This will be the largest year yet for the Asian Heritage Awards, as it brings together government officials, business owners, corporate executives, community leaders, military officers and members of the Asian Pacific Islander community in what has become one of the most prestigious events taking place in Southern California. For the last two years, the Awards were honored for their public service by the San Diego Press Club. The event will be emceed once again by San Diego Channel 8′s Marcella Lee while Silk Road Productions will produce the ceremony.

The Asian Heritage Awards will benefit the Asian Heritage Society, a nonprofit corporation that serves as a force for building the next generation of Asian American leaders and promotes the Asian Pacific Islander community through media, educational programs and other means that foster a greater understanding of the diversity of Asian culture. For more information, contact Asian Heritage Society at 619 521 8008.

THE ART OF THE IMPOSSIBLE:

How to win elections and influence people.

Learn about careers in politics from those who have done it.

When: Saturday, May 15th, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Hojel Auditorium in the Institute of the Americas, UCSD
Topics: How to run campaigns and raise money; mobilization at the grassroots level, and more. Details on panelists/speakers to follow!
RSVP: Reservations required by Saturday, May 1, 2010. Free and open to the public. To reserve (or for more information), please email your name, organization, title, and phone number to aparnsoo@ucsd.edu or editorial@asiamediainc.com or call 858-717-3930
Sponsors: Asian Heritage Society 501(c)(3), Tom Hom, ASIA:The Journal of Culture & Commerce, UCSD School of International Relations & Pacific Studies (IR/PS) and Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA)

Saturday, May 15th, 2010 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ,Registration and breakfast at 8 am,Hojel Auditorium in the Institute of the Americas, UCSD,There is no cost to attend but attendees must pre-register by May1,2010 to guarantee a space.

Hom’s mark on San Diego is everywhere, from the Chinese Historical Museum, to the Gaslamp Quarter and Petco Park. But his most important mark has been on community service as the first Asian elected to the San Diego City Council and the first Asian from San Diego to serve in the California Assembly. Elected official, Realtor and active in his beloved Chinese Community Church, Tom Hom has been an inspiration to many in San Diego for more than a generation.

In addition, the Awards will honor achievement in 14 categories ranging from education to community service. Other categories include art and literature, business enterprise, cultural preservation, entrepreneurship, government, health and medicine, humanitarian outreach, innovation and technology, legal affairs, media, military and performing arts. The July 10 event will also highlight entertainment representative of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese cultures.

Nominees are selected by the community and their names placed on an email ballot that is uploaded to the websites www.asiamediainc.com and www.asianheritageawards.com. Last year, more than 46,000 votes were cast. Special Recognition Honorees in the past have included Ret. Major General Antonio Taguba and State Senator Leland Yee.

Hom ran for San Diego City Council in 1963 and won. Four years later, he was reelected with 87 percent of the vote in what was then a citywide election. To this day, it remains the largest plurality in the city’s history and paved the way for other minorities to run for government offices in San Diego. Elected to the California Assembly in 1968, he increased the number of APIs in the state legislature to three.

The USS Midway is the appropriate venue for this event because of its historical connection to Asia. The carrier began its service off the coast of Japan at the close of World War II and served during the Korean War, as well as Vietnam.

Unforgettable live performances will enhance this gala event attended by movers and shakers in San Diego and Southern California’s Asian community as well as top government officials. For more information, please visit our websites at www.AsiaMediaInc.com and www.AsianHeritageAwards.com , or email editorial@AsiaMediainc.com.

The Asian Heritage Society is dedicated to developing the next generation of Asian American leaders through workshops, its mentorship and pilot projects linking U.S. schools with schools in Asia and in preserving the cultural legacy of San Diego and Southern California’s Asian and Pacific Islander communities through events such as the Asian Heritage Awards.

ASIAN HERITAGE AWARDS Organized By ASIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY A Non-Profit Corporation Corporate No: C2587514 and ASIA, The Journal of Culture & Commerce

 CONTACT: Len Novarro,    619 521 8008  EMAIL: editorial@asiamediainc.com 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE