Volume 17 | Issue 7
July 2022
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is back!
Vincent Chin 40th Rededication
Jade Mountain Brewing in Aurora
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PRESIDENT’S NOTE
Annie Guo VanDan, President Asian Avenue magazine hello@asianavemag.com @asianavemag
We are excited that the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival will be back this year (after being cancelled in 2020 and 2021). Bigger and better than ever, the festival will be on July 23 and 24 at Sloan’s Lake Park, featuring lively performances, dragon boat racing, fantastic food, and cultural activities! Kudos to Executive Director Sara Moore for all of her leadership and hard work to put together this year’s festival! We hope to see you there! COVID-19 vaccines for kids between six months and age 5 are now available. This means roughly 20 million children in the US under 5 years old are newly eligible for vaccination. The most common side effects parents can expect for their child are a sore arm, headache, fever, and fatigue. Learn more details about the vaccines on page 14. On page 15, we also share a letter from Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice that addresses concerns about their mobile vaccine clinics.
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July 2022 | President’s Note
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Colorado General Election Day Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Register to vote and get voter resources at: coloradosos.gov/go/vote E-mail cacendenver@gmail.com if you have questions or need support to better understand Colorado’s election process.
To register in Colorado you must:
Colorado voter registration deadlines
- Be a citizen of the United States; - Be a resident of Colorado 22 days prior to Election Day; - Be 18 years old on or before Election Day; and - Not be serving a sentence of detention, confinement, or parole for a felony conviction.
- In Person: Election Day - By Mail: Postmarked 8 days before Election Day - Online: 8 days before Election Day.
Election Day Registration: You can register and cast a ballot up through Election Day by appearing in-person at a Voter Service and Polling Center during the Early Voting period or on Election Day.
YOUR VOTE COUNTS! Join CACEN at upcoming events and trainings to get our community registered! And to educate the AAPI community about the voting process. Learn more at cacendenver.org.
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c o nJULYt 2022 ents Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO President ANNIE GUO VANDAN
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EVENT: July events FEATURE: 40 years after the murder of Vincent Chin in Detroit
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COVER: Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is back this July at Sloan’s Lake Park in Denver
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HEALTH: What to know about COVID-19 vaccines for children
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HEALTH: A letter from Colorado Alliance for Health Equity & Practice FEATURE: Preparing for the general election in November FEATURE: State of Asia America INSIDE STORY REVIEW: Jade Mountain Brewery & Teahouse
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Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO Web Designer JASON ZHANG Marketing Manager JOIE HA
BOOK REVIEW: We Were Dreamers by Simu Liu BOOK REVIEW: The Swimmers: A novel by Julie Otsuka ON SCENE: US Representative Grace Meng of New York visits Denver as keynote for the Democratic Party Gala ON SCENE: Unity March unites Asian organizations across the nation in DC against hate and to advance equity ON SCENE: Asian Chamber invites small businesses to a discussion ON SCENE: Lei Day celebrates the Pacific Islands through dance and music ON SCENE: Tiger Kim’s Academy opens in new location teaching taekwondo
Editor DAMIAN SIU Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG
Contact us at hello@asianavemag.com or visit our new office at 14015 E. Evans Avenue Aurora, CO 80014 on the cover The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is the largest dragon boat festival in the US. Back in 2022 after a two-year hiatus, the weekend long event (July 23-4) features Asian food, cultural performances, and of course, dragon boat racing at Sloan’s Lake Park in Denver. 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.
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July 2022 | Table of Contents
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with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network (cacendenver.org).
upcoming events Book Signing of Beyond Heart Mountain
Wednesday, July 13, Begins at 6:30pm Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St, Boulder Ticket: $5 (includes $5 book discount) EventBrite | bbsvirtualevents@gmail.com
Alan O’Hashi will speak about and sign his new book, Beyond Heart Mountain at Boulder Book Store. During World War II, Cheyenne native Alan O’Hashi and his family avoided life in internment camps such as Heart Mountain. In Beyond Heart Mountain, O’Hashi documents the overt and quiet racism pervasive in Wyoming and throughout the United States and relates his experiences to current violence towards Asians and the issue of civility within society.
Storytelling with Outdoor Asian Colorado
Thursday, July 14, Begins at 6:30pm Patagonia Denver, 2600 Walnut St, Denver Free event | RSVP required fb.com/groups/outdoorasiancolorado
Join Outdoor Asian Colorado and Patagonia Denver for an evening of storytelling and tasty treats from local Asian-owned businesses! Francis Li will share about with his recent trip to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. From birdwatching in Wash Park to your favorite send in Eldorado Canyon - every story is welcome. Food and drinks provided from Ti Cafe and Urban Burma.
Send community events to hello@asianavemag.com.
2022 Colorado Dragon Boat Festival
Asian Mental Wellness Summit: Building Community Resilience
Weekend of July 23 and 24
Saturday, July 16, 9am to 3pm Community College of Aurora 16000 East CentreTech Parkway, Aurora Free event | RSVP required EventBrite | infocoredei@gmail.com
The mental wellness summit includes mental health workshops discussing trauma and suicide prevention; wholebody wellness activities such as tai chi and mindfullness; a catered lunch; and resource fair. The event aims to tackle the taboo of mental illness, increase education regarding mental wellness, and promote resources for the Asian community.
