Asian Avenue magazine - September 2020

September 2020

Volume 15 | Issue 9

students head back to school

Restaurant peek: urban village

Kimiko side starts etsy

The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado (APABA) is a professional organization of Asian Pacific American attorneys in Colorado.

If you or your business has been affected by COVID-19 and you have legal questions, we are here to listen and to provide resources.

Landlord / Tenant issues Business operation questions Labor / Employment issues Immigration issues Estate planning / probate questions Questions about the CARES Act: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). NOTE: We are NOT a 7A lender and do not process loan applications.

Disclaimer: The Free Legal Hotline, and all information provided with respect to the hotline, is for information purposes only. Such information does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created through the Free Legal Hotline or with any of its responding attorneys or volunteers.

Users of the Free Legal Hotline should contact their own attorney to seek personalized legal advice.

Those experiencing hate crimes or incidents are encouraged to contact local law enforcement or the FBI Denver Field office. If a bias-motivated act is happening in real time, call 911.

If you live in Denver, Denver Police Department has a Bias Motivated Crime Hotline: 720-913-6458.

www.apaba-colorado.org

PRESIDENT’S NOTE To our Asian Avenue readers, Students are heading back to school. Parents, teachers and school administrators spent all summer considering their options and making difficult decisions. In the Denver area, school districts have looked at health data in their region to determine how best to open this fall.

In this issue, we interview two educators: Jason Wu and Ying Ong, who both highlight the importance of building relationships with their students. Ying also addresses the inequities that exist in the education system and how important it is now, more than ever, to speak to students about race and racism. Whether it is online, in-person or a hybrid model, we wish everyone a successful start back to school.

We are excited for Kimiko Side’s new online business venture after seeing her out in the Denver community sharing her Japanese crafts for so many years. Now as she is nearing 98 years old, she has started an Etsy shop. Please support her and shop for your next greeting card at: etsy.com/shop/kimikoskrafts.

As we near election day on November 3, take a look at the 10 Things You Need to Know About Voting in Colorado.

In the coming weeks, make sure your address is up-to-date so that you receive your mail-in ballot. Also, determine where you can drop-off your completed ballots before election day itself.

Lastly, we are thinking about the Duong family as father Richard and son Jayden undergo surgery on September 9. Richard will be donating part of his liver to Jayden, who has been living with bilary artesia since he was two months old. Read more about Jayden’s story and how you can help the family with the liver transplant expenses.

Annie Guo VanDan, President | Asian Avenue magazine | www.asianavemag.com

President’s Note | asian avenue magazine

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SPOTLIGHT: Kimiko Side, local Japanese community volunteer, opens online Etsy crafts shop

COMMUNITY: Two-year-old Jayden, who lives with bilary artesia, undergoes liver transplant surgery donated by father

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FEATURE: 10 Thing to Know about Voting in Colorado

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FEATURE: Kamala Harris makes history as first Black and South Asian woman as VP nominee

COVER STORY: Students head back to school this fall wearing face masks, washing hands, and sitting in socially distanced classrooms CULTURE: Mid-Autumn Festival CULTURE: National Rice Month RESTAURANT PEEK: Urban Village presents Indian fine dining

BOOK: ‘this is it’ poetry book shares poems about anti-Asian racism

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ON SCENE: Taiwan donates masks

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September 2020 | Table of Contents

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Publisher & Founder CHRISTINA YUTAI GUO President ANNIE GUO VANDAN Editorial Director MARY JENEVERRE SCHULTZ Graphic Designer/Videographer LIJIN ZHAO Web Designer JASON ZHANG Marketing Manager JOIE HA Marketing Coordinator LINA ZHU Staff Writer PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG Staff Writer JESSALYN HERRERIA LANGEVIN

on the cover Schools reopen for the fall with in-person classes, remote learning and hybrid models.

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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Kimiko Side is open for business, selling her handcrafted Japanese cards Article and Photos By Gil Asakawa

For anyone who loves Japanese crafts, Kimiko Side teaches monthly classes at the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple and has an annual presence at the Sakura Matsuri, or Cherry Blossom Festival, and events at Simpson United Methodist Church like the annual Hina Matsuri, or Doll Festival - at least before COVID-19 struck.

Kimiko has been active in the area’s Japanese and Japanese American community organizations, from the Denver-Takayama Sister City Committee, which she chaired for over a decade, to the Mile High chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. She and her husband Gene also ran several locations of a Japanese gift shop.

Now, Kimiko, who is turning a spry 98-years-young, is taking that dedication online.

She’s opened an online shop to share her crafts with people all over the U.S. Kimiko’s Krafts currently features 26 card designs ranging from intricately folded butterflies to children or geisha in elaborate kimono, for $5 each.

For the shop’s launch, fill out a short survey by September 28. One winner will be chosen at random to receive five free cards. Plus, if the winner has purchased any number of cards before the contest ends, Kimiko will double the prize and send 10 cards for free. The survey for the drawing is at bit.ly/kimikoskontest.

Kimiko grew up immersed in Japanese culture. She was born in China before World War II and was taught the traditional arts as a child. She and her family moved to postwar Japan, which was devastated by the conflict, where she worked for a bank and met a GI named Gene Side who wooed and eventually married her. The couple chose to settle in Denver after Gene’s stint in the Occupation of Japan, and opened Madam Butterfly Gift Shop from their home on East Colfax to sell Japanese gifts and arts and crafts. They eventually had locations in Lakewood and Boulder.

For her decades-long dedication to building bridges of culture and personal relationships between Colorado and Japan, she was awarded the medal of The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, from the Emperor of Japan. She’s also received many honors from Denver and Takayama over the years. She received the Asian American Hero of Colorado Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Now she’s embarking on a new venture in this time of pandemic, bringing her Japanese culture to people through Kimiko’s Krafts on Etsy.

Visit her shop at etsy.com/shop/kimikoskrafts

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September 2020 | Spotlight

”

I have been exhibiting traditional Japanese doll making and washi paper crafts at Asian festivals in Denver, as well as promoting traditional Japanese art and crafts in local communities for many years. I have not only participated in events, but have also donated all of the proceeds from exhibitions as well as material costs to the event organizations.

I have also demonstrated Japanese crafts at local schools and colleges, museums, art museums, and the Denver Botanical Garden. I also teach Japanese craft classes every month at the Denver Buddhist Temple and Simpson Methodist Church.

- KIMIKO SIDE

FIGHT with JAYDEN Donate to help with his liver transplant | Follow @fightwithjayden

Jayden Duong has been battling biliary atresia since he was two months old. Born in 2017, he is now almost three years old.

