May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. On the evening of May 1st, the Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia held the Pan Asian Awards Gala at the Golden Bowl Restaurant in Northeast Philadelphia. Over 200 guests from various Asian communities were invited to attend the event.
The gala was hosted by Madeleine Wright, a reporter from CBS3, and featured a keynote speech by Anuj Gupta, President and CEO of The Welcome Center. David Oh, Chairman of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia (AACCGP) and former Philadelphia City Council member, was honored with the Impact Award. Other individuals recognized for their outstanding community service included Christine Wong, a member of the Chinese community, and the Northeast Philadelphia Development Corporation, which received the Nonprofit Organization of the Year award.
Established in 1982, the Pan Asian Association of Greater Philadelphia is the only organization in the Greater Philadelphia area that represents all Asian communities. The current chairman, Narasimha (Nick) Shenoy, stated that the organization is entirely run by volunteers but is now looking to hire an executive director to help with grant applications and further develop their initiatives.
According to Shenoy, Asian Americans in the suburban areas may not require assistance, but those residing in Philadelphia do. He emphasized the challenges faced by Asian entrepreneurs in the city, many of whom are refugees with limited education and employment opportunities. Shenoy stressed the importance of providing support in areas such as language skills and urban permits to help these individuals succeed in business.
In addition to leading the Pan Asian Association, Shenoy also founded the Asian American Chamber of Commerce and expressed his satisfaction with David Oh’s leadership role in advancing the chamber’s impact. Oh highlighted the pivotal role of business in the Asian American community, stating that their contributions are significant, citing data that shows the purchasing power and intellectual property creation within the community.
Oh underscored the need for unity among diverse Asian American ethnicities within the business community, stating that as the American Asian Chamber, they must stand together to represent the interests of all Asian Americans effectively. Despite the challenges of uniting different Asian ethnic groups, Oh emphasized the importance of collective action for the benefit of the nation and the community.
He cautioned that without cooperation and collaboration, Asian Americans risk being marginalized in a country where they collectively represent a significant proportion of the population. Oh reiterated the imperative for all Asian American communities to unite and work together towards common goals for the betterment of their collective future.