VIA Times – February 2024 Issue Vital News, Vibrant VIews for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest
By: Veronica Leighton
The Asian American Coalition of Chicago (AACC) recognizes two outstanding honorary awardees at its sold-out 41st Annual Lunar New Year Celebration, on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at the Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.
The Japanese American Community hosts the Lunar New Year Celebration, themed “Together for a Brighter Tomorrow.” The black-tie optional gala attracts nearly 1,000 people.
US Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), through video, extend her season’s greetings to the guests, AACC, and the honorary awardees. Celebrity hosts Fox 32 Chicago reporter Joanie Lum and ABC-7 Eyewitness News reporter Eric Horng.
THE AWARDS
The Coalition awarded its prestigious Ping Tom Memorial Pan Asian American Award—its highest award—to Michael Chin, Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking, Byline Bank. The Pan Asian American Award is named after the late legendary Chicago civic leader Ping Tom, one of the founders of the AACC.
The Coalition award the Sandra Otaka Memorial Grand Asian American Award to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham in recognition of her longstanding efforts to mentor and promote Asian and minority women lawyers. The Grand Asian American Award is presented to a non-Asian Friend of the Asian American community, and is named after the late Cook County Circuit Court Judge Sandra Otaka.
THE CELEBRATION
The AACC Lunar New Year Celebration is traditionally the single largest organized annual event in Chicago’s Asian American community. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities together constitute the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States. According to the 2020 Census, the Asian Pacific American population in Illinois numbers over 781,000, or 6.1% of the statewide population.
Every year a different Asian community takes turn playing host of the Lunar New Year gala. This year it is the Japanese American Community, which has previously held the gavel for the Asian American community’s most important event of the year thrice (1990, 1998, and 2014). three times before (1990, 1998, and 2014) held the gavel for the Asian Pacific American community’s most important event of the year.
Numerous dignitaries traditionally attend the festivities, including the Asian consular corps, elected and appointed governmental officials, political candidates, top business and corporate leaders, decision-makers, on-air talent at Chicago’s major media press outlets, and everyone who considers himself or herself a mover and shaker in and around, or for, the Asian Pacific American national movement. Senator Tammy Duckworth will be in attendance to offer the welcoming remarks.
AACC… WHO WE ARE
The mission of the AACC is to unite all Asian Americans into a significant force for strengthening the Asian American Community in the United States; enriching Asian cultural values, and recognizing the importance of Asian American contributions to the American democracy and economy.
