APPROVEDASTOFORMANDLEGALITY
________________________CITYATTORNEY’SOFFICE
OAKLANDCITYCOUNCILRESOLUTIONNO._______________C.M.S.
INTRODUCEDBYCOUNCILPRESIDENTNIKKIFORTUNATOBASANDCOUNCILMEMBERJANANIRAMACHANDRAN RESOLUTIONINCELEBRATIONOFMAY2023ASASIANAMERICANANDPACIFICISLANDERHERITAGEMONTHANDHONORINGASIANAMERICANSANDPACIFICISLANDERSWHOSESERVICEAND LEADERSHIPIN OAKLANDCONTRIBUTETO A MOREVIBRANTANDJUSTCITY WHEREAS,AsianandPacificIslanderAmericanshavemadeessentialandenduringcontributionstothehistoryofOakland,California,andthenation,helpingtobuild,defend,andstrengthenournation– as farmworkersandrailroadlaborers,entrepreneursandscientists,soldiers,publicsectorworkers,healthprofessionals,artists,communityactivistsandleadersofgovernment;and WHEREAS,AsianandPacificIslanderAmericanshaveenduredhardships,includingunjustworkingconditions,prejudice,anddiscriminationin someof thedarkesttimesinourcountry’s history, includingtheChineseExclusionAct,naturalizedcitizenshipineligibility, theAlienLandLaw, anti-miscegenationlaws,andJapaneseinternment;and WHEREAS,AsianandPacificIslanderAmericanscontinuetocultivateandadvanceinnovativeknowledge,economicgrowthanduniqueculturalvitalityinthefieldsorart,fashion,business,technology, medicine,science,education,government,law, humanities,sports,andentertainment;and WHEREAS,AsianandPacificIslandersAmericanshaveledandjoinedalonglegacyofactivismandorganizingin theUnitedStatesin themovementsforcivilrights,immigrants’rights,women’s rights,workers’rights,LGBTQrights,racialjustice,andenvironmentaljustice,muchof whichtookrootin OaklandandthesurroundingBayAreaduringthe1960sandcontinuestoday;and WHEREAS,Oaklandis hometonearly70,000AsianandPacificIslanderAmericans,andAsianandPacificIslanderAmericansareoneofthefastestgrowingethnicpopulationsinCaliforniaandtheUnitedStates;and 2646873v7- updated03/2/2021
WHEREAS,AsianandPacificIslanderAmericanscomprisemorethan17percentofOakland’s populationandrepresentdiverseancestriesthatinclude,butarenotlimitedto,AsianIndian,Bangladeshi,Bhutanese,Burmese,Cambodian,Chamorro,Chinese,Taiwanese,Filipino,Hmong,Indonesian,Iu-Mien,IwoJiman,Guamanian,Japanese,Korean,Laotian,Malaysian,Maldivian,Mongolian,Nepalese,NativeHawaiian,Vietnamese,Okinawan,Pakistani,Samoan,Singaporean,SriLankan,Thai,Tongan,andotherPacificIslander;and WHEREAS,therearemanychallengesthatpredominantlySoutheastAsianandPacificIslandermembersof thediverseAsianandPacificIslanderAmericancommunityarefacing,includinghigherratesof poverty, incarceration,healthdisparities,and limitedEnglishproficiency;and WHEREAS,thefederalgovernmentandtheStateofCaliforniaofficiallydesignateMayas “AsianPacificAmericanHeritageMonth”andthethemefor2023is “AdvancingLeadersThroughOpportunity”;and WHEREAS,thecelebrationof AsianandPacificIslanderAmericanHeritageMonthoffersOaklandresidentsanopportunitytorecognizetheachievements,contributions,challenges,andhistoryofAsianandPacificIslanderAmericans;and WHEREAS,theOaklandCityCouncilwouldliketohonorthefollowingindividualsfortheircontributionstoamorevibrantandjustOakland;and WHEREAS,District1 ishonoredtorecognizeArchanaNagraj,theExecutiveDirectorofDestinyArtsCenter. A35yearoldanchororganizationinOakland,DestinyArtsCenterusesmovement-basedartstoigniteandinspiresocialchange,upliftyouthvoices,advocateforjusticeandequity, andbuilda communitywhereeveryonefeelsseen,valued,andfree.OriginallyfromBoston,bywayofNewYorkCity, Ms.NagrajhasbeenwithDestinyArtsCentersince2015.Ms.Nagrajholdsa MastersinPublicHealthfromColumbiaUniversityandaMastersinSocialWorkfromRutgersUniversity. Shebelievesthattheartsarefundamentalto positivesocialchangeandcommunityhealth.Ms.Nagrajhasbeenintheyouthdevelopmentfieldforovertwenty-fiveyears,honingherholisticexpertiseinprograms,administration,development,andexecutiveleadership.DestinyArtsCentercurrentlyengagesover4,500youngpeopleeachyearin artspracticesat its NorthOaklandcenterand38publicschoolsandcommunitycentersthroughouttheEastBay, withover80%ofparticipantsidentifyingasBlack,IndigenousandPeopleofColor; and WHEREAS,District2 is honoredtorecognizeReverendDeborahLeeforherworkattheintersectionof