu is extensive with a variety of nigiri, rolls, and non-sushi options. Some of their more popular rolls are the Kamikaze, the Playboy and the Washington Ave. The Kamikaze is made with spicy tuna, crab and avocado which is deep fried and served with ponzu sauce. Their most popular roll, of course, is the Wasabi Special which is a California roll topped with spicy crunch and chili mayo.

Wasabi offers all the standard nigiri like tataki tuna, salmon, smoked eel, and yellowtail.

Anh believes the purpose of all you can eat is not to over indulge but to allow customers to enjoy a little of everything. Eating too much of one thing can affect the taste of quality. He recommends eaters to also try new items.

Wasabi provides their new Full Belly option for this very reason, so patrons can try many different dishes at a reasonable price.

www.wasabisushibars.com/centennial

Happy hour

Mon. to Fri. 11AM - 2:30PM Daily 4:30PM - 6PM $2 sake and beer $3 wells | $3.50 wine $2 - $3.75 nigiri sushi $3 - $6.75 maki sushi rolls Restaurant Peek | asian avenue magazine

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Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network invites students to the U.S. from Kunming, China

Students stayed with American families for one week

Meeting host families

hool in nts from Kunming #8 Sc de stu , 28 to 16 y ar nu Ja , going From n their trip in Los Angeles ga be ey Th .

U.S the d ite China vis y stayed with Disneyland. In Denver, the to Universal Studios and d lifestyle. an about American culture host families and learned hn Jo F. Kennedy International Academy, They visited Sims-Fayola ty of Denver - and High School and Universi ican education learned about the Amer d the Colorado State system. They also toure ademy. The program Capitol and Air Force Ac where students ended on the east coast, Harvard, MIT and visited the campuses of ps in Washington Yale. They also made sto This is the fourth D.C. and New York City. ado Asian Culture camp organized by Color and Education Network.

Air Force Academy

Skiing at Loveland

Learning about American high schools and colleges from Akemi Tsutsui

Colorado State Capitol

John F. Kennedy High School with Principal Ms. Peppel (front and center)

Sims-Fayola International Academy, Denver’s first and only all-boys charter public school

Universal Studios

U.S. Capitol

New York City

24

February 2014 | On Scene

Colorado Asian Cultural Heritage Center performs a dragon and lion dance

Harber Chang shares with guests how to write Chinese calligraphy

Peking duck was one of the ten dishes served during the lunar new year dinner at Kings Land

Asian Avenue magazine celebrates 2014 Lunar New Year More than 200 people enjoyed a Chinese dinner and cultural performances on January 24 One week before the 2014 lunar new year began, Asian Avenue magazine celebrated at Kings Land Chinese Seafood on January 24 with performances, food and new year trivia!

The event began with Harber Chang writing Chinese calligraphy as attendees trickled in.

The students of Colorado Asian Cultural Heritage Center, led by Phong Vo, then entertained the crowd with a dragon and lion dance.

After the lively dance, Miss Asian American Colorado Thuy Trang welcomed guests as the evening’s emcee.

Asian Avenue magazine President Annie Guo shared that the publication’s mission is

Denver Buddhist Cultural Society students demonstrate kung fu and staff techniques

to connect cultures and link lives. One of the goals is to support youth and young adults in building their leadership and confidence.

Hence, the event invited many young performers and was emceed by Trang, who is 18 years old and a student at CU-Boulder.

Trang introduced Machinez Remainz Crew with Triet Hoang, Ricky Al and Ben Thao, who performed a high-energy dance that showed their unique skills in robotic movements and popping.

Following, more than a dozen young students from Denver Buddhist Cultural Society gave a kung fu and staff demonstration.

Special guests for the evening were students visiting from Kunming, China with the American Cultural Study Tour. They were staying with Denver host families who were also in attendance.

During the 10-course dinner, guests perused the silent auction. Auction items included restaurant gift certificates, comedy shows, Chinese porcelain, and United Airlines tickets.

The lunar new year dinner is an annual fundraising event for Asian Avenue magazine, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network and Rocky Mountain Chinese News.

Miss Asian American Colorado Thuy Trang (middle) poses with Annie Guo (left) and Dao Than (right)

Machinez Remainz shows their robotic movements mixed with animation and old school popping

Mile-High Area Events | asian avenue magazine

25

FACC celebrates its diamond anniversary After 60 years, the Filipino-American Community of Colorado celebrated its diamond anniversary last January at the Holiday Inn in Cherry Creek.

