Lia Chang Photos: AALDEF Honors Congressman John Lewis, Jose Antonio Vargas, and Simone Wu with 2013 Justice in Action Awards

Congressman John Lewis, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (Georgia), Jose Antonio Vargas of Define American, and Simone Wu of Choice Hotels International, Inc. received the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s (AALDEF) 2013 Justice in Action Awards at AALDEF’s annual Lunar New Year benefit, held at PIER 60 Chelsea Piers in New York on February 19, 2013.

2013 AALDEF Justice in Action honorees Jose Antonio Vargas, Simone Wu and Congressman John Lewis. Photo by Lia Chang

Since 1987, AALDEF has presented the Justice in Action Awards to exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and efforts in advancing social justice. The awards were presented by Rep. Grace Meng, the first Asian American to represent New York in Congress, Tony Award-winning playwright of M. Butterfly David Henry Hwang, and Gordon Smith, CEO of Consumer and Community Banking, JPMorgan Chase.

Congressman John Lewis, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (Georgia), Margaret Fung, AALDEF executive director, BD Wong, Jose Antonio Vargas of Define American, and Simone Wu of Choice Hotels International, Inc., Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer at Columbia University and Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s (AALDEF) 2013 Justice in Action Awards held at PIER 60 Chelsea Piers in New York on February 19, 2013. Photo by Lia Chang

Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer at Columbia University, both long time supporters of AALDEF, were the co-emcees for the banquet of over 700. They were joined at the end with a surprise appearance on stage from actor BD Wong, who urged the guests to show their support for AALDEF.

Co-emcees Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer at Columbia University raise their glasses to welcome the Year of the Snake. Photo by Lia Chang

The surprise appearance of BD Wong on stage, asking the guests to support AALDEF in the Year of the Snake, with Juju Chang and Sree Sreenivasan! Photo by Lia Chang

Among the guests at Pier Sixty in New York City were Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York, U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Debra James, and past Justice in Action Award recipients Don Liu, Parkin Lee, Alice Young, and Sandra Leung.

Justice in Action Award honoree Congressman John Lewis, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (Georgia), Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, Judge Denny Chin and and Presenter David Henry Hwang. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Board president Tommy Shi wished the audience a happy new year and shared the story that, seven days before the 2012 election, with AALDEF’s national poll monitoring and exit poll project at stake, Hurricane Sandy hit New York. AALDEF staff was stranded in outer boroughs and our office was without electricity. “We put out an emergency call for help,” said Shi. “AALDEF staff and volunteers lugged boxes of voting materials down 12 flights of stairs in the dark. We were lucky that Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP donated temporary space with computers and phones for our staff and volunteers. And Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP opened its conference rooms to us. In the end, the Asian American Exit Poll surveyed over 9,000 voters in 14 states on Election Day, the largest multilingual survey of its kind.”

Justice in Action Award honoree Congressman John Lewis, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (Georgia), Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York and AALDEF executive director Margaret Fung. Photo by Lia Chang

Margaret Fung, AALDEF executive director, said that the three Justice in Action Award recipients had taken courageous stands on some of AALDEF’s current priority issues: securing real immigration reform, expanding diversity, and defending the Voting Rights Act before the U.S. Supreme Court.

David Henry Hwang introduced honoree Jose Antonio Vargas as having “one of the great immigrant stories of our time.” Vargas, an award-winning Filipino American journalist, publicly revealed himself to be an undocumented immigrant in a 2011 New York Times Magazine article. “Immigrant rights are human rights,” said Vargas, who acknowledged the work of AALDEF and civil rights organizations by joking that the reason he “was still here” was that he was “all lawyered up.”

David Henry Hwang presents Jose Antonio Vargas with his award. Photo by Lia Chang

Congratulations JIA 2013 honoree Jose Antonio Vargas! Photo by Lia Chang

Gordon Smith, CEO of Consumer and Community Banking, JPMorgan Chase presents Honoree Simone Wu with her Justice in Action award. Photo by Lia Chang

Congratulations JIA 2013 honoree Simone Wu! Photo by Lia Chang

Honoree Simone Wu, senior vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary, and chief compliance officer of Choice Hotels International, spoke about the need for diversity and inclusiveness. “So many Asian Americans do not get a chance to share in the model minority myth,” said Wu. “At Choice Hotels we value diversity in all our decisions and our results are better as a result of doing that.”