Biliary atresia is a rare disease where the bile ducts of the liver have scarred and blocks bile from excreting into the intestines.

This causes bile to build up and damages the liver.

“When Jayden turned two months old, his jaundice was not improving,” said his mother Jeny Duong. “We tried to treat it with light therapy but to no avail.”

After getting blood work done, the pediatrician notified the Greeley family that Jayden may have this rare disease. They were recommended to go to the Children’s Hospital of Colorado for further testing.

“For days to weeks, months, and now years we have shed so many tears wondering why and what could we have done differently,” said Duong.

On November 17, 2017, the same week he was diagnosed with bilary artesia, Jayden underwent Kasai surgery, to surgically attach his small intestines to his liver in an attempt to return bile flow back into his intestines.

After three months, the family was informed the surgery was not successful. During this time, Jayden had also stopped gaining weight and needed a nasogastric tube. The transplant team at Colorado Children’s Hospital now recommended a life-saving liver transplant.

Duong said: “It was heartbreaking to see him go through so much and it wasn’t even the end of it for the little guy yet.”

Several months after Jayden turned one, he was placed on a transplant list.Yet, there continued to be difficulties, not with Jayden but with the family’s health insurance which did not allow Jayden to receive the transplant in Colorado. He was on a transplant list in California. After another month, he was scheduled for surgery, so the family flew to California.

Unfortunately, because Jayden had a cold on his scheduled surgery date, the hospital would not operate on him. He would need to be on immunosuppressants, which would exacerbate his cold and doctors felt he might not be able to fight it off.

“We left heartbroken and de-

feated once more,” said Duong.

“Two years came and went with no calls. After years of fighting with our insurance, we are finally able to get a live donor. No more waiting. Jayden is finally getting his new liver.”

And some good news now!

Jayden will be getting a liver transplant on Sept. 9, 2020 with an organ donation from his father Richard.

Family, friends and Greeley volunteers are helping the family raise $50,000 to assist with transplant-related expenses with the help of the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA).

100% of the proceeds raised from fundraising will go to Jayden for his liver transplant. To donate, go to: cotaforjaydensjourney.com.

Jayden with his parents Richard and Jeny

Donate at cotaforjaydensjourney.com Fight with Jayden | asian avenue magazine

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10 Things You Need to Know About Voting in Colorado This November

By Peg Perl Deputy Director of Elections Clerk and Recorder’s Office, Arapahoe County People across the country are discussing how possible changes in the U.S. Postal Service operations could affect mail ballot voting.

In Colorado, we have built up an excellent infrastructure to make sure voters can exercise their rights. We are in a good place to deal with some possible bumps in the road on the way to Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3). Here are ten ways Colorado voters can help County Elections Divisions protect voters’ rights and count the ballots in a secure and timely manner:

OUTGOING MAIL BALLOTS Check and update voter registration addresses now. Counties pull address lists in late September, so if we want that first mailing of ballots to be as correct as possible and delivered to voters everyone needs to be updating addresses and registering online now.

Ballots can start being mailed on Friday, Oct. 9. Under normal circumstances, this means it will take up to a week for all the ballots to trickle out to all the voters from the mail facility. If you don’t have your ballot yet during that first week, don’t panic.

Starting Monday, Oct. 19 if a voter still hasn’t received their ballot, they can call their County Clerk’s office and get a replacement mailed to them. Also, in many places (like Arapahoe County) voters can call and schedule a curbside ballot pickup appointment at multiple locations for a specific day and time. Spread the word and get a ballot the week of Oct. 19. That week also has Phase 1 Voter Service and Polling Centers (VSPCs) open, which usually have NO WAITING. Voters can come vote in-person or pick up a replacement ballot at those locations Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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September 2020 | Feature

Monday, Oct. 26 is the last day to call and request a ballot be mailed to the voter. Yes, this might be cutting it very close as it’s only 8 days until Election day, so voters might want to take one of the options above instead (curbside pickup/VSPCs). The rest of this week, voters can again vote in-person (or pick up a replacement mail ballot) at VSPCs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with little waiting including, Saturday, Oct. 31. Avoid crowds and encourage social distancing by voting the week before instead of on Election Day.

RETURNING MAIL BALLOTS Ballots must be received by the Clerk by 7 p.m. on Election Day to be counted, and postmarks don’t count.

So vote the ballot right away in early October and there is plenty of time to send back using the U.S. mail. As the month goes later, make sure to always allow at least 7-8 calendar days for mail to return to the Clerk’s office. If a voter doesn’t have a stamp or the exact correct amount of postage, the U.S. Postal Service will still deliver the ballot and the County has a postage due account that pays the difference.

24-hour drop boxes are really the BEST option for returning mail ballots. Every county has these all over and voters can return a ballot in without postage at any time and it will go directly to the Clerk to be processed. These boxes are secure, fireproof, and monitored 24-7 by video cameras. Arapahoe County will have at least 32 drop boxes across the county; voters can check their ballot instructions or Clerk’s website for the list. Don’t worry if the closest drop box to work, home,

or school is for a different county. Under Election law, we still time stamp ballots from other counties in our box as accepted on time and exchange it with the correct county for processing.

Ballot Tracking is another Colorado innovation that all voters should use.

Just sign up and check the status of your returned ballot online with your Clerk (Arapahoe County’s Ballot Track) and you will know when it has been received.

All VSPCs that open starting October 19 forward are also places where voters can drop off completed mail ballots during open hours. Again, that includes Saturday, Oct. 31. No need to wait in line, there is usually an election judge with a ballot drop box by the front door. Show up, drop off, walk away. Some of these are in shopping centers near grocery stores or community centers, so this is very useful even for people only doing minimum trips out of the home. In Arapahoe County, this makes an additional 12 locations available for drop off (plus the 32 drop boxes talked about above).

There are rules about returning someone else’s mail ballot. Under CO law, each person can return up to 10 ballots from other people per election to drop boxes or other locations. So, if a voter has a family member, neighbor, or friend who cannot do the other options above, it is ok to drop the extra ballot off for them. Neighborhood organizations or community organizations could check in on their members needing assistance this way.

VOTING IN PERSON Finally, people who need or want to vote in person at a VSPC, please come between October 19 and November 2 when crowds will not be there. We want everyone to stay healthy – remember, there is still a very active pandemic.

If people are offering to drive a neighbor or someone else who needs to vote in person, please also do that work during the 12 days BEFORE final Election Day. This way we can avoid overwhelming the VSPCs on November 3 when we need to social distance, disinfect between each voter, and take other precautions.

