Getting to Know the Asian Community Virtual Town Hall

Description

Getting to Know the Asian Community Town Hall
Thursday, May 13, 2021 | 6:00 p.m.

As part of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, the Chamber is proud to be a supporting organization for "Getting the Know the Asian Community Town Hall", a virtual event sponsored by the American Jewish Committee Community of Conscience.

May was chosen as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPIs) have a long and rich heritage of involvement in the history of the United States and in Houston. The focus of this Town Hall is to learn about the diverse Asian community and their role in helping shape Houston.

Welcome Remarks
Vanarin Kuch, Koffeteria
Benchawan Jabthong Painter, Street to Kitchen
Mechelle Tran, Riel

Guest Speakers

Biographical Sketches

Gordon Quan
He is a past Chair and Honoree of the Asian Chamber of Commerce. A long-time community activist and attorney, Mr. Quan was elected as the first Asian American to serve as an “At Large” member of the Houston City Council and to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. The list of organizations in which he is involved include the Asia Society, Texas Center (Vice Chair), East Houston Redevelopment Authority (Chair), Partners for Livable Communities (Secretary), South Texas College of Law (Board Member), Human Rights First (Advocacy Board), and the Women’s Home (Advisory Board). Quan is Managing Partner and founder of the Quan Law Group and has been selected a Texas Super Lawyer for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America.

Sanjay Ramabhadran
Sanjay Ramabhadran, (RAM) P.E., METRO board
His civic involvement has included serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of LEADERSHIP HOUSTON; President at the Texas Lyceum – state-wide leadership group focused on public policy issues impacting Texas; Steering Committee Member – Houston General Plan; Senior Fellow – American Leadership Forum; President of the HESS Club; President of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston; Chairperson of the Houston Mayor's International Trade & Development Council (South Asia); City of Houston – Building & Standards Commission; Connecting Communities Initiative at Rice University's Kinder Institute; and Board of Directors of the Indo-American Charity Foundation.

Casey Youn
Kun Chee (K. C. or Casey) Youn was born in Korea, but has lived in the U. S. for over 60 years, 49 years in Houston.  He retired from Shell Oil and owns an environmental engineering and service company that specializes in air pollution control.  He has always been an active participant in local communities, especially in the Asian and Korean community activities.  He is director of the Korean American Association and Community Center of Houston.

Moderator -- Rose-Ann Aragon
She defines herself as a One-Woman-Band Reporter & Photographer, Storyteller, Jazz Lover, Illini, Italian Speaker, Filipina Fullback. A Filipino-American, born in Chicago, she came to Houston in 2017 to join KPRC 2.  A general assignment reporter covering the City – from NASA to the Astros.

Supporting Organizations

ADL Southwest – AJC Asia Pacific Institute – Asian American Bar Association Houston – Asian Chamber of Commerce Houston – Boniuk Institute at Rice University – The Center for Healing of Racism of Houston – Filipino American National Historical Society of Houston – Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce – Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce – Houston Area Urban League – Houston East End Chamber of Commerce – India Culture Center – Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Greater Houston – Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston – Korean American Association and Community Center – Leadership Houston – NAACP – National Hispanic Professional Organization – OCA Houston – Southwest Management District – United Chinese Americans, Houston.

Bobby Singh and Linda Toyota, members of the Community of Conscience, are program coordinators.

America's Table, brought to you by Community of Conscience, airs Thanksgiving weekend on KPRC 2.

AJC’s mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel, and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world.