- Dr. Gay Q. Yuen

Dr. Gay Q. Yuen's involvement in education was a direct result of her own educational experience as a 1st-grade student at Castelar Elementary School in Los Angeles' Chinatown. Although she had just arrived from Hong Kong and knew little English, teachers often scolded and forbid her from speaking her native tongue at school, contributing to her sense of confusion and alienation growing up.

Now, Dr. Yuen has made it her life's mission to make the educational experience of immigrant children a positive one. She's a professor of California State University's Charter College of Education, where Dr. Yuen directs the Pacific Rim Institute. Dr. Yuen is also one of Southern California's first bilingual Cantonese educators and regarded as a leading authority of bilingual education, second-language development, and minority education. Throughout her 30-year career, Dr. Yuen has instructed elementary school students to graduate students, coordinated and managed bilingual programs for LAUSD and the Alhambra Unified School District, and was instrumental in drafting the writing standards that has helped guide the education and assessment of students and teachers, bilingual teacher certification standards, and EL standards for instruction.

In addition to her professional work, Dr. Yuen volunteers her time and resources to community organizations such as Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP), where she raised funds for scholarships for Asian American students, Asian Youth Center (AYC), East West Players and the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles (CAM). She has also served on national and state professional organizations such as Asian Pacifics in Higher Education (APAHE), California Associate for Asian-Pacific Education (CAFABE) and National Association for Asian and Pacific Education (NAAPAE). Dr. Yuen was appointed to the Los Angeles Mayor's Council of Education Advisors to help lower dropout rates and truancy in the public schools.

Dr. Yuen was recognized with the "Teachers Making a Difference Award" in 2008 from the Cherry Blossom Festival of Southern California. In 2007, CSULA's Charter College of Education named her a "Distinguished Educator" and in 2005 CSLU recognized Dr. Yuen as its 2005 "Distinguished Woman of the Year." Congresswoman Hilda Solis named Dr. Yuen as one of the twelve "Phenomenal Woman" of the 32nd Congressional District in 2004.

Dr. Yuen has published articles in the National Forum of Teacher Education Journal, Diversity in Teacher Education, and the Journal of California Politics and Policy.

- Stephen Christopher Liu

In 1993, Stephen Christopher Liu knew there was a gap that needed to be filled. He wanted that served professionals in the APA community, a resource that connected members with those with more experience, and a center that housed the vast talents of its members for the betterment of the community.

Armed with an ingenious sense of business and a knack for networking, Liu created the Asian Professional Exchange. Once an idea that was scribbled on a restaurant napkin, APEX has blossomed into a nonprofit professional development organization that serves a vibrant community of more than 9,000 members. Liu served as APEX's President and Executive Director from 1993 to 1997 while simultaneously working full-time. Liu is currently APEX's Founder/Chairman.

Marquee events have included the Community Leaders Reception, which is a powerful networking event that bridges young professionals with elected officials, community business leaders and APA legislative staff; the APEX Youth Olympics, which brings together at-risk youth for a day to promote teamwork and diversity within the community; the APEX Career Day and Mentoring Program, which provides a job fair, workshops, leadership training and networking opportunities for new graduates and young professionals; and the APEX Awards Gala that recognizes and honors prominent Asian American who are paving the way for future leaders. It bears to mention that because of Liu's involvement with the APA community, he created Drinks 'n Chatter (DnC), an informal, nonprofit 4,000 member social gathering group that raises financial support and awareness for mainly Asian American community-based organizations. Since 2004, DnC has helped raise more than $40,000.

APEX's success can be credited to Liu's entrepreneurial spirit and experience in the business and media world. Named early on by Transpacific/Goldsea Magazine as one of the "Top 40 Professionals to Watch," Liu has masterminded a number of innovative enterprises that have changed the face of the business landscape. On his latest venture, Privy.net, Liu serves as the CEO and "Chief Social Capitalist" of the invitation-only niche social network and online/mobile platform that targets a select group of transpacific executives and influential figures. In 1999, Liu was Co-Founder and President of Reelplay, Inc., an early streaming-video enabled B2B digital marketplace that catered to the global film and television industry. For two years in a row, Forbes Magazine named Reelplay as one of the "Top 200 B2B" e-commerce companies in their annual Best of the Web B2B Directory.