KAMALA HARRIS MAKES HISTORY First Black & South Asian woman on a major party’s presidential ticket

During these unprecedented pandemic times, Kamala Harris stands as a beacon of hope for both Asian Americans and African Americans.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden selected Kamala Harris as his running mate on August 12; she is the first African American and South Asian American to receive this distinction.

This selection also marks a revolutionary moment for women. Only two other women have been nominated as vicepresidential candidates: Sarah Palin by the Republican party in 2008 and Geraldine Ferraro by the Democrats in 1984. Neither made it to the White House.

As the former California attorney general, Harris has been urging for police reform amid nationwide antiracism protests, campaigning against truancy, and going against big banks and mortgage lenders on improperly foreclosing on borrowers.

Community reaction Asian Avenue Magazine asked local community members in Denver about their reaction to Joe Biden’s running mate.

“Her VP nomination speech blew me and others in my circle away,” said Sylvia Smith Brown, who is both Black and Japanese. “I learned so much about her.”

While others couldn’t stop talking about the monumental decision of Joe Biden.

“As a mixed race, middle-class Black man, born and raised in the United States, I am very pleased to hear about Joe Biden’s decision to choose Kamala Harris as his vice-presidential running mate, along with most of my family members,” said Londell Jackson, a resident of Denver.

Others echoed the same sentiment. “To see a woman, identify as both Black and Asian is historic,” said Riyaz Gayasaddin, a member of the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission (DAAPIC). “It

By Mary Jenverre Schultz

resonates with me a lot.”

However, other community members are overly cautious. “It’s really good to see representation for the first time, promising hope,” said Farman Pirzada of Denver. “This is going to change things up, but the older members of my family are just ‘wait-and-see’ because the last election didn’t go as well.”

Someone like me Jackson, like many other Black men, has faced discrimination multiple times in his life. He is overjoyed at seeing someone else in a higher position to “fight the fight.”

“Excited by this turn events, we see her as a Black woman, who has fought our fight. We see her as a mixed-race woman, who has experienced both acceptance and rejection by the hands of our families and communities of naissance,” said Jackson, an education and workforce development professional in Denver. “I see her as someone who will not succumb to the ridiculousness, which is pervasive in the swamp we call our nation’s capital.”

In fact, Gayasaddin, whose parents are from south India, expressed excitement learning more about Kamala during the DNC as she was spotlighted as a professional and her story of being an immigrant child. “It has energized me after watching the convention,” he said.

Influencing friends and family Pirzada, who participates as an active member of DAAPIC, encourages his friends and family to have the difficult conversations about voting. “This is the time. This is the election that is going to count. It’s very important to vote.”

Despite critics of Kamala, Gayasaddin respects her experience and history with fighting for social justice. “I appreciate her boldness and fearlessness,” said Gayasaddin, adding that she doesn’t back

down during committee hearings.

Take action While the easiest way to support this campaign is through monetary donations, Gayasaddin is motivated to do more than just merely voting. “I do want to be involved because I know how important this election will be,” said Gayasaddin, who is thinking about participating in text banking. He admits he has never volunteered for a campaign before, but he wants to make sure to tell everyone to vote and vote early.

Both Pirzada and Brown will donate to the campaign because volunteering is not feasible within their busy, working lives.

“I will support this Democratic ticket as I have many others: with my voice and my actions,” said Jackson, who has worked in nonprofit for years. “I do not believe simply because Kamala has received this nomination that the election is signed, sealed, and delivered. I believe the exact opposite.”

Jackson predicts a hard battle over the next few months before November.

“I believe folks on the other side of the aisle are going to fight harder than ever to keep her out of the office because she embodies two things they despise most: a black person and a woman.”

Kamala, who is 55 years old, is biracial with immigrant parents. Her mother is Indian and her father is Jamaican. For more information, visit joebiden.com.

Kamala Harris | asian avenue magazine

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Back to school with face masks and social distancing Cover Story by Mary Jenverre Schultz

Dylan Phi starts first grade in the Cherry Creek School District, where young students are required to wear face masks.

H

eading back to school this fall looks and feels different this year. Like everything in 2020, there is nervousness and uncertainty as children, teachers and adminstrators start the fall semester.

Last March, schools throughout Colorado shut their doors to follow safety measures to stop the spread of COVID-19. Fast forward to August 2020, Colorado decision makers in some school districts are allowing students to return to in-person learning based on science and health data.

Denver area moms in the Facebook group Denver Asian Mom Extraordinaires reflect on making difficult decisions for their children that generally fall under: homeschooling, remote learning, in-person learning or a hybrid.

One mother shared: “I’ve been watching the superintendent and principal’s messages and feel confident in the measures they’re taking to send both my kids to school. But everyone’s decision must be their own and what’s best for their family. We still have some concerns but my kids thrive on interactions with peers. Other kids do fine by themselves.”

Another mother will be keeping her children at home. She said: “My children will start remote learning this semester since we have high risk family members. I worry that my Kindergartener will struggle in 1st grade next year as I am not sure how I’ll be able to get her to sit and study at home.”

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September 2020 | Cover Story

Aurora Public Schools | The school district started their first quarter with remote learning only. More than 18,000 technology devices were provided to students, enhancing student access to eBooks and tripling their usage plus partnering with providers to increase Internet access and delivering hotspots to students. aurorak12.org Cherry Creek School District | CCSD students are provided an online learning option for K-12, full in-person learning for PreK to fifth grade, and blended in-person learning for 6th to 12th grade. Schools opened with a phased-in week in which students in each grade level attended school for a limited amount of time in the first week to get used to new routines and COVID safety practices. cherrycreekschools.org Denver Public Schools | Denver Mayor Hancock, in a video, welcomed back students for a virtual learning experience, which started August 24.

In-person learning has not started yet. dpsk12.org Douglas County School District | The Douglas County School District will start the 2020-2021 school year on a hybrid schedule in their Road to Return plan. A hybrid schedule organizes preschool through 12th grade students into cohorts that rotate between two days of in-person learning and three days of eLearning from home each week. A 100 percent eLearning model is also offered to families who prefer that option. dcsdk12.org Littleton Public Schools | Students started school August 24 with in-person learning for PreK to fifth grade and hybrid/blended model for grades 6 to 12. “We are ready to move between an in-person school model and a hybrid/blended learning model, as well as a robust online learning model should Arapahoe County COVID data suggest we need to do so for the safety of our students and staff,” said LPS Superintendent Brian Ewert. littletonpublicschools.net

Students get in line on the first day of school to start their fall semester at International School in Denver.

Jason S. Wu Teacher at Cherokee Trail High School

In less than three years, a move to Colorado, job search and a pandemic has allowed Jason S. Wu time to reflect about his career as an educator of the sciences.

