Asian American Coalition of Chicago  (AAC)

PCS News Release AAC Dinner 2001 ASIAN AMERICAN COALITION OF CHICAGO HOSTS 18th ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION PUNJABI CULTURAL SOCIETY OF CHICAGO YOUTH GROUP PERFORMED BHANGRA DANCE Mayor of Palatine Rita Mullins was P.C.S's guest at the event. The event was emceed by CBS Chicago channel 2 reporter Kyung Lah. The evening started off with the observance of a moment of silence for the earthquake victims and their families in Gujrat India. Featured as keynote speaker was Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas, who recognized the Asian Americans in his administration and also praised the dedication of Asian American students in general. PCS Youth Bhangra dance group "Punjabi Sher" coordinated by Sukhmel Singh Atwal and Thakar Singh Basati, rendered an invigorating performance in the cultural segment of the celebration. Many other Asian communities including Pakistani and Bangla Deshi Americans also presented cultural items representing their heritage. Dr. Bhagwan T. Shahani, a well known physician from U.O.I., was honored with the Coalition's Indian American Community Service award and Dr. Yvonne Lau, Director, Asian and Asian American Studies at Loyola University Chicago, received the Pan Asian American Ping Tom Memorial Award. Among numerous dignitaries on hand to share the spirit during the Coalition's Political Forum or at the Gala Dinner were: U.S. Congressmen Danny Davis, Mark Kirk and Bobby Rush; Congresswoman Janice D. Schawkowsky; State of Illinois Lieutenant Governor Corrine Wood; State of Illinois Secretary Jesse White; State of Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan; State of Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes; State of Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka; State of Illinois Senators Lisa Madigan (D-17th), Dave Sullivan (R-28th) and Ira I. Silverstein (D-8th); State of Illinois Representatives Joseph M. Lyons (D-15th) and Harry Osterman (D-17th). Representatives of the Asian consular corps, and numerous other city of Chicago, suburban villages and state governmental officers, business and community leaders were also in attendance." PCS is proud to be a part of the organizing team and co-sponsor of the Asian American Coalition events for the last decade," said Mohinderjit Singh Saini, past president of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago. "Sikh American Heritage Organization" (SAHO) participates in Asian American and other American main stream events to foster fellowship with main stream and other minority communities," said Mr. Rajinder Singh Mago. "Visibility through participating in such events will eventually lead to political empowerment for the Asian Americans," said Sukhdev Singh Multani, PCS chairman. The Filipino American community will host the year 2002 Asian American Coalition Lunar New Year Celebration, The Year of the Horse 4700. In the traditional Turn Over of the Gavel Ceremony Chairman Paul Park welcomed Lourdes Mon, Director, Filipino American Congress of the Midwest, incoming Asian American Coalition of Chicago Chairperson. Click here for Banquet pictures Asian American Dinner Banquet 2001 Photos http://www.geocities.com/Sikhheritage/pasteventsphotos1.html CHICAGO, IL ...More than eleven hundred people attended The Asian American Coalition of Chicago's 18th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration, welcoming The Year of the Serpent, 4699, on Saturday, January 27, 2001 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare.  Lunar New Year is the single largest organized event in Chicago's Asian Pacific American community, which numbers over 300,000. Each year a different community takes turn hosting the event, and this year it was the Korean American community. This year's theme, "Shining light in the new millennium." Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago, Sikh American Heritage Organization,  (SAHO) Click here: Sikh American Heritage Organization http://www.saho.cjb.net/ and Alliance of Midwest India Associations (AMIA) members constituted the majority of 100 or so Indian American attendees.  For more information contact R.S. Mago at (630) 377-5893 or M.J.S. Saini at (847) 705-0434.