April 9, 2002 - Volume 2 Number 2

>> AWARDEES NAMED FOR 5th ANNUAL “a thursday in may… gala”

A&PIWC’s largest annual fundraising event, “a thursday in may” will be held on Thursday, May 2, at the Merchants Exchange Ballroom (465 California Street at Montgomery), San Francisco. The event features an array of hors d’oeuvres, open bar, silent auction, live entertainment as well as an awards program honoring community contributions.

Grassroots Award : Asian American Recovery Services
& Gay Asian Pacific Alliance

A&PIWC’s origins go back to 1987 when Asian American Recovery Services, Inc., established the Asian AIDS, the first program in the United States to provide HIV health education and prevention services targeting the A&PI community. In 1989 Gay Asian Pacific Alliance formed the GAPA Community HIV Project (GCHP). Later renamed Living Well Project, GCHP was the first gay-identified A&PI HIV/AIDS program in the United States and the first A&PI program to provide volunteer support, case management and mental health services to A&PIs living with HIV/AIDS. In 1997, A&PIWC was created by the merger of these two organizations.

National Award : Helen Zia & Lia Shigemura

Individually and as a family, personally and professionally, Helen Zia and Lia Shigemura embody A&PIWC’s mission. Lia Shigemura served as Board Chair for A&PIWC from 1997-99. Lia was a founder of the Asian Women's Shelter, and serves as Vice Chair of the Horizons Foundation Board of Directors. She was formerly Director of Corporate Diversity for Pacific Gas and Electric and National Program Director for the Japanese American Citizens League. Lia now heads a private diversity consulting firm, DragonVision Media.

An award-winning journalist, Helen Zia is the author of Asian-American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People, and coauthor with Wen Ho Lee of My Country Versus Me: The First-Hand Account by the Los Alamos Scientist Who Was Falsely Accused. She was executive editor of Ms. Magazine and the book, Notable Asian-Americans. In 1998, Helen was named Chinese-American Journalist of the Year by the Organization of Chinese-Americans. Her work on the Asian-American landmark civil rights case of anti-Asian violence is documented in the Academy-Award-nominated film, Who Killed Vincent Chin?

Ally Award : Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

On October 10, 2001, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi was elected by her colleagues to become House Democratic Whip, the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. Congress. She has represented California's 8th Congressional District, which includes most of San Francisco, since 1987 and has been a strong and effective advocate of increased funding for AIDS, human rights in China, quality education, affordable housing, and environmental protection. Pelosi has been a leader in doubling the NIH budget in five years; AIDS and breast cancer funding are her top priorities Pelosi has taken a leadership role on human rights, including in China and Tibet. After the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, she sponsored legislation to give Chinese students and scholars the right to remain in the United States. She also chairs the Congressional Working Group on China and is Co-Chair of the AIDS Task Force of the House Democratic Caucus.

To find out more about sponsoring this year’s event visit
http://www.apiwellness.org/v20/atim/atimsponsor.html

To see what has already been donated for the Silent Auction visit
http://www.apiwellness.org/v20/atim/auction2001.html

Individual tickets are $45 a person. For more information or to donate an item for our Silent Auction call Ron Nieberding at 415.292.3400 x341.

>> JOHN MANZON-SANTOS NAMED KQED “LOCAL HERO”

In celebration of Asian Pacific America Heritage Month, A&PIWC’s executive director John Manzon-Santos received KQED's special recognition award for his work on behalf of the Bay Area's Asian and Pacific Islander communities.KQED’s Local Hero award will be presented to Manzon-Santos at a ceremony on Thursday May 9th celebrating the 2000 Asian Pacific Heritage Month Local Heroes. Six others were also recognized for their community involvement.

>> VIVA VARIETY 24 : BENEFIT FOR A&PIWC
Tuesday, April 16, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco

San Francisco's longest running gay and 'gay-friendly' variety show, Viva Variety, presents its 24th show on Tuesday, April 16th, 8pm, at the Bayfront Theatre, B350, Fort Mason Center. The show is a benefit for Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center and tickets are $20 and available by calling 415.863.0741, ext. 2.

Viva Variety features the very best performances in dance, theatre, music, comedy, performance arts, and spoken word. This show stars: singer/songwriter Deborah Pardes, music from The Tami Show, comics Scott Capurro and Karen Ripley, performance artist Peggy L'Eggs, sketch comedy from Killing My Lobster, bubble artistry by Sterling Johnson, dance from Steamroller, and a very special appearance by performance diva Varla Jean Merman. The San Francisco Bay Times says: "off-the-wall, over-the-top, great original acts, stunning performances, terribly talented..." For more information visit www.makeitsoproductions.org.

>> QUEER A&PI PRIDE SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Are you or someone you know A&PI, LGBT, 22 years old or younger, and in need of money to help pay for your education? If so, you may be qualified for A&PIWC's annual Queer Asian & Pacific Islander Pride Scholarship. The deadline is May 15, 2002. To print out an application visit http://www.apiwellness.org/v20/youth/application.html.

>> ASIAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER STAGE @ LGBT PRIDE
PERFORM, VOLUNTEER, SPONSOR, ENJOY!

The 3rd Asian & Pacific Islander Pride Stage is set to rock on Sunday, June 30, as part of the San Francisco LGBT Pride Celebration in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza. Once again A&PIWC will be organizing not only the A&PI Stage but also a float and pavilion - all as part of ongoing efforts to educate our community about the need for HIV and STD testing, practicing safer sex and accessing health care services. And most important, we will again be offering free, confidential HIV testing in various A&PI languages during Pride at our booth next to the A&PI Stage.

Performers already booked to perform include Alvendia, the Purple Moon Dance Company, The Rice Girls, the Australian popstar Florlie, the hip hop dance group Freeplay, the GAPA Dance Company, Sawatdee Thai Classical Dance Group, the young dance group Culture Shock, Fatima, the Ladies of Moani Ke’ Ala O Ka Mailelauli’I and the Men of Ka Iho Makawalu A Ka Ua Kipi’u upu’u, and the Metamorphosis Girls. DJs Shawn and Amanda will be spinning.

We can use your help. A&PIWC is looking for volunteers - especially certified HIV pre-test counselors - performers and sponsors to help make the event a success.

For information on sponsoring the A&PI Stage visit
http://www.apiwellness.org/v20/pridesponsor.html.

To see A&PIWC’s on-line photo album from last year’s event visit
http://www.apiwellness.org/v20/pride2001/index.html.

A&PIWC NEWS is published by the
© Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center (A&PIWC).
All rights reserved.


The mission of Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center is to educate, support, empower and advocate for Asian & Pacific Islander (A&PI) communities -- particularly A&PIs living with or at-risk for HIV/AIDS. A&PIWC is the oldest and most comprehensive, non-profit HIV/AIDS services organization in North America targeting Asian and Pacific Islander (A&PI) communities. To meet the needs of our clients who are often immigrants or refugees, A&PIWC's staff speak 18 languages.

Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center
730 Polk Street, 4th floor
San Francisco, CA 94109-7813
415.292.3400 Voice
415.292.3410 TTY
415.292.3404 Fax
www.apiwellness.org

APIWC NEWS CONTACTS
Ronald A. Nieberding, Editor
John Manzon-Santos, Executive Director
John S. San Agustin, Chair, Board of Directors
For questions and further information about APIWC NEWS or to have your name added or removed from our distribution list, please contact us at APIWCNews@apiwellness.org