Honorees
The Awards Gala recognizes and honors prominent APIAs who are opening
doors for more APIAs to rise as leaders in the community.
Awards: (Scroll down or click below for more information.)
APEX Award for Excellence in Arts and Entertainment
Kollaboration
APEX Award for Excellence in Community Service
California Community Foundation
APEX Award for Excellence in Corporate Leadership
Union Bank
APEX Inspiration Award
Laura Ling and Euna Lee
APEX 2009 President's Award
Ricky Choi, APEX Director of Community Relations
APEX Youth Leadership Art Award
Joohyun Lee, 6th Grade, Calle Mayor Middle School
APEX Award for Excellence in Arts and Entertainment > Kollaboration
Kollaboration is an Asian and Pacific Islander (API) organization and Movement that was founded in 2000 by Executive Director Paul "PK" Kim. Under the guidance of Executive Producer Roy Choi, Kollaboration became officially incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in January of 2006 and became an Asian and Pacific Islander organization. (Previously it focused on the Korean American community) Kollaboration is an annual event and movement produced by young Asian and Pacific Islander professionals and students, volunteering their time and skills to celebrate the vast talents of their community and hopefully bring them into the mainstream. Kollaboration's current mission and mantra is, "Empowerment through Entertainment." In addition to encouraging the diverse talents of API youth, Kollaboration seeks to empower (1) API youth by providing them with a creative outlet and leadership training that serves as an alternative to gang-activity and delinquency for those at-risk, (2) API families by offering a platform for communication that bridges the gap between 1st generation parents and latter generation youth and (3) the API community at large, by raising awareness for other critical community issues and NGOs. It is evident that APIs are often categorized into a certain image. APIs may find it increasingly difficult to get jobs outside the "model minority" or "foreigner" role. Such barriers often result in the lack of APIs in mainstream entertainment industries. Thus, APIs are not only unfairly portrayed but also disproportionately underrepresented in the mainstream media. Evidently, our youth are left with few visible role models and a narrowed pool of aspirations.
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APEX Award for Excellence in Community Service > California Community Foundation
The California Community Foundation is L.A.'s foundation. We've been around since 1915, have about $1 billion in assets and are the 54th largest foundation in the nation. In fiscal year 2007-2008, we granted more than $220 million as investments in the future of our local communities. We're known as one of L.A.'s most innovative investors in permanent, affordable housing; the biggest supporter of individual artists in the region; and the largest scholarship fund manager in L.A. We work with more than 1,600 donors who chose us because of our personal service and expertise. |
APEX Award for Excellence in Corporate Leadership > Union Bank
Union Bank N.A. is among the 25 largest banks in the United States, with $68.7 billion in assets. Union Bank has over 334 branches in California, three branches in Washington, one in Oregon, and facilities in six other states as well as international office in Calgary and Cayman Islands.
Union Banks is a full-service commercial bank providing a broad mix off financial services consumer and small business banking; middle market and financial management; personal and business trust services; private banking; insurance services; and global custody.
One of Union Bank's most closely held core values is to "Value Diversity". It is part of who we are and everything we do, from recruiting and engaging our employees to selecting vendors and reaching out to our customers. Our commitment to diversity is recognized as among the nation's strongest, as is evident by the composition of our Board of Directors, which includes over 55 percent minorities and women.
Our Diversity Vision
We will further strengthen Union Bank's position as a diversity leader across our broad base of stakeholders. Union Bank will, across everything we do, reflect the diversity of the population with whom we do business. Our shareholder, employees, clients, vendors, and the communities we serve will, in turn, recognize Union Bank for our leadership and reward us for it.
Workforce
Our workforce reflects the diverse communities we serve.
- We are comprised of 63% women and 37% men
- Our workforce consists of over 59% minorities at all levels
- Presently, 41% of our senior leaders are women or minorities
Workplace
To promote our commitment to diversity and inclusion among employees, customers, and service providers, we have established:
- Two diversity councils comprised of heads of business units and senior managers across the bank
- Business opportunities for minority-and woman-owned businesses
Marketplace
We are located in diverse markets to serve all communities. We are focused on meeting the specific needs of our broad customer base we have done the following:
- Formed multiple business groups to cultivate relationships and business
- Committed 2% of its after-tax net profit for the previous year to worthwhile charitable causes in the communities we serve
Headquartered in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a financial holding company with assets of $68.7 billion at March 31, 2009. Visit www.unionbak.com/careers for more information.
Union Bank is committed to leveraging the diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of our workforce to create opportunities for our people and our business. EOE. M/F/D/V.
APEX Inspiration Award > Laura Ling and Euna Lee
Two American journalists jubilantly reunited with family and friends early Wednesday upon returning to the United States with former President Bill Clinton, whose diplomatic trip to North Korea secured their release nearly five months after their arrests.
The jet carrying Euna Lee and Laura Ling, reporters for Al Gore's San Francisco-based Current TV, and Clinton arrived at Burbank's Bob Hope Airport at dawn. Clinton met with communist leader Kim Jong Il on Tuesday to secure the women's release.
Lee emerged from the jetliner first and was greeted by husband Michael Saldate and 4-year-old daughter Hana. She hugged the girl and picked her up before all three embraced in a crushing hug as TV networks beamed the poignant moment live.
Ling embraced her husband, Iain Clayton, as teary family members crowded around.
"The past 140 days have been the most difficult, heart-wrenching days of our lives," Ling said, her voice cracking.
Thirty hours ago, Ling said, "We feared that any moment we could be sent to a hard labor camp."
Then, she said, they were taken to another location
.