Sloan’s Lake Park, Denver Free event | cdbf.org
Colorado is home to the largest Dragon Boat Festival in the US! Come celebrate the year of the tiger with delicious foods in the Taste of Asia food court, enjoy cultural performances, learn more about organizations and businesses in the marketplace, and of course, cheer on the dragon boat racing teams! Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is the largest pan-Asian celebration in the Rocky Mountain region.
A Day in Japan
Havana Street Global Market Saturday, July 16, 10am to 2pm
Havana Exchange Shopping Center 2802 S Havana St, Aurora Free event bonfireeventco.com The free-to-attend market will highlight and celebrate cultural diversity through local small business. Find a mix of vendors from around the world with a variety of products ranging from food, crafts, home goods, art, jewelry and more. Enjoy music, dance and cultural celebrations while you shop! Havana Street in Aurora has been a well-known hub for international business. Count on this being a unique, inclusive and family-friendly destination for all of your shopping needs. Stop by and check out the market, twice monthly on Saturdays beginning in July.
Saturday, August 6, 10am to 7pm The People’s Building 9995 E Colfax Ave, Aurora Ticket: $10 EventBrite | konnectpop@gmail.com
Located in the Aurora Arts Cultural District ‘A Day in Japan’ is a one-day Japanese Festival of exhibits, cultural presentations, Japanese dog show, martial arts, Japanese marketplace, ikebana, song and dance, street foods, taiko drumming, and so much more! Plus, a Japanese beer garden with Jade Mountain Brewing and an Itasha car show! The event is organized by Konnectpop, Aurora Sister Cities- Japan Committee, Colorado Itasha Alliance and Pacific Rim Cultural Exchange.
Event Calendar | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Saturday, August 20 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Great Lawn, Aurora Municipal Center
Are you interested in participating as a merchandise or marketing vendor? Submit your application today! AuroraGov.org/Vendor
To participate in the Parade of Nations, fashion show or performances, please contact: international@auroragov.org
40th Remembrance & Rededication for Vincent Chin in Detroit Forty years after the murder of Vincent Chin and the miscarriage of justice that followed, amid a climate of anti-Asian hate similar to today’s, a commemoration was held in Detroit and virtually, June 16-19, 2022. June 19, 1982 marked the 40th anniversary of the death of Vincent Chin, a young Chinese American man brutally attacked by a baseball bat to his head by two white men during a significant rise in anti-Asian hate in America. Vincent Chin’s killers never spent a day in jail. After the shocking sentence of probation for a violent murder, the disparate Asian American communities of Detroit came together for the first time to seek equal justice from the legal system. This pan-Asian effort brought together different Asian ethnicities together across culture, language, immigration experience, and class backgrounds all to stand against racism and to fight for equality. His case ignited the modern Asian American civil rights movement and built a multiracial, multicultural coalition united for equal justice and human dignity, which stands as a landmark of American history. Since 1983, numerous pan-Asian legal advocacy organizations, many grassroots community groups and newer generations of young AAPI activists have emerged as a direct result of the campaign for justice for Vincent Chin. Last month, community leaders, activists, and friends joined together to honor Vincent Chin and his legacy. 40 years later, the legacy of Vincent Chin and the campaign for justice offers lessons to all on how people of all races, including between Asian and Black Americans, and from all creeds and walks of life, can organize and come together to stand against intolerance of all kinds to build a beloved community that is safe and welcoming to all. That was the message and the goal of the Vincent Chin 40th Remembrance & Rededication.
Who is Vincent Chin? Vincent Chin was a 27-year-old Chinese American attending his all-American bachelor party in Detroit on June 19, 1982 to celebrate his upcoming wedding. That night, he was brutally beaten to death by two white men, with a baseball bat at a time of intense anti-Asian hate. The men never served a day in jail and were only sentenced to three years of probation and $3,000 in fines. Instead of celebrating his wedding, his 400 guests attended his funeral. Vincent worked two jobs—a draftsman by day in Oak Park and a waiter on weekends at a Chinese restaurant in Ferndale. He also attended night school to learn computer operations. He was the only child of Lily and C.W. Hing Chin, a Highland Park couple who adopted him from a Chinese orphanage when he was six. Lily and David, a U.S. Army veteran who fought in World War II, were both working-class immigrants from China’s Guangdong province. They labored in Detroit’s Chinese laundries and restaurants—the few industries where Asian immigrants could find jobs.
Learn more about Vincent Chin’s legacy at VincentChin.org. Feature | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Sloan’s Lake Park in Denver
Sat. July 23
8am to dusk (races) 10am – 7pm (festival)
Sun. July 24
8am to dusk (races) 10am – 5pm (festival)
Colorado Dragon Boat Festival Free Event!
