News
about recent 2004 Community Award event:
Allies
Building Community (ABC) Day was proclaimed by Mayor Anthony Williams
on the 40th anniversary of A.B.C.
More than
140 community, national and international leaders and volunteers celebrated
the 40th anniversary of Allies Building Community, Inc. (A.B.C.) at
a Chinese banquet held on November 9, 2004 at Tony Cheng's Restaurant
in Chinatown in Downtown Washington D.C. A.B.C.'s president, Dr. Dwan
"Diane" Tai was presented with D.C. Mayor's official proclamation
declaring Nov. 9, 2004 as "Allies Building Community (A.B.C.) Day."
Senator
Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, just re-elected for an eighth term, the Chinese
Embassy, Secretary Elaine Chao, and Mayor Anthony A. Williams were among
the 22 honorees nationally and internationally who received the prestigious
Friendship Archway Awards recognizing their significant contributions
to building a beautiful community and fostering positive, helpful attitudes
and actions, reflecting the Spirit of the Friendship Archway.
In the
Washington D.C. area, Georgetown University Professor Sam Marullo and
Coral Network executive director Elizabeth Shrader; George Washington
University Dr. Richard Sawaya, Bernard Demezuk and Michael Akin; Downtown
Business Improvement executive director Richard H. Bradley; Washington
Council of Agencies executive director Betsy Johnson; St. Mary's Court
director Beatrice Watson; Chinatown Service Center director John K.
Lem; Chinese Cultural Center officer Serina Moy; Foggy Bottom Association
president Ron Cocome; and Foggy Bottom activist Rita V. Champagne were
among the 2004 awardees.
The Mayor's
proclamation hailed A.B.C.'s many achievements including Friendship
Archway programs, Conversationsnet programs, Asian Voice publications,
Gallery Amerasia, embassy seminars, Asian Arts Festivals, Wah Luck House
Community Hall, Archway Community Awards, Conversationsnet and many
innovative educational and community programs.
Dr. Tai
was also presented with an award for distinguished service from the
Hunan Association (representing local and overseas Chinese) by its honorary
president, Marie Huang.
More than
370,000 people of Asian ancestry live in the greater Washington metropolitan
area of 5.7 million. One of A.B.C.'s interest is to contribute to better
understanding and cooperation among people of diverse backgrounds by
transforming attitudes, perceptions, thoughts (conversations) and encouraging
acts of kindness and good works. People are encouraged to perceive each
other as allies and friends, appreciate each other and work together
to co-create effective solutions to common challenges. The creative
process begins with Conversations for Friendship and Possibilities.
You are invited to participate in the monthly third Tuesday and third
Sunday small group conversations.