Liu owns interests in several other businesses including One Pixel Motion, a digital branding studio specializing in motion design and interactive media; HPI Emblem, a vertically integrated China-based emblem manufacturer serving the U.S. decorated apparel, fashion, promotional products, recognition and uniform markets; and Xing Xing, a Beijing-based venture-backed digital animation company specializing in 3D and Flash animation for film, television and games.

Although his plate seems full, Liu still finds time to serve on the boards and committees of various local community and entertainment organizations. Liu is also executive producer of his first feature documentary film, "Yours Truly, Miss Chinatown" which was funded in part by the PBS-affiliated Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). Most recently, Liu was named an "Emerging Leader" by the Asian Pacific Community Fund and was recognized by the Boy Scouts of America as a "Distinguished Citizen".

Liu received his master of business administration from the University of Southern California in 1998 and earned his bachelor of science of marketing from San Diego State University in 1991.

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."

- Sir Winston Churchill

Chef Akira Hirose's generosity goes beyond his contributions to the culinary world as owner of Maison Akira, his Pasadena-based restaurant that has served French cuisine with a Japanese flair since 1998. He has shared his culinary passion with the causes and people who help define the Asian Pacific American community one meal at a time.

Hirose had the honor of preparing a special luncheon for the Emperor and Empress of Japan plus 100 guests while working at the world-renowned Tower Restaurant, formerly located at the top of the previous Transamerica Building in downtown Los Angeles, in 1994. He is a board member of the Club Culinaire Francaise of Southern California, and has volunteered his culinary talents to a variety of causes, including the California Hospital L'Grande Affaire Dinner, the Club Culinaire's Annual Picnic Committee, Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches (A3M) Charity Concert Dinner, City Club on Bunker Hill Benefit Dinner for Augies Quest Cure for ALS, the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center and Club Corps Employee Partner Care Foundation.

Maison Akira's presence in the community has also been demonstrated in such venues as the APA nonprofit organization Project by Project, Little Tokyo Service Center's Tofu Festival and Sake Event, the Japanese American Cultural Community Center, the Asian American Symphony and the Japanese American National Museum. In addition, schools and charitable organization have benefited from Hirose's generosity as he has donated gift certificates for silent auctions.

Hirose has received accolades from the community her serves, including being named the Club Culinaire Francaise of Southern California's: Chef of the Year 1998 and recipient of the Little Tokyo Center Community Award that same year. Maison Akira has received the Zagat's Excellent Rating from 2004 to 2008 and has received raved reviews from local publications.

Hirose was born and raised in Kyoto, Japan. He trained in France for 8 years, where he worked under world-renowned chef Joel Robuchon.

"My life's work comes from the philosophy that without dignity--little else matters. Social justice, respect for all, and inalienable human rights--such as livable wage jobs and decent affordable housing--are imperative in protecting people's dignity."

- Kerry N. Doi

In the span of 33 years at the helm of Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE), Kerry N. Doi has touched the lives of more than 600,000 Asian Pacific Americans and other minority groups. Doi's passion, commitment and fighting spirit for economic and social justice have brought clients one-step closer to becoming economically independent through PACE services. The community development nonprofit organization provides assistance with employment, small business ownership, affordable housing, early childhood education, energy conservation and efficiency and other services. In addition, it employs about 400 full-time employees, holds more than 30 contracts and helps about 44,000 families a year. Doi serves as PACE's Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer.

In addition to Doi's work at PACE, he also takes his cause of economic equality and social justice to the state and national levels. He serves as a board member of the National Coalition of Asian Pacific American Community Development (CAPACD), the California Community and Economic Development Association (CCEDA), and is Vice Chairperson of Los Angeles Housing Partnership. He has testified at congressional hearings, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and Helsinki Commission on the contributions and needs of immigrants and Asian small businesses.

Doi is strongly committed to quality and excellence in services. He is a certified Malcolm Baldrige Examiner for Performance Excellence and a recipient of Bank of America Neighborhood Builder Award. Doi was recently selected to be a participant in an eighteen-month long and prestigious Achieving Excellence in Community Development Program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, which is sponsored by NeighborWorks America.