Asian Avenue magazine - June 2015

magazine

asian avenue Connecting Cultures Linking Lives

June 2015 Volume 10 Issue 6

UP-AND-COMING ARTISTS

Meet four of Mile High’s up-and-coming Asian American artists

Beijing’s enchanting Summer Palace is a must see

Learn to cook like a pro at the Kitchen Table Cooking School

Restaurant Peeks

285 Asian Landing P17

Visit us at the sushi bar, dining room or lounge. We’re here for your date nights, lunch meetings or birthday parties.

1 Broadway, B108 | Denver, CO 80203 | Tel: 303.733.8881 OPEN HOURS:

Mon - Thurs: 11am to 10pm | Fri: 11am to 2am Sat: 12pm to 2am | Sun: 12pm to 9:30pm

HAPPY HOUR:

Mon - Sat: 2pm to 6pm | Fri - Sat: 10pm to 2am

2055 W. 136th Ave. Suite B106 | Broomfield, CO 80023 | Tel: 720.593.1888 OPEN HOURS: Sun - Thurs: 11am to 9:30pm Fri - Sat: 11am to 10:30pm HAPPY HOUR:

Mon - Sat: 2pm to 6pm

www.GoFishDenver.com

www.facebook.com/GoFishDenver

SUSHI EXPRESS 312 Metzler Dr. Suite D, Castle Rock, CO 80108 5302 DTC Blvd. #100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Tel: 303.660.5328 Tel: 303.955.7592

HOURS

Castle Rock: Monday - Saturday 11am - 9pm Sunday 12pm - 8pm DTC: Monday - Saturday 11am-9pm

SPECIAL Buy 2 specialty rolls, receive the 3rd specialty roll for 1/2 (half) off.

To redeem this offer, bring this ad to either location. Offer valid through July 1, 2015.

www.thesawara.com

Dear Asian Avenue readers, We have been thinking about the people and families affected by the Nepal earthquake and tremors this past month. Amuda Mishra, the founder of Ujyalo Foundation, based in Colorado, shares an update of what she is currently seeing in Nepal. The infrastructure and resources are being rebuilt, as well as the spirit of the people. We wish them the very best luck and utmost resilience during this time.

As summer begins, we would like to invite you to visit the Metro Denver Farmers’ Market weekdays and weekends, now through October.

The markets are free and located in Southwest Plaza, Lakewood, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and Wheat Ridge. They are hoping to diversify their reach and invite all of your families to stop on by!

In this issue, we interview four talented up-and-coming Asian American artists on their inspiration and art mediums. We feature several articles on food, including our chef’s recipe on how to make chicken lettuce wraps and our staff Sarah Shirazi’s experience learning how to make sushi at Kitchen Table Cooking School. Our restaurant peeks feature the delicious dishes of 285 Landing and P17. We hope you try them out this summer.

Our next issue will celebrate our 9th anniversary. Asian Avenue magazine began in July 2006. We thank you for your support over the years and hope the magazine continues to serve the mile-high community for years to come. Please do not hestitate to reach out to us with any article suggestions, comments or feedback. Thank you!

asian avenue magazine

staff & support

Publisher & Founder: Christina Yutai Guo President: Annie Guo Editorial and Marketing Manager: Sarah Shirazi Marketing Coordinator: Chun Guo Senior Designer: C.G. Yao Designer: Jonathan Nguyen Staff Writer: Patricia Kaowthumrong Staff Writer: Mary Jeneverre Schultz Staff Writer: Brenda Velasquez Photographer: Trang Luong Photographer: Monica Lin Intern: Anastasia Yagolnik Intern: Akemi Tsutsui

advisors group

General Counsel: Michael C. Song Patty Coutts, Donna LaVigne, Nestor J. Mercado, Sum C. Nguyen, Alok Sarwal, Tom Shieh, John Yee, Nai-Li Yee, George N. Yoshida

contributing writers

Kelly Kasic, Jennifer Manhoff, Amuda Mishra, Pok Sergent, Marge Taniwaki, Zachary Wieland

contributing photographers

Happy reading,

KGNU News, Allen Wong, Xiaowen (Mary) Xu

Annie Guo, President Asian Avenue magazine

on the cover

This issue we take a look at four up-and-coming Asian American artists. Cover art is by Cory Feder.

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.

advertising

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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

To submit story ideas, letters to the editor or event calendar listings, e-mail 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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June 2015 | President’s Note

Golden Shanghai Asian Restaurant

● The Best Chinese Restaurant by 710 AM Restaurant Show ● The Best Chinese Restaurant by the 1430 KEZW Restaurant Show ● Voted 2007 Top 100 Chinese Restaurant in the US

1412 S. Parker Rd. A-134 Denver, CO 80231 (303) 743-7666 (303)743-9079 (303)743-8210

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Find Inside >> Table of Contents

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Event Calendar

Inside Story Learn how to roll your own sushi at the Kitchen Table Cooking School Book Review Meet Me in Venice: A Chinese Immigrant’s Journey from the Far East to the Faraway West

COVER STORY

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Up-and-Coming Asian American Artists

FOOD

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Restaurant Peek P17

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June 2015 | Table of Contents

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Restaurant Peek 285 Landing Chef’s Recipe Chicken Lettuce Wraps

TRAVEL

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Beijing, China Summer Palace is a must-see

MILE HIGH SOCIETY: ON SCENE

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Visitors go on annual pilgrimage to Amache, a Japanese internment camp

Judge Kerry Hada speaks at Colorado Heights University graduation

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Denver’s Thai Temple celebrates Songkran Festival (water festival) Denver Public Schools Asian Education Advisory Council celebrates 30th anniversary, while students visit Wells Fargo to learn about the banking industry National News

FEATURE

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Update on Nepal earthquake

HEALTH

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Women’s Wellness Connection offers free women’s exams

M ETRO DENVER FARMERS’ MARKET Weekend Markets Start First Weekend of May •Weekday Markets Start June 17 Saturdays

SOUTHWEST PLAZA MAY 2 - OCTOBER 31 Southeast Parking Lot Wadsworth & Bowles 8am-2pm or Sellout

NEW! Starts June 27

Saturdays

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Sundays

LAKEWOOD

JUNE 27 - SEPTEMBER 26 9077 W Alameda Ave Alameda & Garrison (Mile Hi Church) 10am-2pm or Sellout

JUNE 17 - OCTOBER 28 Aspen Grove Lifestyle Ctr. 7301 S. Santa Fe Dr. 10am-2pm or Sellout

MAY 3 - NOVEMBER 1 Highlands Ranch Town Center 9288 Dorchester St. 10am-2pm or Sellout

Thursdays

Wednesdays LITTLETON

HIGHLANDS RANCH

WHEAT RIDGE

JUNE 18 - OCTOBER 29 4252 Wadsworth Blvd.

