A ceremony honoring the Coalition for Asian American Voting Rights and its efforts spearheading the recent passage and signing of a bill requiring fully transliterated Chinese and Vietnamese ballots in Boston took place at Bingham McCutchen, LLP in Boston on September 3, the night of Hurricane Earl.

The event was also a celebration for the Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote).  APIAVote is the only national Asian American organization solely focused on civic engagement and voter engagement at the local, state, and national levels and is now launching APIAVote Massachusetts, a collaborative effort between APIAVote and a number of Massachusetts organizations to increase Asian American voter participation and civic engagement.

APIAVote Executive Director Leverett Wing, a Massachusetts native and political leader and community activist known for his efforts in creating the Massachusetts Asian American Commission in the State House moderated the evening’s “Faces of Leadership” panel discussion.

Attendees, some including people running for local positions in office, enjoyed a panel featuring some of Massachusetts’ historical elected officials.  Unfortunately, Congressman Mike Honda, a senior ranking Asian American in Congress and the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, who was scheduled to speak at the event, could not make it due to weather reports about the incoming Hurricane Earl on September 3.  Despite the weather report, over 130 people attended the event, many more than expected according to Wing.

State Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz, the first Asian American elected to state office, Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong, the First Asian American woman elected Mayor in the state, Newton City Councilor Amy Mah Sangiolo, the longest sitting Asian American elected official in MA, and Former Lowell City Councilor Rithy Uong, the first Cambodian American elected as a city councilor in the United States all discussed their experiences as political leaders and answered questions from the audience ranging from their experiences as Asian Americans in politics to political survival and making strong connections with voters.

Governor Deval Patrick, who also could not make the event, recorded a video message for the audience congratulating the evening’s honorees and thanking “dear friend” APIAVote’s Executive Director Leverett Wing for “bringing all this energy and enthusiasm to APIA Vote.”

APIAVote’s Chair and Co-Founder Daphne Kwok said, “This is one of the best turnouts for APIAVote.  I am extremely honored to be involved since its inception.  We really want to thank Leverett for his leadership.  We need civic engagement 365 days a year, not just once every four years.   We are non-partisan and just want to engage the community.   We have got to get our voices out there.”

Chairperson of the Chinese Progressive Association Suzanne Lee said, “I don’t know how many of you realize what a victory this is.  In the state of Massachusetts, under the clouds of the anti-immigrant sentiment, we are really proud to work with the community.   Everybody needs to have a voice in the democracy.  Nothing symbolizes that more than to see elderly voters go in alone without anyone going in with them.  I am proud to be part of the coalition.  Without all the support from the coalition we would not have gotten this far.  I welcome everyone’s support.”

Lee emphasized that the bilingual ballots bill will expire in two years and the fight to get a permanent law in place needs to continue.