February 2010 | By Jane Leung Larson
Larry Tu at the AALDEF Annual Lunar New Year Gala. Photo by Lia Chang.
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) honored Larry Tu, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Dell Inc., on February 11 in New York City at its annual gala. He received the Justice in Action Award “for his commitment to diversity and his outstanding achievements in the legal profession.” AALDEF Assistant Director Lillian Ling added, “At Dell, Larry has used his position to implement diversity efforts – both internally as well as outside with legal counsel and suppliers.”
In his acceptance speech, Tu talked about his experiences as an Asian American straddling two cultures. He also spoke about his involvement with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and as a board member of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, and he described the important work of C-100. AALDEF was founded in 1974 and works nationally to protect and promote the civil rights of Asian Americans through litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing. Past Justice in Action Award recipients include the late civil rights icon Fred Korematsu, David Henry Hwang, Harold Koh, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, Salman Rushdie, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Harry Belafonte, Margaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.
Stewart Kwoh is presented the Civic Medal of Honor by George Kieffer, former board chair of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.
C-100 Vice Chair Stewart Kwoh received what Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa dubbed “the Academy Award of our community,” the Civic Medal of Honor of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. The award was presented to Kwoh, founder, president and executive director of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) on February 4 at Chamber’s 121st Inaugural Dinner, and honors Kwoh’s “extraordinary civic leadership and public service over an extended period of time as recognized by those in the broader civic community.” The selection was made by a committee of Chamber board members, previous recipients (who include former Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Morgan Stanley chairman John Mack), and community members. Christopher said, “Stewart is a marvelous choice. His kind of superb citizenship and active civic involvement are required today to make our democracy work.”
Since APALC was founded 26 years ago, it has grown to be the nation’s largest civil rights and legal assistance organization focusing on the needs of the Asian Pacific American population. George Kieffer, past Chamber Chair and Chair of the Civic Medal Selection Committee, also pointed to Kwoh’s “informal civic leadership … the respect in which he is held by a broad civic community and the character he reflects in doing his work.” Among Kwoh’s other civic leadership positions cited by the Chamber were past Chairman of the Board for The California Endowment and trustee of the Methodist Urban Foundation, California Consumer Protection Foundation, The California Endowment, The California Wellness Foundation, Tang Family Foundation and the Fannie Mae Foundation. Watch Kwoh accept this esteemed award, explain the role of minorities in civic engagement, and tell how his parents, Edwin and Beulah, inspired him to contribute to the community. Click here to watch the video.
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