Mayor Mike McGinn announced his appointments to the new Community Police Commission on Monday, Jan. 14. The Community Police Commission is a partnership between the police department, its officers, community members, and public officials intended to support the development of reforms, establishment of police priorities, and mechanisms to promote community confidence in the Seattle Police Department. Read the full story

JACL annual banquet honorees, from left: Admiral Herb Bridge, Diane Narasaki, and Alan Sugiyama (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)

On Feb. 4, the Seattle Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League held its 90th annual banquet at Tea Palace Restaurant in Renton. Read the full story

By Assunta Ng

From left: Tama Murotani-Inaba, Navaho Chief Manuelito, Carolyn Kelly, Norm Rice, and Diane Narasaki

This week, I’ve benefited from many words of wisdom. I thought I’d share them with you. Read the full story

Melinda and Bill Gates show little intimacy toward one another (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)

What does a rich man do to create dreams for the world? Build a palace or own an island? Read the full story

At ACRS’ annual benefit dinner, from left: Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, ACRS Executive Director Diane Narasaki, and California Rep. Mike Honda (Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW)

The Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) held its annual benefit gala at the Bellevue Westin. The event, “A Culinary Journey,” featured five chefs, Ngoan Nguyen, Pranee Khruasanit Halvorsen, Sam Choy, and David and Lily Kong. It also featured a performance by Teine Tama Samoa. Read the full story

From left: Congressman Jim McDermott, Food Lifeline board member Tom Douglas, Food Lifeline President and CEO Linda Nageotte, and Chase Chairman, Pacific Northwest Phyllis Campbell

Front row, from left: ACRS Executive Director Diane Narasaki, ACRS Food Bank volunteers Eun Soon Cho and Yiem Mean, and Chase Chairman Phyllis Campbell. Back row, from left: ACRS Food Bank volunteers Bea Smith and Joyce Dong-Liberty

JPMorgan Chase donated three refrigerated trucks and $50,000 to Food Lifeline, Washington’s largest hunger relief organization. The event took place at the Asian Counseling and Referral Service’s Food Bank. Chase’s donation to Food Lifeline is part of a $5 million national grant to Feeding America, of which Food Lifeline is a member. Read the full story

By Jocelyn Chui
Northwest Asian Weekly

On July 1, President Barack Obama delivered his keynote speech on immigration reform. (Screen capture from a whitehouse.gov YouTube video)

The Asian Pacific American (APA) community will benefit from the comprehensive immigration reform address given by President Barack Obama last week, APA advocacy groups have said. Read the full story

Diane Narasaki

Diane Narasaki, executive director of the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), a nonprofit organization, received Seattle Magazine’s Sixth Annual Most Influential People of the Year award, for her vision and leadership in the successful execution of a $19 million capital campaign.

Narasaki has been ACRS’ executive director since 1995 and oversees a staff of 200 and a budget of $13 million. ♦