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Nutter Revives Commission on Asian American Affairs

This just in from the Mayor's press office:

MAYOR NUTTER RE-ESTABLISHES MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON ASIAN AMERICAN AFFAIRS

Philadelphia, January 08, 2009 – Today, at a reception at City Hall, Mayor Michael A. Nutter signed an Executive Order (No. 01-09) re-establishing the Mayor's Commission on Asian American Affairs and announced his appointees to the Commission.

"It is our job as a government to ensure that the needs and issues of our increasingly diverse population are reflected in our agenda and decision making processes and this Commission will serve a significant role in accomplishing that," said Mayor Nutter. "I am proud to say that this Commission is an inclusive one, representing many different communities, with individuals of multiple backgrounds and expertise. I want to thank everyone who participated in this process and I look forward to working with the Commission and other members of the Asian American communities."

The Commission is charged with keeping the Mayor and Administration officials apprised of issues and concerns in the community; proactively reviewing issues of concern to the various communities and monitoring the impact of and satisfaction with the delivery of City services within the communities; and with serving as a connector between social service, community, cultural and other organizations and City government. Dr. Nina Ahmad will serve as the Chair of the Commission.

"I am honored to serve as the Chair of the Mayor's Asian American Commission," said Dr. Ahmad. "I look forward to this Commission being an effective conduit between the rapidly growing Asian American population of Philadelphia and City Government and the City at large."

The Mayor's Commission on Asian American Affairs was first constituted in 1990 by Mayor Goode. For many years, the Commission served as an important link between City government and the Asian American communities, but became inactive in recent years. After meeting with Asian American community leaders interested in bringing back the Commission, the Mayor requested nominations and applications to the Commission in the fall.


Biographies

Moon Ahn is an attorney in private practice. His firm, Law Offices of Moon Y. Ahn, serves as legal counsel to the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition for People United. He is the Founder and Chairman of Korean Americans for Political Equality.

Nina Ahmad, PhD is the President and CEO of PrymeJenomix, LLC, an emerging ophthalmic biotechnology company based in Philadelphia. Active in various political campaigns at the local, state and federal levels, Dr. Ahmad most recently focused her outreach efforts on President-Elect Obama's campaign. She is a founding member of APA for Progress, a grassroots, internet-empowered, national network of Asian Pacific Americans and friends for Progressive Action (APAP).

Cliff Akiyama is a full-time Lecturer in the Division of Family and Community Health at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing where he teaches Victimology, Forensic Science, and Forensic Mental Health. Mr. Akiyama is also very active in the community as he serves on the Board of Directors of Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR) and the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Philadelphia Chapter.

Brad Baldia is the Director of the Southeast Philadelphia Collaborative. In addition, he works extensively with Asian community organizations on a local and national level, such as the Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia and the National Association of Asian American Professionals.
He serves on various boards including the PCVB Multicultural Affairs Congress, the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition, the Asian American Health Care Network and the Filipino American National Historical Society.

John Chin is the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation. He serves on the boards of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, Multicultural Affairs Congress, Friends Select School, Philadelphia Development Partnership, and President of the Board of Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations and others.

Phally Chroy is an MFA Candidate in Film and Media Arts at the Temple University School of Communications and Theater.

Gayle Isa is the Founder and Executive Director of the Asian Arts Initiative. She is currently focused on the development of a new multi-tenant arts facility that will be home to the Asian Arts Initiative and offer studio, office, gallery, and performance space for peer organizations and artists in the local Chinatown community.

Adam Kim is the chairman of the Incheon Trade Office in Philadelphia. Mr. Kim established the Asian culture and Korean language school in partnership with the Philadelphia Police Academy in 1994 in effort to improve understanding between the Philadelphia Police Department and the Asian community. He also founded the Korean Asian American Police Advisory Committee, which serves to ease tension and facilitate conflict resolution. Mr. Kim is a member of the Governor's Commission on Asian American Affairs.


