2nd Ohio AAPI Legislative Day 2011

The second Ohio AAPI Legislative Day drew nearly 300 AAPIs from across Ohio to the Statehouse in Columbus on June 14, 2011. AAPIs came together to showcase the growth and influence of our community in Ohio and to get to know our legislators. (Read the Post-Event Press Release for more details.) This page shares videos, photos, and stories from attendees that highlight the impact of the event. Share your photos and comments on our Facebook page.

Legislative Day was organized by the Ohio Asian American Coalition, formed in 2000 around health issues. Coalition founding members include Asian-American Community Service Council (Columbus), Asian American Community Services (Columbus), Asian American Council of Dayton, Asian Community Alliance (Cincinnati), Asian Festival Corporation (Columbus), Asian Services In Action (Akron/Cleveland), and Chinese Association of Greater Toledo.

Event Chair Dr. Yung-Chen Lu spoke with us after the event. Watch his interview to hear more about why Ohio’s AAPI community matters and why our history should be remembered. Dr. Lu is a long-time advocate for Ohio’s Asian Americans. He is the chair of former Governor Strickland’s AAPI Advisory Council, the founder of the hugely successful Columbus Asian Festival, and Professor Emeritus at the Ohio State University.

Angela Dawson, the Executive Director of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, shared her advice to the audience on how to continue participating in the political process. She urges each attendee to remember the value of your voice.

Pallavi Oruganti, Dayton
Pallavi is a high school junior from Centerville who came to Legislative Day with the Asian American Youth Council of Dayton (AAYCD). She joined AAYCD three years ago to connect with friends and work on targeted issues including raising anti-tobacco awareness. AAYCD decided as a group to attend Legislative Day to meet their legislators and hear what they had to say about anti-tobacco awareness and other issues important to Dayton’s Asian American youth.

Katharine Lu, Columbus
Katharine came to the Statehouse to stay informed about AAPI issues and what’s going on in Ohio’s legislature. “It’s important for Asians to communicate with representatives,” she said. “They need to hear our voice.” Katharine is looking to get to know her legislators as part of the day’s event.

Babu Lengade, Cincinnati
Babu lives in West Chester and came to Legislative Day for the first time. When asked why he was attending, Babu noted that the event arrangements were good and that it was a nice day. But he also added “I’m curious to find out about things going on in the government. I’m semi-retired. I think it’s good to take the time for these things.”

Kyin Lin, Cleveland
Kyin is a recent graduate from Lincoln West High School who came to the US with his family as refugees from Burma. Kyin was studying fashion design at Kent State University but had to drop out due to tuition costs. Access to affordable education is an issue that affects all AAPIs.

Yu Zhang, Bowling Green
Yu is an international student at Bowling Green University studying kinesiology. She just finished her first year of classes and is coming to Columbus for the first time. She wanted to look around the Statehouse and take the tour. She was very glad to visit Ohio’s capitol.