BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//PYVOBJECT//NONSGML Version 1//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:events.uid.2953@www.discovernikkei.org DTSTART:20110226T000000Z DTEND:20110226T000000Z DESCRIPTION:<strong>ASIAN AMERICAN COALITION OF CHICAGO</strong>\n\n<strong >ANNOUNCES CELEBRITY PRESENTERS\, KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND AWARDEES FOR</strong >\n\n<strong>28th ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION</strong>\n\n<strong></ strong><strong><em>&rdquo\;ONE VISION\, MANY VOICES&rdquo\;</em></strong>\ nSATURDAY FEBRUARY 26TH AT HYATT REGENCY O&rsquo\;HARE\n\n<strong><span st yle="font-weight: normal\;"></strong><strong><em>IOWA SENATOR SWATI DANDEK AR NAMED KEYNOTE SPEAKER</em></strong>\n\n<strong><em><span style="font-st yle: normal\; font-weight: normal\;"></em></strong><strong><em>STEVE KIM N AMED PAN ASIAN AMERICAN PING TOM MEMORIAL AWARDEE</em></strong>\n\n<strong ><em><span style="font-style: normal\; font-weight: normal\;"></em></stron g><strong><em>ILLINOIS STATE TREASURER DAN RUTHERFORD NAMED GRAND ASIAN AM ERICAN SANDRA OTAKA MEMORIAL AWARDEE</em></strong>\n\n<strong><em><span st yle="font-style: normal\; font-weight: normal\;"></em></strong><strong><em >\n</em></strong>\nCHICAGO\, IL - - Final plans are underway for the Asian American Coalition of Chicago&rsquo\;s&nbsp\;<strong>28th Annual Lunar Ne w Year Celebration\, &ldquo\;One Vision\, Many Voices\," to be held Saturd ay\, February 26\, 2011\,&nbsp\;</strong>at the<strong>&nbsp\;Hyatt Regenc y O&rsquo\;Hare\, 9300 West Bryn Mawr Avenue\, in Rosemont\, Illinois.</st rong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\nTickets are available at $750 per tab le of ten or $75 each for this popular star-studded event. More than 1\,10 0 people are expected at the black-tie optional gala.&nbsp\;<strong>Recept ion\, open microphone\,&nbsp\; exhibits and silent auction begin at 5 p.m. \; opening ceremonies are at 6:30 p.m.\, followed by dinner\, entertainmen t\, cultural entertainment and awards ceremonies until approximately 10 p. m.</strong>&nbsp\;Tickets are available on a first-funded\, first-seated b asis.&nbsp\; Purchase information appears below and on the website<strong> <a title="http://www.aacchicago.org/" href="http://www.aacchicago.org/" ta rget="_blank">www.aacchicago.org</a>.&nbsp\;</strong>&nbsp\;\n\n&nbsp\;\n\ nThis year&rsquo\;s gala Lunar Opening Ceremonies will not disappoint trad itional Indian custom. Ceremonies begin with\, &ldquo\;<strong>A Tradition al Auspicious Opening of An Event - With Diyas and Dhol Beats&rdquo\;.</st rong>&nbsp\;In Indian tradition\, events must begin in an auspicious manne r - with energy\, drum beats\, vibrant colors and costumes. No celebratory occasion is complete without the lighting up of diyas. The diyas signify the importance of light or knowledge and represent a whole circle of life &ndash\; an epithet of goodness\, virtuosity\, harmony and truth. Tabla Dh ol Entertainment will provide Indian drumming for this year&rsquo\;s Openi ng\, with appearances by Nishad Parmar and Vimal Prajapati\, the group&rsq uo\;s founders.\n\n&nbsp\;\n\nThis year&rsquo\;s cultural entertainment hi ghlight features\,&nbsp\;<strong><em>&ldquo\;Unity in Diversity: From Kath ak to Bollywood\,&rdquo\;</em></strong><em></em>presented by the Asian Ame rican Coalition of Chicago 2011 Performing Artists and directed and choreo graphed by Gauri Jog\, founder of the&nbsp\; Indian Dance Company\, a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation located in Schaumburg\, Illinois. Katha k is Indian classical dance.