faithandsocialjusticeforover25yearsinpopulareducation,communityorganizing,andadvocacyconnectingissuesofrace,gender, economicjustice,anti-militarism,LGBTQinclusion,andimmigrantrights.Shehasconsistentlysoughttostrengthenthevoiceandroleoffaithcommunitiesintoday’s socialmovements.AsexecutivedirectoroftheInterfaithMovementfor HumanIntegrity, she has builtup the ImmigrantJusticeprogramof theorganization,engagingdozensof congregationsin NorthernCaliforniato becomeSanctuarycongregationsandtorespondtothewaveofmigrantyouthandfamiliesandthedetentionanddeportationcrisis.HerworkhasbeenrecognizedasinnovativeandimpactfulwithawardsfromtheUnitedNationsAssociationoftheEastBay, EastBayAlliancefora SustainableEconomy,andthenationalUnitedChurchofChristJusticeandWitnessMinistry. SheisthedaughterofimmigrantsandpartoftheChinesediasporathathastakenherfamilythroughSoutheastAsia,2 MexicoandnowtheUnitedStates.Sincethe1990’s,shehasworkedwithCouncilPresidentBasonimmigrantandrefugeerights,andmorerecentlycollaboratedtostopunjustICEdetentionsand deportations,and seekpardonsfor communitymembersfromGov. GavinNewsom.Throughoutthepandemic,andas anti-Asianhateincidentshaverisen,Rev. Leehasbeenapowerfulleaderincreatingcross-racialhealingspacesandpromotingAsian,BlackandBrownsolidarity;and WHEREAS,District3 is proudto honorMikeCheng,DeputyDirectoroftheAsianPrisonerSupportCommittee.Since2002MikeChenghashelpedtoprovidevaluableservicesfortheAAPIre-entrypopulationincludingnavigation,communityimmersionandpeerto peersupport.Recently, theypartneredwithlocalhealthorganizationsto providefoodandPPEsuppliesat DeFremeryParkinWestOakland.District3 istrulygratefulforthemanyyearsofserviceanddedicationtoourcommunity;and WHEREAS,District4 is honoredto recognizeDr. RupaMarya,forherlongtimecommunity-drivenworkat theintersectionsofhealth,climate,economic,andracialjusticeinOakland.Dr. Maryais a District4 resident,physician,professor, activist,bestsellingauthor,co-founderof theDoNoHarmcoalition,andfounderof DeepMedicineCircle,whichis awomenofcolor-ledorganizationfocusedonhealingthewoundsofcolonialismthroughfood,medicine,restoration,andstorytelling.Dr. Maryais committedtotheDeepMedicineoflandreturnandupliftingthesovereigntyof Ohlonecommunities,andtoadvancingtheagendaofUniversalBasicNutritionwhereeveryonehasaccesstoorganicfoodsgrownwithcareforthepeopleandcarefortheearth.ShealsositsontheHealthyCaliforniaforAllCommission,andistheleadperformerwithherinternationally-touringband.Dr. Maryaisexcitedtosupportcouncilleadershipto furtherthedevelopmentof agroecologicalfarmsin Oaklandto endthehealthapartheidthatcurrentlyplaguesourcommunities;and WHEREAS,District5 is honoredtorecognizeMarkLegaspi,ownerofThreeSevenRestaurantin theFruitvaledistrict,Markandhisfamilyhavebeenbusinessownersin theFruitvaledistrictfor10 yearsandcounting,theyarehardworking,communitydriven,andcommittedtothiscity. MarkandhisfamilyhavedonemultipleyearlydonationsgivingbacktotheresidentsofOaklandsuchas,holidayfoodgiveaways,annualblockparties,providingfreefoodandnecessitiesforouryouth.District5 isgratefulforallthesupportandleadershipMarkLegaspihasprovidedtoourcommunitythroughouttheyears; and WHEREAS,District6 ishonoredandproudtorecognizeDavidDuong; DavidDuong'sremarkablejourneyandlastingimpactontheBayArea'sAAPIcommunityandthecityofOaklanddeservecommendation.DavidmigratedfromVietnamin1979,heexhibitedimmensededication,workingduringthedaywhileattendingschoolatnighttolearnEnglish.Intheearly1980s,Davidandhisfamilydiscoveredprofitableopportunitiesinrecyclingpaper, metal,andplasticsfromsolidwaste.In 1983,Davidfoundedhisfirstcompany, CoGiDoRecycling,inOakland.ThecompanybrokeredlargequantitiesofrecycledmaterialsforbothdomesticandAsianmarkets,enablingotherentrepreneurstoestablishtheirownrecyclingbusinesses.Inthe1990s,DavidfoundedCaliforniaWasteSolutions(CWS),whichwona contractin 1992tocollectandprocessrecyclablesin Oakland.Sincethen,CWShasgrownintoa substantialregionalcompany. In2005,Davidwasawardeda contracttodesign,construct,andoperatethefirstintegratedsolidwastemanagementfacilityin HoChiMinhCity, Vietnam.Thefacility,whollyownedbyCWS,is thelargestlandfilloperationin VietnamandadherestoUSEPA3 