Rep. Grace Meng honors Rep. John Lewis. Photo by Lia Chang

The evening came to a close with Rep. Grace Meng introducing civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis with a surprise video of the Congressman dancing “Gangnam-style” for the right to vote.

Rep. Grace Meng presents Rep. John Lewis with his Justice in Action award. Photo by Lia Chang

“The right to vote is precious, even sacred,” said Congressman Lewis, who, in 1965, led over 600 peaceful protesters in the march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The marchers were attacked by Alabama state troopers in a brutal confrontation known as “Bloody Sunday,” and the senseless cruelty hastened passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. “I gave a little blood for the right to vote. But some of my friends gave their lives. We have made too much progress to stop now.”

Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. John Lewis, Juju Chang and Sree Sreenivasan. Photo by Lia Chang

Standing ovation for Rep. John Lewis. Photo by Lia Chang

Standing ovation for Rep. John Lewis. Photo by Lia Chang

Congratulations JIA 2013 honoree Rep. John Lewis! Photo by Lia Chang

Past Justice in Action Award recipients include Fred Korematsu, David Henry Hwang, Fareed Zakaria, BD Wong, Sandra Leung, Harold Koh, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, George Takei, Salman Rushdie, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Harry Belafonte, Margaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.

Rep. Grace Meng, JIA 2013 honorees Rep. John Lewis, Simone Wu, Jose Antonio Vargas, AALDEF executive director Margaret Fung, co-emcee Juju Chang and BD Wong. Photo by Lia Chang

Other articles by Lia Chang:
Congressman John Lewis, Jose Antonio Vargas and Simone Wu to Receive 2013 Justice in Action Awards on February 19, 2013
Hold These Truths Opening Night at Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Tenney Theatre with Daniel Dae Kim, Joel de la Fuente and Jeanne Sakata
Signature Theatre extends David Henry Hwang’s The Dance and The Railroad starring Ruy Iskandar and Yuekun Wu through March 24, 2013
Jeanne Sakata’s Hold These Truths, Starring Joel de la Fuente, Plays Honolulu Theatre for Youth’s Tenney Theatre, February 21 – March 2, 2013
Ann Harada Plays Cinderella’s Stepsister Charlotte in Broadway Premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the Broadway Theatre
Ron Domingo, Francis Jue and Jon Norman Schneider Join the Cast of the World Premiere of Paper Dolls at the Tricycle Theatre, February 28 – April 13, 2013
AALDEF Honors Parkin Lee, Jean Koh Peters, and CNN’s Fareed Zakaria with 2012 Justice in Action Awards in New York on February 8, 2012
Historic Gathering of Civil Rights Heroes at Fred Korematsu Day Heroes Celebration in San Francisco on January 27, 2013
Good Night | Good Morning starring Manu Narayan and Seema Rahmani on J. Hurtado’s Top Ten Indian Films of 2012
Ruy Iskandar and Yuekun Wu Set for Signature Theatre’s Production of David Henry Hwang’s The Dance and The Railroad, February 5 – March 17, 2013
Manu Narayan, Mark Bennett, Lea Salonga, Michael K. Lee and Stafford Arima Among 2012 Craig Noel Award Nominees
Photos: Partying with the Cast of David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child
Harlem Nights with Lorey Hayes, Actress, Director and Award-Winning Playwright of Power Play and Massinissa
Multimedia: Manu Narayan Dazzles as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s Revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross
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Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang and Rep. John Lewis. Photo by Michael E. Collins

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2013 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Congressman John Lewis, Jose Antonio Vargas and Simone Wu to Receive 2013 Justice in Action Awards on February 19, 2013

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) will honor Congressman John Lewis, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (Georgia), Jose Antonio Vargas of Define American, and Simone Wu of Choice Hotels International, Inc., with the 2013 Justice in Action Awards at its Annual Lunar New Year Gala on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers, in New York City.