&nbsp\; Approximately 90 artists will particip ate in the show.*&nbsp\;<em>(See more in &ldquo\;About the Show&rdquo\; at end.)</em>\n\n<em>&nbsp\;</em>\n\nEvery year a different Asian community takes turn playing host of the Lunar New Year gala. This year it is the&nb sp\;<strong>Indian American Community</strong>\, which has thrice before ( 1988\, 1995 and 2003) held the gavel for the Asian Pacific American commun ity's most important event of the year.\n\n&nbsp\;\n\n<em>&ldquo\;This is the 28<sup>th</sup>&nbsp\;Annual Asian American Coalition of Chicago Lunar New Year Celebration. The Indian American Community is honored to host th is Gala once again\, and I am humbled to serve as Chair\,&ldquo\;&nbsp\;</ em>said<strong>Nadja P. Lalvani\,</strong>&nbsp\;2011 Chair of&nbsp\;the 2 8<sup>th</sup>&nbsp\;Annual Asian American Coalition of Chicago Lunar New Year Celebration.\n\n<em>&nbsp\;</em>\n\n<em>&ldquo\;There are so many exa mples of Asian Americans who have defied the typical stereotypes and risen to the top of virtually every U.S. industry\, from &nbsp\;the arts and en tertainment to fashion to business and technology\,&rdquo\;&nbsp\;</em>con tinued Lalvani.<em>&nbsp\;&ldquo\;Our culture\, family life and the unique experiences and challenges that we bring to the table continually redefin es American society. This year&rsquo\;s theme\,&ldquo\;One Vision\, Many V oices&rdquo\; embodies our journey leading to the next level of impact &nd ash\; we must come together as a community to embrace\, support and lift u p all Asian Americans called to public service through elected office\,&rd quo\;&nbsp\;</em>she said.\n\n&nbsp\;\n\nAn event held on this grand of a scale only once a year\, Lunar New Year is traditionally the single larges t organized annual event in Chicago's Asian American community. According to the latest Census\, the Asian Pacific American population in Illinois n umbers approximately 428\,213\, or&nbsp\;3.4% of the statewide population. \n\n&nbsp\;\n\nNumerous dignitaries traditionally attend the festivities\, including the Asian consular corps\, elected and appointed governmental o fficials\, political candidates\, top business and corporate leaders\, dec ision-makers at Chicago's major media press outlets\, and everyone who con siders himself or herself a mover and shaker in and around\, or for\, the Asian Pacific American national movement.\n\n<p align="center">&nbsp\;\n<s trong>CELEBRITY PRESENTERS</strong>&hellip\; The Asian American Coalition of Chicago is pleased to announce that the following people are scheduled to appear onstage as Celebrity Presenters at its 28<sup>th</sup>&nbsp\;Ann ual Lunar New Year Celebration:\n&nbsp\;\n*&nbsp\;<strong>Christina Januar y Adachi</strong>\, President\, Angel Island Theatre Company\;\n*&nbsp\;<s trong>Ravi Baichwal</strong>\, Weekend Anchor/Reporter\, ABC 7 News&nbsp\; <em>(pending final scheduling)\;</em>\n<em>*&nbsp\;</em><strong>Cheryl Ham ada\,<em>&nbsp\;</em></strong>Actress and Pledge Host\, WTTW-TV\;<strong>< /strong>\n*&nbsp\;<strong>Judy Hsu</strong>\, Morning Anchor/Reporter\, AB C 7 News\;\n*&nbsp\;<strong>Jan Jeffcoat\,<em>&nbsp\;</em></strong>Noon An chor/Reporter\, FOX Chicago TV