LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Asian Americans for Equality upon the
occasion of its 35th Annual Lunar New Year Celebration on March 26, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend organizations which conscientiously devote their resources and
purposeful energies to improving the quality of life in the communities
they serve; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor
Asian Americans for Equality upon the occasion of its 35th Annual Lunar
New Year Celebration on March 26, 2009, joyfully welcoming the year
4707, the Year of the Ox; and
WHEREAS, Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) is a community-based
organization founded in 1974 to advocate for equal opportunities for
minorities; for 35 years it has worked assiduously for the benefit of
residents of Chinatown, the Lower East Side, and beyond; and
WHEREAS, From its beginnings as a grass roots, volunteer group, Asian
Americans for Equality has grown into a preeminent organization offering
a comprehensive range of community and economic development activities
and services while retaining its commitment to advocacy and community
education; and
WHEREAS, Today AAFE's remarkable variety of programs includes housing
development and management, tenant counseling, community technology
services, homeownership and mortgage counseling, small business develop-
ment, and an array of social services; and
WHEREAS, Although New York City's underserved, low-income Asian Ameri-
can immigrant population continues to be a primary focus of Asian Ameri-
cans for Equality, AAFE works diligently to assist all of the City's
underserved residents; and
WHEREAS, Expanding from its base in the Chinatown/Lower East Side of
Manhattan areas, Asian Americans for Equality now serves neighborhoods
citywide wherever Asian immigrants have settled; and
WHEREAS, While Asian Americans for Equality's programs and services
have evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of the community,
cooperation among all ethnic minorities and collaborative efforts with
other organizations continue to be exemplary hallmarks of its worthy
endeavors; and
WHEREAS, On March 26, 2009, Asian Americans for Equality will once
again hold its Annual Lunar New Year Celebration, continuing one of its
most cherished traditions and proudly honoring members of the community
who have, themselves, made significant contributions in keeping with
AAFE's mission of promoting equality, racial harmony, and economic
empowerment; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth D. Cohen of the National Association for the Advance-
ment of Colored People (NAACP), Northeastern Queens Branch, and his
family; Marisa Lago, President and CEO of Empire State Development; Jim
Park, President of the Asian Real Estate Association of America; and
Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO of Partnership for New York City, will
be honored with AAFE's 2009 Dream of Equality Awards; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Robert Yuen of AAFE's Unicorn Team will be
presented with the Community Leadership Award, and The Honorable Sheldon
Silver, Speaker of the New York State Assembly will receive Special
Recognition during the celebration; and
WHEREAS, In so effectively serving the community, Asian Americans for
Equality has established itself as an organization of distinction and
truly merits recognition of its extraordinary accomplishments by this
Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Asian Americans for Equality upon the occasion of its 35th Annual
Lunar New Year Celebration on March 26, 2009, and to congratulate the
honorees of the evening; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Christopher Kui, Executive Director, Asian Americans for
Equality, 108 Norfolk Street, New York, New York 10002.