The awards will be presented by Rep. Grace Meng, the first Asian American to represent New York in Congress, Tony award-winning playwright of M. Butterfly David Henry Hwang, and Gordon Smith, CEO of Consumer and Community Banking, JPMorgan Chase.

The co-emcees for the evening are Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News, and Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer at Columbia University.

The AALDEF Justice in Action Awards recognize exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in advancing justice and equality. Past recipients include the late civil rights icon Fred Korematsu, David Henry Hwang, Fareed Zakaria, BD Wong, Sandra Leung, Harold Koh, Mira Nair, Ivan Fong, Deval Patrick, George Takei, Salman Rushdie, Seymour Hersh, Larry Tu, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Nicholas Kristof, Sheryl Wu Dunn, Javade Chaudhri, Harry Belafonte, Margaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.

AALDEF’s 2013 Lunar New Year Gala celebrating the Year of the Snake begins with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by the Justice in Action Awards ceremony and a banquet dinner.

Tables of ten, available at $20,000, $15,000, and $10,000, include a VIP reception. Individual tickets start at $1000 and $500. To reserve seating, please contact Lillian Ling at 212.966.5932 ex. 202 or lling@aaldef.org.

Congressman John Lewis

Congressman John Lewis is the U.S. Representative for Georgia’s 5th congressional district, serving since 1987, and Senior Chief Deputy Whip. He was one of the 13 original Freedom Riders who challenged segregation at interstate bus terminals across the South, and was a leader in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery March for voting rights. By 1963, he was dubbed one of the Big Six leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. For his lifelong commitment to social justice, he was awarded the highest civilian honor, the Medal of Freedom, by President Obama in 2011. “Congressman John Lewis is a true American hero and a pillar of the Civil Rights Movement,” said Margaret Fung, Executive Director of AALDEF. “We honor his commitment to securing human rights and civil liberties for all Americans.”

Jose Antonio Vargas

Jose Antonio Vargas is a Filipino American journalist who has reported for The San Francisco Chronicle, The Philadelphia Daily News, and The Washington Post, where he was part of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team. In 2011, Vargas publicly revealed himself to be an undocumented immigrant and has since been a leading advocate for a U.S. immigration system that promotes human rights for all. He is the founder of Define American, a project aimed at increasing awareness about the DREAM Act, which would help undocumented youth have a path to citizenship available to them through education or service in the military. “Jose Antonio Vargas has played a crucial role in changing the discourse on immigration reform,” said Fung. “We honor his courage in speaking on behalf of the rights of immigrants everywhere.”

Simone Wu

Simone Wu is senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary for Choice Hotels International, one of the world’s largest hotel franchisors. Prior to joining Choice Hotels, Wu served as executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary for XO Communications, a leading nationwide telecommunications corporation. Through her 20 years of legal experience, Wu has been committed to advancing diversity in the legal profession, including serving as chairperson of the board of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, which was founded to advance the hiring, retention, and promotion of diverse attorneys in legal departments and the law firms. “We honor Simone Wu’s dedication to promoting diversity and equal opportunity in the corporate sector,” said Fung.

The Lunar New Year Gala
Since 1987, AALDEF has presented the Justice in Action Awards to exceptional individuals for their efforts in advancing social justice and human rights for Asian Americans. The Justice in Action Award recipients are chosen for their contributions to Asian American communities across the nation, as well as for their singular achievements in their respective fields.

Each year, AALDEF presents the Justice in Action Awards at its annual Lunar New Year Gala, a celebration of Asian Americans in civil rights, law, business, and the arts.

All proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala will go directly towards supporting AALDEF’s legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, language access to services, educational equity, housing and environmental justice, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking.