Theme: Year of the Tiger Celebration Join Colorado’s annual celebration of Asian and Asian American heritage with the biggest Dragon Boat Festival in the US! @codragonboat | cdbf.org July is a wonderful time of the year in Denver. Summer is officially in full swing, we watch fireworks across the city at the beginning of the month, and we close things out with one of our favorite traditions — the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan’s Lake Park. We unfortunately haven’t been able to experience the festival for the past two years due to COVID-19 and toxic algae blooms, but 2022 is shaping up to be a restoration of this annual end-of-the-month celebration of dragon boat races, delicious food, local vendors, and phenomenal performances. The Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is the largest AAPI celebration in the Rocky Mountain Region and draws over 150,000 attendees per year! With over 40 teams racing, 20+ food vendors, 50+ marketplace vendors, and plenty of perforDragon Boat Festival | Asian Avenue Magazine
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mances — the festival is bound to have something for everyone. We highly recommend joining for the opening ceremony, which starts at 9:45am on Saturday. The ceremony will feature Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu parading its 75-foot long, colorful, traditional Chinese Dragon throughout Sloan’s Lake Park, the Dragon’s presence symbolizing the chasing away of “negative energy”, sending good luck, good fortune, and a safe day of racing to all of the race teams, vendors, and attendees. Experiences like this, in addition to other oppor-
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July 2022 | Cover Story
tunities to engage in Asia American and Pacific Islander culture like live art demos and interactive art projects, are the reason why Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is such a staple in our community and why we host this event year after year. The emphasis on art and culture is all about representASIAN, which celebrates the amazing contributions and accomplishments of the Colorado AAPI community. This year, we can expect to see some incredible work by Casey Kawaguchi, Ratha Sok, Grace Gee, Bakemono 0504, and the Japanese Arts Network.
Volunteers are the backbone of the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival! Sign up to be a Dragonteer and volunteer at the festival at: cdbf.org/summervolunteers Admission to the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival is FREE and vendors accept credit cards! While there is no parking at Sloan’s Lake Park, attendees are encouraged to use Lyft/Uber, local park and rides close to the park, as well as bike and walk to the event. We hope to see everyone there! For those who are interested in supporting the organization that hosts this event (Colorado Dragon Boat, a 501(c)3 nonprofit), please visit cdbf.org and consider making a donation to support the operations and programming of events like this.
2022 Performers: Arcinda (The Arts & Culture of Indonesia) Bboy Factory Bella Diva World Dance Chinese Culture Studio Christina Yeh Dance Studio Denver Taiko Filipino-American Community of Colorado GDPT Nguyen Thieu Buddhist Youth Association Great Wall Chinese Academy Halau Kalama Illuminate Dance Crew International Shotokan Karate Federation JA-NE Cultural Mixtape Jasmine Flower Dance KPOP Dance Team
Mudra Dance Studio Mudra Taiko Ensemble Night Routine Platinum Divaz Dance Co Prananvalaya Arts Rocky Mountain Movement Shaolin Hung Mei Kung Fu Spirit Of Cambodia Cultural Alliance StepIntoMelody Dance Studio Tomiki Sport Aikido Association Tiger Kim’s Academy Taekwondo Tri State/Denver Buddhist Temple Minyoukai USA Shaolin Kung Fu Academy Varua Motu Polynesia See full list and schedule at: cdbf.org/2022-performers
Dragon Boat Festival | Asian Avenue Magazine
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COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What you need to know Vaccines are now available for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Why do kids need a COVID-19 vaccine?
A COVID-19 vaccine can prevent your child from getting COVID-19 and spreading it at home and in school. If your child gets COVID-19, a COVID-19 vaccine could prevent severe illness. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can also help keep your child in school and more safely have playdates and participate in sports and other group activities.
What are the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines for kids?
Similar symptoms to those experienced by adults, but the most common include: • Pain, redness or swelling where the shot was given • Fatigue • Headache • Chills • Muscle pain • Fever • Joint pain • Swollen lymph nodes • Nausea and vomiting • Feeling unwell Consult your child’s doctor, local health department, or pharmacy for an appointment, or go to vaccines.gov.
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July 2022 | Vaccination Information
On June 15, an expert panel convened by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that two vaccines, made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are safe and effective for children ages 6 months and older. On June 18, the Centers for Disease Control’s vaccine committee agreed that the benefits of vaccinating kids in this age group outweighed the potential harms, and CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky formally recommended both vaccines. “We know millions of parents and caregivers are eager to get their young children vaccinated, and with today’s decision, they can,” Walensky said. Both the FDA and CDC panels agreed unanimously that vaccinating kids is an important way to protect them from the most serious effects of disease, including hospitalization and death, and voted to authorize Moderna’s vaccine for kids ages 6 months through 5 years of age, and Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine for kids ages 6 months through 4 years. While rates of COVID-19 in this population are relatively low, rates of hospitalization are increasing, possibly due to the dominance of the Omicron variant. According to the latest data from the CDC, more than 2 million cases of COVID-19 have occurred among children 4 years old or younger since the start of the pandemic, leading to more than 440 deaths. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer, more reliable way to build protection than getting sick with COVID-19. The known risks of COVID-19 and possible severe complications—such as long-term health problems, hospitalization, and even death—
outweigh the potential risks of having a rare, adverse reaction to vaccination. The benefit of COVID-19 vaccines, like other vaccines, is that those who get vaccinated get protection without risking the potentially serious consequences of getting sick with COVID-19. Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for children are safe and effective. Parents and caregivers should get their child vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine that is available to them. Both these vaccines are made using the messenger RNA platform. Target population: The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is authorized for children 6 months to 4 years of age. The Moderna vaccine is authorized for children 6 months to 5 years of age. Doses: The Pfizer vaccine requires three doses: the first two given 21 days apart and the third dose to be administered eight weeks after the second. The third shot is critical. Without it, children are likely not protected. Moderna, on the other hand, developed a two-dose vaccine. The shots are given four weeks apart, after which a child would be termed fully vaccinated or up to date on their Covid vaccines. Moderna vaccine: Only two trips to the doctor, clinic, or pharmacy completes the primary series. Quicker protection, but harsher side effects. Pfizer vaccine: Milder reactions, but it will take nearly three months to get a child fully vaccinated. Requires three medical visits and three vaccinations. Failing to get the third shot means a child probably wouldn’t be protected.