Wu teaches physical science at Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora, and will also be teaching and coaching speech and debate this year, an activity he loved himself in high school. He admits to feeling like a pioneer as a Taiwanese-American educator in the public school system.

“As an Asian-American teaching in an affluent, predominantly white school, we play an important role in the Black Lives Matter conversation. On one hand, we (Asian-Americans) have significant privilege and have been able to assimilate strongly into white culture,” Wu said. “On the other hand, as minorities, we are able to empathize with the experiences of those who feel different and have faced racialized barriers.”

“Ideas of meritocracy, individualism, and being the ‘model minority’ have imbued my largely Midwestern upbringing. These experiences and ideas deserve critical examination, conversation, and understanding, especially in light of the disparate realities that are now being acknowledged.”

The Move to Colorado Wu and his wife, Allie moved to Colorado when he finished Ph.D. from Columbia University. “As my dissertation defense approached, my wife and I considered our next steps. I wanted to return to the classroom, and my wife would be beginning a new career as a nurse. We have family in Michigan and Texas, but neither of those places were calling to us,” he said.

A few weekend trips to Estes Park and short day-trips to the Rocky Mountain National Park convinced the couple to leave the “fast-paced grind of New York City.”

“We fell in love with Colorado then and have been continuing to fall in love with it since moving here in 2017,” said Wu, adding that he enjoys mountain activities like hiking and fishing.

He enjoys the solitude as it energizes him to be outdoors. Recently, he completed a three-night trip around Aspen, the longest backpacking trip for him.

An Accomplished Career Already, Wu has achieved great success as an educator, securing impressive fellowships and working with nonprofit organizations such as Teach for America. Other fellowships include Harlem Schools Partnership for STEM Education, the National Science Foundation and the Human Capital Fellowship.

“In chemistry, I found a subject that was intellectually engaging and offered wide explanatory power. I went on to develop a love for science and learning in general,” he said.

As an undergraduate student, he attended the University of Michigan. Most of his family lives in Michigan, while his wife’s family are from Houston.

Fluent in Spanish and Mandarin, he has won numerous awards, grants and scholarships, such as the Ballroom Dance Club Scholarship, Department of Romance Languages and Literature Book Awards and Gerald Howard Read International Travel Scholarship, just to name a few.

Since college, Wu travels back to Taiwan every four years to visit his grandmother and extended family of cousins.

Life as an Educator Classroom activities and engaging with students are his passion. “Being with the students and executing on plans that are already in place is a great joy, as the hard work of planning is done. I can just focus on engaging the students, enjoying the lesson with them, and being responsive to their needs,” said Wu, a resident of Denver.

Joey Owen Schultz, who was an honors chemistry student, enjoyed the lab assign-

“

Educators’ role in society has been highlighted by these extraordinary times. I feel it is important to do our part, whether it is making an effort to open up in-person or providing the best education possible through an online experience. ments and looked forward to Wu’s class every week. “It was one of my favorite classes,” he admits.

Wu enjoys engaging and connecting with students, but it doesn’t just happen in the classroom. “There are also moments of individual connection and support that happen from time to time. These can be during or after class, during office hours, or in the hallway. They are times when students and I are getting to know each other, and times when I can provide a real source of mentoring and support,” he said. “They are treasured moments indeed and are what make the job as great as it is.”

Teaching During Pandemic Times Uncertainties in education are occurring throughout Colorado as decision makers are pivoting to a hybrid learning environment.

“Educators’ role in society has been highlighted by these extraordinary times,” he said. “I feel it is important to do our part, whether it is making an effort to open up in-person or providing the best education possible through an online experience.”

Wu, who is 33, sympathizes with colleagues and students who come from or are living with those who are more vulnerable.

“We are definitely in between a rock and hard place, but I am hopeful and excited for this coming school year,” Wu said.

Upcoming School Year Wu is optimistic for the 2020/2021 school year and is excited about blended learning.

He is creating instructional videos to include labs, practicum and Q&A formats. This year he also plans to focus on his relationships with his students.

“At this point in my career, I consider relationship building with my students to be my primary focus. Second to this would be to stay well-balanced throughout the year.”

----------------------------------------------------------Follow Jason S. Wu @the_drwu on Instagram or view his research and published work at tinyurl.com/jswu-phd.

Back to School | asian avenue magazine

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An Educator’s Perspective: Ying Ong Bringing equity to the classroom and beyond I am a 4th grade teacher at Village East Elementary in the Cherry Creek School District. Our district’s model for elementary is full-time in-person every day. We started the school year with a phase-in week, so that one grade came back one day at a time to review the new social distancing routines and procedures. It was valuable to take the time to adjust and build in more time to wash hands and figure out ways to best keep students safe and healthy.

Teaching young children Children this young, need a lot of repetition to reinforce the need to wear a mask. Masks are uncomfortable and some kids need constant reminders to keep it on.

Teaching in-person carries the risk of getting the coronavirus. The extra hand washing is making my hands dry and the constant reminders to my students to wash their hands and to keep their masks on is getting tiresome. I worry about how I can best protect them while we are in a space together.

The multitude of worries I struggled all summer and still struggle with my thoughts and feelings about teaching in-person or remotely. This past spring, there were many students who did not participate in remote learning due to linguistic access and limited resources to technology and the internet.

I was worried if my students were getting food since our school provides free breakfast and lunch. I worried if they were mentally, emotionally, and physically alright. Being isolated and not being able to see friends and distant family members can be and was very lonely.

People of color are disproportionately affected and I worry greatly about my area of the district.

Inequities that exist in Colorado classrooms Contrary to what many people believe about the Cherry Creek School District of being predominately White and wealthy, the north side of the district is predominately students of color and have high numbers of students eligible for free and reduced lunch. I teach at a school that is at least 70% students of color. I am disheartened because I know that the inequities are deep-seeded in all of the various institutions (education, health care, housing, business, etc.). Underrepresented communities are always

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September 2020 | Cover Story

greatly affected and it is obvious when you step into a classroom.

2020 has been a time of revealing to the world the many inequities, hate, and racism that has existed for hundreds of years. It is important for me to provide a space for these young children to process and to find places of healing and community so that we can become stronger together.

I have Black students in my class and our whole class had a conversation about Black Lives Matter. I can see and hear the fear in their voices and on their faces. That is my responsibility as a teacher—to be that person that does what’s best for children and to keep them whole and make sure that they are not silenced, forgotten, or undervalued. Even at the age of nine, these children are hyper aware of the injustices in our world. It is important to have these conversations, even if it is uncomfortable because change won’t happen until we recognize the problems.

