9/25/2017 2:18:31 PM
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contact: Karina Vang
September 25, 2017 (651) 757-1740
The 2017 Asian Pacific Minnesotans Leadership Awards Dinner
ST. PAUL, MN – The Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans is honored to host the annual Asian Pacific Minnesotans Leadership Awards Dinner. The Leadership Awards Dinner brings together hundreds of community members and leaders from the non-profit, faith, government, and business communities to honor, celebrate, and recommit to a stronger Minnesota for all. This year marks the anniversaries of two momentous occasions in our state and national histories. Seventy-five years ago, a low point in this nation’s history, when on February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, leading to the internment of thousands of Japanese Americans. Fifty years ago marks a high point in Minnesota history, on May 25, 1967, the State of Minnesota established the Department of Human Rights. The contrast of these two contradictory reactions taken by government serves as the backdrop for this year’s Leadership Awards Dinner, entitled Towards a More Perfect Union, inspired by the motto of the United States of America, E pluribus unum, meaning “out of many, one.”
The 2017 Dinner will be held on Thursday, October 19th from 5:30 to 8:30 P.M., at the Envision Catering and Hospitality Center, located at 484 Inwood Avenue North in the city of Oakdale. The program features keynote speakers Honorable Judge Jamie L. Cork of the First Judicial District, and Commissioner Kevin Lindsey of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. The keynote addresses will be followed by the presentation of the 2017 Asian Pacific Minnesotans Leadership Awards.
Leadership Awards are given to recognize, honor, and celebrate the work of individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated commitment to and leadership in the Asian Pacific Minnesotan community. The Council is pleased to announce the 2017 recipients:
Individual Asian Pacific Minnesotans to Watch (under age 25)
Asha Sivarajah
Humanitarian Award
Shunu Shrestha
Outstanding Service Award
Minnesota National Guard Asian American Pacific Islander Special Emphasis Council
Outstanding Service Award
Dr. Sita Kantha Dash
Lifetime Service Award
Daisy Josiah (in memoriam)
The Leadership Awards Dinner is made possible with financial contributions from individuals, businesses, and government and community-based partners.
For additional information, please contact Karina Vang at 651-757-1740 or karina.vang@state.mn.us.
