Agtuca, Jacqueline R., 1997
Fellow convenes writer's groups for Filipina activists
Jacqueline R. Agtuca, Esq. used her novel, The Spirits of Mango Grove, as a basis for discussion groups in several cities. The book reflects her experience as a second generation Filipina. Her goal is to promote literature that reflects their struggle for civil rights.

Albuquerque, Manuela, 1999
Educating and registering voters to increase South Asian awareness
Recognizing the need for greater involvement of South Asian emigrants, Ms Albuquerque founded the South Asian Voter Education and Registration Alliance and developed a booklet that includes current issues, immigration and civil rights, and South Asian history in the US.

Beezley, Juliet Arboleda, 2000
Assistance for relocated Navy families
Juliet Arboleda Beezley plans to develop an assistance program for families on the Naval Base 32nd Street and the North Island Air Naval Station in the San Diego area. She intends to help these families through orientation and introduction to their community, and to provide information about available services and the culture of their new home.

Benavides, Vida, 2000
Raising awareness and providing education about
the Filipino American experience
Vida Benavides plans to provide a forum to educate and raise awareness of the Filipino American experience through creative and artistic expression. She is establishing Babylon Productions as a vehicle for nurturing and encouraging individuals to use multi-media expression.

Borromeo, Gelly, 1999
Asian American Business Association created
Gelly Borromeo noted the lack of representation for Asian Pacific business owners like herself, so she took it upon herself to form the National Council of Asian American Business Association. Her project got a booster shot in the form of $100,000 from Wells Fargo Bank. The funding underwrites the planning phase of National CAABA, which already is filling a roster with business owners interested in joining forces with Gelly's pioneering project.

Cash-Kaeo, Mervina Kaukini Mamo, 2000
Celebrating 70 years of community
Mervina Cash-Kaeo plans to help the residents of the Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead reconnect with their cultural values and vessels of wisdom "The Kupana". By collecting, documenting and presenting 70 years of photographs and stories, Mervina's goal is to awaken the wisdom of the past in her community.

Chancellor, Donna Ikema, Board, 1996 Fellow
Study compares businesses owned by white and minority women
Donna Ikema Chancellor conceived and executed the first study ever done to show how minority women business owners are similar to, and different from, white women business owners. "The results were amazing," Donna reported. "The number of minority women-owned businesses is growing at triple the rate of white women-owned ventures." The study also became the subject of a television show for which Donna was assistant-producer.

Chang, Patricia W., 1998
Assessing the needs of the women and girls of California
Patricia W. Chang's project, cosponsored by The Women's Foundation in San Francisco, surveyed 3,000 women and girls to identify their needs-- what would cause them to mobilize for action. Using a combination of focus groups and a written survey, the survey revealed the priority needs of the women and girls in California, leading to the development of a comprehensive strategy for acting on these needs.

Chin, Soo-Young, 1998
College students bring multicultural arts education to inner city kids
In a school system that lack funding for art education, Soo-Young provided the opportunity for more than 280 minority middle-school kids in Los Angeles to learn about and express themselves with art. Her project was a collaborative effort between college students who explored issues of ethnic identity. These college students then worked with middle school students, giving them tours of galleries, planning and teaching art projects and helping them exhibit their own artwork at their school.

Ching, Deborah Fu-Yien, 1998
Wall project unites new community in LA.
Deborah Ching brought together diverse groups with an ambitious art project. Landscaping of a new low-income housing project for predominantly Chinese and Vietnamese immigrants and refugees in Los Angeles, leads down to a 160-foot wall. Residents collaborated with artist Yong Soon Min to create art for the street-level wall at Casanova Gardens.

Choi, Cindy Chung-Mi, 1999
Leadership development workshops for teens
Cindy Choi is working on a collaborative project with three other Fellows to provide leadership development and enhancements workshops for girls ages 12 to 15. These regional workshops will be presented in Chicago, Long Beach, Seattle and Washington, DC in 2001.

Chung, Anni Yuet-Kuen, Board, 1997 Fellow
Networking and training young APA women in the Bay Area
Four Bay Area Fellows gathered and trained women who are starting out in their careers, exposing them to veteran activists and promoting mutual support. Anni Chung, Tessie Guillermo, Yvonne Lee, and Melinda Yee worked together and intend to create a model for other regions.