The disconnect with distance The con to social distancing is feeling disconnected. I want to keep humanity at the forefront and always reflect how we can have a sense of closeness without physically doing that. Remote learning makes it more difficult to create meaningful relationships through a screen and I am so fortunate to have an amazing class and I can see them in-person. It is important for me to check-in with the students to see how they are.

School is in session and I currently have 13 students. I am glad that the numbers are low enough so that I can space their desks apart from one another. I formed them in a “U” shape so that they can see one another and break the traditional way of desks in rows and facing forward.

Planning ahead for remote learning No doubt, at any point, we may go to remote learning, so I am preparing my students with our online platforms and learning how to navigate the computer softwares.

By starting school in-person, I am able to better teach my students so that they will be ready. We have provided our students with computers so that they have access when we go remote and I am glad that it is in place.

This is what it means to be equitable. It is not enough to be equal but we need to address the needs and provide additional resources to the ones that need it the most.

Colorado’s international students receive worrisome message It’s been an emotional rollercoaster for the more than 11,000 international college and university students in Colorado.

In early July, the Trump administration announced a plan to strip international college students of their F-1 visas if they did not attend some classes in person. The policy threw the higher education world into turmoil at a time when universities were already grappling with whether to reopen campuses during the pandemic.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, later rescinded the policy, allowing students to stay in the U.S. if they took all online courses.

“This past summer has had a lot of emotions related to the pandemic itself,” said Christine P. Nguyen, International Services Specialist at CU Denver. “We were scrambling to get messages to our students on what this means for them.”

According to Lucy Yang, a graduate student at Colorado State University, she was shocked when she first heard about the policy. “I didn’t understand why it was necessary, and what’s the purpose of these new guidelines except to make international students’ studying aboard journeys more difficult during the already tough time,” she said.

11,888

international students in Colorado

Leading countries of origin #1 China #2 India #3 Saudi Arabia #4 Kuwait #5 South Korea

29.7% 18.2% 7.8% 3.2% 2.5%

Institutions with the most international students

She immediately contacted the inUniversity of Colorado, Boulder 3,789 ternational program office at CSU to Colorado State University, Ft. Collins 2,416 consult about the legitimacy of these University of Colorado, Denver 1,398 new guidelines and how they would University of Denver 1,278 affect her studies. Luckily for Yang, as Colorado School of Mines 856 a second-year masters student, she Source: Open Doors: 2019 Report on International wouldn’t be affected because her Educational Exchange regular courses had ended and she was spending her last semester comstudents couldn’t even book a flight ticket pleting her thesis. back to their home countries,” said Yang.

“Fortunately, these new guidelines “And if they were fortunate enough to were later dropped by the ICE. Howev- find a flight, tickets were extremely pricey er, I think it does create some tension for that many could not even afford it.” international students because we never She also noted that international stuknow what could come next and how our dents pay much higher tuition than dolife could be affected living in the U.S.” mestic students. “We deserve to receive Well-known schools such as Harvard an equal quality of education and life exUniversity and Massachusetts Institute of perience which includes living in the U.S. Technology (MIT) attempted to sue the during our schooling. “ government while added pressure grew Nguyen said, “our international students when a dozen technology companies, in- are valuable members of the community.” cluding Google, Facebook and Twitter, also She works closely with international supported of the lawsuit, arguing that the students as her office assists students to policy would harm their businesses. assimilate into the community, which inIn 2019, nearly 30 percent of interna- cludes obtaining housing, work permits, tional students in Colorado were from and even driver’s licenses.

China, followed by India, Saudi Arabia, Ku“They deserve to get an education and wait and South Korea. experience it in the U.S.,” Nguyen said. “We “Many countries had already reduced should be honored that they are choosing commercial flights to the U.S., thus, many the U.S.” Colorado’s International Students | asian avenue magazine

13

By Lina Zhu and Lijin Zhao

The Legend Love Story The Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival celebrated notably by the Chinese families. It’s also related to Chuseok (in Korea) and Tsukimi (in Japan).

It traditionally falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, which is in September or early October in the Gregorian calendar.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is the second most important festival in China after the Chinese New Year. Chinese people celebrate it by gathering for dinners and lighting paper lanterns.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Moon Festival. In the past, the Moon Festival was celebrated at harvest time. It was described as a

14

September 2020 | Culture

day for emperors to celebrate the year’s harvest by giving offerings to the moon and hosting a great feast. The ordinary people took the Mid-Autumn Festival to be a celebration of their hard work and harvest. Nowadays, people mainly celebrate the Moon Festival as a time for family reunions.

There is also a legendary love story about the history of the moon festival. Once upon a time, there were ten suns in the sky, scorching many crops and people to death. The Emperor of Heaven summoned Hou Yi to shoot down nine of the suns. He succeeded.

The weather soon recovered and life was saved. Hou Yi was rewarded with the elixir of immortali-

ty. However, Hou Yi wanted to stay with his beloved wife, Chang E. At about this time, since Hou Yi was world-renowned (in ancient China, at least) for having killed nine of their former suns, a ton of well-meaning sycophants sought Houyi out for apprenticeship. Among these apprentices was the crafty and not-so-well-meaning Peng Meng.

On the 15th day, before Hou Yi returned home from hunting, Peng Meng went to Hou Yi’s home and forced Chang E to give him the elixir. She knew that she could not defeat Peng Meng so, with no other choice, she drank the elixir herself. When Hou Yi came back, he found that his wife had been lifted to Heaven.

Chang E decided to live on the Moon because it’s closest to the Earth.

Hou Yi looked up at the moon and put out foods Chang E used to love in the garden as a sacrifice. Thus, people started admiring the moon on this day.

Traditions Family Reunion Dinner People mainly celebrate the Moon Festival as a time for family reunions.

Therefore, having a big reunion dinner together is one of the most important traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Eating Mooncake Mooncake is the must-eat Mid-Autumn food in China. They are a dense, sweet traditional Chinese pastry. Most are filled with lotus paste and salted egg yolk while others contain red bean or date paste, as well as fruit, nuts, and seeds.

People will also give mooncakes to family members and colleagues. Chinese people see in the roundness of mooncakes a symbol of reunion and happiness.

Appreciating the Moon/Watching the Full Moon After the family dinner, Chinese people like to go to their rooftop or balcony to watch the moon. In Chinese beliefs, the full moon is the symbol of a family reunion and many believe that the moon is the roundest during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The moon is often a symbol of the motherland. Many famous ancient poets wrote poems about the moon and expressed their homesickness. When people look at the moon, it reminds them of their families and homeland.