Other articles by Lia Chang:
AALDEF Honors Parkin Lee, Jean Koh Peters, and CNN’s Fareed Zakaria with 2012 Justice in Action Awards in New York on February 8, 2012
Historic Gathering of Civil Rights Heroes at Fred Korematsu Day Heroes Celebration in San Francisco on January 27, 2013
Kumu Kahua Theatre Presents World Premiere of Daniel Akiyama’s A Cage of Fireflies, January 24-February 24, 2013
Hold These Truths Video Feature: Playwright Jeanne Sakata, Star Joel de la Fuente and Director Lisa Rothe
Good Night | Good Morning starring Manu Narayan and Seema Rahmani on J. Hurtado’s Top Ten Indian Films of 2012
Ruy Iskandar and Yuekun Wu Set for Signature Theatre’s Production of David Henry Hwang’s The Dance and The Railroad, February 5 – March 17, 2013
Michelle Krusiec and Alex Moggridge Star in David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish at South Coast Repertory, January 25 – February 24, 2013
Manu Narayan, Mark Bennett, Lea Salonga, Michael K. Lee and Stafford Arima Among 2012 Craig Noel Award Nominees
Photos: Partying with the Cast of David Henry Hwang’s Golden Child
Harlem Nights with Lorey Hayes, Actress, Director and Award-Winning Playwright of Power Play and Massinissa
Multimedia: Manu Narayan Dazzles as Richard Roma in La Jolla Playhouse’s Revival of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross
Performing Arts Images from the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection on Display at the Library of Congress to Celebrate APA Heritage Month
Photos: Yellow Fever Playwright Rick Shiomi Explores New Territory with An All-Female Cast
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2013 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com

Lia Chang Photos: AALDEF 2012 Justice in Action Honorees Parkin Lee, Jean Koh Peters and Fareed Zakaria

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honorees, Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group, Yale Law School Professor Jean Koh Peters, and CNN Host Fareed Zakaria. Photo by Lia Chang

CNN Host Fareed Zakaria, Yale Law School Professor Jean Koh Peters, and Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group were honored with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s (AALDEF) 2012 Justice in Action Awards on February 8, 2012 at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in New York.

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) celebrated the Year of the Dragon with a Lunar New Year benefit at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in New York on February 8, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

Since 1987, AALDEF has awarded the Justice in Action Award to exceptional individuals for their efforts in advancing social justice and human rights for Asian Americans.

Aasif Mandvi, Sree Sreenivasan, Ayaz Shaikh, AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honorees CNN Host Fareed Zakaria, Yale Law School Professor Jean Koh Peters, Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group and presenter Hon. Efrain Alvarado. Photo by Lia Chang

Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, Dean of Student Affairs and digital media professor at Columbia Journalism School were the co-emcees for the banquet of over 800, with Daily Show correspondent, actor, and master of satire Aasif Mandvi as the special guest.

AALDEF co-emcees Sree Sreenivasan and Juju Chang and Special Guest The Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi...before they kept the audience laughing all night. Photo by Lia Chang

Chang and Sreenivasan, both long time supporters of AALDEF, began by sharing their highlights of the past year, from Chang’s interviews with celebrities like Celine Dion to Sreenivasan’s ambush by right-wing activist James O’Keefe.

AALDEF co-emcees Sree Sreenivasan and Juju Chang. Photo by Lia Chang

Among the guests at Pier Sixty in New York City were past Justice in Action Award recipients including actor BD Wong, Javade Chaudhri, Art Chong, A.B. Cruz III, Harold Koh, Sandra Leung, Don Liu and Alice Young.

Actor BD Wong, AALDEF Executive Director Margaret Fung, Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Photo by Lia Chang

Elected officials and judges were also part of the crowd, including New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin, and Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York – who currently graces the cover of TIME magazine (leading emcee Sreenivasan to joke that his celebrity factor was compensation for New York Knicks player Jeremy Lin’s absence.)

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group with U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Executive Director Margaret Fung. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Executive Director Margaret Fung wished the audience a happy new year and reminded them of the necessity of their support. “There are reports of the NYPD’s targeting of Muslims and South Asians under the guise of national security,” said Fung. “Just this week, the Superbowl featured a racist political ad by Republican candidate Pete Hoekstra mocking Chinese people. So in the Year of the Dragon, we have our work cut out for us.”