Starting with 15 members, the Filipino organization, also better known as FACC, began the evening’s festivities with a prayer to bless the dinner of more than 180 attendees.

“I’m proud to say that the Filipino-American Community of Colorado have been in existence for 6 decades. I’d like to think that any group or organization that can make 60 years of positive and memorable impact in the community at large would be of great importance,” said Chona Palmon, cultural director of FACC. “And celebrating the 60th with members and non-members reminds everyone of how much influence and how embedded we are in Colorado.”

Local officials recognize the efforts of the Filipino organization. The program, showcasing images from six decades, also highlighted congratulatory letters from several local officials.

“We are fortunate to have an organization like the Filipino-American Community of Colorado, which promotes and lives its ideals of Filipino Pride, Family, and Service, and has done so for the last 60 years,” said Governor

John W. Hickenlooper in a congratulatory letter published in the event’s program. “FACC members have celebrated many achievements and successes in the past, and their continual active involvement and volunteer efforts will be integral in accomplishing future goals and objectives.”

After the sit-down dinner, festivities continued with singing both the national anthems of the U.S. and the Philippines. FACC president Nelle Strasheim welcomed guests, current and past members to the dinner. She also acknowledged individuals representing Asian Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, Japanese American Citizens League, the Philippine American Society of Colorado, (PASCO) and the Asian Pacific Development Center.

Erin Yoshimura, president of the Dragon Boat Festival, shared the proclamation of Denver’s Mayor Michael B. Hancock with the members. Afterward, FACC dance troupe showcased its traditional dance from southern Philippines called Sinkil, often performed for festivals and ceremonies of passage. Singkil is a ritual performed by the prince and princess to define their courting as well as historically to present the women to show her eligibility. It shows the agility of the young girl turning into a woman with every step.

Fran Campbell, FACC 1st vice president

Jay LaVigne, Esq. explains the mission of Mending Faces to send medical missions to the Philippines

Showcased in St. Paul Lutheran Church, the sounds stream throughout the church’s acoustics.

Mending Faces, a Colorado-based organization, raised funds and educated attendees at a Sunday concert last January.

The concert titled ‘Not Everyone Can Whistle,” was attended by more than 100 music aficionados, family and friends at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Denver on Grant Street.

“It is also great that this kind of event helps us reach beyond our usual group of donors and to keep the excitement level high as we leave for our mission on Feb. 6th,” said Donna LaVigne, co-founder and secretary of Mending Faces.

Members of the Denver Alumnae and Sigma Upsilon Chapters of Sigma Alpha Tota International Music Fraternity organized the music benefit. Starting at 3pm, performers

from University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music showcased their talents through voice, piano, clarinet and cello instruments.

The organization is sending 48 medical staffers to the Philippines on February 6.

Mending Faces will head to Kalibo, Aklan for one week. LaVigne added other dedicated volunteers will venture to other places such as the southern areas of the Phlippines.

Mending Faces conducts an annual mission to developing countries to provide surgical care to impoverished children born with cleft lip and cleft palate: • The care is provided at no cost to the children or their families.

• The care is provided by healthcare professionals and outreach personnel who fully donate their time and expertise.

Mary Jeneverre Schultz Asian Avenue magazine

26

February 2014 | On Scene

FACC teaches its Filipino heritage to their families and those interested about the Philippines

and recipient of the Martin Luther King Business Social Responsibility award, toasted to its members for its past and current achievements in Colorado as a Filipino community.

“Let’s toast to our founding fathers and give a tribute to the youth for 60 more years,” said Campbell in the toast. The evening ended with dancing from the sounds of LokoMotion.

If you are interested in becoming a member or learning more, visit the organization’s website at www.coloradofilipinos.org.

Music fundraiser raises awareness and support for Filipino organization Mary Jeneverre Schultz Asian Avenue magazine

• These volunteers fund 100% of their own travel and lodging expenses.

• The surgery allows these children to lead productive lives in their community and culture.

“We are truly grateful for all our donors provide, and we want them to know that their donations in combination with the huge amount of time and treasure provided by the doctors, nurses and volunteers is what makes it possible for us to really transform lives,” said LaVigne, adding to follow the mission, subscribe to daily e-newsletter by visiting www.mendingfaces.org.

Mary Jeneverre Schultz’s cousin was born with a cleft palate. Her Grandmother Julia R. Tagorda supported and funded her operation.

Follow Mary Jeneverre on Twitter @Jeneverre.