Cole, Donna Fujimoto, Board, 1996 Fellow
Science lab experience for 1,200 children
Donna Fujimoto Cole organized a hands-on science lab extravaganza at economically challenged Aldine Independent School District (AISD) in Houston. Each child did eight fun and illuminating science experiments in one day. The goal was to turn students on to the excitement of science in hopes that more will pursue education and careers in science-related fields. She has provided this science lab experience for 3 years.

Dharmaraj, Krishanti Judy, 1999
Representation at the UN Conference Against Racism
Krishanti Dharmaraj took human rights activists as part of the U.S. Women of Color delegation to the United Nations World Conference Against Racism in September 2001 in South Africa.

Fukui, Penny, 1998
Educational assistance for single mothers
Penny Fukui knows that education creates opportunity, so she designed her project to provide practical assistance for single mothers who wanted to further their education or enter the workforce after years of staying home to raise children. She raised grant money for tuition, books, childcare and transportation to Bellevue Community College. She also convened corporate and community leaders who served as volunteer mentors.

Glodava, Milagros Garcia, 1996
Newsletter raises funds and links Filipinos from Infanta
Mila Glodava of the class of 1996 had built an international community of émigrés from her hometown via a newsletter, and raised over $50,000 for disaster relief and public service projects in Infanta, Philippines.

Gong, Sonya Elaine, 1999
Leadership development workshops for teens
Sonya Gong is working on a collaborative project with three other Fellows to provide leadership development and enhancements workshops for girls ages 12 to 15. These regional workshops will be presented in Chicago, Long Beach, Seattle and Washington, DC in 2001.

Goodhart, Esther Paik, 2000
Fundraising benefit for Native Hawaiian health issues
Esther Goodhart is organizing the first-ever Asian American & Pacific Islander stand-up comedy competition. "Chop Shtick" will be held in Honolulu, July, 2001 and all procedes will be donated to Native Hawaiian health issues.

Guillermo, Tessie Marie, 1997
Networking and training young APA women in the Bay Area
Four Bay Area Fellows gathered and trained women who are starting out in their careers, exposing them to veteran activists and promoting mutual support. Anni Chung, Tessie Guillermo, Yvonne Lee, and Melinda Yee worked together and intend to create a model for other regions.

Gupta, Mamta Suhrid, 1998
Providing opportunity for kids of Indian origin to network
Indo-American Teen Community Builders (IATCB) provides kids, ages 13-19, an opportunity to impact the lives of people less fortunate than themselves. Mamta Gupta first recruited kids for this group through her Hindu temple and other contacts. As a precursor to her program, Mamta gathered the kids for an interactive leadership workshop to equip the young people with basic leadership skills. This group took shape and formed their mission, which includes at least 4 community service projects per year.

Hanaike, Dona L., 1998
Electing delegates to a Native Hawaiian sovereignty convention
In recent years, many Native Hawaiians have talked about reasserting their political rights, creating a political structure that would perpetuate Hawaiian culture and provide support for Native Hawaiians' education, health, and housing needs. In a 1996 plebiscite, Native Hawaiians voted 3:1 to elect delegates to a convention where they could begin the process of building such a structure. 1998 Fellow Dona Hanaike's APAWLI project was to educate Native Hawaiians about sovereignty, to work with the organization Ha Hawaii to find candidates to run for the delegate positions, and to actually hold the election on January 17, 1999. They created a statewide network with captains, trained over 500 volunteers, and set up more than 70 polling centers. It was a huge, controversial task in a divided Native Hawaiian community.

Hsu, Ding-Wen, 1998
Revitalizing Denver Chinese language school
Ding-Wen Hsu has brought new life to the Colorado Chinese Language School, offering teacher training workshops and adding a library, cultural studies, and classes for parents. She organized a day of celebration of Chinese culture for the Denver metro area in which students shared their research on subjects like Chinese puppetry, calligraphy, and holidays and festivals.

Hwang, Ange, 1997
Documentary of Asian Pacific American Women
Ange Hwang is collaborating with another Pacying Lyfoung to conceptualize and produce a documentary of Asian American women pioneers in Minnesota.