AALDEF board president Tommy Shi and AALDEF Executive Director Margaret Fung. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree CNN Host Fareed Zakaria. Photo by Lia Chang

The power of the immigrant experience in the United States was a theme throughout all three acceptance speeches. “We are creating the first universal nation,” said honoree Fareed Zakaria. “Ten years before I became a citizen, I began using the word ‘we’ to describe the United States. There isn’t a country like this where people from all over the world come and are entirely included in the process.”

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

Parkin Lee, former president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation and Vice President of The Rockefeller Group, spoke about his childhood growing up in a Chinese hand laundry after World War II. “This country was built on the strength and creativity of immigrants who came here and made lives for themselves,” said Lee.

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Yale Law Professor Jean Koh Lee. Photo by Lia Chang

Honoree Jean Koh Peters, the renowned children’s rights and immigrants’ rights scholar, reminded the audience of the value of public service. “Never let your skill exceed your virtue,” Peters said.

Special guest The Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi. Photo by Lia Chang

The night ended with Aasif Mandvi’s hilarious and deeply politically incorrect stand-up. “I thought they were filming this portion of the show for Comedy Central, but really it’s for the NYPD,” he began. Mandvi added, “AALDEF is at the forefront of fighting for the rights of Muslim Americans. If you believe that all Americans should live in a free and equal society – I can’t imagine why you would – then please support the organization.”

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honorees Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group and CNN Host Fareed Zakaria with Preet Bharara, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Photo by Lia Chang

Past Justice in Action Award recipients include the late civil rights icons Fred Korematsu and Gordon Hirabayashi, David Henry Hwang, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, Salman Rushdie, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Harry Belafonte, Juan Gonzalez, Margaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.

The Rockefeller Group was a 2012 Justice Circle sponsor.

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honorees, CNN Host Fareed Zakaria, Yale Law School Professor Jean Koh Peters and Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

The 2012 Justice in Action Award Recipients

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree CNN Host Fareed Zakaria. Photo by Lia Chang

Fareed Zakaria has had one of the most illustrious careers in the history of American journalism. At the age of 28, he became the managing editor of Foreign Affairs magazine straight out of Harvard University’s political science doctoral program. From 2000 to 2010, Zakaria was editor of Newsweek International. He is currently editor-at-large of TIME magazine, host of CNN‘s Fareed Zakaria GPS, a Washington Post columnist, and the New York Times bestselling author of The Post-American World and The Future of Freedom, among other critically-acclaimed works.

AALDEF board member Ayaz Shaikh presents CNN Host Fareed Zakaria with the AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 Award. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF co-emcee Sree Sreenivasan with his wife Roopa and AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree CNN Host Fareed Zakaria. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Yale Law Professor Jean Koh Lee. Photo by Lia Chang

Renowned children’s rights and immigrants’ rights scholar Jean Koh Peters began her career at Yale Law School in 1989 after teaching for three years at Columbia Law School. In 2009, she was named the Sol Goldman Clinical Professor of Law at Yale, and she currently supervises students representing clients in the Sol and Lillian Goldman Family Advocacy for Children and Youth Clinic and the Immigration Legal Services Clinic. She has authored the book Representing Children in Child Protective Proceedings: Ethical and Practical Dimensions, now in its third edition.

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Yale Law Professor Jean Koh Lee. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Yale Law Professor Jean Koh Lee, with presenter Susan Bryant of CUNY Law School. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

Before joining The Rockefeller Group as Vice President and Chief Legal Officer in 2008, Parkin Lee worked with the New York Life Insurance Company for 20 years in a variety of positions. Throughout his distinguished professional career, Lee has been a pillar of the Asian American legal community, serving as President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation, which awards scholarships to law students who demonstrate a commitment to serve or contribute to the Asian American community as future leaders.