A letter in regards to COVID vaccination clinics from Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice (CAHEP)
5250 Leetsdale Drive # 110 Denver, CO 80246 Tel: 303-954-0058 | www.cahep.org Colorado Alliance for Health Equity and Practice is reaching out because we are honored to serve our community and know that trust has been damaged due to the news from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regarding our off-site COVID vaccination efforts. Our staff want to apologize for the inconvenience and confusion caused by this situation. What occurred? The CDPHE has recently stated that the vaccine temperature logs we maintained at our off-site clinics were insufficient and that the vaccines were transported in vaccine transportation containers not for normal use. Due to concerns that certain vaccinations offered off-site from CAHEP may not have been as effective, the CDPHE is requesting that single dose re-vaccinations be considered for anyone who was vaccinated at one of these off-site clinics. We are working with the Department to ensure that any requested re-vaccination work is completed as soon as possible and a letter mentioning the various vaccination events has been mailed. There is no special risk of danger from the vaccines we delivered. If COVID vaccines were not kept at recommended temperatures, there is no harm, but the vaccinations may be less effective in preventing infection from the COVID virus. (It’s important to note that we believe the vaccines we delivered were always kept at recommended temperatures.) We conducted more than five dozen off-site clinics for many of our community’s most vulnerable residents. At these off-site clinics we followed the CDC’s guidance regarding appropriate refrigeration of COVID vaccines to the extent that we understood that guidance. In all our clinics well-trained staff includ-
ing doctors, nurses and pharmacists were present. In most events we also had emergency care staff present and no serious adverse reaction was recorded. In all cases the vaccine delivery records were entered in a CDPHE data-logging system such as Colorado Immunization Information System or PrepMOD—Colorado Mass Vaccination Portal. Did the CDPHE attend our clinics to monitor our work? Yes, many of our COVID clinics were conducted with CDPHE officials onsite. During these clinics we were never alerted that we might be doing anything other than following prescribed vaccine clinic protocol. Some of these events were co-organized with the CDPHE to help vulnerable hard-to-reach populations. In reaction to this situation, CDPHE is reviewing its records to determine if Department officials gave our clinic needed guidance and is retraining its compliance staff. From the CDPHE news release: “CDPHE is working to determine if the compliance officer provided the CAHEP - Family Medicine Clinic for Health Equity with all the necessary information for compliance at off-site vaccination clinics. Immunization Branch intends to retrain all of its compliance staff, implement a new requirement for all future COVID-19 site visit reports to be reviewed by compliance unit supervisors, and implement a new requirement for CDPHE pre-approval of all off-site clinics performed by enrolled COVID vaccine providers.” We cooperated fully with the CDPHE in its inquiry into our COVID vaccination clinics. As requested, we provided the CDPHE with patient forms, data entry logs and some vaccine temperature logs from our off-site COVID clinics; the agency
acknowledges this, but states that they require additional temperature documentation to ensure regulations were adhered to completely. We believed our coolers and cooling materials were approved for use at our off-site clinics. The CDPHE has informed us that they believe we used unapproved coolers and ice packs at our off-site clinics. We used these materials believing them to be approved for the transportation and storage at the off-site clinics. In those cases, the coolers and ice packs were the ones that CDPHE used when providing us with vaccines. Why do we offer off-site vaccine clinics to our community? We believe in serving people in the best place possible for them. COVID has confronted us and the communities we serve with unprecedented challenges as we mutually strive to allow everyone to enjoy the best health possible. Our clinic was created to meet the unique cultural needs of minority populations in Colorado. We provide medical, mental health and dental services to vulnerable families, many of whom don’t have insurance. Our services are provided either free of charge or at low-cost relative to other clinics. We offer COVID testing to all our patients on a sliding fee scale. We do this work because we believe everyone has a right to good health care. What should I do if I still have concerns or questions? We urge you to write to us at admin@ cahep.org.