standards.Additionally, DavidfoundedtheVietnameseAmericanBusinessAssociation(VABA)tofostercollaborationamongVietnamese,otherAsian,andnon-Asianleadersinvarioussectors.VABAhas expandedbeyondCalifornia,strengtheningconnectionsbetweenthe U.S.andVietnam,andpromotingtradeacrossNorthAmericaandAsia.DavidDuong'sdedicationandentrepreneurialspiritcontinuestoleaveanindeliblemarkonOaklandandtheAAPIcommunity.His workin the recyclingand wastemanagementindustryhas not onlycontributedtoenvironmentalsustainabilitybutalsocreatednumerousopportunitiesforaspiringentrepreneurs.AsacommunityleaderandfounderofVABA,Davidhasfosteredcollaborationandbuiltbridgesbetweencultures,creatingalegacythatwillcontinuetoinspirefuturegenerations;and WHEREAS,District7 is thrilledto honoranduplifttheleadershipof SimaPatel,Co-FounderandCEOofRidgemontHospitality, andFounderoftheRenaissanceFoundation,whoproudlyhonorsherAAPIroots!ShehasservedDistrict7andOakland’sgreatercommunitysincethelate90’s whenshemovedtoOakland,CAfromherhomecountry, India.Astheownerofthreefamily-operatedhotels,includingthefirstHolidayInnbuiltinDistrict7,shehasalwaysprovidedsupporttoinitiativesthroughoutOakland,andlodgingfordisplacedresidentsintheirtimeofneed.SimaservesontheExecutiveCommitteeoftheCaliforniaChamberofCommerce,isChiefFiscalOfficerandpastChairofVisitCalifornia,andisamemberoftheCaliforniaStateUniversityHospitalityandTourismAllianceAdvisoryBoard,theOaklandRotaryClub,andtheCaliforniaStateUniversityHospitalityandTourismAllianceAdvisoryBoard.SheisarecipientofnumerousawardsincludingtheAsianAmericanHomeOwnersAssociationAward,WomenHotelierof theYear2001,100MostInfluentialWomenInBusinessSFBayArea,100MostInspiringLeadersInHospitalityAndIndustry, andTheRichardL.SpeeceLeadershipAward.Simaadvocatesforwomen’s rightsandtheneedtoaddresstheimpactsofhumantraffickingthroughtheworkofherrecentlyfoundednon-profit,Saaheli,anditspartnershipswithGirlsInc.,whichwasinspiredby her pastworkwithAnnieCannons;an initiativethathelpshumantraffickingvictimssecuresustainablecareersin tech.We appreciatethe visionary-drivenleadershipofSima.Itisa pleasurepartneringwithherentrepreneurialpassionanddeeploveforOaklandasweprogressopportunitiesthatempowerindividualsandfamiliesinourcommunity;and WHEREAS,theAt-LargeCouncilOfficeishonoredtorecognizeNicoleLeeforAsianAmericanPacificIslanderHeritageMonth.NicoleLeeis thefoundingExecutiveDirectorofUrbanPeaceMovement(UPM),a grass-rootsracialjusticeorganizationinOaklandthatbuildsyouthleadershipto transformthesocialconditionsthatdrivecommunityviolenceandmassincarceration.Shehasspentthe past25 yearsleadingcriticalsocialjusticeworkthroughcoalition-buildingandyouthorganizingcampaigns.In 2018,Leewasnamedon EBONYMagazine'sprestigiousPower100Listasa "CommunityCrusader."Leeisa fourth-generationOaklandresidentofChineseAmericanheritagewhosegreat-grandparentscametoOaklandfromChinainthe1880s;and WHEREAS,the Mayor’s Office is honoredto recognizeSophalYin for hercontributionsto the SoutheastAsianrefugeecommunitywiththeCenterforEmpoweringRefugeesandImmigrants(CERI).SophalwasbornandraisedinPhnomPenh,Cambodia.Sheisa survivoroftheKhmerRougegenocidethattookplaceinCambodiafrom1975-1979andcametotheUSinDecember1981asarefugee.SophalworksatCERIasanOutreachWorker/ActivityCoordinator, servingtheCambodianpopulationthroughoutAlamedaCountysince2017.Withhergenuinecompassionandleadershipskills,Sophalhascreatedaspaceinwhichallourelderswhoarethesurvivorsof theKhmerRougegenocidefeelloved,caredfor, andempowered.4 Sophalis alsoa rolemodelandaninspirationtoallourSoutheastAsianstaff members;now,therefore,beit RESOLVED:ThattheOaklandCityCouncilrecognizesMay2023asAsianAmericanandPacificIslanderHeritageMonthandcelebratesandhonorstheserviceandleadershipoftheseindividualsandorganizationscontributingtoamorevibrantandjustOakland.
INCOUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSEDBYTHEFOLLOWINGVOTE:
AYES- FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, ANDPRESIDENTFORTUNATOBASNOES–ABSENT–ABSTENTION– ATTEST: ASHAREEDCityClerkandClerkof theCouncil of theCityof Oakland, California Dateof Attestation: _______________________________
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