Tsiwen Law served for three years as chairman of Mayor Wilson Goode's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs. He is an attorney in private practice with Law & Zaslow, L.L.C. in Center City Philadelphia. He recently received the Wachovia Fidelity Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association for his work on Public Law 172, requiring certified court interpreters in Pennsylvania courts and administrative hearings. He has also served on the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board, the Organization of Chinese Americans, Greater Philadelphia Chapter, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Sophia Lee is the Senior Counsel in Litigation at Sunoco, Inc. Active in the legal field, she is an Executive Committee Member of the Asian American Bar Association of the Delaware Valley, and a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, and National Association of Women Lawyers. Additionally, she serves as the Board Development Chair for the Asian Arts Initiative and as a board member of the Old City Civic Association.

Quang Mac is the President of Rang Dong Magazine. Active in Pan-Asian affairs, Mr. Mac serves as Chair of the Pan-Asian Association Executive Committee.

George Mathews is a Certified Public Accountant and the CEO and President of G. Mathew & Associates PC, located in Northeast Philadelphia. He is currently a member of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian American Affairs. Long active in community affairs, he previously served as a Commissioner on the Philadelphia Commissions on Human Relations and Asian American Affairs.

Thoai Nguyen is the Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition, Inc. (SEAMAAC).

Rommel Rivera, M.D. is an Attending Physician at Crozer Chester Medical Center specializing in the acute psychiatric care of hospitalized adult and geriatric patients. He is the President of the Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia, Inc., the President of the Filipino American Association of Philadelphia, Inc. and a member of the Philippine Medical Society of Greater Philadelphia, Inc., the Ilocano Cultural Association of Greater Philadelphia, and the Philippine Folk Arts Society.

David Seng is the Director of Operations for United Communities Southeast Philadelphia.

Nick Shenoy is the President and CEO of S&G Electric Inc, an engineering and construction company. He is currently the Executive Director of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia, the Acting Vice Chairman of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Asian American Affairs, and a board member on the Pennsylvania Minority Business Development Agency.

Shruti Singhal is North American Market Manager for Rohm and Haas Company in Philadelphia. He is active in Philadelphia's Indian community.

Rorng Sorn is the Interim Executive Director of the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia

Andrew Toy, after a strong but unsuccessful run for Philadelphia City Council, took a position at the Enterprise Center, where he is the Director of the Retail Resource Network. There he is assisting local minority and other retailers to acquire the resources they need to be successful and to build vibrant local commercial corridors and neighborhoods. He is currently on the Board of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation and serves on the Boards of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, the Logan Square Neighborhood Association and the Governor's Commission on Asian American Affairs as well as the Philadelphia Zoning Code Commission.

Kounesone Vilayphanh leads the Wat Lao Phouphaphammarm in South Philadelphia.

Allan Wong is a retired pharmaceutical scientist. Mr. Wong has extensive affiliations within Philadelphia's Chinese community.

Julie Wong is the President of Pan Am Realty Company, Inc. and Pan Am International Consulting, LLC. Ms. Wong is deeply involved with the Chinese-American community in the greater Philadelphia area, where she has been a civic and business leader for over 20 years.

Mary Yee is the Associate Executive Director of the Center for After School Education at Foundations, Inc. Formerly, she led the Office of Family Engagement and Language Equity Services for the School District of Philadelphia.

Cecilia Moy Yep, a leader in the Chinatown community, is the founder and Executive Director Emeritus of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation.

Steven Zhu, Chief Operation Officer of New Wave Resource, Inc., is a leader in the Greater Philadelphia Chinese American community. His company provides job training programs to help clients overcome professional barriers and re-integrate into the workforce and job market. He is active with numerous organizations, including the Greater Philadelphia Chinese Restaurant Association, Fujian Associate of Greater Philadelphia Area, Chinatown Town Watch, and the Pennsylvania Chinese Chambers of Commerce Association.