Lighting Lanterns Traditionally, many communities celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival by making colorful paper lanterns and lighting them to the sky which is a symbol of good wishes. The candle is burned inside the lantern, and the heat makes it rise up to the sky. But nowadays, family members have replaced the traditional paper lantern with electric lanterns for the consideration of safety.

Traditional Mooncakes Cantonese-style Mooncake Flavor: sweet or salty with thin crust Cantonese-style mooncakes are thin crust and large fillings. The stuffing is mainly of lotus seed paste, coconut paste, yolks, bean paste, jujube paste or various meat. Cantonese-style moon cakes taste soft, and it is better to eat them together with tea.

Chaoshan-style Mooncake Flavor: soft with crispy crust, oily but not fatty, sweet or salty but not greasy The Chaoshan-style mooncake, or the teochew mooncake, is a famous traditional flaky mooncake in the Chaoshan area of Guangdong Province. According to the different types of stuffing, it can be divid-

ed into mung bean mooncake, black bean mooncake, seafood mooncake, yolks mooncake, etc. The kernel inside stuffing is commonly yolks or seafood.

Beijing-style Mooncake Flavor: sweet The most distinctive feature of the Beijing-style mooncake is the cooking method handed down from the ancient royal palace; the process of selecting materials and making the mooncake is quite complicated. The fillings are usually made from nuts, sweet-scented osmanthus, and rock sugar, etc. It is exquisite in appearance, and the crust is thin and crispy, attracting a lot of foodies.

Mid-Autumn Festival | asian avenue magazine

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September

is

...

National Rice Month!

By Lina Zhu

The history of National Rice Month

County officials in Mississippi cele-

dates back to 1991 when President

brate the occasion with an annual rice

George H.W. Bush signed the official

tasting luncheon held in September.

proclamation designating September

According to the US Department of

as National Rice Month. The president

Agriculture, nearly 500 million met-

and the USA Rice Federation recog-

ric tons of rice are harvested globally

nized this special holiday to encour-

each year.

age the use of the small but mighty

Rice has a special place for many

grain in our daily dining. In the U.S.,

Asian countries and people as it’s

cities celebrate National Rice Month

one of the most common foods in

differently.

Asian cuisine.

For

example,

Bolivar

Different types of Asian Rice KOREAN RICE

16

INDIAN RICE

JAPANESE OR SUSHI RICE

Korean hyunmi refers to Korean

Indian basmati is also long-grain

Sushi rice is steamed Japanese rice

short grain brown rice. Unlike white

rice, meaning that the grains are long

that is flavored with vinegar-based sea-

rice, brown rice has the bran and germ

and skinny. When cooked, basmati rice is

sonings and it’s only used for making

still attached. Brown rice tends to have

less sticky than jasmine, with grains that

sushi. In Japan, it is known as sumeshi

a higher nutritional value than white

tend to remain on the firm side. Basma-

(vinegared rice). Sushi rice is usual-

rice, with many vitamins and fiber. It

ti rice also doesn’t stick together as Jas-

ly short grain rice, which has plump

takes longer to cook and longer to

mine rice does, which makes it a great

grains and a high proportion of amy-

digest. Many Koreans combine white

choice for rice pilaf, salads, and Indian

lopectin, a type of sticky starch that’s

rice and brown rice together to bring

rice side dishes that often include safron,

responsible for the trademark creamy

better texture and taste.

lemon or turmeric.

texture of risotto.

September 2020 | Culture

How often do Asian people eat rice?

In some Asian countries, it depends on the region for how often rice is cooked and eaten. For example, people in the southern part of China eat rice almost every day as it’s their main source of carb. However, people in the northern part of China tend to eat more noodles in their daily cuisine. It’s also very common for Korean and Japanese to eat rice for breakfast, which might be very surprising for western people.

Nowadays most people use rice cookers to cook their rice. The most

interesting part of cooking rice is the ratio of rice and water. There are many traditional Asian ways to measure how much water needed for the rice. One of the most common Asian ways is to use the fingertip to measure the water: Rinse the rice in water three times.

Pour the rice into the pan you’re going to cook it in. Level it out and place your index finger so that it is touching the surface of the rice. Add enough water so that it comes up to your first joint of your middle finger.

Tips to make even better rice “One thing you can do is to leave the rice sitting in water for 30 minutes after washing it,” said Mr. Ding, a former owner of a popular Asian restaurant in Glenwood Springs.

“This helps the rice become more soft and tasty,” he said.

“You can also add a few drops of oil in the water you used to cook the rice. This can give the rice a great smell when it was done.”

What we do know is to not drain your rice in a colander, or you will outrage comedian Nigel Ng who produced the viral comedic reaction to the BBC Food video on how to make egg fried rice by Hersha Patel.

Although we are not able to have a large luncheon to celebrate National Rice Month, we can still follow the cooking techniques above to create our favorite rice dishes to share with friends and family.

National Rice Month | asian avenue magazine

17

URBAN VILLAGE

Contemporary Indian Cuisine

By Joie Ha Photos by Annie VanDan

Tandoori Chicken

Asian fusion restaurants often get it wrong. In an attempt to modernize traditional flavors, this often means that the finished dishes lack the heart and depth of the original recipes.

However, Urban Village does it right.

Chef Charles Mani combines his rigorous classical culinary training with his familiarity of Indian spices to create dishes that delight both individuals new to Indian cuisine, and customers who grew up eating similar foods. Chef Mani envisions introducing his guests to an entirely new perspective on Indian dining at Urban Village.

Public outlook of Indian cuisine has always been plagued by negative stereotypes that the food is greasy, heavy, and not suited for fine dining. Urban Village tackles these stereotypes head-on and provides an experience akin to fancy sit-down restaurants. With fresh ingredients, a staff of culinary experts, and a menu that tantalizes the most discerning of palates—Urban Village offers dishes that excite all guests.

The tasting menu, available for an affordable $39, changes depending on the season and availability of ingredients.

For our visit, we went with the tasting menu to experience all that Urban Village had to offer. We started with the golgappa —a type of street snack that was minty and refreshing. The next dish, Kale Moong Dal Chaat, was a fried kale salad dish topped with a yogurt dressing. Despite being fried, the dish was not oily or greasy, and instead remained light and delicious with a satisfying crunch in each bite.

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September 2020 | Restaurant Peek

Tasting Menu

CH Golgappa

Now serving brunch!

Bottomless mimosas Omelettes Avocado toasts Chicken sandwiches ...and more!