Ida, D.J., 2000
Through Your Eyes project to create big sister program for AAPI girls
D.J. Ida plans to develop a project where she will match at risk, AAPI adolescent girls with AAPI women leaders who will act as big sisters. This project will be implemented in Washington, DC. and Denver, Colorado. The matched pairs will meet 2 or 3 times a month for several months. They will also meet in groups with the others where they will discuss the experience of being Asian American or Pacific Islanders.

Jofuku, Linda Tomiye, 1998
Castro District students, parents, faculty and artists collaborate
The community of San Francisco's Alvarado Elementary School is working together on a large tile mural with artists Ruth Asawa and her son Paul Lanier. Linda Tomiye Jofuku of the class of 1998 has organized the collaboration to develop students' sense of design and beauty and to allow them to work with the renowned Japanese American artist Asawa.

Kamali'i, Na'unanikina'u Antoinette, 1997
Alternative dispute resolution using Native Hawaiian process
Ho'oponopono is an ancient practice used by Hawaiians to resolve conflicts. '97 Fellow Na'unaanikina'u Kamali'i, a Native Hawaiian attorney, has worked with the Waianae community as they've raised awareness, trained practitioners and made this dispute resolution method available. Participants need not go to an office; the practice can be done wherever participants feel most comfortable and safe.

Kato, Eileen A., 1996
At-risk Asian American kids meet the Seattle justice system
Judge Eileen A. Kato, brought together Asian American kids and Asian American judges, prosecutors, detectives and police officers to give the kids a taste of the realities of the justice system and to provide role models. She found that it was a consciousness-raising event for the adults as well; many had little prior involvement with Asian American youth.

Kwok, Daphne, 2000
"Get on Board" historic bus tour of the deep south
Daphne Kwok plans to organize a one-week bus tour of the deep South. This tour will provide first hand accounts of America's civil rights movement during the "60"s to Asian Pacific American civil rights and community leaders.

Kyi, Win Win, 1999
Defining issues of Asian/Pacific American Women
Win Win Kyi will take this opportunity to work with the International Center at Princeton University, providing a one-day conference focusing on Roles and Responsibilities of Asian/Pacific American Women in this new Millennium. Additionally, she will set up on-going weekly workshops in Spring 2001. The goal of the day conference and on-going workshops is to find and define issues impacting Asian/Pacific American Women.

Lay, Nancy Duke S., 1997
Oral history project and ESL teaching tool
Filmed interviews with elderly Chinese women who renounced marriage fifty years ago for work and travel are presented in a film by '97 Fellow Nancy Duke Lay. She saw the film as a teaching tool for English as a Second Language students who can learn about oral history and tell their family's stories in turn.

Lee, Yvonne Yin-Hung, 1996
Networking and training young APA women in the Bay Area
Four Bay Area Fellows gathered and trained women who are starting out in their careers, exposing them to veteran activists and promoting mutual support. Anni Chung, Tessie Guillermo, Yvonne Lee, and Melinda Yee worked together and intend to create a model for other regions.

Liu, Eugenie Daisy Chung, 1998
Creating a website for self-discovery
Daisy Liu is developing a website that explores diversity. The goal of this website is to provide a means of identifying our own preconceptions, stereotypes, biases and prejudices.

Lowe, Felicia Jane, 1999
Contributing to political power and passage of legislation
Felicia Lowe is working with members of Congress to pass a reconciliation bill, the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Lyfoung, Pacyinz Thiong, 1998
Documentary of Asian Pacific American Women
Pacyinz Lyfoung is collaborating with another Ange Hwang to conceptualize and produce a documentary of Asian American pioneers women in Minnesota

Ma'o, Marie Falefitu, 1997
Samoan language and values promoted in Samoan elementary schools
Marie Mao created a new public school program in American Samoa that focused on the importance of Samoan language and values. The American Samoan First Lady, Mrs. Fagaoali'i Sunia, and other women dignitaries visited each elementary school in American Samoa to celebrate Samoan values, culture and language.

Meyer, Meleanna Aluli, 1997
Art education in low-income Hawaiian community
Hawaiian, Laotian, and Vietnamese kids were among those who worked with Meleanna Aluli Meyer on drawing and painting, murals and theatre productions in the Palolo community.