10am-2pm or Sellout

For more information call the Metro Denver Farmers’ Market Hotline

303-887-FARM

www.denverfarmersmarket.com

events upcoming Metro Denver Farmers’ Market Now thru October

Southwest Plaza, Lakewood, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Wheat Ridge Cost: Free For more information on hours and locations, visit: www.denverfarmersmarket.com.

Filipino cultural groups and several local talents.

There will be a variety of tasty Filipino food on site. FACC encourages locally owned vendors.

And best of all, the festival is a family oriented atmosphere!

Metro Denver Farmers’ Market began over thirty years ago in downtown Denver in an Auraria campus parking lot, on Saturdays only. Today the market has five locations in the Metro Denver area. Our aim is to bring the freshest, local produce directly to you. All locations are part of the SNAP Program and accept EBT card for payment!

of charge and charitable contributions for the music school will be accepted at the event by cash or checks made payable to Peace Notes.

Because Arnold & Arnold, LLP is sponsoring this event, 100% of your tax deductible donations will go directly to the Music School. The program will include chamber works by Beethoven, Myaskovsky, and Dvorak performed by cellist Josh Kelt-ner, pianist Beth Deboerr, and long-time violinist/violist of the Denver Ballet and Opera, Lora Stevens. The program will also include a debut performance by Quartet at Law, the region’s only all-lawyer string quartet.

Cambodian New Year Benefit Concert

Sunday, June 14, Begins at 3pm

20th Annual Philippine Festival Saturday, June 13, 11am to 5pm

Filipino-American Community of Colorado 1900 Harlan St. Edgewater, CO 80214 Cost: Free and open to the public For more information or to become a vendor, visit www.coloradofilipinos.org.

FACC is excited to celebrate its 20th annual Philippine Festival with live performances from

St. Philip Lutheran Church 7531 S. Kendall Blvd, Littleton, CO 80128 Cost: Free For more information, visit www.kcdi-cambodia.com | www.peacenotes.org www.facebook.com/KampotMusicSchool A special benefit concert for the Traditional Cambodian Music School for Orphaned and Disabled Children. Juanita Rice and Stephen Davis cordially invite you to enjoy an afternoon of chamber music. Traditional Cambodian dessert and beverages will be served. Admission is free

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June 2015 | Event Calendar

International Day of Yoga Sunday, June 21, 9am to 1pm

Denver South High School 1700 E. Louisiana Avenue, Denver, CO 80210 Cost: Donation For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/394447684077014 or e-mail to hsscolorado@gmail.com.

Wherever you are, find a yoga center to join and enjoy practicing yogi postures. In Colorado, we are celebrating at South High School. Before the Yoga Day, Sewa International is putting together a walkathon. All the monies collected will go to Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund.

43rd Annual Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival

Saturday, June 27- Sunday, June 28

Lawrence Street, between 19th and 20th streets Downtown Denver Cost: Free For a complete schedule and other details visit: www.cherryblossomdenver.org.

Organized by the Tri-State Buddhist Temple, the 43rd annual Cherry Blossom Festival is fun for the the whole family. Check out the vast offerings of the two day festival including live enter-tainment, vendor booths, a variety of eats and treats, food trucks and more!

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We believe in the power of community.

Transforming Passion Into Purpose | du.edu |

For more information call 720-873-6243 or visit our website today at: www.ColoEggDonor.com William Schoolcraft, MD • Eric Surrey, MD • Debra Minjarez, MD Robert Gustofson, MD • Jennifer Brown, MD

Book Review Meet Me in Venice:

A Chinese Immigrant’s Journey from the Far East to the Faraway West Reviewed by Mary Jeneverre Schultz

“I want everyone to realize immigrants all around us might look like ordinary people with extraordinary stories.” - Suzanne Ma

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merging trends unfold in this nonfiction narrative of how Chinese immigrants are considering new continents for places to live. Instead of the United States, Chinese immigrants are more and more looking into Europe as a place to settle and make a living. Author, Suzanne Ma is a former journalist who decided to take a traveling fellowship to research and shadow Chinese natives who immigrated to Europe. Owning a home, creating a business or making money are some of the ambitions of Chinese immigrants wanting to leave their homeland.

As the issues of immigration heat up in political debate in the United States, what are other countries doing on these emerging trends. Are they instituting language requirements? What are some integration policies?

In Meet Me in Venice: A Chinese Immigrant’s Journey from the Far East to the Faraway West Suzanne Ma explores how Chinese immigrants are immigrating to Europe, particularly Venice, Milan or Florence. Stories of labor laws, worker treatment and wage benefits abound all over the countryside. Ma highlights these stories as she attempts to better understand aspirations for a better life outside of China.

“These are stories happening now,” said Ma during a phone interview.

Her curiosity about Chinese immigrants moving into Europe started back in 2007. Struggling with dual identities of Chinese and Canadian, Ma wanted to “get in touch with roots.” She learned how to speak Mandarin by moving to Beijing and enrolling in an intensive language program. During the program she met “Chinese Born Canadians” also known as CBC, “American Born Chinese,” also known as ABC, Chinese from Australia, Chinese from France, Chinese from Germany, Chinese from Sweden. She even met her future husband, who was Dutch born Chinese, also taking a year off for the same program.

Intrigued by the Chinese settling in Europe, she discovered that sociology patterns differ from Chinese migrating to the United States. “Migration to Europe is a completely different narrative than the United States,” said Ma, who took the plunge by quitting her 9-to-5 job as a journalist in New York to conduct research and shadow Chinese families moving to Europe.

Ma shares the personal stories of Ye Pei, who fantasizes about Venice, a city of gondolas, canals and floating buildings. With compassion, Ma weaves the story of hardship for Pei and her

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June 2015 | Book Review

family, who settled hours away from Venice, the enchanted city.

Many personal and heartfelt stories surround Pei. The author compels readers to understand the hardships of learning another language and the strict rules of integration regarding obtaining a driver’s license, ins and outs of buying property and changing jobs for better benefits and hours. The stark reality of living in another country squashes Pei’s romantic notion of Europe.

The vivid description of Italian towns, cuisine and culture indicates the author spent time and visited places in person. It feels real, transporting the reader to the European countryside.

Ma, 31, hopes this book inspires readers to sit up and pay attention to all the immigrant stories unfolding around them. “I want everyone to realize immigrants all around us might look like ordinary people with extraordinary stories.”