Hon. Efrain Alvarado presents AALDEF’s Justice in Action 2012 Award to Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

Honoree Parkin Lee with AALDEF favorite and past honoree BD Wong. Photo by Lia Chang

The Lunar New Year Gala
Since 1987, AALDEF has presented the Justice in Action Awards to exceptional individuals for their efforts in advancing social justice and human rights for Asian Americans. The Justice in Action Award recipients are chosen for their contributions to Asian American communities across the nation, as well as for their singular achievements in their respective fields.

AALDEF 2007 Justice in Action honoree Javade Chaudhri (second from left) and 2011 Justice in Action honoree AB Cruz III (fourth from the left) celebrate the Year of the Dragon with friends and colleagues at AALDEF's Lunar New Year Benefit at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in New York on February 8, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

Each year, AALDEF presents the Justice in Action Awards at its annual Lunar New Year Gala, a celebration of Asian Americans in civil rights, law, business, and the arts.

All proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala will go directly towards supporting AALDEF’s legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equity, housing and environmental justice, Census policy, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking.

The AALDEF Board of Directors: Ayaz R. Shaikh, Ko-Yung Tung, Tommy Shi, Denley Y. Chew, Lauren U.Y. Lee, Phil Nash. Photo by Lia Chang

Related Articles:
AALDEF Honors Parkin Lee, Jean Koh Peters, and CNN’s Fareed Zakaria with 2012 Justice in Action Awards in New York on February 8, 2012
Remembering Civil Rights Leader Gordon Hirabayashi,1918- 2012
Photos: A.B. Cruz III and Lillian Kimura Receive 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awards
A.B. Cruz III of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., Lillian Kimura To Receive 2011 Justice in Action Awards
Reverend Jesse Jackson & Beau Sia slated for 1st Annual Fred Korematsu Day Celebration on 1/30/11 at UC Berkeley
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Juan Gonzalez and Larry Tu Received AALDEF 2010 Justice in Action Awards in New York
Multimedia: AALDEF Celebrates 35 Years of Protecting and Promoting the Civil Rights of Asian Americans
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Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Linsanity: Sports Illustrated Cover Guy New York Knicks Starting Point Guard Jeremy Lin
Athol Fugard’s Blood Knot, starring Colman Domingo & Scott Shepherd in The Alice Griffith Jewel Box at The Pershing Square Signature Center through March 11, 2012
Broadwayworld.com Photo Flash: Library of Congress’ IN REHEARSAL Exhibit
Cindy Cheung’s solo show SPEAK UP CONNIE, directed by BD Wong at Stage Left Studio has been extended, February 5-15, 2012
broadwayworld.com: Photo Flash: SPEAK UP CONNIE In Rehearsal
Feb. 13: Chinglish Playwright David Henry Hwang Moderates “RepresentAsian: The Changing Face of New York Theater” at Pope Auditorium at Fordham University
Larry Bryggman, Peter Jay Fernandez, Arliss Howard and David Pittu Set for Atlantic Theater Company’s CQ/CX, January 25-March 4, 2012
Ma-Yi Theatre Company Presents Qui Nguyen’s THE INEXPLICABLE REDEMPTION OF AGENT G at Theatre Row’s Beckett Theatre, 2/7 – 3/4
Photos: Eiko Ishioka
Mu Daiko 15th Anniversary Concert and Minnesota Tour, February 9-19, 2012
Photos: Yellow Fever Playwright Rick Shiomi Explores New Territory with An All-Female Cast
Photos & Video: Celebrate Chinese New Year with David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish through January 29, 2012
Mu Daiko 15th Anniversary Concert and Minnesota Tour, February 9-19, 2012
Photos: “How To Succeed” stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rose Hemingway and John Larroquette at Lord & Taylor for Windows Unveiling
Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet, Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

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Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. In 2010, the Library of Congress established The Lia Chang APA Theater Portfolio in the Asian Pacific American Performing Arts Collection housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian Pacific American Islander Collection.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com.

