Asian American Advisory Committee

Senate District 29 is among the most diverse Senate Districts in California, with nearly one in every three residents identifying as Asian American. The Asian American Advisory Committee is convened on a regular basis to discuss the issues that matter most to that the diverse Asian American community, strategize on communication and outreach to particular communities, engage with media effectively and ensuring campaign supporters, volunteers and interns reflect the full diversity of our region. The Josh Newman for State Senate 2020 campaign is response to the through policy guidance, communication strategy and outreach assistance throughout the campaign, particularly to residents who may have never been brought into the political process.

QUOTES

“Josh Newman is the right person to represent our district and our community. He’s the education candidate in this race and he can be trusted to ensure that everyone, especially members of the Asia American community will have access to the highest quality public education possible. He graduated from Yale and he has seen firsthand how education opens doors and is the foundation for success. I know how important education is to Asian Americans in this district and we need Josh back in the State Senate to fight to maintain the quality we expect from our school system. It’s my pleasure to serve on the Newman 2020 Asian American Advisory Committee and I intend to do my part to help Josh get elected so he can once again serve our community.” -Gary Chow, Mt. San Antonio Community College Trustee

“I know the minority community in Buena Park can count on Josh Newman to lead on the issues that matter most to us. From making sure that everyone feels safe and is valued, to showing up and standing with minority businesses owners, Josh was ready to support our community’s initiatives. The formation of the campaign’s Asian American Advisory Committee is another example of Josh Newman showing that he is a trusted partner and a proactive leader on behalf of our community. I am proud to be a part of the committee and do my part to help to elect Josh Newman to the California State Senate.”–Sunny Youngsun Park, Buena Park City Council Member and Community Leader

“The Korean-American community and the Asian-American community at large requires the compassionate and profound leadership Josh Newman provides. In the midst of a global pandemic, anti-Asian discrimination and harassment has clearly been on the rise. Josh is a man defined by empathy and decency. He understands the challenges and struggles of voters in Fullerton’s District 1, and as our State Senator, will work diligently to be the rising tide that lifts all boats. I am honored to serve on the Asian American Advisory Committee of the Josh Newman State Senate Campaign.” -Fred Jung, candidate for Fullerton City Council

“As a young officer in the U.S. Army Josh Newman served in Korea, dedicating himself to protecting the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula. While serving in Korea he gained an appreciation for Korean culture and our people which continues through to today. As a legislator and community leader Josh has been a reliable partner to the Korean-American community, I feel strongly that we should return the good will by fighting with Josh for his reelection. As a member of the Asian American Advisory Committee I’ll do my part to help connect Josh to the Korean-American community because I know he will work hard for us when he’s back in the State Senate.”                                              -Joe Pak, Korean-American Community Leader 

“I’m honored to be a part of the Asian American Advisory Committee of the Newman 2020 campaign. Josh has never shied from fighting for the values that Asian Americans hold dear and I’m thrilled to roll up my sleeves to get to work to get Josh Newman elected to the State Senate. As a proud South Asian immigrant, advocate for human rights and a rising sophomore at Yale University, I know that while we can always make improvements, California stands out as an example for the world of how diversity is strength and inclusivity generates opportunity for all. Josh Newman has always stood up for the values that make California the most diverse, welcoming and dynamic state in the union, and I stand with him.” -Vishwa Padigepati, Student Activist 

“When I worked with faith leaders across the state to call upon those seeking public office to stand up to anti-Asian bigotry, xenophobia and assaults, Josh Newman was the first among many to respond to that call. He forcefully pushed back on the xenophobia and biases perpetuated against Asian Americans that the current pandemic only exacerbated. This is what leadership looks like at a time of crisis. I am proud to be associated with his campaign’s Asian American Advisory Committee, which is just one more example of Josh’s commitment to, respect for and partnership with California’s Asian American community.” -Katie Nguyen Kalvoda, Founder of Asian Americans Rising

BIOS

The Asian American Advisory Committee is currently comprised of the following:

Sunny Youngsun Park is a community-minded leader, Buena Park City Member and small business owner experienced in bringing together diverse constituencies to effectively advocate for their needs. As a board member of the Los Angeles Community College Foundation, she has worked to assist financially-struggling students to acquire a higher education and achieve their dreams. Sunny received her law degree in 1999 and is the principal partner of the Park and Asher Law Firm. Sunny served on the California Board of Accountancy, a State Regulator for approximately 100,000 licensed accountants, to protect consumers in California.

 
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Aaruni Thakur is a board member of the Fullerton School District from Area 1. Elected in December of 2018, he is passionate about bringing educational equity and access to Fullerton’s elementary schools. Aaruni grew up in Fullerton and is husband, father to two school-aged children and attorney in Orange County. He attended Orangethorpe Elementary, Nicolas Junior High, and Sunny Hills High School, where he met his wife, Pamela. After attending UCLA and USD Law he returned to Fullerton to begin his career, raise a family, and be involved in the community.

 

Fred Jung is a dedicated father, small business owner, community leader, and candidate for Fullerton City Council. Currently, Fred serves as the President of the Junior All American Bears non-profit organization, which is one of the largest and most diverse youth football and cheer organizations in North Orange County. Fred is a former city commissioner and was one of three finalists who ran for the Fullerton City Council vacant at-large seat in 2019. Born in Seoul, Korea, Fred’s family immigrated to the United States when he was 5 years old. As the son of hard-working immigrant parents, Fred understands the challenges many Korean-American families still face today.