Title: Meet Me in

Venice: A Chinese Immigrant’s Journey from the Far East to the Faraway West Author: Suzanne Ma Pages: 192 pages Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers ISBN: 14422239360 Interested in learning more about Suzanne Ma and her photo exhibition of those she met researching her book?

Visit her website at www. suzannema.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @Suzannebma.

Roll Your Own Sushi at Home Learn to cook like a pro at the Kitchen Table Cooking School

As a sushi lover, I pride myself on knowing all the hot sushi spots, the best all-youcan-eat sushi buffets, the best happy hour specials, but I never thought of making sushi at home, I mean where would I start? So when I saw an advertisement for the Kitchen Table Cooking School’s “Roll Your Own Sushi Night,” I thought I should give it go.

I arrived in the eventing at the new location of Kitchen Table Cooking School in Greenwood Village, it was easy to find, and there was plenty of free parking. There was a small group of 13 of us, and we were set up at two rows of tables.

Before we started, we enjoyed some wine and appetizers. I instantly made friends with a young lady sitting next to me who also happened to be there alone. Her brother gave her a gift card for Christmas and she was just as curious as I was about learning the art of sushi rolling.

Our instructor, Diego Coconati kicked off the class with introductions and an explanation of the class format and class packets provided. H-Mart, Pacific Mercantile, and Pacific Ocean Marketplace were listed as the top places to buy sushi ingredients and tools.

Chef Diego set us up at our cooking stations in pairs, and we immediately got started on making the sushi rice. As the rice cooked,

we cooked a mixture of vinegar, sugar and kombu (dried seaweed) to use later as the flavor for the rice. As we waited for the rice to cook, we prepared miso soup, which I must say was more flavorful than most miso soups i’ve eaten at some of the best sushi restaurants. Needless to say, I will be making more miso soup at home.

We sat down to enjoy our miso soup, and then dove into a knife and cutting demonstration by Chef Diego. He taught us how to properly hold a knife to use our free hand as a guide on the knife blade to control the size of each piece. From there, we made a variety of sushi rolls, taking a final break to enjoy our completed rolls. My favorite was the crab and avocado roll with micro-greens and toasted sesame seeds.

I had such great time at “Roll Your Own Sushi Night,” it was truly a memorable experience, and now I feel ready to make sushi at home. The facilities at Kitchen Table Cooking School are beautiful and spacious, the instructors are friendly and knowledgeable and the classes are hands-on and fun.

They offer a range of classes geared towards friends and couples, by regional cuisine, and they even have kids summer camp cooking classes. I’m thinking the next class I try will be “Exotic Indian.” See you there!

By Sarah Shirazi, Asian Avenue magazine

Kitchen Table Cooking School 6380 S. Fiddler’s Green Circle, Ste 108A Greenwood Village, CO 80111 303.220.9769 www.kitchentablegv.com

Upcoming Classes Fresh from the Mediterranean Cuisine from the Greek Isles Thu, Jun 11, 2015 6pm - 9pm | $95

Regions of France - Paris Dining in the City of Lights Fri, Jun 12, 2015 6pm - 9pm | $95

Indian Takeout at Home Wed, Jun 17, 2015 6pm - 9pm | $95

Easy Sushi at Home Thu, Jun 18, 2015 6pm - 9pm | $95

Regional Cuisine: Fantastic Fusion from Coast to Coast Fri, Jun 19, 2015 6pm - 9pm | $95

Italian Regional Cuisine Southern Italy - Naples & Capri Thu, Jun 25, 2015 6pm - 9pm | $95

Inside Story | asian avenue magazine

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Up Coming

“Moon Cakes� by Akemi Camille Tsutsui

Asian Avenue magazine connects with four up-andcoming Asian American artists to get some artistic perspective

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June 2015 | Cover Story

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ust as their ancestors have done for centuries before them, Asian American artists bridge different cultures, connect different experiences, and express their unique visions that reflect different faces of the Asian American community.

From art to performing arts, writing and architecture, Asian Americans contribute significantly to the artistic landscape in the United States. As with any other form of expression, there can certainly be a lot of debate and disagreement over the merits or meaning of particular works and how it represents Asian American culture, by Asians and non-Asians alike. But this kind of artistic and cultural diversity is ultimately a testament to the talent and creativity that exists within the Asian American community.

Asian Avenue magazine set out to find some of Colorado’s upand-coming Asian American artists to get their perspectives on how their cultural backgrounds influence their art. These young Asian American artists will inspire you by their talent and love for art.

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“Abbas’ Sister” by Akemi Camille Tsutsui

Much of my work considers the role of Asian Americans in United States history.

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olorado native Akemi Camille Tsutsui takes a look at racial minority subjects through a portrait artist’s lense. With a special focus on Japanese American culture, her work is both realistic and illustrative.

Asian Avenue (A.A) - What medium(s) do you prefer to work in?

Akemi Camille Tsutsui (A.C.T) - I like that in charcoal I can create dimension and the illusion of space by manipulating the lights and darks of the image, pulling and pushing things back in “space.” Charcoal can also have a very dramatic feeling with the strong blacks and whites you make with the medium. Colored pencil has a great vibrancy to it.

It’s perfect to use when I want the image to have a liveliness or a pop to it.

A.A - What’s your inspiration for doing your work?

A.C.T - I take a lot of inspiration for the subject matter of my work from my experiences in the Asian American community, my studies in the Ethnic Studies department at University of Colorado Denver and my family history. Much of my work considers the role of Asian Americans in United States history. Other pieces draw more on Japanese American cultural influences. In this sense I use Japanese motifs and iconic cultural images. I’m also very inspired by the struggles of other ethnic minorities around the world. I’m deeply influenced by the work of Hung Liu, Michael Shapcott, Stephen Chow, and Hayao Miyazaki.

A.A - How do you see your art developing in the future?

A.C.T - I have a number of concepts lined up for new pieces. Now I just have to execute them! Most of the concepts deal with the balance, as well as conflict, between tradition and modernity. Being a martial arts practitioner (I’ve trained in Shotokan karate for 18 years), I’m constantly reflecting on the idea of tradition in the modern age.

A.A - Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

A.C.T - Draw from what you see around you and be very conscious of space, color, texture. Even if the content of your work doesn’t convey scenes from real life or even resemble the world we live in, studying how the human eye perceives life is very important in understanding how to convey what you want in your work.

Akemi Camille Tsutsui Age: 21 City: Denver, CO Medium: Charcoal and colored pencil

Asian American Artists | asian avenue magazine

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nspired by anime powerhouses (like Studio Ghibli) from a young age, Sage Mirei Asakawa incorporates her Japanese background with the fantasy world in highly detailed pen and ink manga drawings.