Lia Chang: AALDEF Honors Parkin Lee, Jean Koh Peters, and CNN’s Fareed Zakaria with 2012 Justice in Action Awards in New York on February 8, 2012

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) will honor Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group, Yale Law professor Jean Koh Peters, and Fareed Zakaria, CNN host and Time editor-at-large with the 2012 Justice in Action Awards, at its Annual Lunar New Year Gala on Wednesday, February 8, 2011 at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers, in New York City.

2012 Justice in Action Award Honorees Fareed Zakaria, Jean Koh Peters and Parkin Lee

The co-emcees for the evening are Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, Dean of Student Affairs and digital media professor at Columbia Journalism School.

Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, dean of student affairs and digital media professor at Columbia School of Journalism will co-emcee. Photo by Lia Chang

The AALDEF Justice in Action Awards recognize exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in advancing justice and equality. Past recipients include the late civil rights icons Fred Korematsu and Gordon Hirabayashi, David Henry Hwang, Harold Koh, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, Salman Rushdie, BD Wong, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn, Harry Belafonte, Margaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.

Over 600 leaders of the civil rights, legal, business, and arts communities are expected to attend AALDEF’s 2012 Lunar New Year Gala celebrating the Year of the Dragon. The Gala begins with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by the Justice in Action Awards ceremony and a banquet dinner.

Reserve Tickets: Tables of ten, available at $50,000, $20,000, $15,000, and $10,000, include a VIP reception. Individual tickets start at $500. To reserve seating, please contact Lillian Ling at 212.966.5932 ex. 202 or email events@aaldef.org.

Proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala benefit AALDEF’s legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equality, housing and environmental justice, Census policy, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct and human trafficking.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.

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Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Asia Society Honors Chinglish Playwright David Henry Hwang and Former Deputy Secretary of State John C. Whitehead at the Waldorf Astoria on January 11, 2012
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DOGS LIE, Starring Samrat Chakrabarti, Frank Boyd and Ewa Da Cruz, Nabs ”Best Film (USA)” and ”Feature Film Audience Award” at 2011 ITN Distribution Film and New Media Festival
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Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

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Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

Lia Chang Photos: A.B. Cruz III and Lillian Kimura Receive 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awards

From L to R: AALDEF Board member, Philip Tajitsu Nash; 2011 Justice in Action Award recipients Lillian Kimura and A.B. Cruz III; Ken Lowe, CEO of Scripps Networks Interactive. Photo by Lia Chang.

Before a sold-out crowd of 750 leaders from the legal, civil rights and corporate worlds, Lillian Kimura, former president of the Japanese American Citizens League, and Scripps Networks Interactive’s chief legal officer A.B. Cruz III were honored by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) for advancing social justice and equality and for their outstanding achievements. The national civil rights organization’s annual Lunar New Year Gala was held at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers in Manhattan on Tuesday, February 8, 2011.

The evening’s emcees were Juju Chang, news anchor of ABC Good Morning America, and Sree Sreenivasan, dean of student affairs and digital media professor at Columbia School of Journalism. Tony-award winning actor B.D. Wong delivered a personal and uproarious special message.

Juju Chang, news anchor of ABC Good Morning America, and Sree Sreenivasan, dean of student affairs and digital media professor at Columbia School of Journalism co-emceed the festivities. Photo by Lia Chang

Chang and Sreenivasan urged attendees to tweet about the Justice in Action awards (#aaldef on Twitter) and check in via Foursquare @AALDEF Gala. Attendees were also treated to a hilarious video clip from Good Morning America’s pre-Super Bowl broadcast, which featured the famous talking E-Trade babies giving a personal shout-out to Juju. (Chang was the only one of four GMA anchors to pick the Green Bay Packers as the Superbowl winner.)

2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awardee Lillian Kimura gets a hug from Law and Order SVU actor BD Wong. Photo by Lia Chang

Accepting her 2011 Justice in Action award to a standing ovation, Lillian Kimura spoke about her work at the YWCA in the 1970s, which had pledged to “eliminate racism by any means necessary.” Kimura received her award from Philip Tajitsu Nash, an Asian American studies professor, civil rights attorney and AALDEF Board member. Nash cited Kimura as one of the “skilled, selfless committed leaders” of the Japanese American redress movement and her lifelong efforts to eliminate gender barriers while at the YWCA and as the first female president of the Japanese American Citizens League in 1992. Kimura was a teenager when she was imprisoned with her family during World War II at an American concentration camp at Manzanar.

