Bay/CA
>> U.C. Riverside celebrates grand opening of Korean American Studies Center
Young-Oak Kim
Riverside, Calif. – The Korean American Studies at UC Riverside Center recently celebrated its grand opening. The Young-Oak Kim Center for Korean American Studies at U.C. Riverside is one of the first in the nation to focus on Korean diaspora and Korean-American identity issues.
Approximately 100 dignitaries attended the grand opening of the center, including South Korean government officials, donors, members of the Korean-American business community, and UCR faculty. Two generous donations came from the Overseas Koreans Foundation ($2.7 million) and Jay Kim president of Costar International Enterprises Inc. and Costar Group Inc ($250,000 pledge). Myung Hong, owner of a Riverside industrial-coating business, is spearheading a $1 million fundraiser for the center.
Edward Chang, center director and professor of ethnic studies at U.C. Riverside, has been working on the center project for many years.
“Many Korean-American students are struggling, and these issues and problems are ignored or buried under the rug,” said Chang, according to an article by the Press Enterprise. The center’s research “will raise awareness and help institutions to respond accordingly.”
The center is named after Young-Oak Kim, a dedicated U.S. Army veteran or World War II and the Korean War.
For more information, visit http://www.pe.com or http://yokcenter.ucr.edu
>>Center for Lao Studies launches online Lao oral history archive
San Francisco- The Center for Lao Studies (CLS) recently launched its online Lao Oral History Archive (LOHA). The online archive documents the untold stories of former Lao refugees in California and Minnesota through on-line multimedia. LOHA is funded by initial grants support from the California Council on Humanities and the Asian Pacific Endowment.
In the mid-20th century, communist Laos endured the massive bombing campaign that was launched by the United States. However, when the communist Laos finally gained control of the country in 1075, many refugees fled the country (many of whom fled to the U.S).
Today, there is not much oral history nor research that focuses on the ethnic Lao refugees in the U.S. Therefore, many supporters of LOHA, like CLS Executive Director Dr. Vinya Sysamouth, believe that LOHA creates “awareness within the Lao-American community and the general American population of the history, culture, and contemporary realities of Lao refugees in the US as well as the tragic impacts and legacies of Secret War in Laos,” according to a CLS press release.
Based on the 2000 U.S. Census, California is home to the largest refugees from Laos with an estimated 180,000 and Minnesota as the third largest with approximately 51,740 people.
For more information, visit www.laostudies.org/loha
>>APALC’s 27th annual awards gala to award local and global leaders
Los Angeles- On Thursday, October 14, 2010, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) will host its 27th Anniversary Dinner to recognize civic leaders and corporate citizens for their achievement in supporting and promoting the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The ceremony will take place at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel at 5:30 pm.
Honorees include Walter and Shirley Wang, Nielsen Company, the Nielsen Company, four local Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander groups- Guam Communications Network, Office of Sāmoan Affairs, Pacific Islander Health Partnership and Tongan Community Service Center. Walter and Shirley Wang will be honored with the 2010 Public Service Award for their commitment to philanthropic activities in China, Africa, and the U.S. The Nielsen Company, the world’s leading marketing and media information company, will be awarded the 2010 Corporate Impact Award for their dedication to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The four NHPI groups will receive the 2010 Community Partner Award for their contribution to the Southern California to promote the 2010 Census and increase participation within the Southern California NHPI community.
ARTS
>>Kearny Street Workshop to launch first online art sale
San Francisco- The Kearny Street Workshop (KSW) will launch their first online art sale on October 11. Over 50 works by emerging to mid-career Asian American visual artists will be on sale. All proceeds will benefit KSW’s artistic programming and work in the community.
The online sale will begin Oct. 11, and for three consecutive Mondays at 12:00 pm, KSW will open a new lot to reveal new artworks available for purchase. Prices of art work are $100.
For more information, visit http://kearnystreet.org/
GLOBAL
>> Imprisoned dissident Liu Xiaobo wins 2010 Nobel Peace Prize
Oslo, Norway- Fifty-four-year-old Liu Xiaobo, imprisoned Chinese dissident, won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for his non-violent fight for human rights. China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately comment, but a spokeswoman said recently that choosing Liu would go against the prize’s aims, according to The Irrawaddy.
This was the first Nobel for the Chinese dissident community since it resurfaced after the country’s communist leadership launched economic reforms 30 years ago. Thorbjoern Jagland, Nobel Committee chairman, explained that Liu was a symbol for human rights in China, and that the Chinese government should expect scrutiny against its policies, according to The Irrawaddy.
Liu co-authored Charter 08, a document that called for human rights and an end to the Communist Party’s political dominance. Shortly after the document was released in late 2008, police arrested Liu. He was then sentenced to 11 years in prison for trying to overthrow the government order.
Liu was one among 237 nominations for the peace prize, but had been considered a favorite by the Nobel committee.
For more information, visit http://www.irrawaddy.org
