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Honoring twelve of Philadelphia's trailblazing Asian American leaders: Lily Yeh, Aisha Khan, Ali Zakar and Nanjeen Kabita, Hor Chou, Pastor Aldo Siahaan, Anna Perng, Nancy Nguyen, Su Ming Yeh, Chef Chris Cho, Wei Chen, and Le-Quyen Vu for their transformative work in building community, expanding educational opportunity, preserving culture and the arts, investing in youth leadership, and upholding civil rights on the occasion of Asian American and Pacific Islander History Month.
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WHEREAS, Asian American and Pacific Islanders have played a pivotal and often unrecognized role in developing the fabric and history of the United States of America. Here in Philadelphia, Asian Americans preserved and protected one of the nation's few remaining Chinatowns, submerged the Vine Street Expressway, won Section 8 housing at the former Admiral Court Apartments in West Philadelphia, were the lead plaintiffs in the Y.S. vs. School District of Philadelphia lawsuit that established English as a Second Language (ESL) programs and bilingual staffing, won a landmark federal civil rights settlement around bullying and harassment of Asian immigrant youth, defended against anti-Asian hate and violence, took on criminal justice reform and opposed mass incarceration, decried indefinite and inhumane detention and the mass deportation of immigrants, and helped build the movement to declare Philadelphia a Sanctuary City; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia owes much of its progress to the inspiring advocacy of countless trailblazing Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders across communities and across social struggles, to whom this City is forever indebted. While some are renowned across the City, others have yet to receive the recognition and gratitude they deserve; and
WHEREAS, The trailblazing leaders identified here represent a microcosm of the breadth and diversity of the Asian American experience and creative spirit. They stand out in fields as diverse as the arts, civil and v...
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