The partnership between NghiaSinh Int’l and the Asian American Coalition of Chicago from 1983 to 2011 and beyond
INTRODUCTION
In cooperation with other leaders of the Asian American community of Chicago, Dr. Nguyen-Trung Hieu of Nghia Sinh Intl, Inc. co-founded the Asian American Coalition of Chicago in May of 1983. For more than 25 years, Nghia Sinh Intl, Inc. has been actively engaged in AACC cultural, educational and community activities, as well as hosted or sponsored 27 AACC Lunar New Year celebrations and 12 Asian Fests in the City of Chicago.
AACC FOUNDERS
Founders of the AACC include the following community leaders:
1. Eung Cha
2. Shinae Chun
3. Ross Harano
4. Dr. Nguyen-Trung Hieu
5. Dr. David Liu
6. Jung Lowe
7. Surendra Sexena
8. John Tan
9. Dr. Nakares Thepjaptri
10. Ping Tom
11. William Yoshino
12. Paula Zina
THE AACC COMMUNITY LEADERS
Dedicated Asian American community leaders who served the AACC for more than two decades are: Prem Lalvani, C W. Chan, Lourdes Mon, Rajinder Mago, Tariq Butt, Calvin Manshio, Irene Cualoping, Suchitra Surapiboonchai, John Miller, Kompha Seth, Krishan Sant, Leonard Louie, Myrna Garcia, Helen Moy, Nanta Buranakanchana, Roosy Miller, and hundreds of AACC volunteers. Vietnamese American leaders who have volunteered their time, talents, and services to ensure the success of the annual AACC conferences and celebrations since its inception. They are: Nguyen Vu Luan, Tran Buu Khanh, Mai Nghia, Nguyen Minh Duc, Nguyen Duy Doan, Nguyen Minh Nghia, and many other community volunteers.
THE AACC VISION
At the first AACC meeting in 1982, we discussed and agreed upon the mission and goals of the coalition. We also envisioned (1) the unity of APA communities that brings Asian Americans together for prosperity and progress; (2) the contributions of Asian Americans to the United States in arts, mathematics, science and technology; and the preservation of Asian cultural values that make America great.
THE AACC MISSION
The mission of the coalition is to promote equal opportunity for all Asian Americans in educational excellence, economic development, government participation and international affairs in order to successfully and naturally support and facilitate the entrance of Asian Americans into the mainstream of society as equal U.S. citizens.
AACC GOALS
The goals of the coalition are: (1) promote Asian American unity in the United States, (2) share
Asian American culture and progress with all of the American people, (3) encourage broader
Asian American participation in all walks of American life, (4) make contributions to America
and enrich American culture, (5) provide the opportunity for Asian Americans of all political
persuasions to work together for the well-being of all Asian Americans, (6) express Asian
American concerns to the federal, state, and local governments, and (7) advance the integration
of all Asian Americans into the mainstream of society.
AACC VALUES
The values of the coalition are based on a common Asian foundation for success in learning and living that includes: (1) hard work, (2) devotion to youth, (3) honoring the elderly, (4) respect
for teaching, (5) desire for learning, (6) veneration of ancestors, and (7) community service.