"When we walked through the doors, we saw standing before us President Bill Clinton," she said to applause. "We were shocked but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end, and now we stand here, home and free."
~ Read more at The Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/04/north-korea-welcomes-bill_n_250682.html
For more information on Euna Lee and Laura Ling, go to: http://www.lauraandeuna.com.
About Laura Ling
Vice President, Vanguard Journalism/Producer/Reporter
Laura Ling currently serves as Vice President of Current TV's Vanguard Journalism unit, the network's journalism division dedicated to covering global issues that are relevant to young adult audiences.
Ling also serves as an on-air correspondent for Current TV. She has covered subjects including the avian flu crisis in Asia, slave labor in the Brazilian Amazon and marijuana cultivation in California's national forests.
Prior to joining Current in February of 2005, Ling worked as a series producer for Channel One News where she produced reports from over two-dozen countries. She journeyed to Sri Lanka to cover the conflict there, investigated underground youth culture in Iran and interviewed the leaders of the United Wa State Army in Myanmar - one of the largest armed drug trafficking organizations in the world.
Ling co-created "Breaking it Down," a documentary series on MTV that aired between 1999 and 2001. She also co-produced and partially shot a documentary for the MTV series "True Life". Her work has also appeared on ABC's "Nightline," NBC, PBS and the WB.
Ling has won numerous awards during her career, most recently a 2009 duPont-Columbia Award as a supervising producer.
Ling is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles. She currently lives in Los Angeles.
Bio courtesy of Iain Clayton.
About Euna Lee
Current TV, Vanguard Journalism/Editor
Euna Lee is an American journalist who is an editor at Current TV. She joined the Vanguard Journalism unit just this year, but has been with Current TV from its founding.
The second of three sisters, Lee moved to the United States from Seoul, South Korea in 1995, where her parents still live. She attended Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where she received her BFA in Film and Broadcasting. She still loves movies and designing jewelry.
Lee met husband Michael Saldate, an actor, at church when they were living in the Bay Area.
Married for 10 years in August, they have a 4-year-old daughter, Hana. Together the family lives in Los Angeles.
APEX 2008 President's Award > Ricky Choi, APEX Director of Community Relations
Ricky Choi is a consultant at Lee Andrews Group, a Los Angeles-based technology, environmental compliance and public affairs consulting firm. He is currently Community Relations Manager at the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority, responsible for the management of the community relations program that includes community, local government, business and school outreach for the $1.4 billion construction program of grade separations and other transportation infrastructure improvements along 70 miles of railroad in the San Gabriel Valley.
Prior to joining Lee Andrews Group, Ricky was Senior Community Affairs Deputy to former California State Board of Equalization Member Judy Chu. In this capacity, he was responsible for community outreach, public affairs and strategic communications. He served as a community liaison in the San Gabriel Valley and South Bay regions, and managed outreach activities in the Asian Pacific Islander American community throughout Southern California. Ricky also served as Field Representative to former California State Assembly Member Judy Chu in the 49th District where he advised her on local legislative policy issues in the areas of health, human services, water and labor. In addition, Ricky served as Assistant to the Lieutenant Governor to former California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante and worked in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California where he twice received recognition awards from the United States Department of Justice.
As APEX Director of Community Relations since 2008, Ricky has successfully spearheaded the annual Community Leaders Reception and Leadership Luncheon Series. This year, he launched APEX Cares, a program consisting of dedicated volunteers committed to making a positive impact in the community by providing assistance and expertise to non-profit organizations throughout Los Angeles County. Through his efforts, Ricky has worked to enhance APEX’s commitment to community service, strengthen partnerships, and build a stronger and more cohesive Asian Pacific Islander American community.
Active in civic and community affairs, Ricky has been serving as a Parks and Recreation Commissioner in the City of Alhambra since 2007. Ricky is currently the Southern California Outreach Chair of the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus and a Member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee for the 49th Assembly District. In addition to his involvement with APEX, Ricky serves on the Board of Directors of numerous non-profit, community service and political organizations throughout the state, including Planned Parenthood Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Project Los Angeles County, Asian Pacific Alumni of UCLA, Asian Pacific American Legislative Staff Network (APALS), and is a Founding Board Member of Donors for Asian American Representation and Empowerment. He is Political Director of the West San Gabriel Valley Young Democrats, formerly the Membership Director of the Los Angeles County Young Democrats, and previously served on the Executive Board of the United Democrats of the San Gabriel Valley.
Ricky graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with an emphasis in American Politics and Minor in Public Policy.
APEX Youth Leadership Art Award > Joo Hyun Lee
Grand Prize Winner
Joohyun Lee, 6th Grade
Calle Mayor Middle School, Torrance
“Let the Ocean Breathe”
Art Caption
"Leadership is all about helping out others and improving our community. Volunteering is the most basic but the most helpful thing to do. So help your ocean breathe by picking up trash with your friends. Help out your community and the ones you care about."
"The sensitive system called environment can sense thick layers of ridiculous trash piling and piling on their body. Someone has to get rid of the garbage but they cannot do it alone. They need to be together to approach their goal and they need someone to help gather them. That is when the real leaders peak their heads to seek for individuals. True leaders never dictate anyone, and they never sit around and make others do all the work. Leadership is all about helping others and improving our community. Volunteering is the most basic but the most helpful thing that everyone can do. So help our world breath by picking up trash with your friends. I, Joohyun Lee currently go to Calle Mayor Middle School and am a former student of the sixth grade pupils. I have achieved many of the meanings that I tried to show in my single drawing. More people are trying to represent leadership in many small or big ways they possibly can. So help out your community and the ones you care about today."
~ Joohyun Lee
For a complete list of the runner-ups, please click here.