From CAHEP-Family Medicine Clinic Staff and Community Volunteers
Vaccination Information | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Voting in Colorado’s General Election in November The state of Colorado holds regularly scheduled state elections every two years; a state Primary Election in June and a General Election in November. Election Day: Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Voting with a mail ballot: Every registered voter automatically receives a ballot by mail in Colorado. Your mail ballot will be sent to the address in your voter registration file, which you can check and update at GoVoteColorado.gov. Early in-person voting: If you prefer to vote in person, you can visit a vote center to cast your ballot in the 15 days before the election, not including Sundays. In-person voting on Election Day: The state’s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. What’s new this year? Due to population growth in the 2020 census, Colorado picked up a new seat in the U.S. House and established the 8th congressional district in the Denver area. Also, a new redistricting plan has changed the boundaries of some state legislative and U.S. congressional districts and may affect which candidates appear on your ballot. What races are on the ballot and who’s running? • U.S. Senate: incumbent Michael Bennet (D), Joe O’Dea (R) • U.S. House: all 8 seats • Governor: incumbent Jared Polis (D), Heidi Ganahl (R)
• Secretary of State: incumbent Jena Griswold (D), Pam Anderson (R) • State Senate: 17 of 35 seats • State House: all 65 seats How do I register to vote? Online: If you have a Colorado driver’s license, an ID card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue or a Social Security number, you can register online on the secretary of state’s website. By mail, email or fax: Download and complete the Colorado Voter Registration Form and send it to your county clerk and recorder’s office. If you can’t access the roster of offices, call the secretary of state’s office at 303-894-2200 and select the prompt for election and campaign finance questions. By phone: Call your county clerk and recorder’s office to request that a paper copy of the registration form be mailed to you. Or call the secretary of state’s office at 303-894-2200 to ask for a form. You can mail, email, fax or hand-deliver the completed form. Go online to check and update your registration status. You can also contact or visit your county clerk and recorder’s office, or call the secretary of state’s office at 303-894-2200 if you have questions about your status.
How can I get a mail ballot? Are there important deadlines? Every registered voter whose information is up to date will automatically receive a mail ballot. Check your voter registration information to make sure your current address is on file. Ballots will be automatically mailed to registered voters between Oct. 17 and Oct. 21 for the general election. Completed ballots must be received by your county clerk and recorder’s office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you miss that deadline or fail to sign your envelope, your vote will not count. You can return your mail ballot: By mail: Postage rates may vary. Check with your county clerk and recorder’s office to see what your ballot requires or, to be certain you have enough postage, take your completed ballot to a post office. In person: Your mail ballot package will include information about locations where you can safely drop it off. Or you can bring your ballot to your county clerk and recorder’s office or contact the office to find secure drop-off and drop-box locations in your area. Also, about 22 days before the election, a “lookup tool” on GoVoteColorado.gov will go live and provide locations where you can hand-deliver your ballot.
Tom Kim wins the 2022 Colorado State Senate - District 27 Republican Primary.
Tom Kim, a businessman and former lawyer of Korean descent, defeated JulieMarie Shepherd Macklin, a small business owner of Indian descent. [tomkimforcolorado.com] District 27 is based in Centennial, a suburb of Denver in southern Arapahoe County, and also includes nearby Dove Valley. 16
July 2022 | Feature
Asian Real Estate Association of America’s 2022 State of Asia America report AREAA’s annual compilation of data relating to AAPI housing, demographics, education, income, policy and more See the full report: areaa.org/resource-asia-america-report
Similar to years past, barriers to AAPI homeownership continue to be discrimination, mortgage readiness and affordability. Therefore, it is not surprising that AAPI homeownership rates lag behind the average American, 61% vs 64%. The AAPI population is the fastest-growing demographic in the United States and has grown from 11.9 million in 2000 to over 22 million individuals today. This growth rate of 81% is higher than the 71% growth rate for Hispanics, 20% growth in the black population, and little to no change in the white population. According to Pew Research, the number of AAPIs is expected to hit 46 million by 2060. 14% of Asian Americans identify as multiracial, and 3% identify as Hispanic. On average, AAPIs have an above-average income, but this varies drastically between different subgroups. Hmong Americans have a poverty rate of 37.8%, followed by Cambodian and Laotian Americans. Despite the general economic well-being, AAPIs lag in terms of homeownership rate behind the average American, 61% vs 64%. AAPIs are more likely to be college-educated, with 54% of AAPI individuals over the age of 25 having bachelor’s as opposed to the national average of 33%. AAPI demand for housing is high: 65% of real estate professionals working with Asian buyers say demand for housing is greater that pre-pandemic. But Asian hate continues to impact homeownership for AAPI buyers. 60% of AAPI homebuyers identified specific neighborhoods, communities or cities they would consider
because of concerns over anti-Asian sentiments, while 60% of real estate professionals working with AAPI clients discouraged or dissuaded AAPI home buyers from considering specific neighborhoods, communities or cities they would consider due to potential anti-Asian sentiments. Nearly one-half of all survey respondents believe anti-Asian sentiments are getting worse overall—and just 15% believe it is getting better. According to AREAA survey results, 70% of recent AAPI homebuyers say “personal safety/security” was a “major factor” in their move. Further, 37% of respondents stated that getting away from “prejudice and discrimination” was a major reason for their move, while another 31% said it was a minor factor as well. The first step in securing mortgage approval involves being credit visible, which refers to consumers who have a credit record with the National Consumer Reporting Association. However, many AAPI immigrants are “credit invisible” since they don’t have any credit histories and are not captured in credit bureau data. Approximately 45% of the country’s AAPI population, representing 8.6 million people, is concentrated in the West. While
many AAPI potential buyers are mortgage ready, and credit visible, affordability rates in the region are rock bottom, resulting in migrations to more affordable markets in the Midwest and South. The 2022 State of Asia America report was created in partnership with RE/MAX and Freddie Mac and utilized findings from more than 30 sources including a survey conducted by TDW+Co.