It was apparent that each dish was carefully crafted, with a focus on minute details from taste to texture. Next, came one of Chef Mani’s signature dishes, Urban Cauliflower. Inspired by General Tso’s chicken, the Urban Cauliflower is coated in a delectable sweet and sour sauce that leaves a lingering light heat.

It is of no surprise that this dish won one of the coveted 2015 Best Dishes of Eater New York.

Similar to any other fine dining experience, finished plates were quickly removed and there was a short wait between each course. The main course was a platter filled with several curries and sides of rice, naan, and papadum. Each curry had a distinct flavor, yet melded wonderfully together. It was an absolute delight to taste each curry and embark on such a colAbove Photo Credit of Chef Charles Mani: Todd Kelsey-Ferguson

I AN

HARLES C M EF

Urban Cauliflower

Urban Village

9234 Park Meadows Dr #700 | Lone Tree, CO 80124 Tel: 720.536.8150 urbanvillagerestaurant.com Follow on FB and IG: @urbanvillageindian Open Hours Mon - Thur: 11am - 2:30pm | 5pm - 9pm Fri: 11am - 2:30pm | 5pm - 9:30pm Sat - Sun: 10:30am - 2pm | 5pm - 9:30pm Call for current hours. orful, culinary adventure. To end the meal, Chef Mani served a homemade Cardamon Pistachio Kulfi ice cream—a whimsical finish to a grand meal.

It is without a doubt that much foresight was given to developing the menu at Urban Village where cooking is not just a hobby, but a skill and passion requiring advanced technical expertise. To continue this tradition, Chef Mani makes sure to only hire culinary graduates that are serious about elevating the dining experience and dedicated to pushing the envelope on fusion food.

Urban Village is a must visit in Lone Tree—there is truly nothing like it in Colorado. Enjoy the outdoor seating and a cocktail from the bar.

Urban Village | asian avenue magazine

19

Calista Ogburn publishes book of poems about anti-Asian racism on the rise due to

By Mary Jeneverre Schultz COVID-19

Book Title: this is it

Author: Calista Ogburn Pages: 42 Available on Amazon More info: calista-ogburn.com

The pandemic is prompting self-published authors to find different ways to market and publicize their books.

College student and self-starter Calista Ogburn, 20 years old, reached out to Asian Avenue magazine via Instagram to share a collection of poems about anti-Asian racism and how it has “infected” society along with the spread of COVID-19.

“I wanted to write about the rise of Asian hatred,” Ogburn said.

“There’s so much sadness, confusion and fear and I want to comfort others and let them know they aren’t the only ones going through the pandemic.”

According to the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, more than 2,100 anti-Asian hate incidents have been reported nationally on the STOP AAPI Hate online tool since COVID-19 began. This is a troubling figure that Asian American advocates say is being fueled in part by political rhetoric against China during the coronavirus pandemic.

A young poet Ogburn, a college student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County began writing poems as a sophomore in high school. At the time, she had left Vietnam to move to Seoul, S. Korea. During this international move, she found poetry as a sense of comfort.

She confessed to her initial fear of having others read her writing.

“It was helpful to express how I was feeling,” Ogburn said. “It was a process of truly believing in the beauty of confidence. I wish someone had told me ‘you wrote these amazing poems, be confident’.”

However, as a talented Korean-Vietnamese poet, Ogburn is pursuing a career in public health with a minor in Asian studies. Now, even moreso during these pandemic times, she feels a strong connection.

With her degree in public health, she would love to combine and connect public health with the arts.

Grass-roots marketing Through outreach, she is collaborating with others on Instagram, specializing in Asian literature and arts. “I didn’t want to market my book just to get it on bookshelves,” she said. “I wanted to share the book with a community focus.”

The book, entitled this is It, brings a collection of poems that share feelings of loss, loneliness, or the combined grief and rage of experiencing racism.

This book stands as her second published work, and she has already received favorable reactions, including from the president of her university, administration and staff.

“It really is humbling and the love from the community has been amazing,” she said.

20

September 2020 | Book

“this is it” is a poetry book that brings to light the rising anti-Asian racism as the spread of COVID-19 has increased. It captures Calista’s experience of loneliness, heightened anxiety, and feeling lost during a global pandemic. “this is it” takes the reader by the hand through the most difficult times and finds hope for the future.

Author: Calista Ogburn

Leading The Way: Youth Creates continues its charitable efforts Gala for a Cure 2020, consisting of a series of virtual educational and entertaining events, is Youth Creates’ ardent way of advancing cancer research. The team of youth garnered support from doctors, educators, government officials, and business leaders. Together they hosted ten sessions addressing numerous topics and collected $8,000 to donate to Cancer League of Colorado, a volunteer-only nonprofit organization dedicated to funding cancer research.

Stephen Zhang, Founder and CEO of Youth Creates, is the chair of this event. “Philanthropy work is a significant aspect of what we do”, said Zhang. Their 2019 version of Gala for a Cure featured performances by youth talents and professional artists. In March, the team jumped into action and organized a PPE drive, benefiting thousands of Colorado health professionals.

Youth Creates is also committed to bridging needs and community resources. During this unprecedented pandemic crisis, Youth Creates hired high-quality teachers to help students with their interrupted schooling. “We welcome and make it affordable for students from disadvantageous backgrounds. We are here to help”, claims Zhang. Youth Creates donates its proceeds to local charitable organizations. Learn more at youthcreates.com.

Aria Zhou hosts a Creative Writing session.

How Government Works session

Reagan Kerns hosts a Jeopardy game

Taiwan donates thousands more masks to Colorado

On August 28, Jerry Chang, Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver presented 10,000 surgical masks on behalf of the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America (TCCNA) to local organizations including the Asian Pacific Development Center and Happy Living Adult Daycare.

“We are here to convey a message that Taiwan is together with the great state of Colorado through the global pandemic,” said Chang.

The gathering was organized by Asian Chamber of Commerce outside the Tri-State/Denver Buddhist Temple.

“Taiwan’s response to the coronavirus has been widely reported as one of the best models in the world. Today, Taiwan is among the least affected countries with all businesses schools open as normal,” said Chang in his remarks.

Taiwan has donated supplies and masks to countries around the world.

“Both Taiwan’s incidence rate per capita and fatality rate are among the lowest in the world. With a population of 23 million, Taiwan has recorded only 487 confirmed cases with seven deaths as of today. Most importantly, we have not seen any local infection for four months.”

On Scene | asian avenue magazine

21

RECOVER BETTER TOGETHER Taiwan can help In 2020, the world has been hit by an unprecedented public health crisis, with the effects of COVID-19 being felt across every aspect of people’s lives. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Charter of the United Nations—the mission statement that stands at the very heart of the inclusive multilateralism the world needs so much at the present moment. Now more than ever, the global community must make a concerted effort to forge the better and more sustainable future called for by the UN and its Member States. Taiwan is ready, willing and able to be a part of these efforts.

