Rajinder Singh Mago
CHICAGO : The Asian American Coalition of Chicago (AACC) celebrated its 36th Annual Lunar New Year on the Year of the Pig at Hyatt Regency Chicago on February 23 with the theme “One World. One Vision.”
The dinner banquet this year was hosted by the Filipino American community of Chicago, chaired by Aurora Austriaco.The Gavel was passed on to the Indian American community who will host the 37th Annual AACC Lunar New Year on February 8, 2020, at Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont, Illinois.
More than 1,000 guests, including Asian American community leaders, dignitaries, elected officials, corporate sponsors and the city’s movers and shakers attended the event. An extravagant Asian-inspired dinner menu along with an award ceremony to honor community leaders and outstanding youths and captivating Asian cultural performances of local talent, including Punjabi Bhangra, entertained the guests.
Secretary of State Jesse White, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, Comptroller Susan Mendoza, US Rep Raja Krishnamoorthy and Sean Casten, US Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, State Senator Ram Villivalam, State Rep Theresa Mah, and State Rep Karina Villa were among many federal, state and local government officials who attended the event. Most of the Chicago mayoral candidates participated in the Political Forum which took place before the dinner banquet started in which more than 70 Indian American community members were present.
ABC-7 Chicago TV anchors Ravi Baichwal, Eric Hong and Cate Cauguiran, entertainment Billy Dec aand theater and video actor and director Marc Rita served as emcees for the evening.
Balwinder Singh Girn, a senior Project Manager with Northern Trust Corporation, received the Indian American Community Service award and Julian Pierce Prem Lalvani-Dudley, a senior at Glenbard South High School, received the Indian American Community Youth Who Excels award for his accomplishments.
The AACC, founded in 1983, comprises more than 16 Asian American cultures including Bangladeshis, Burmese, Cambodians, Chinese, Filipinos, Indians, Indonesians, Japanese, Koreans, Laotians, Malaysians, Nepalese, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, Thai, and Vietnamese. The nine major Asian American communities have been taking turns to host this event.
Other performances included Lions Dance, Niles North High School Filipino Dance Group, Tsukasa Taiko Drummers, a performance by the Vietnamese Truc Lam Youth Association. The Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago presented a performance by the Northwestern University Bhangra team.
Thank You For Your Vote!
Sorry You have Already Voted!