National News

Neel Kashkari to Run for California Governor New inductees named for Asian Hall of Fame

N

eel Kashkari is part of a surge of second-generation Indians emerging in politics. He is a Republican and former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. executive, joined the Treasury Department during the Bush administration and worked on a number of issues before taking control of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, which infused a large amount of money into banks and automotive companies in an effort to restore stability.

Kashkari agreed to stay to help the Obama administration manage its transition before moving back to California and working in a senior role at Pimco, a big investment management company.

His campaign website for the governor paints him as a political hybrid; he calls him-

F

self “a fiscal conservative” who “supports abortion rights, pro-gay marriage and is a gun owner who says he doesn’t object to background checks for all firearm purchases – stances that might have sunk him in a traditional GOP primary.”

Mirai Nagasu left off Olympic team despite placing 3rd

A

fter a controversial decision to put Ashley Wagner (along with Gracie Gold and Polina Edmunds) on the U.S. Olym-

pic figure skating team instead of Mirai Nagasu, some skating fans think that more than hair color played a part.

The decision was made a day after Wagner performed miserably and finished a distant fourth to Nagasu’s third at last week’s U.S. National Championships.

The selection was unprecedented. Only four previous times in history did the association pick a skater out of order for the Olympic team – and each time it was because of an injury that kept the chosen skaters from performing at the national championships.

Wagner was not suffering from a malady of any kind.

Nagasu released a statement later: “I’m disappointed in the decision,” she said.

“Though I may not agree with it, I have to respect the decision the federation made. And I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me and look forward to what comes next in my skating career.”

Chloe Kim is among the best, but has to wait

T

he goal of this winter’s Olympic qualifying events is to find the Americans most likely to win a medal in Russia next month. Chloe Kim would be one of them. On Friday, she finished second in back-to-back halfpipe events to the three-time Olympian Kelly Clark. The problem is that Kim is 13 and is not eligible for the Olympics.

“She’s a special one,” the United States Olympic freeski and snowboarding coach, Mike Jankowski, said “I’ve never had anyone like her.”

Kim, an eighth grader who lives in Torrance, Calif., and trains at Mammoth Moun-

tain, said she was not disappointed about missing these Olympics despite knowing that she would be a strong medal contender.

To be eligible for the Sochi Games, athletes had to be 15 by the end of 2013.

our distinguished Asian Americans have been announced as the 2014 honorees to the Asian Hall of Fame.

The inductees to be honored on May 14 at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, WA are U.S. Olympic swimNathan Adrian mer and three-time gold medalist Nathan Adrian, former Seattle Seahawk, San Francisco 49er and Superbowl champion Manu Tuiasosopo, former U.S. Manu Tuiasosopo Secretary of Transportation and Commerce Norman Y. Mineta, and actress Grace Park of Hawaii Five-O and Battlestar Galactica The Hall was foundNorman Y. Mineta ed in 2004 by the Robert Chinn Foundation “to honor achievement, inspire the next generation, and build the national community of Asian Pacific Grace Park Americans.”

Filipino American Doug Baldwin goes to the Super Bowl

S

eattle Seahawk wide receiver Doug Baldwin had a season high 106 yards on six catches and also ran back a kickoff 69 yards in a 23-17 win over the San Francisco 49es in the NFC Championship game.

Baldwin grew up in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

He played wide receiver at Stanford from 2007-2010. He led the Cardinal in receiving yards and touchdowns his senior year.

He fulfills a lifelong dream of playing in the Super Bowl XLVIII on February 2 against the Denver Broncos, hoping to become the seventh player from the Pensacola area to win a Super Bowl title.

National News | asian avenue magazine

27

Breaking News Hundreds of mourners attended Annie Kim Pham’s funeral on January 28 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Westminster, California on the outskirts of Los Angeles just three days before what would have been her first wedding anniversary. Her husband led the pallbearers who helped carry her casket to her cremation.

Pham died on January 21, three days after she was fatally beaten outside the Crosby Bar and Nightclub in Santa Ana and hospitalized with severe injuries. She died of complications from blunt force trauma to the head after she was punched, kicked and knocked to the ground outside a nightclub on January 18. She was declared dead the next day, but remained connected to a ventilator for two more days so her organs would be available for transplantation.