Asian Avenue (A.A.) - What medium do you prefer to work in?

Sage Mirei Asakawa (S.M.A.) - I like using pen best because I can work on a piece or draw anywhere. Pen has no boundaries until you run out. As a child, it was what I’d use most because it was always there and I could get the fine details I wanted.

“Butterfly Maiden” by Sage Mirei Asakawa

A.A. - How does your cultural background influence your work?

S.M.A. - My cultural background serves as a wonderland for my work. A great number of my pieces have a Japanese element to them. Additionally, from a young age I started watching Studio Ghibli films and was blown away by the dreamy elements and beautiful animation. In middle school I discovered anime and manga and those really served to inspire me, especially the latter.

Manga has such fine details and is almost always hand drawn. The illustrations serving to tell a story was right up my alley.

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My cultural background serves as a wonderland for my work.

Sage Mirei Asakawa Age: 18 City: Boulder, CO Medium: Pen and ink

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June 2015 | Cover Story

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A.A. - How do you see your art developing in the future?

S.M.A. - The great thing about art is that it’s always developing. I think every time I draw my style develops and I gain more skill. It’s going to be a journey and there are definitely things I need to improve on but I’m confident that my work will grow in the best way. I also know I need to start teaching myself the ins and outs of digital art thoroughly.

A.A. - Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

S.M.A. - Keep making art! Anyone could tell you that, but from my personal experience, the more you make art, the better you’ll get. When I start slacking and not drawing as much my work takes a nose dive and even my creativity suffers. You learn something from everything you make, even if you don’t consider it a success. Just keep creating. Also, something that I find helpful is to look at other art. There are great sites like deviantArt, Pixiv, tumblr, etc, that people will put their work on and it can be really motivating to create your own. It’s important to find your own style and by looking at other artists work you can realize how you want to proceed with your own. Art is most of all a personal journey.

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olorado grown, Cory Feder is a Korean American animation and sculpture artist. Her work blends the ordinary with the peculiar in her exploration of the human experience.

Asian Avenue (A.A) - How did you start doing art?

Cory Feder (C.F.) - I started doing art just as soon as I did anything else like walking or speaking. I started taking it more seriously as I grew older because I was lucky enough to develop those skills and ideas in youth art classes under Lindy Lyman and then later in high school at Denver School of the Arts.

Age: 21

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City: Chicago, IL

Medium: Animation and sculpture

I like finding magic in small everyday gestures and moments.

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A.A. - What’s your inspiration for doing your work?

C.F. - I like finding magic in small everyday gestures and moments. Tradition, domesticity and ritual are things I can’t help but constantly return to in terms of having to live within those limits but also finding ways to escape through the imagination. The balance of both is what keeps things interesting for me.

A.A. - What mediums do you prefer to work in?

C.F. - I have been working mostly in animation and soft sculpture for the past few years...When I make animated films, I am able to make the entire world where my creations will live and exist... Film allows me to sculpt, make music, draw and write which are all things I’ve always done separately.

A.A.- How does your cultural background influence your work?

C.F. - Growing up as a half Korean girl in United States has ultimately been a confusing and humorous experience for me. I always found it funny that everyone set me apart because of that side of my heritage, yet the only part of the culture I knew was what my mom had decided to raise me with...The idea of pseudo-culture is an idea that I’m always thinking about and always find as a foundation to build from.

Still shot from a short film called “Cloud Down” by Cory Feder

Cory Feder

A.A. - What is your process for beginning a new piece?

C.F. - I record ideas in my sketchbook for at least a couple weeks and write down my own experiences in accordance to those concepts. Even though I always extract the ideas from my own life, my goal is to make those concepts universal in the sense that anyone could connect with them because they stem from the basic human experience.

Asian American Artists | asian avenue magazine

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“Ski Mask Way” by Chris Haven

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hris Haven’s energetic style brings a unique vibe to the Colorado art scene both on the streets and in galleries. Based in Westminster, Colo., the artist/DJ’s work uses location to his artistic advantage.

Asian Avenue (A.A) - What medium do you prefer to work in?

Chris Haven (C.H.) - The medium I prefer is spray paint. Once I began using this medium I knew it would be my favorite. It’s fast, you’re able to cover a large area quickly and the color selection now is vibrant and great to use.

A.A.- What is your process for beginning a new piece?

C.H. - My process for beginning a piece differs each time. Sometimes I will have thoughts of what I want done before I even know what wall or canvas I am going to paint Other times I will sketch what the client wants or freestyle something

Once someone has found their style it’s more about fine tuning than developing.

A.A.- How does your cultural background influence your work?

C.H. - My Japanese culture influences my work a lot in letters because of the flowing style of characters used. I use some Asian influences in colors and subject matter, depending on what my final product will be.

A.A. - How do you see your art developing in the future?

C.H. - In the future I see my art develop by doing more large scale murals as well as more personal art shows. Once someone has found their style it’s more about fine tuning than developing. Though I always try and switch styles up and be creative and original.

A.A. - Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

C.H. - My advice for future artists is don’t get discouraged. Everyone wants to do art, everyone is an artist and to a certain degree everything is art. So don’t judge your works on someone else’s keep developing your style, pushing your self. It’s really about self progression. Get involved with whatever you can to show your works. Utilize your time wisely. Be original, which Is hard now with so many creative minds out there. Be creative and inspire!!

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June 2015 | Cover Story

Chris Haven Age: 35 City: Westminster, CO Medium: Spray paint

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June 5–7 Denver Coliseum Box Office (Sat. 11am – 3pm) 888-9-AXS-TIX • DenverColiseum.com

supercute friends My Melody®, Badtz-Maru®, Keroppi®, Chococat®, Dear Daniel®, and Pompom Purin® will appear in this unique celebration of fun, friendship and Sanrio surprises! Each event will feature Hello Kitty and her friends in multi-stage live performances, DJ-driven dance sequences, interactive exhibits, animation, art, fashion, photo opportunities, event-exclusive collectibles and much more, all in an immersive festival environment! © ’76, ’15 SANRIO CO., LTD.

1600 E. 17TH AVE DENVER, CO 80218 TEL: 303.399.0988 WEBSITE: WWW.P17DENVER.COM

LUNCH MON - FRI: 11AM - 3PM DINNER MON- FRI: 3PM - 10PM SUN: 3PM - 9PM

BRUNCH SAT- SUN: 9AM - 3PM HAPPY HOUR MON: 3PM - 10PM TUES & SUN: 3PM - 6PM

By Sarah Shirazi, Asian Avenue magazine

P17 recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, but a lot has changed.