With less than 500 confirmed cases and seven deaths, Taiwan has defied predictions and successfully contained COVID-19. We managed this without lockdowns; schools were only closed for two weeks in February. Baseball games also restarted in April. Initially, cardboard cutouts stood in for the crowds, but by mid-July games were back in full swing, attended by as many as 10,000 spectators.

This has all come in no small part due to Taiwan’s quick response measures, including the establishment of a Central Epidemic Command Center, the implementation of stringent border controls and quarantine procedures, and transparent information-sharing. We also took swift action to ensure an adequate stock of medical supplies for our world-class health care system.

And after making sure we had enough supplies to look after our own people, we started providing medical equipment and supplies to other countries in serious need.

By the end of June, Taiwan had donated 51 million surgical masks, 1.16 million N95 masks, 600,000 isolation gowns, 35,000 forehead thermometers, and other medical materials to more than 80 countries, including the United States, Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, and European nations. We have also joined forces with like-minded democracies to explore the development of rapid test kits, medicines, and vaccines. Working together for the greater good is how the world will defeat COVID-19.

In the Declaration on the Commemoration

22

September 2020 | Taiwan Update

of the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations, governments and heads of state acknowledge that only by working together in solidarity can we end the pandemic and effectively tackle its consequences. They thus pledge to make the UN more inclusive and to leave no one behind as the world looks to recover from the pandemic.

Even as the pandemic has made the international community acutely aware of Taiwan’s unjust and discriminatory exclusion from the World Health Organization and the UN system, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to press the UN to use an erroneous interpretation of the 1971 UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) as the legal basis for blocking Taiwan. This resolution does not address the issue of Taiwan’s representation in the UN, nor does it state that Taiwan is part of the PRC. In fact, Taiwan is not, nor has it ever been, a part of the PRC. Our President and legislature are directly elected by the people of Taiwan. Moreover, border controls instituted during the pandemic offer further evidence to counter the PRC’s false claims. The UN must recognize that only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent its 23.5 million people; the PRC has no right to speak on Taiwan’s behalf.

Not having Taiwan’s input in the UN is a loss to the global community, and will hamper Member States’ efforts to regain normalcy and implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in full and on time. By drawing on its outstanding work on the SDGs, Taiwan can help countries better recover from the disruption caused by the pandemic. Our economy has proven resilient: the Asian Development Bank forecast that Taiwan’s economic performance in 2020 would be the best among the Four Asian Tigers—the only one to show positive growth. Moreover, many of our SDG indicators—including gender equality, economic growth, clean water and sanitation, reduced inequality, and good health and wellbeing— have reached levels comparable to OECD countries. Our ongoing efforts to implement the SDGs coupled with our proven pandemic

By Jaushieh Joseph Wu Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of China (Taiwan)

response put Taiwan in a much better position than most to help the global community in tackling the ongoing challenges facing humanity.

Taiwan has long been assisting its partner countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Pacific with their development goals in such areas as clean energy, waste management, and disaster prevention. So we are already able to help—yet we could do that much more if given the chance to participate in UN activities, meetings, and mechanisms.

Unfortunately, the 23.5 million people of Taiwan are denied any access to UN premises.

Taiwanese journalists and media outlets are also denied accreditation to cover UN meetings. This discriminatory policy stems from the wrongful claims of and pressure from an authoritarian state, and contravenes the principle of universality and equality upon which the UN was founded.

“We the peoples of the United Nations determined... to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights... [and] the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small”—thus begins the UN Charter. The ideal of upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms for all laid out in this text must not remain empty words. As it looks ahead to the next 75 years, it is never too late for the UN to welcome Taiwan’s participation.

Aim High Chiropractic believes that every person has the right to access high quality healthcare whether or not they have health insurance. Our Access to Care initiative offers several low cost or free programs for our community through our four clinics.

It is our goal to provide education to our community and to help as many people as we can to achieve healthy, happy lives and have their bodies and minds perform at their best. It is a big part of our mission.

For instance, did you know that Aim High treats victims of crime through advocacy and outreach programs? There are community resources for people who have suffered domestic violence, mugging, child abuse, elder abuse, and more. The Victims Compensation Fund through your local district attorney’s office can often times provide funding for medical treatment after being injured due to a crime.

The Victim Rights Act (VRA) in Colorado ensures that crime victims are treated with fairness, respect, dignity and that they are free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse.

The VRA also helps to ensure that victims are informed of critical stages of the criminal justice process and that they may be present for, and heard, at certain stages as well. Victims of crime and/or their advocates can contact the VRA Compliance Program to request help or File a Formal Complaint concerning an alleged violation of their rights. We also provide Information For Agencies to help them understand and comply with the Victim Rights Act. Aim High also provides care for our frontline heroes fighting the coronavirus in our hospitals. Our Frontline Support Program. If you are a healthcare worker, you may qualify for this program and receive free care to keep you healthy and reduce stress while boosting your immunity.

Aim High offers free pain evaluations for our community. During this time of flu and COVID, you don’t need to suffer silently in pain because you are afraid to go to the ER or urgent care. And we take the worry away if you don’t have health insurance. Aim High will do a free pain evaluation to determine what your best course of action will be to relieve your pain.

Aim High currently offers a $120 CARE program. If you have pain in your body that is extreme, may worsen without treatment but you do not need hospitalization, the CARE program includes a one-year discount on membership plan, your initial exam, x-rays, report of findings and two chiropractic adjustments with therapies.

Aim High are also experts in treating personal injuries, like care accident injuries, pedestrian injuries, slip n falls, on the job injuries, bicycle injuries and more. We have been doing it for 24 years and have helped more than 320,000 patients during that time heal and return to function.

Are you high risk or apprehensive to come into the clinic for an appointment during the time of COVID or flu? Aim High offers Telemedicine appointments. You can chat face to face with the doctor, discuss your issues and get a recommended treatment plan.

We will also arrange for delivery of specific equipment to your home with a customized exercise plan for your particular injury or pain complaint.

Do you need fabric masks to comply with recent statewide mask wearing orders? Call Aim High, we have some for free for you and your family.

Call Aim High with any questions or to find out more about these programs. Our goal is to make a positive difference in the health and lives of our patients and our larger community. We speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese.

We offer same day appointments and four locations throughout Metro Denver that are open extended hours for your convenience.

Call Aim High today, feel better tomorrow!

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