Feature | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Interview by Mary J. Schultz
Q&A
with Sean Guerrero,
Jade Mountain Brewing Co. in Aurora
Sean brewing with his father Tom
Jade Mountain Brewing Company is a taproom and teahouse, founded by Sean Guerrero, who first established the concept in China while living there with his wife. Now, the brewery serves unique flavors and fusions in Aurora, while hosting community events to amplify local business owners and celebrate Asian and other cultures. What makes Jade Mountain so unique is its mix of beer and tea. What inspired the brewery-teahouse combination? Our original location in Huzhou, China was an old tea house on a street filled with only tea houses and mahjong shops. My neighbors shared their knowledge of tea and I shared beer. It was natural to combine the two, especially because tea complements beer in similar ways as coffee. One of our signature beers isn’t even a beer at all. Dragonfruit Oolong is a Hard Tea. Seltzer based, gluten free and brewed with loose leaf Tie Guan Yin Oolong tea and massive amounts of Red Dragonfruit. It’s probably the prettiest beer we have. When did you first open and why did you set up in Aurora? Our original location in China started in 2015, but we began working on opening in Colorado in 2018. There were many
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July 2022 | Inside Story
factors in why it took so long to open, but COVID was definitely one of them. We were ready to open our first space in Denver in 2020, but that was put on hold and new requirements and restrictions from the city and our landlord made that spot unusable. So we moved out to Aurora in March 2021 and opened May 1st. I grew up in Aurora and graduated from Smoky Hill High School. Aurora wasn’t our first pick, however it’s turned out to be the best fit for us and our brand. Aurora is extremely diverse, which is something we wanted to focus on as a brewery. Also, we frequent H-Mart and Pacific Ocean Market for cool fruits and flavors for our beers! Has there been an inventory shortage? Aluminum cans have been difficult to source, especially for someone as small as us. We also specialize in heavily fruited beers and cost of shipping have gone up and climate/fires in certain areas have made sourcing fruit difficult. Especially because we use so many exotic fruits such as durian, dragonfruit and lychee. Why do you offer food and also have food trucks parked outside? Well, we don’t have a full kitchen. We offer small snacks and spruced up instant
ramen, but we try to pick the best tasting instant ramen out there. It’s better than frozen pizzas some breweries do. However, I also own a ramen food truck that will soon be permanently parked at Jade Mountain so everyone can have a taste of some legit ramen. It’s called Tamayama Ramen, keep an eye out. What else would you like to share with Asian Avenue readers? Since Jade Mountain was born in China, I chose pieces of the taproom that remind me of places I have a connection to in China. The bar is Chengdu, the mural on the wall is Guilin, the water features are Nanxun. Even though we are Chinese, we try to be all encompassing and utilize ingredients, fruits and styles from many Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam among many others. I want everyone to feel welcomed and accepted at Jade. Even if you don’t drink, we have something for you.
Jade Mountain Brewing Company 4233 S. Buckley Rd, Aurora, CO 80013
720.289.3612 www.jademountain.beer @jademountainbrewing
We Were Dreamers:
An Immigrant Superhero Origin Story By Simu Liu | On Amazon for $22 It’s not another celebrity memoir. It’s an autobiography about growing up between cultures, finding your family, and becoming the master of your own extraordinary circumstances. Celebrity Simu Liu catapulted to the big screen when he became the first Asian superhero in a Marvel production, Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings. “Oh great, another underdog story of overachievement. Just what we needed,” said Ronny Chieng, one of the actors of Crazy Rich Asian. Liu tells his story about living with his grandparents in China, moving with his parents and settling in Canada. He chronicles his family’s journey from China to the bright lights of Hollywood with tons of humor. The hardest part of the memoir is the struggles his parents encountered as Chinese immigrants, trying to survive through corporate America and transferring that exhaustion on their son. “This is the story I want to tell – a story about our little family of three that crossed the ocean from China to North
Reviewed by Mary J. Schultz
America in the relentless pursuit of a better life,” Liu said. “A story about the obstacles that nearly tore us apart, whether it was a clash of cultures, a gap of generations or simply our own stubbornness.” Liu shares his experiences of attending a prestigious high school, his college antics, and the hatred of an accounting career. His foray into acting became a fortunate accident. If you are an aspiring actor or actress, take a deep dive into the later chapters because it’s a play by play piece of all the gimmicks and shyster forays of getting ripped off. At first as Liu grows up, he is the poster child for model-minority Asian excellence --- he earns straight A’s, crushes national math competitions, and makes his parents proud. But as time passes, he grows increasingly disillusioned with the path that has been laid out for him. Less than a year out of college, at 22, his life hits rock bottom when he is laid off from his first job as an accountant. Left to his own devices, and with nothing left to lose, Liu embarks on a journey that will take him far outside of his comfort zone into the world of show business. Through constant rejections and comical missteps, Liu’s determination to carve out a path for himself leads him to not only succeed as an actor, but also to open the door to reconciling with his parents.