About a year ago, P17’s owner and head chef, Mary Nguyen decided to rebrand “Parallel 17” from a higher end, Asian-fusion restaurant to more of a neighborhood bistro with European and Asian influences.

“I wanted to open a neighborhood bistro with quality regional food, no pretension at great prices,” says Nguyen. “If you look at America there are so many multicultural influences from many diverse cultures. For me, P17 is a reincarnation of a real neighborhood bistro.”

So far the rebranding has been a great success, but the restaurant kept some of its old charm, including the red awning outside, and the amazing wrap around outdoor patio, perfect for summer dining. Inside, you will find a mixture of patrons, from regulars sitting at the bar for a drink and a quick bite to groups of friends catching up. Overall, the restaurant has a hip and comfortable vibe.

P17 offers a variety of small and big plates, signature drinks, and everything in between; it also has separate lunch, dinner and brunch menus, but many of the offerings overlap. Brunch is a great time to stop by and take advantage of the bottomless mimosas for $10!

To start, try the lettuce wraps— a nod to Korean beef bulgogi with toasted sesame seeds on top for added texture, served with a side of scallions, picked vegetables, sliced apples, and butter lettuce. The combination of beef, vegetables and crispy apples wrapped inside the butter lettuce creates a nice soft and crispy burst of flavor with each bite. The duck confit tacos were also the perfect introduction to our feast, with adobo, pineapple crema, kale, cilantro, and grated cotija cheese.

These plates were both fun to share and eat.

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June 2015 | Restaurant Peek

Ramen lovers must try the P17 Ramen, which is like the mac daddy of all ramen’s with a soft boiled egg, bean sprouts, scallions, bok choy, corn, ground pork, pork belly, ramen noodles, and chili oil.

Photos by Anastasia Yagolnik P17’s attention to quality and fresh ingredients shine, especially in their entrees. The trout is perfect example of this—seared whole rainbow trout served on top pf asparagus and a white bean, olive, tomato and caper salad, topped with frisee.

You get a wonderful saltines from the capers that is the perfect contrast to the citrus from the lemon, the silky earthiness from the white beans, and the bitterness of the frisee. The niçoise salad is also a great choice, if you’re looking for something light and full of fresh flavors.

If you feel like indulging, try the roasted duck breast served over a mixture of bacon, sweet yams, pear, walnuts, and kazoo sauce. The kazoo sauce is partially made by scrapping the film off of saki, and adding a bit of sweetness and saltiness to create almost a caramel like consistency that really ties the whole dish together. In one word: heaven.

The new bistro concept has served P17 well, and luckily for us this neighborhood bistro has the potential to be around for the long haul. See you there!

P17 | asian avenue magazine

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3650 S Wadsworth Blvd Lakewood, CO 80235 303.988.0870 www.285landing.com

Hours:

Mon - Thurs: 11:00am – 9:00pm Fri: 11:00am – 10:00pm Sat: 4:30pm – 10:00pm Sun: 4:30pm – 9:00pm

By Sarah Shirazi, Asian Avenue magazine

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his family-owned restaurant promises to be a quite haven from the bustle of South Wadsworth and Highway 285, offering a range of pan- Asian flavors, classic Chinese dishes, sushi and a variety of unique and healthy soups.

New owners Kenny and Jeannie Yu launched 285 Asian Landing earlier this year. Prior to that the Mu-Lan Landing Chinese restaurant had occupied the space for years gaining a solid reputation in the neighborhood. Dr. Jeannie Yu, who runs an acupuncture practice by day, used her background in medicine to inspire a few dishes on the menu.

The bone marrow soup or “medicine soup” as Jeanie likes to call it is a perfect starter: a soothing soup with a dark, rich broth, ginger, mixed herbs, and shiitake mushrooms. Then there’s Dr. Yu’s chicken soup, so special that you have to order it 24 hours in advance. It takes up to 8 hours to prepare and has a hearty cast of ingredients including organic chicken, codonopsis, astragalus, Goji wolf berry, Chinese red dates, Chinese yam, shiitake mushroom and ginger. According to Jeannie this soup will stimulate your immune system, increase energy and promote overall health.

The interior traditionally Chinese in aesthetic—lends a hand to the warm atmosphere, which contains an elegant balance of intimacy and informality. Traditional musical in-

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June 2015 | Restaurant Peek

struments and cultural artifacts are displayed throughout the restaurant, demonstrating the pride that Jeannie and Kenny have for their Chinese roots.

There’s something for everyone here, and the regulars who dine at 285 Asian Landing have favorites as diverse as the menu. Sushi Chef Mason Rhee serves up a variety of sashimi and sushi rolls. My favorite happened to be the 285 Sushi Roll with Tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber, topped with spicy tuna and crunch.

Try the spring rolls or the crab cheese wantons, both are perfectly wrapped and paired with delicious dipping sauces.

The entrees take everything up a notch. The Hunan Duck follows Chinese culinary philosophy to an exact science, balancing flavors and consistency with equal skill. The crispy1/2 duck was cooked perfectly, served with hunan sauce, a rich sauce with a medley of vegetables, the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

The Chicken Lo Mein was one of the best I’ve had in a while, perfectly coated noodles in a delicious sauce, crispy sautéed vegetables and tender bits of moist chicken.

285 Asian Landing might be a little hard to find, although its right off of S. Wadsworth; but one things for certain, once you land there, you will love it. The food is delicious, the prices are reasonable, and the service feels like family— what else can you ask for?

Menu Highlights Eight Treasure Soup, Small, $3.95 ; Large $5.95

Slow cooked soup made with red rice, black rice, red beans, black beans, black sesame, lotus seeds, coix seeds and walnuts. This high protein and high fiber vegetarian soup nourishes the heart, blood, kidneys and brain and is also good for the skin, hair and memory.

Singapore Rice Noodles, $11.95

Stir-fried noodles w/onions, cabbage, bean sprouts with curry flavor.

Five Spice Flavor Duck, $18.95

Duck breast and leg cooked with our unique mixture of Asian five spice powder.

Honey Walnut Shrimp, Lunch $10.95, Dinner $15.95

Battered shrimp with honey baked walnut and sesame.

Carpaccio, $11

Thinly sliced raw fish topped with greens and house dressing. Your choice of Salmon, Tuna or Red Snapper.

CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS

Lettuce wraps are fast becoming a popular appetizer at restaurants across the country, though it can also be served as a light meal, which with summer approaching might make for a healthier option. Try this version of lettuce wraps with marinated chicken, crisp vegetables, and crunchy pine nuts—guaranteed to make a delicious hands on meal.