Her organs were donated and used to help sustain the lives of five patients waiting for transplants. Pham’s heart, kidney, lungs, pancreas and liver were donated to patients on the national organ transplant waiting list. She also donated tissues including skin used for

Hundreds attend Kim Pham’s funeral, who was beaten to death outside an Orange County nightclub burn dressings, bone to repair fractures and prevent amputations, and bone marrow for orthopedic use.

Her friends organized a fundraiser with t-shirts, hats and rubber bracelets to raise money that would go to cover the family’s costs, including those from her funeral.

Pham was a recent Chapman University graduate and an aspiring journalist. When she was 5, her mother died of breast cancer.

Pham is survived by her husband, Giang Ngo Khanh; her father, Dung Pham; five sisters and two brothers.

‘We are so blessed to have had Kim in our family because she was truly a one-of-a-kind soul,’ her family said.

Two women have been arrested in connection with Pham’s death. Both have pleaded not guilty to murder charges. Police were still searching for a third unidentified woman in connection with the beating death.

A “Justice for Kim” Facebook page was created at facebook.com/justiceforkimpham, as well as the hashtag #justiceforkim being used on Twitter and Instagram.

Kim Pham 9/6/1990 - 1/21/2014

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February 2014 | Breaking News

Book Review:

The Valley of Amazement

By Amy Tan

After eight years of hiatus, Amy Tan writes her novel from inspiring photos of her Grandmother

$29.99 Copyright: November 2013 Ecco: an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers 608 pp. | Genre: Historical fiction ISBN: 9780062107312 As part of Amy Tan’s 25-city book tour, the New York Times bestseller visited Tattered Covers in downtown Denver last November 12.

“I should only visit cities whose football teams aren’t winning,” said Tan jokingly, referring to the Denver Bronco game that occurred on the same night. Looking around Tattered Covers, Tan pointed out to an old photograph of herself, probably taken eight years ago.

Complete with a slideshow, Tan shows historical photographs of her Grandmother. She points out the details of the image, showing her Grandmother dressed the same as other women in the photograph, which served as the inspiration for her new book.

Tan’s grandmother was one of the memorable characters from her debut novel, The Joy Luck Club. Her grandmother killed herself on opium. She brings out the memories of her Grandmother, who is the fourth wife of a scholar. Tan speculates her Grandmother probably killed herself digesting opium with anger. She also shared her Grandmother probably was a Courtesan, a Chinese version of the Japanese’s Geisha.

After five years of research, Tan changed the direction of her book. Through her visits to China, she discovered a photograph of her Grandmother with a caption of “10 Beauties of Shanghai.” She showed this photograph taken between 1910 and 1912, pointing out darkened eyebrows and the masculine attire.

The novel had an unexpected genesis, sparked while Tan was reading a book on Chinese courtesan culture. “I came across a photo of ten women which stunned me,” she recalled. “Five of the young women are dressed in the same clothes my grandmother is wearing in one of my favorite photographs of her. In fact, it is identical in every detail: a headband with intricate embroidery, a tight-fitting jacket with a tall full-lined collar, sleeves that end just below the elbows with the white lining reaching to the wrists, complete with matching tight trousers.” This photograph allowed Tan to contemplate the possibility that her Grandmother might have indeed been a courtesan for unknown reason.

“In my family, secrets continue to unfold, and the history of our women has always been about survival, persistence, passion – and tragedy,” Tan said. “What if my Grandmother had been forced to live in the world of brothels?”

In addition, Tan describes the inspiring photo to show “fierce determination to be independent, never depending on male fidelity with strong opinions.”

Tapping her signature concerns, including the confluence and clash between East and West, the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters, and the destiny of strong women navigating a world mapped by men, Tan has fashioned a muscular, multigenerational novel set at the beginning of the last century, which moves between the circumscribed lives of Shanghai Courtesans, a remove mountain village in China, and the rough-and-tumble streets of San Francisco.

Tan said it was time for her to write a book about sex. “It’s the

Chinese version of ‘Shades of Gray’,” said Tan with a sly smile.

Crediting her Grandmother’s spirit, Tan believes Grandmother brings serendipitous gifts. For example, during the writing of Bonesetter’s Daughter, Tan received an invitation by the archaeological team who discovered the Peking Man. This experience was highlighted in the book. While coincidental, these fortuitous events happen more often. “I did not want to piss Grandma off, maybe she wanted it to be known,” said Tan, author of The Kitchen God’s Wife, The Hundred Secret Senses, The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life, and two children’s books, The Moon Lady and Sagwa, The Chinese Siamese Cat, which has now been adapted as a PBS production.