The Swimmers: A novel By Julie Otsuka | On Amazon for $20 From the best-selling, award-winning author Julie Otsuka comes The Swimmers, a novel about what happens to a group of recreational swimmers when a crack appears at the bottom of their local pool. This searing, intimate story of mothers and daughters—and the sorrows of implacable loss—is the most commanding and unforgettable work yet from Julie Otsuka. About the Author: Julie Otsuka was born and raised in California. Now residing in New York City, she is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, and her first novel, When the Emperor Was Divine won the 2003 Asian American Literary Award and the 2003 American Library Association’s Alex Award. Her second novel, The Buddha in the Attic, was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2011 and won the 2012 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and the 2011 Langum Prize in American Historical Fiction. The Buddha in the Attic was an international best seller and the win-
ner of the prestigious Prix Femina Étranger in 2012, and the Albatros Literaturpreis in 2013. Synopsis: The swimmers are unknown to one another except through their private routines (slow lane, medium lane, fast lane) and the solace each takes in their morning or afternoon laps. But when a crack appears at the bottom of the pool, they are cast out into an unforgiving world without comfort or relief. One of these swimmers is Alice, who is slowly losing her memory. For Alice, the pool was a final stand against the darkness of her encroaching dementia. Without the fellowship of other swimmers and the routine of her daily laps she is plunged into dislocation and chaos, swept into memories of her childhood and the Japanese American incarceration camp in which she spent the war. Alice’s estranged daughter, reentering her mother’s life too late, witnesses her stark and devastating decline. Book Reviews | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Photos by Gil Asakawa
U.S. Representative Grace Meng visits with Denver’s Asian community and speaks Colorado Democratic Party’s Obama Gala On June 4, 2022, Congresswoman Grace Meng was welcomed in Denver by local Asian American leaders for a community conversation at Asian Pacific Development Center. Congresswoman Meng, who is of Taiwanese descent, is the U.S. Representative for New York’s 6th congressional district. She is the first and only Asian American member of Congress from New York State. She shared about her path to Congress and the current legislation that will impact Asian Americans. Community leaders, in turn, introduced themselves and shared about Colorado initiatives, such as the restoration of Denver’s historic Chinatown and Amache National Historic Site in Granada, Colo. being designated as America’s newest National Park. Later in the evening, Congresswoman Meng served as the keynote speaker at
the Colorado Democratic Party’s fifth annual Obama Gala at Denver Botanic Gardens. Howard Chou, First Vice Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, introduced Congresswoman Meng to the stage, noting she was his mentor and friend. He said: “Congresswoman Meng’s wisdom, her presence, her passion to fight for us is something that we can all aspire to become. An absolute treasure for our community and we are fortunate to have her in Congress!” The annual gala welcomed Democrats from across the state to celebrate wins and reenergize for the midterm election. The dinner and VIP reception was attended by Governor Jared Polis, U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, U.S. Representative Joe Neguse, U.S. Representative Jason Crow, and other Democratic officials at the federal and local levels, as well as candidates.
Emceed by Laura Menorah, the event presented the Obama Awards which included Democrat of the Year going to Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Lifetime Achievement recognition for Sandy Baca-Sandoval. For the inaugural dinner in 2018, Colorado Democratic Party officers named their annual gala the Obama Dinner in honor of Barack and Michelle Obama. Rep. Meng, who resides in Queens, NY, is the First Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and has been an integral voice in standing up against the hate and violence targeting Asian communities, specifically with her leadership in the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act that was signed into law in May 2021. Earlier this year, she also introduced legislation to create a federal holiday for Lunar New Year.
Howard Chou introduces the gala’s keynote speaker U.S. Representative Grace Meng.
Congresswoman Grace Meng receives a standing ovation after her speech at the Obama Gala.
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July 2022 | On Scene
Photos by Annie VanDan
Asian American groups rally at national Unity March Asian Americans and allies gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on June 25 for the Unity March. The event’s goal was to advance socioeconomic and cultural equity, racial justice, and solidarity. Speakers and performers took to the stage to dispel the “model minority” myth that all Asian Americans are successful, which has pitted them against other racial groups. They also shared family history and urged attendees to vote. The event encouraged participation in democracy, such as access to voting, citizenship, and civic power for immigrants and communities of color; racial and economic justice, such as investing in workers, small businesses, entrepreneurs of color, and women; and cultural equity and representation, such as ensuring diverse stories are told by cultural and educational institutions and leaders. The crowd waved handmade signs with messages such as “Not your model minority,”“Stop AAPI hate” and “Protect Asian women.” The Unity March was founded by national organizations, including Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ), the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and APIAVote. Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network participated as a partner organization and attended the event. Learn more at: unitymarch.com.
Asian Chamber of Commerce brings small business owners to the table
The National Asian & Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (ACE) and Asian Chamber of Commerce (ACC) hosted the AAPISTRONG Small Business Roundtable in Denver on June 8 at the ACC office. The event highlighted a conversation with business owners, elected officials, and corporate leaders on the state of job opportunities, AAPI small business, and
pandemic recovery. President and CEO of National ACE Chilin Tong joined remotely to offer opening remarks about the important role Asian business owners play in the US. ACC President Fran Campbell introduced the dignitaries in attendance, including Bill Huang, Director General of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver and Mikami Yoichi, Consul-Gener-
Small business owners shared about the challenges caused by the pandemic.
Travis Tom, ACC Chair, shares upcoming plans for the chamber.