Sauce Ingredients: salt, pepper, sesame oil, and rice wine to taste 2 tsp garlic paste 1 tsp oyster sauce

Main Ingredients: 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp soy sauce 2 tsp potato starch 2 Tbsp vegetable oil

2 c chopped skinless chicken breast 2 c chopped vegetables: water chestnut, carrot, celery, cabbage, green bell pepper and garlic paste. ½ c pine nuts 8 large leaves iceberg lettuce

Method: 1. In a medium bowl, combine chicken, salt, pepper, and rice wine. Mix and set aside.

2. To prepare the sauce: in a small bowl, combine oyster sauce, salt, sugar, sesame oil, soy sauce, and pepper with 1/4 cup of water. Mix and set aside.

3. Add one tablespoon vegetable oil to a medium pan and heat on a low/medium setting. Add pine nuts, and stir-fry until fragrant. Separate pine nuts from oil and set aside.

4. Add one tablespoon of oil to the pan, and stir-fry chicken breast. Remove the chicken breast and set aside.

5. Add the garlic paste to the pan and stir-fry until fragrant. Add vegetables and diced chicken breast to the pan, stir-fry until fragrant. Pour the mixed sauce and wet potato starch into the pan. Add pine nuts and stir mixture well.

6. Cut the lettuce into round pieces with the diameter of five inches.

7. To eat, place mixture in center of lettuce, wrap, and enjoy!

Chef’s Recipe | asian avenue magazine

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by Kelly Kasic

Summer Palace Pleasure If you’re headed to Beijing, this enchanting palace is a must see

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here are many cultural sites that make Beijing a vacation destination; the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Linggu Temple, Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, the Temple of Heaven, and Tiananmen Square to name a few. I traveled to all of these sites, but none of them impressed me as much as the Summer Palace. Don’t get me wrong, the Great Wall is certainly impressive and not to be missed, but after about an hour of walking you still are looking at a lot of bricks.

The Summer Palace is located about 9 miles northwest from the heart of Beijing. This imperial palace sits atop a lush, green hill overlooking the large, blue Kunming Lake. Originally built in 1153 under the Jin Dynasty, the palace received its name in 1888 when Empress Dowager Cixi used silver to repair and restore it.

Walking through the palace you are instantly taken back in time.

In order to tour the Summer Palace, you must climb several small stairs that wind and cut through large boulders – but this cultural tour is not dangerous nor is it strenuous (there were even women performing Tai-Chi in a stone courtyard midway up the hill). When you reach the top there is a breathtaking, nearly panoramic view of the Lake and the land. But the tour doesn’t stop there.

Next you must walk through the vibrantly painted rooms and halls, past the towering pagoda, to the lakeshore. There you will take a dragon-shaped boat across the Lake to an island. The neatly manicured island is attached to the 17-Arch Bridge. Cross over this magnificent bridge to a vendor-lined, cobblestone street.

Make sure to enjoy an ice cream treat before riding another dragon boat back to the entrance of the remarkable Summer Palace.

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June 2015 | Travel

In the Know Here are some Beijing travel tips that only an insider can provide

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You will want to have an empty memory card to take several pictures of this brightly painted Palace set atop a hill.

hether traveling to China for business or pleasure, it is helpful to know what to expect when you hit the ground. Starbucks is the first thing that you will see upon leaving Customs in Beijing.

This capital city is growing and updating rapidly; construction cranes decorate the horizon. Yet, red and pink roses beautify street medians, while trees line the immaculate sidewalks. The skies are clear and blue as the government has stepped up pollution control tactics.

As I traveled from one cultural icon to the next (don’t miss the Great Wall), I had no problem locating a good restaurant. While I preferred to avoid the ‘bat on a stick’ (seriously), I did make my way into several local restaurants. Many offer pictures or English on their menus, but for those that didn’t, communication was not too difficult and I was always able to order a delicious meal – often for less than eight dollars. For those visitors that must have “American Food” while traveling abroad – McDonalds, KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and Starbucks are everywhere.

The people of Beijing were very friendly, curious, and polite. The taxis, however, were not – be careful as you walk down the street, taxis do not always obey road rules.

All in all, Beijing is an exciting city that can accommodate nearly anyone.

Beijing, China | asian avenue magazine

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Annual pilgrimage to Amache, an American concentration camp

By Marge Taniwaki

On Saturday, May 16, more than 50 people of all ages attended the annual Pilgrimage to Amache, one of ten major U.S. concentration camps for Japanese Americans during WWII. At its peak, Amache held nearly 8,000 prisoners behind barbed-wire.

Surrounded by towers manned by military guards carrying rifles, the inmates stood in line for everything - to eat in messhalls, to do laundry and to use the latrines.

There was no running water in the barracks and the searing heat on the eastern plains on the edge of the dust bowl took its toll on the prisoners. The constant sandstorms left dust on everything including grit in their nostrils and mouths. Except for what they could carry to camp, a total of 120,000 inmates lost all of their physical possessions and Constitutional rights as they were forcibly removed from their homes along the west coast of the U.S. into flimsy barracks for the duration of the war. Two-thirds of the inmates were U.S. citizens by birth.

Colorado’s Consul General from Japan, Makoto Ito, joined former incarcerees, their descendants and supporters at the Amache cemetery to commemorate those who died in U.S. military service during WWII as well as those who perished while prisoners.

For several decades, students from Granada High School have cared for the camp site under the direction of John Hopper, currently Principal of the school located a mile east of Amache in the town of Granada. With graduate students, DU Associate Professor of Anthropology Dr. Bonnie Clark holds summer excavations every two years at Amache. Artifacts unearthed have added immeasurably to the history of the site which holds National Landmark status. The 40th anniversary of the first formal Pilgrimage to Amache will be held on the Saturday before Memoral Day weekend in May of 2016. A reunion of the original organizers and attendees is being planned. Further information is available at www.amache.org.

Photo Credit: KGNU News

Colorado Heights University graduation

By Jennifer Manhoff, Colorado Heights University

Every person that attends a Colorado Heights University graduation cannot help but to be inspired by the diversity of the student population. The graduating class featured students representing 27 different countries. With such a diverse group of students, it was fitting to have the Honorable Judge Kerry Hada deliver the keynote address. Judge Hada is a strong advocate for diversity having grown up as a 3rd generation citizen of the U.S. whose lineage is Japanese. He has overcome great obstacles in life to achieve great success while amassing interesting life experiences.

this American born citizen’s command of the English language.

Judge Hada noted that he would trade all of his accomplishments for the graduate’s youth. His parting words of advice were: “If you do your best and outwork everyone else, you will achieve your goals. Set your goals high. Diversity is important.