Murakawa, Phyllis, 1997
Preserving survivor's memories of internment
Phyllis Murakawa made a moving film record of the recollections of Japanese Americans who were interned during WWII. She is developing supporting materials for teachers to use in their classrooms along with the film.

Nakatomi, Debra, 2000
Expressing history and life lessons through treasured items
Debra's project "Our Treasures Tell Our Stories" seeks to explore the lives of Asian American and Pacific Islander women through their chosen treasures; items from their past that reveal their inspiration, their values, their strengths and the lessons of life well lived.

Reddy, Shruthi Gilela, 1998
Leadership development workshops for teens
Shruthi Reddy is working on a collaborative project with three other Fellows to provide leadership development and enhancements workshops for girls ages 12 to 15. These regional workshops will be presented in Chicago, Long Beach, Seattle and Washington, DC in 2001.

Rhee, Anna, 2000
Providing a safe place for Asian American girls to connect on the internet
Anna Rhee plans to create a website "Asian American Girl Power" as a place for Asian and Asian American girls age 8 - 12 to express themselves through art, music and writing; to gain self confidence and empowerment through dialog and guidance from adult mentors; and to increase understanding and pride in their cultural backgrounds.

Sakamoto-Kowalchuk, Yasuko, 2000
Developing a cultural exchange forum
Yasuko Sakamoto Kowalchuk plans to create a program for 24 - 28 women to fill the cultural gap between Japanese-speaking and Japanese American populations and the Asian American and Pacific Islander populations in the Los Angeles area.

Shetty, Sudha, 1999
Leadership development workshops for teens
Suhda Shetty is working on a collaborative project with three other Fellows to provide leadership development and enhancements workshops for girls ages 12 to 15. These regional workshops will be presented in Chicago, Long Beach, Seattle and Washington, DC in 2001.

Shimokubo, Janice T., 1996
Financial help for Denver APA high school students
Janice Shimokubo's "Access to Success" fund discretely and quickly provides money for items like SAT tests, dental care, and recognition for achievement for APA students in need in the Denver Metro area.

Wada, Patty, 1999
Acknowledging Diversity Within
Patty Wada coordinated a San Francisco Bay Area forum on homosexuality and homophobia in the Japanese American community. About 70 people attended the event, and many others were educated and informed through extensive coverage by the Japanese American press. As she hoped, the forum has triggered other events like it in the region.

Wei, Deborah, 1999
Reviving Chinese culture and tradition in Philadelphia
Deborah Wei sees culture as a fundamental human right and a means of unity. Through her project, she helped preserve Chinese cultural heritage in Philadelphia, where she revived the Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinatown. Partnering with Asian Americans United, she also created access to the traditions of Chinese folk dance and Kung Fu for young people in the community.

Williams, Kitryn, Former Board, 1999
Fellow Summit provides workshop on economic self-sufficiency
The Summit on Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency gathered a group of 50 women from diverse backgrounds from VPs to welfare recipients, ages 30 to 60 and many ethnicities to address the economic hurdles women face. From this summit, teams developed to promote education of women voters, to ensure women are included in Colorado's technological initiative, to assure women are included on corporate boards and to provide a directory of resources for women.

Wong, Diane Yen-Mei, 2000
Children's play will provide lessons on giving and receiving
Diane Wong plans to write a play for children, called "The Boat Race" that will focus on lessons of giving and receiving.

Yamauchi, Linda, 2000
Relationship Workshops for teenage girls
Linda Yamauchi plans to develop workshops for Asian American and Pacific Islander teenage girls in the San Gabriel Valley High Schools in California. These workshops will help the girls to improve relationships with their families and to develop a sense of community among the Asian and Pacific Island American teens.

Yee-Franklin, Melinda Caryn, 1996
Networking and training young APA women in the Bay Area
Four Bay Area Fellows gathered and trained women who are starting out in their careers, exposing them to veteran activists and promoting mutual support. Anni Chung, Tessie Guillermo, Yvonne Lee, and Melinda Yee worked together and intend to create a model for other regions.

Yung, Margaret Chow, 1997
Bridging the digital divide
Margaret Yung created two computer rooms for tenants of very low-income housing projects in Seattle. The residents, many of whom have been homeless, can take classes, develop computer skills and contact family members via e-mail.