Vietnamese American singer KHA performs at the Unity March.
al of Japan in Denver. ACC Board Chair Travis Tom shared about the chamber’s plans to establish a business directory to connect small businesses to potential government and corporate contract opportunities. Englewood Judge Joe Jefferson served as the event’s keynote speaker, noting that more Asian-owned businesses have opened in Colorado in recent years. “The Asian community’s culture has so much to offer the larger American melting pot,” said Jefferson. “Diversity is one of the great strengths of America, but in order for it to continue to be a benefit, we must work together towards shared goals, keeping an open mind to others, and bringing our best ideas.” Learn more at: acccolorado.org.
Englewood Judge Joe Jefferson presents as the keynote speaker.
On Scene | Asian Avenue Magazine
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Experience the Pacific Islands through music and dance
Photos and article by Mary J. Schultz
On June 25, the 14th annual Lei Day was celebrated in Castle Rock with nearly 600 tickets sold for dinner and a show of dances from Hawaii, Tahiti, Maori, and more. Presented by Hālau Kalama, the show included a special performance by Kuana Torres Kahele, also known for his song in the Pixar movie, Lava. “It’s my way of sharing my culture with the world,” Kahele shared during his performance. Kahele is a Hawaiian musician, vocalist, songwriter, record producer and educator of the Hawaiian culture. He teaches dance all over the world. After his Colorado visit, he headed to Washington,
D.C., Japan, and Wisconsin. Throughout his performance, he weaved stories about his music. He also shared details about his family through song. Dances from all over the South Pacific enchanted the audience. Oohs and ahhs were heard throughout the auditorium when little tykes danced and swayed their hips to the Hawaiian tunes. A Hawaiian meal was provided by Aurora restaurant No Ke Aloha, featuring kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, macaroni salad, greens, and pineapple slices. Other goodies included homemade cookies, fruit pies and Hawaiian bars.
Vendors were invited to showcase their Hawaiian leis, island décor, jewelry plus arts and crafts. In addition, a silent and online auction were featured at the back of the hall to raise funds as a way to provide reduced tuition to interested students curious about hula and island dancing. After the event, workshops were offered teaching Ukulele, Keiki (children), Kane (men), Gracious Ladies (45+), Hula ‘Auana (modern style hula) and Hula Kahiko (ancient style hula). For more information about classes and performances, visit halaukalama.com or contact Ellen Akiona at halaukalama303@gmail.com.
HELLOOASIANAVEMAG.COM TEL: 303.937.6888 WWW.ASIANAVEMAG.COM
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July 2022 | On Scene
Tiger Kim’s Taekwondo Academy celebrates its 46th anniversary and grand opening at its new location On June 4, Tiger Kim’s Taekwondo Academy celebrated its 46th anniversary at their new location on East Colfax. Tiger Kim’s Academy is the oldest Korean Taekwondo academy in Colorado. Since 1976, they have been teaching Olympic Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do (which teaches full contact and full motion technique) and Hapkido (which focuses on
self-defense methods). On the morning of their grand opening event, students completed belt rank testing, which was followed by a celebratory taiko drum performance by Mirai Daiko. In the afternoon, Grandmaster Kim performed the ribbon cutting and a potluck party with live music was held for the martial arts instructors and students.
Tiger Kim’s Academy’s black belt instructors teach a monthly women’s self-defense class every first Sunday of the month. They also offer birthday parties which include a bouncing castle, heavy bags, obstacle shapes, flip mats, piñata, and breaking boards. Learn more about Tiger Kim’s Academy at: tigerkim.com.
On Scene | Asian Avenue Magazine
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STORIES OF SOLIDARITY
The Japanese american Experience in Five Points A neighborhood mapping project + exhibit from Japanese Arts Network and Mile High JACL
The History In the wake of WWII during the 1940’s, following the closing of America’s incarceration camps, the area surrounding and within the historic Five Points neighborhood in Denver saw a surge of JapaneseAmerican culture and business in the “Larimer Corridor” downtown. Japanese businesses were concentrated during this time in the Five Points area due to oppressive redlining which did not allow them to open in other parts of the city. Japanese arrivals joined other communities of color who also inhabited and owned businesses in this stretch of neighborhood.
Visit ja-ne.org/SOS starting on Saturday, July 9th to participate in our free virtual and app-based neighborhood mapping project. Hear the stories of Japanese American community members, and other Five Points neighbors, as told through their voices in this creative storytelling and artistic tour. Visit the in-person gallery exhibit at The Savoy Denver (2700 Arapahoe St) to meet with us, learn more, and participate in viewing the Japanese American National Museum's Virtual Reality short film "A Life in Pieces: The Diary and Letters of Stanley Hayami", the true story of a young teen's experience at Heart Mountain concentration camp - told through his artwork and writings from camp and wartime letters as they are brought to life.
OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION - July 9th, 7:00 PM
GALLERY DATES + HOURS: Sat 7/9 - 11AM - 9PM (Opening Day), Sun 7/10 - 11AM - 4PM Fri 7/15 - 3PM - 8PM, Sat 7/16 - 11AM - 7PM, Sun 7/17 - 11AM - 4PM Fri 7/22 - 11AM - 7PM, Sat 7/23 - 11AM - 3PM Times are subject to change, please reach-out to confirm.