We are all different but you are the ones that have embraced that difference. Don’t lose your mother tongue. Learn more languages, travel the world and embrace everybody in the world.”

Judge Hada addressed the graduates stating that while they are graduating in a time where the “world’s hope and future rests on (their) shoulders”, it is also a time of great opportunity. The world is growing increasingly globalized yet diversity still poses obstacles.

“People look at us differently because we are brown, black and yellow”, remarked the Judge. He inspired laughter as he told stories of how he had been complemented on his English throughout life.

From army commanders to grocery store clerks, many have been impressed with

Photo Credit: Xiaowen (Mary) Xu

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June 2015 | On Scene

Songkran Festival, “Water Festival” at Thai Temple The Songkran Festival, widely regarded as the “Water Festival”, is an annual event that is celebrated in mid-April. The tradition of soaking people with water is meant as a symbol of washing away sins and bad luck. In Thailand, people, young and old, can be seen splashing water on passersby using simple items (a tin cup) to complex ones (Nerf SuperSoaker!).

The Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year’s Day from April 13 -15. During this holiday period, businesses and shops in Thailand close up shop so that their workers could go back home to visit family (usually in the countryside).

Here in the Mile High City, the Thai community had its distinctive ways of Songkran celebration as well. Wat Buddhawararam of Denver held events the weekend of April 11-12 that both Thais

and non-Thais alike gathered to celebrate and participate. Throughout both days, the weather was great (unlike what we have been seeing in May)! As to be suspected, the food festival was a huge success; from Khow Neow (sticky rice) and Laarb (ground beef salad) to Hoi-Todd (Mussels Omelet), the food vendors kept busy feeding the crowd of people who streamed in all day and evening long.

On Saturday morning, the mobile Thai consulate from Los Angeles was present to help with renewing Thai passports or citizenship documents.

This year’s pageant show contestants were students of the Thai cultural and language classes, and they were all under 10 years old. The crowd had a great time supporting and cheering on the talented young ladies! The biggest turnout was Sunday morning’s Making Merit, where more than

Asian Education Advisory Field Day

100 people gathered to make donations to the temple and to the monks. Donations came in the form of money, cooked rice, dish liquid detergent, paper towels, and other items for the temple’s use. There were kids who tossed water balloons, and later that day, Thai dancers and musicians led the crowd in a jovial procession around the block of the temple. That’s right – a parade!

Sawasdee kaa! May you and your family have a Happy New Year! The Thai temple is located near I-70 and Federal Blvd. For more information, see the temple’s Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/watthaidenver.

By Zachary Wieland, Hamilton Middle School

Photo Credit: Allen Wong

Out of the vast nationalities at Hamilton Middle School in Denver Public Schools, we proudly represent the Asian-Pacific Islander group. We had a great opportunity to have the chance to experience Wells Fargo Bank, with our knowledgeable guide, Travis Tom. Tom works at Wells Fargo as an Investment Banker. Allen Wong, our teacher at Hamilton and Priscilla Rahn, Chairperson for the Denver Public Schools (DPS) Asian Education Advisory Council (AEAC) were our chaperones.

To start off, we would like to thank AEAC funding and organizing our trip, as well as Wells Fargo for allowing us to come. On our trip, we learned about several different aspects of banking such as investments, loans, and mortgages. We also learned about foreign banking and

By Pok Sergent

exchange, including, multi-national currencies. Upon arrival, we were greeted at the front entrance to the public Wells Fargo branch where we soon began our tour. We entered into the bank, and immediately to the left there was a replica of the original Wells Fargo Stagecoach! Not only did these coaches transport currency and valuable items they also served as transportation for mail. The coaches held a maximum of 18 people.

At the teller station they showed us counting machines, as well as numerous foreign currencies. We were also shown how to distinguish counterfeit money, from real currency as well as ways that the U.S. Treasury prevents counterfeit bills.

Unfortunately, we were not able to go visit the main bank vaults, but we were excited to visit the Safe Deposit boxes.

We spent the lunch period eating sandwiches from the cafe, in the beautiful covered atrium. Then we took the sky tunnel into the adjacent Wells Fargo building and up to the 50th floor to the executive offices and the main conference room, where we had the opportunity to glance at the amazing views from the office windows. Once again, we would like to thank the AEAC as well as Wells Fargo, for this opportunity and our chaperones; Allen Wong, Priscilla Rahn and Travis Tom. On May 3, AEAC held its 30th annual awards ceremony honoring students, parents, educators, and community volunteers for outstanding achievements and contributions to Asian/Pacific Islander communities. Asian Avenue magazine President Annie Guo was the keynote speaker, while Asian Avenue magazine received the community organization award. More information available at www.aeac.dpsk12.org.

Mile-High Happenings | asian avenue magazine

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National News

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Asian American electorate to more than double by 2040

new report released today by the UCLA Study for the Center for Inequality and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) shows that by 2040 the Asian American electorate will more than double, and grow by 107%.

The study comes 50 years after the passage of the Immigration & Nationality Act of 1965 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“Our report finds that in 2015, there are 20.5 million Asian Americans, and a quarter of a century from now, 35.7 million,” said Paul Ong, Director of the UCLA Center on the Study of Inequality. “In 2040, nearly 1 in 10 Americans will be Asian American. During the same period, the number of Asian American registered voters will increase from 5.9 million to 12.2 million.”

“These trends have notable implications for Asian American political empowerment [and] significant meaning for the very nature of American politics, said Franklin Gilliam Jr, Dean of UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

Neighbors in Baltimore come to aid of Korean American grocer vandalized during rioting

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race Lyo could not believe what she was seeing two weeks ago during the height of the Baltimore rioting after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody.

“It’s smoking, and the fires and the fire engine. But I can’t believe, ‘Oh this is my store!’” she said to PRI. “And my heart was so trembling … how can this happen to me? But we’re still living, you know?”

Lyo is an integral part of the West Baltimore neighborhood of Sandtown-Windchester. Children bring them their report cards when they get good grades. She tells them one day they could be president like Barack Obama. Customers say when money is tight, Lyo will let them pay her later. When Lyo has to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas, neighbors

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bring her dinner.

Now some have launched a crowd funding campaign to help Lyo reopen her store. Some have come by to personally hand her checks. Still others plan to hold a benefit on behalf of Lyo. “They call her ‘Mama,’” said Marvin Warfield, who lives nearby. “She was like a mama of the community.”

Lawsuit seeks $5 million from Pacquiao for not disclosing shoulder injury

wo Las Vegas residents have filed a class-action lawsuit against Manny Pacquiao, his manager and his promotional team following his loss to Floyd Mayweather.

The suit is seeking more than $5 million in damages and hinges on whether Pacquiao and his team failed to disclose a fight-determining shoulder injury to the Nevada Athletic Commission before the public bet on and purchased tickets or pay-per-view access to the fight.

According to The Associated Press, Pacquiao filed paperwork before the match that indicated he did not have a June 2015 | National News

Ten New Fact Sheets about Asian Americans

shoulder injury. Attorney Daniel Petrocelli, who represents Pacquiao’s promotional company, told ESPN the shoulder injury in question was sustained during the fight, rather than hidden from officials beforehand. The Nevada State Attorney General’s office is investigating the paperwork.

he Center for American Progress has released ten new fact sheets about the Asian American community.

The sheets were published in cooperation with Karthick Ramakrishnan of AAPI Data.

The fact sheets include data about educational attainment, income and poverty, civic participation, language diversity, immigration and nativity, labor-force participation, and access to health insurance.

• The Cambodian American population of 320,000 in the United States has grown 15 percent in just three years from 2010 -2013.

They are much more likely to be first generation immigrants than the US average.

• The share of poverty among Chinese American children is 20 percent.

• More Filipino Americans are registered Republican than Democrat, 27 to 24 percent.

But 45 percent don’t belong to either party.

• 89 percent of Hmong American voters voted in 2012. That’s higher than the US average.

• 80 percent of Indian Americans speak a language other than English at home.

• The Japanese American population grew 22 percent from 2000 – 2013.

• 25 percent of Korean Americans do not have health insurance.

• 32 percent of Laotian Americans have less than a high school diploma.

• The population of Pakistani Americans grew 132 percent from 2000 – 2013.

• 82 percent of Vietnamese Americans are American citizens.

You can find all these fact sheets at the Center for American Progress.

REBUILD Nepal

By Amuda Mishra, Ujyalo Foundation

There is a lot of chaos especially in the hard hit areas and regions closer to the epicenter of both the major earthquakes on April 25 and May 12. There are a lot of CBOs, NGOs, INGOs, government bodies, and volunteer groups actively working to rebuild the communities. I think Nepalese—locally and globally— are more unified in their efforts to help fellow citizens to over come this catastrophic event.

With the monsoon approaching, individuals who have lost their houses need temporary/mid-term shelters. The tents and traps that were initially provided were of great help to get some roof above their heads but these tents, especially made from traps, will not be able to get these people through the monsoon season. The focus needs to be on building sustainable shelters either out of metal sheets or bamboos. Health and sanitation for the people is key.

People living in the tents do not have access to proper latrines and hygienic water. In most of the tents, people openly defecate so if we do not provide these things there is a very high chance of disease breakdown.

Also, a lot of the schools in rural areas have been destroyed and these schools might not be running for a while so we need to focus on education. Moreover, being out of school and in these open tents mean increased chances of child trafficking so tem-

KEY POINTS • • • •

porary learning centers might be of great help to continue the education while keeping the kids safe.

Right now, Ujyalo Foundation is focused on running temporary learning centers for the victims evacuated from Yarmasing, Sindhupalchowk and Langtang regions in Kathmandu. If these learning centers go as planned we will expand it to other temporary campsites as well.

We also plan on rehabilitating 50 households in Jhagajhuli, Sindhuli by building midterm shelters. So all the donations will go towards the learning center initiative project and rehabilitation project.

We have lost of lot of things in the last few weeks from roofs above our head to our cultural heritage and assets. But what is amazing is that despite all this our spirits are up and our resilience to support each other and rebuild Nepal is stronger than ever.

With this attitude, alongside our tireless efforts and dedication, and unconditional support at the local and global level, we will rebuild a stronger Nepal together.

Amuda Mishra is the executive director of Ujyalo Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in Aurora, Colorado that focuses on sustainable development in rural Nepal by promoting innovation and increasing capacity building.

WWW.BBC.COM

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.8 rocked Nepal on April 25, 2015, killing more than 2,500 people It struck between the capital Kathmandu and the city of Pokhara The landmark Dharahara tower is among buildings reduced to rubble in Kathmandu On May 12, 2015, there was a magnitude 7.3 aftershock of the April earthquake

Donate to Ujyalo Foundation and the people of Nepal at: www.ujyalofoundation.org Feature | asian avenue magazine

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Early cancer screenings offered through Women’s Wellness Connection

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oday, nearly 100 percent of women who find breast or cervical cancer early survive it. And the best way to find cancer early is to make sure you get routine breast and cervical cancer screenings.

Why is finding breast cancer early so important?

Ninety-eight percent of women survive breast cancer when it’s found early through regular screenings. Most breast cancers take years to develop. Early on, most breast cancers don’t cause any physical symptoms, so without a screening, there’s no way of knowing you have it. When breast cancer is found early, it doesn’t get a chance to spread to other places. Eighty percent of breast lumps are not cancer.

Why is finding cervical cancer early so important?

Ninety-two percent of women survive cervical cancer when it’s found early through routine tests. A Pap test can find abnormal cervical cells years before any cancer actually exists. Getting a Pap and/or HPV test every three to five years can help you detect and even prevent cancer of the cervix.

You can’t control what you find, but you can control when you find it. There’s no reason to wait. Getting regular breast and cervical cancer screenings may save your life.

Find out if you qualify for free screenings through Women’s Wellness Connection.

Community clinics like the Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice (CAHEP) offer Women’s Wellness Connection exams for qualifying patients. CAHEP also offers free translation services for exams.

Call or e-mail Jennifer Gross to set up an appointment or see if you qualify for a free exam through the Women’s Wellness Connection, 303-954-0058 or jennifer.gross@cahep.org.

Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice (CAHEP) offers Women’s Wellness Connection exams Adress: 5250 Leetsdale Drive #110, Denver, CO 80246 | Hours: Mon.- Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. www.cahep-denver.org | Tel: 303-954-0058 | E-mail: jennifer.gross@cahep.org

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Prevention Services Division Women’s Wellness Connection Address: 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver, CO 80246 www.colorado.gov/cdphe/womens-wellness-connection | 1-866-951-WELL (9355) E-mail: cdphe_wwc@state.co.us

Date: Tuesday, July 28 - Saturday, August 1 Time: 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. (Tuesday to Friday) 9:00 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. (Saturday) Location: Hope United Methodist Church 5101 S. Dayton Street Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Classes & Activities: Chinese Yo-yo, Chinese Folk Dance, Chinese Calligraphy, Chinese Art & Crafts Cost:

$220 (Siblings $200) *Space is limited.

Register now!

Deadline: July 20, 2015 For more information, please visit www.tccls.org or call (720)466-1454.

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June 2015 | Health

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