New Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu poses on the team’s field following a news conference announcing his hiring, Nov. 19. Wakamatsu became the first Asian American manager in Major League Baseball history. Wakamatsu was the bench coach for the Oakland Athletics last season. Before that, he spent five years with the Texas Rangers. (Photo taken by Elaine Thompson and is provided by The Associated Press.)
By Gregg Bell
The Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) — Don Wakamatsu is proud to be the first Asian American manager in Major League Baseball history. He’s also keenly aware of what his grandparents endured generations before he took over the Seattle Mariners. Read the full story
By Stacy Nguyen
Northwest Asian Weekly
‘Tis the season to binge on poultry and decorate a tree. ‘Tis also the season to take time to thank those who have been influential and inspirational.Northwest Asian Weekly and the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation will be honoring top contributors to the Asian community on Dec. 5. Read the full story
Old friends Maj. Urbano Quijance (left) and Cpl. Agustin Lacao pose together for a photo. (Photo taken by Evangeline Cafe.)
By Evangeline Cafe
Northwest Asian Weekly
Seattle’s Filipino community held its annual Veterans Day dinner on Saturday, Nov. 8, to pay tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. Read the full story
Principal of Cascade Elementary Shannon Harvey
Cascade Elementary principal Shannon Harvey was awarded the prestigious 2008 Milken National Educational Award for her outstanding work as an educator. The award comes with a prize of $25,000. Teacher magazine calls the Milken the “Oscars of Teaching.”
Harvey has been the principal at Cascade Elementary in Renton for five years. She has been with the Renton School District for 16 years. Under her leadership, Cascade has gone from 48 percent of students passing the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) reading test to 81 percent passing. Read the full story
Pianist Lang Lang is one of the most popular musicians in China. He greeted his Seattle fans at Sherman Clay Pianos, where he helped raise funds for the American Red Cross on Oct. 15.
With more than 2 billion people watching his performance at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, pianist Lang Lang became a star. He drew attention at Sherman Clay Pianos in Seattle on Oct. 15. He signed eight pianos as part of a fundraiser for Chinese earthquake victims.
For each piano sold, Sherman Clay donated $1,000 (a total of $8,000) to the American Red Cross in China. Lang had previously raised funds and awareness by auctioning the red Steinway piano he played during his 2008 New York Central Park concert. ♦
Gloria Ysmael-Adams
By Evangeline Cafe
Northwest Asian Weekly
If Gloria Ysmael-Adams could be anywhere in the world, it would probably be inside a classroom.
The Philippine-born educator has dedicated her life to mentoring children, teaching ESL and advocating for better schools in the U.S. and abroad. On Dec. 5, the Northwest Asian Weekly will honor her as a Top Contributor to the Asian Community. Read the full story
Hyeok Kim
By James Tabafunda
Northwest Asian Weekly
She is among the friendliest of young Asian American community leaders. She is a college graduate, the beneficiary of a close mentorship and a Korean American woman dedicated to public service.
Hyeok Kim, 32, has taken an active role in the local political scene for the last nine years by continuing the important work of her predecessors in the Asian Pacific Islander American community. Her dedication paid off last May when she was selected as the Inter*Im Community Development Association’s (ICDA) new executive director, succeeding Elaine Ko.
In December, the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation will honor Kim as a “Top Contributor to the Asian Community.” Read the full story
Aaliyah Gupta
By Jacklyn Tran
Northwest Asian Weekly
Volunteering is a way to help a cause by identifying a need and satisfying it, but to Aaliyah Gupta it means so much more than assisting on a mere task. It means living out a dream, uniting the community and serving the greater good. This notion is clearly expressed when one speaks with her about her community contributions. Read the full story
Faye Hong speaks at the unveiling of Chinatown/International District’s new Chinatown gate to a crowd of supporters including Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. Hong is one of the people who spearheaded the Hurricane Katrina fundraising in Seattle.
By Ryan Pangilinan
Northwest Asian Weekly
Helping to cultivate and build a community is no easy task. It takes individuals coming together with their ideals, and it can take a lot of time and effort.
Since immigrating to Seattle from Hong Kong in 1952, Faye Hong’s family has made an impact on the local Asian American community. Now at 67, Hong continues a longstanding commitment, not only to the Asian Americans, but also to Seattle.
The Hong family began with a modest restaurant in the International District (then Chinatown) called Atlas, which was located in the same place where Ga Ga Loc now stands. In the early 1980s, Hong owned the House of Hong, one of Seattle’s most popular Chinese restaurants — a sentiment often repeated throughout the awards that currently adorn the business. Though Hong’s involvement with the House of Hong ended in 1993, he’s still proud of the indelible mark it has left.
“It’s one of the few destination restaurants in the whole city of Seattle,” said Hong. “People will come down here to patronize the House of Hong.” Read the full story
From left: Executive Director of Wing Luke Beth Takekawa, and Board of Trustees co-presidents Ellen Ferguson and Gloria Lung Wakayama. (Photo provided by Wing Luke Asian Museum)
By Nina Huang
Northwest Asian Weekly
After years of dedication and commitment from the community, the Wing Luke Asian Museum has finally settled into its new home at the four-story East Kong Ying building in the International District.
The museum’s relocation was not an easy process. In fact, campaign efforts began in 2003. After five years of hard work and fundraising tactics, its efforts paid off. The museum successfully raised $23.2 million in February 2008.
The Wing Luke Asian Museum is the first and only Pan-Asian museum in the country. It tells the Asian American immigrant story. According to board member Ellen Ferguson, rather than being specific to one culture, 20 Asian Pacific Islander American communities are represented by the museum. Read the full story