During her last research, Tan admits finding more secrets about her family. With a coy smile, she promised it will be her in next book. “I could write a lot of books. There’s a lot of family secrets.”

Asked during the Q&A about her family’s reaction to the recent book, Tan shared the mixed reviews, especially those concerning her Grandmother. “My Grandmother was an icon,” said Tan, adding her uncle joined the Communist party after her death in the 1930s.

Her eight years of hiatus brought the death of her editor and Mother within two weeks of each other. In addition, Tan was diagnosed with Lyme disease. She blames the doctors of California on not understanding the disease properly, foregoing a proper diagnosis and treatment. “I faced constant anxiety, leaving me with epilepsy,” she said. “I can’t drive anymore but I never liked it anyways.”

Her books have been translated into 35 languages. She admits nervousness when her books were first translated in Chinese. “I thought the Chinese people would accuse me of knowing nothing of China.” However, during one of her China visits, a bellhop asked if she was ‘the Amy Tan.’ After some hesitation, Tan admits she is the author.

The bellhop shared his enthusiasm about meeting her and loving all her books.

At the center of The Valley of Amazement are two unforgettable women—woman and daughter—each with an unconventional story to tell. Lulu Minturn is a white American woman from California who follows her lover, a Chinese painter, to Shanghai. There, she becomes the owner of a first-class courtesan house. She is tricked into abandoning her daughter, Violet, who herself soon becomes one of the most celebrated courtesans in the city. Her half-Chinese, halfAmerican lineage affords Violet a rare ability to move between the two cultures, but her beauty and intelligence do not compensate for a deep yearning to find out the truth about her origins.

With seamless research and unrivaled storytelling gifts that have gained her millions of readers around the world, Amy Tan recreates a lost world of turn-of-the-century Shanghai and beyond. Taking us behind the curtain into the rarified domain of courtesans, she explores a world of women defined equally by power and submission.

The Valley of Amazement is a wise and bristling tale of family secrets, hard won survival, and ultimately, the complexity of love in all its manifestations.

Book Review | asian avenue magazine

25

Fact Sheet: The State of Asian American Women in the United States

By Marcus T. Smith | Center for American Progress

Asian American women are a growing and influential constituency in the United States. Asian American women’s share of the female population will grow from 5.14 percent in 2012 to 7.8 percent in 2050. Asian American women are making significant strides in education, participation, health, and other areas, but there is a long way to go to fully close racial and ethnic disparities. New policies such as the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, and other proposed policies such as paid sick leave can greatly improve the lives of Asian American women and their families. For example, under the ACA, around 2.5 million Asian American women with private health insurance are currently receiving expanded preventive service coverage under the ACA. Estimates suggest that 970,000 Asian American women will gain access to affordable or subsidized health insurance.

This fact sheet provides a snapshot of statistics about health, education, entrepreneurship, economic security, and political leadership that should guide our choices to enact sensible policies to unleash the potential of this growing demographic and benefit our economy.

Except for where noted, the following information reflects Asian American women in aggregate as a single group and, due to limited data, does not take often into account variations about Asian subcategories, such as Chinese-, Japanese-, and Korean-Americans, which often differ significantly.

• U.S.-born Asian American women had a higher lifetime rate of suicidal thoughts, at 15.9 percent, than that of the general U.S. population, at 13.5 percent.

• Birth rates for Asian American women ages 15 to 19 decreased by 5 percent from 2011 to 2012.

Educational Attainment

Asian American women have achieved a higher level of educational attainment than other women and are often doing as well as their male counterparts.

• Asian American women surpassed white women in actual graduation rates in 2004, the last year for which data on Asian American women are available. College graduation rates for white women and Asian American women were 45.8 percent and 49.4 percent, respectively.

• Asian American women held 8.36 percent of bachelor’s degrees held by women while only constituting 5.14 percent of the female population in 2013.

• Asian American and white women earned an equal amount of science and engineering degrees as their male counterparts in 2010.

Asian American women have achieved a higher level of educational attainment than other women and are often doing as well as their male counterparts.

HEALTH

Many Asian American women lack health coverage and more than one in five Asian American women of child-bearing age—ages 15 to 44—is uninsured. And while Asian American women face significant health challenges, there have been a number of notable improvements.

• Fifty-nine percent of nail technicians were women of color in 2007, a large share of whom were Asian American women. These women are disproportionately at risk for exposure to harmful toxins and chemicals that have been linked to reproductive harm, such as infertility, miscarriages, and cancer.