Dennis A. Espiritu, CDR, USN and 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awardee A.B. Cruz III. Cruz is the first Filipino American to hold the distinction of attaining the rank of Rear Admiral in a non-medical field in the U.S. Navy. Photo by Lia Chang

A.B. Cruz III, chief legal officer and corporate secretary at Scripps Networks Interactive, spoke about three pressing issues in the Asian American community: eliminating human trafficking, the need for more Asian Americans to do public interest law, and advocating for the right of Asian American youth to an education “free from prejudice and violence.” He challenged each person in the room to be a “force multiplier” for social justice and to strengthen AALDEF in its civil rights efforts.

Cruz received his Justice in Action award from Ken Lowe, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Scripps Networks Interactive. Lowe noted that Cruz is one of just 20 Asian Americans serving as general counsel in a Fortune 1000 company and holds the distinction of being the first Filipino American attain the rank of Rear Admiral in a non-medical field in the U.S. Navy. Lowe also cited Cruz’s dedication to increase diversity in the legal profession.

BD Wong Regales the Crowd with Stories About the White House State Dinner, Tiger Moms, and "Racist" Cookies. Photo by Lia Chang

Tony-award winning actor B.D. Wong, who currently stars in the television show Law & Order: SVU, delivered a side-splitting special message. Wong, who sat at the head table at the recent White House state dinner honoring Hu Jintao, had the audience roaring at his cultural observations on such topics as White House etiquette, the “hot” factor of former President Bill Clinton, and the political incorrectness of Chinatown’s traditional new year “Ching Kee” cookies.

The AALDEF Justice in Action Awards recognize exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in advancing justice and equality. Past recipients include the late civil rights icon Fred Korematsu, David Henry Hwang, Harold Koh, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, Salman Rushdie, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn, Harry Belafonte, Juan Gonzalez, Margaret Cho and Yoko Ono.

Lion dancers at the 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awards dinner. Photo b

Attendees were treated to a traditional lion dance to start off the evening and had the opportunity to bid on dozens of silent auction items, including a private tour at the Food Network Studios, dinner at Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain, and tea with B.D. Wong at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala benefit AALDEF’s legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equality, housing and environmental justice, Census policy, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct and human trafficking.

About AALDEF
Since 1987, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) has presented the Justice in Action awards to exceptional individuals for their efforts in advancing social justice and human rights for Asian Americans. The Justice in Action award recipients are chosen for their contributions to Asian American communities across the nation, as well as for their singular achievements in their respective fields.

Related Articles:
A.B. Cruz III of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., Lillian Kimura To Receive 2011 Justice in Action Awards
Reverend Jesse Jackson & Beau Sia slated for 1st Annual Fred Korematsu Day Celebration on 1/30/11 at UC Berkeley
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Fred Korematsu Day Bill, Bill Establishes January 30 as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution
AALDEF and the 33rd Asian American International Film Festival co-sponsors screenings of 9500 Liberty and Lt Watada
Juan Gonzalez and Larry Tu Received AALDEF 2010 Justice in Action Awards in New York
Multimedia: AALDEF Celebrates 35 Years of Protecting and Promoting the Civil Rights of Asian Americans
AALDEF Honors Dale Minami, Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl Wudunn and Sandra Leung with 2009 Justice in Action Awards

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Up Close and Personal with Darren Pettie, Star of The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
Photos of Lion Dancers in Los Angeles Chinatown
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Lia Chang in Art & Healing Exhibit at Snug Harbor on SI
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STORIES FROM CHINESE AMERICA: The Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2 as 4 disc DVD Box Set
Photos & Video Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas-In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Photo Call: BD Wong and the Cast of Heading East at the Asia Society
Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachang@hotmail.com.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

This year, selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space will become part of newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.