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FEATURE: Asian Avenue
Asian Avenue Magazine receives the
2021 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BUSINESS AWARD
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Christina Yutai Guo Publisher of Asian Avenue Magazine
Asian Avenue Magazine is an English print publication in Colorado dedicated to sharing Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) experiences and cultures.
Founded in July 2006 by the mother-daughter team of Christina Yutai Guo and Annie Guo VanDan, the monthly magazine has published more than 200 issues over the past 15 years.
Asian Avenue Magazine provides a platform for AAPI voices in Colorado. In 2009, Christina and Annie founded the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network to promote leadership programs for young AAPI women and students. Most notably, they present the annual Asian American Hero of Colorado awards, recognizing AAPI leaders for their work in the community.
Significantly, Asian Avenue Magazine has explored where Asians fit into the Black Lives Matter Movement. This June 2020, the magazine published a Statement of Solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.
On January 15, the 36th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Awards ceremony celebrated community leaders and corporations that proudly represent the spirit of Dr. King.
Asian Avenue Magazine was among the outstanding 2021 recipients which included Marsha Brown, Demesha Hill, Carla Ladd, Morris Price, Jr., The Other Side Academy and Roz Duman.
During the Livestream awards ceremony, both the Governor of Colorado Jared Polis and Mayor of Denver Michael B. Hancock provided a welcome address, followed by “Reflections on the Past 36 Years” by former Mayor of Denver, Wellington E. Webb and Founder and Chair Emeritus, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission, Wilma J. Webb.
Governor Polis congratulated the award recipients by saying: “Dr. King’s commitment to justice, equality, nonviolence, and serving others allowed him to lead a movement for social, institutional, and legal changes. These individuals and organizations deserve our heartfelt gratitude for doing their part to emulate King’s ideals and make his dream a reality. Colorado is better because of you and in these most challenging times, your work is more important than ever.”
In his keynote address, John Hickenlooper, U.S. Senator from Colorado said: “I know that we can and we will achieve social justice and tackle the civil rights issues of our time. To do it together, we must accept the baton from our freedom fighters who died too early, but were catalytic to monumental change... we must never lose sight of the dream.”
The event was produced by Stephen Straight and moderated by journalist Tamara Banks. Asian Avenue Magazine was nominated for this award by the Asian Chamber of Commerce.
Watch the awards ceremony at