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Hong Alyce Van was unanimously chosen to fill a vacancy on the Stanton City Council and was officially sworn-in on May 14, 2019. Alyce served as a Planning Commissioner and a board member of the Stanton Community Foundation. She was born in a refugee camp in Hong Kong and is the daughter of Vietnamese immigrants. Alyce was raised in Stanton and returned to the city of her childhood after receiving a B.A. from Yale University, an M.A. from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and working international affairs in Washington, D.C. Alyce worked to improve living conditions in rural Vietnam before returning to California and working at CSU Dominguez Hills in international education. Alyce and her husband have been foster parents since 2015, and their son was born in 2016.

 

Joe Pak is longtime community leader in Fullerton and Buena Park. He has led many important community campaigns to raise awareness of the issue important to the Korean-Americans as well as people with disabilities. He is a former Director of External Affairs at AT&T and in 2009 was named Member of the National Council on Disability for the Obama White House. Joe was the 16th Vice President and 18th chair of the Korean American Federation of Orange County.

 
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Olivia Lee is currently the Legislative and Advocacy Affairs Manager for AltaMed Health Services, where she works at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and public relations. Previously, she served as the Public Policy Manager for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, where she advocated for the Chamber on the federal, state, regional, and local levels of government on behalf of multiple stakeholders and local interests. Olivia comes from an extensive experience in legislative work and has served several campaigns and staffed multiple state representative offices. She holds a B.A degree from UCI in Political Science.

 

Al Jabbar is a member of the Anaheim Union High Board of Trustees, representing Trustee Area 1 in California. Before serving as a member of the Anaheim Union High Board of Trustees, Jabbar served on the North Orange County Community College Board as a student representative. He has also served on Anaheim’s cultural arts commission and has been involved with West Anaheim Neighborhood Development (WAND). Jabbar works as a program supervisor for correctional health services at Orange County’s health care agency. He earned his associate degree in business from Cypress College, his bachelor’s degree in marketing from California State University at Fullerton and his master’s degree in public administration from California State University at Long Beach. He lives in Anaheim with his wife and two children.

 
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Gary Chow is currently a Trustee of Mt. San Antonio Community College and represents Area 2, which encompasses Covina, West Covina, north Walnut, and San Dimas. He has extensive financial expertise in the public and private sectors being a CPA and is a Registered Investment Advisor for GT Management Group Inc. Chow is also the current treasurer and a board member for the SGV Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit which supports Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, U.S. military members and local educational institutions in the San Gabriel Valley. Chow graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UCLA and attended California State University at Los Angeles where for two years he studied Accounting.

 

Vishwa Padigepati is a rising sophomore at Yale University where she is majoring in Cognitive Science and Political Science. She has lived in France and South India, where she was born, before moving to California at age eight. She has served as the Policy Coordinator for STAND USA, Aegis Trust an organization based in D.C dedicated to mass atrocity prevention and humane foreign policy. Vishwa interned in offices of multiple elected officials as well as political campaigns in Southern California. She is on the board of the Yale Review of International Studies, Yale Undergraduate Human Rights Journal, and a researcher for Yale Law School’s Lowenstein Project. As a proud South Asian, she is on the national board of SAHI, a progressive South Asian Youth Organization combating religious violence in India and is a Washington Leadership Program Fellow, Class of 2020.

 
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Alvin Wong has been an intern for Josh Newman’s 2020 State Senate campaign for the past 4 months. As a first-year university student at Cal Poly Pomona, he has observed and reported on social, economic, and political trends that might impact voter turnout. Moreover, he has also conducted and presented university supported research, contributed to the advancement of three political campaigns, and reviewed various manuscripts for publishing purposes. He has contributed considerably to the campaign bringing youthful energy and perspective and a cando spirit to campaign.

 

 

Katie Nguyen Kalvoda is founder of Asian Americans Rising, a hybrid-super PAC for progressive political causes. Prior to turning her attention toward politics, she was an investor and financial manager and founder of Newport Wealth Management. 

 
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Media Releases

June 25, 2020

NEWMAN RESPONDS TO TRUMP’S REPEATED RACIAL SLURS

Orange County, Calif. — Josh Newman issued this statement in response to Donald Trump’s repeated racial slurs toward Asian Americans: “On Tuesday at his rally in Arizona, Donald Trump spewed another series of racist anti-Asian slurs. This president trades in rhetoric that is too often callous, hate-filled, and even dangerous. Furthermore, it’s my strong belief that people in leadership positions, as well as anyone seeking a position of public leadership, have a moral obligation to stand up and condemn remarks like these... CONTINUE READING

May 29, 2020

JOSH NEWMAN ANNOUNCES ASIAN AMERICAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Orange County, Calif. — Underscoring his commitment to ensuring that the perspectives and concerns of SD-29’s Asian American communities are addressed and uplifted in his campaign, today U.S. Army veteran, businessman, and former State Senator Josh Newman announced the formation of an Asian American Advisory Committee within his 2020 campaign for State Senate… CONTINUE READING