Asian Americans are the latest success story in this country of immigrants. Coming from different countries and with varying backgrounds, through our emphasis on education, hard work and plain old perseverance, many have reached a modicum of success. Most families can brag about a sibling or a close relative who is a doctor, lawyer, professor or an engineer in the high technology industry.

But, are you doing enough to help yourselves and your families? By all measures, Asian Americans have attained middle and upper middle-class successes, but how many of you can brag about a close relative who is a mover and shaker in a political, judicial, education, entertainment, arts, musical.... arena? Yes, we still have a long way to go before we can match the achievement of the other ethnic groups.

Emphasis on a good education is a good thing to start, but we need more than just a degree from a well-known university. In 1983, an American developmental psychologist Howard Gardener described 9 different types of intelligence. They include:

To attain leadership in this, our adopted land, we need to develop ourselves and our kids to be self-smart and people-smart, with leadership and political skills to be more persuasive to our peers and followers.

80-20 has done a lot and will be doing a lot more to level the playing field in the college admission process - read your newsletters. You can do a lot more to help yourselves and your children by cultivating your leadership and social skills.

In a future newsletter I hope to address why it is of utmost importance for Asian Americans to get involved in the political process – it is the key for us to break the glass ceiling and to sit at the table with the BIG BOYS!

Sincerely,

Joel Wong

3 terms on 80-20's National Board

Point of Contact for Northern California

Serving on several APA organizations, including APAPA

PS: 80-20 will elect its Officers and Board of Directors in November, to continue working for your empowerment. Please spend a few minutes to elect the next set of leaders. Watch your in-box: information for that election will follow soon. Become a member, so that you, too, can vote.

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