• Asian American women are twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes such as embolism and pregnancy-related hypertension.

• In 2013, 37.6 percent of Asian American women over age 40 did not get routine mammograms, and 32 percent of adult Asian American women did not get routine Pap smears.

26

February 2014 | Feature

Entrepreneurship

Asian American women are underrepresented among the Fortune 500 CEOs and board members. Business ownership among Asian American women entrepreneurs, however, has grown immensely over the past 15 years. There are 620,300 Asian American women-owned businesses in the United States. This reflects a tremendous 156 percent increase since 1997.

• Asian American women own 6.7 percent of all women-owned firms across the country.

• The states with the largest number of Asian American women-owned businesses are California at 193,300, New York at 68,700, and Texas at 51,800.

• There are an estimated 620,300 Asian American women-owned businesses in the United States. This reflects a tremendous 83 percent increase since 2002 and a 156 percent increase since 1997.

• Asian American women-owned firms across the country have estimated total receipts of $105 billion. The total receipts of Asian American women-owned firms grew 181 percent since 1997.

Download the full report at: www.americanprogress.org.

• A full 82.5 percent of Asian American women-owned firms are nonemployer firms, or firms with no employees, with average receipts of $34,204.

• Asian American women-owned firms have more paid employees compared to Latina and African American women-owned firms, employing an estimated 649,000 people across the country.

Economic security

Despite their high achievements in education, Asian American women make disproportionately less money than their male and non-Hispanic white counterparts. These disparities are leaving a growing portion of our population more vulnerable to poverty and its implications.

• The American Association of University Women found that Asian American women made 73 percent of their male counterparts’ wages in 2012.

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 22.3 percent of Asian American women worked in the service sector in 2012 compared to only 20 percent of white women.

• The health care industry is the largest employer of Asian American and Pacific Islander women.

• The share of Asian American women at or below minimum wage more than doubled from 2007 to 2012.

• The unemployment rate for Asian American women increased from 4.9 percent in 2008

to 8.5 percent in 2011.

• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report “A Profile of Working Poor, 2011” indicates that 5.38 percent of Asian American women in the labor force are “working poor.”

• In 2011, 12.3 percent of Asian American women lived in poverty.

• The top industries for Asian American women-owned businesses include other services, at 25.5 percent of all Asian American womenowned businesses; health care and social assistance, at 13.9 percent; and professional, scientific, and technical services, at 13.3 percent.

• The average total unemployment rate for all Asian American women was 5.8 percent from 2008 to 2010 while non-Asian American women had an average rate of 7.4 percent.

When we observe the ethnic diversity within the category of Asian American women, we find that some subgroups of Asian American women are doing far better than others. Asian-Indian women showed an unemployment rate of 7.3 percent; Chinese, 4.5 percent; Filipino, 5.6 percent; Japanese, 3.7 percent; Korean, 6.2 percent; Vietnamese, 5 percent; and all other Asian women’s groups had an even higher unemployment rate at 7.6 percent.

Political leadership

While Asian American women have a rich history of leadership in their communities, they continue to be greatly underrepresented in posi-

Miracle Touch

Jean Quan is the mayor of Oakland, California.

Upon inauguration on January 3, 2011, she became Oakland’s first female mayor.

tions of power in government.

• In the 113th Congress, seven members are Asian American women—six in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate.

• Of the 1,789 women serving nationwide in state legislatures, 32 are Asian American.

• In America’s 100 largest cities, there is only one Asian American woman mayor—Jean Quan from Oakland, California.

Marcus Smith is a senior in the political science department at the University of California, San Diego and an intern with the Progress 2050 team at the Center for American Progress.

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Burning Peastalks to Cook Peas

煮豆燃萁

This alludes to internal strife or fratricide

Cao Pi, Emperor Wendi of Wei, had always been plotting against his brother Cao Zhi’s life. Once when the two brothers were eating peas together, Cao Pi suddenly thought of a scheme. He ordered Cao Zhi to take seven steps forward and compose a poem within the time he took these seven steps. If he could not do it, he would be severely punished. As Cao Zhi began to step forward, his mind worked busily, and he completed the poem on his seventh step, which read: “Peastalks are burned to cook peas.

The peas in the cauldron cry: ‘We both came from the same root.

Why must one be so cruel to the other?’”

When Emperor Wendi heard the poem, he felt ashamed of himself and dropped his scheme.

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