News\;\n*&nbsp\;<strong>Nesita Kwan<em>\,</ em></strong>&nbsp\;Anchor/Reporter\, NBC 5 Chicago News\;\n*&nbsp\;<strong >Joanie Lum<em>\,&nbsp\;</em></strong>Reporter\, FOX Chicago TV News\;\n*& nbsp\;<strong>Mai Martinez</strong>\, Weekend Anchor/Reporter\, CBS 2 Chic ago News\n&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<em>(pending fi nal scheduling)\;</em>\n*&nbsp\;<strong>Mia Park</strong>\, Actress\, Mode l\, TV Personality\, Musician\, and Yoga Teacher\;\n*&nbsp\;<strong>Susann a Song</strong>\, Reporter\, CBS 2 Chicago News\;<strong></strong>\n&nbsp\ ;\n*&nbsp\;<strong>Judy Wang</strong>\, Weekend Morning Anchor/Reporter\, CLTV News\; and\n&nbsp\;\n*&nbsp\;<strong>Linda Yu</strong>\, 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Anchor/Reporter\, ABC 7 News\,on vocal track in a special&nbsp\;&nb sp\;&nbsp\;\n&nbsp\;&nbsp\;encore presentation of the video short\, &ldquo \;<strong><em>Dare to Dream: The Legacy of Ping Tom.&rdquo\;&nbsp\;</em></ strong>\n<strong>KEYNOTE SPEAKER</strong>\nThe Coalition is pleased to ann ounce that&nbsp\;Iowa State Senator&nbsp\;Swati Dandekar&nbsp\;will serve as its 2011 Keynote Speaker. She last joined AACC as a State Representativ e at the 2003 AACC Celebration.\n\n<em>&nbsp\;</em>\n<strong>AWARDS</stron g>\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\nThe Coalition is pleased to announce that th e following people have been named this year&rsquo\;s award recipients:&nb sp\;\n\n&nbsp\;\n\nThe 2011 recipient of the Coalition&rsquo\;s prestigiou s Pan Asian American Ping Tom Memorial Award - its highest award\, is atto rney&nbsp\;<strong>Steve H. Kim<em>.</em></strong>&nbsp\;The Coalition ren amed its Pan Asian Award in 1996 after the late legendary Chicago civic le ader Ping Tom.&nbsp\; Ping Tom was also one of the original founders of th e Asian American Coalition. Attorney&nbsp\;<strong>Darryl Tom</strong>\, o n behalf of The Tom Family\, will again assist in this year&rsquo\;s award ceremonies.\n\n&nbsp\;\n\nThe 2011 recipient of the Coalition&rsquo\;s Gr and Asian American Sandra Otaka Memorial Award\, is&nbsp\;<strong>Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford.</strong>&nbsp\;This award is periodically presented to someone of non-Asian descent\, who has made significant cont ributions to the Asian Pacific American community. The Coalition renamed i ts Grand Asian Award in 2010 after the late Cook County Circuit Court Judg e Sandra Otaka.<strong><em></em></strong>\n\n&nbsp\;\n\nThe Coalition anno unces its 2011 Community Service Award recipients as follows:\n\n&nbsp\;\n \n1.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Mr.) Nafees Ahmed</strong> \, Deputy Commissioner\, City of Chicago Department of Aviation Finance\; founder of the Job Bank\, a Bangladeshi American job data bank&nbsp\; (cre ated in the 1990s)\;&nbsp\;<strong>Bangladeshi American Community Awardee\ ;</strong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n2.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&n bsp\;<strong>(Mr.) Ernest C. Wong</strong>\, Principal\, Site Design Group \, award-winning landscape design firm for Chicago Chinatown&rsquo\;s Ping Tom Memorial Park\; and Chairman\, Board of Directors\, Chinese American Service League\,&nbsp\;<strong>Chinese American Community Awardee\;</stron g>\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n3.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<stro ng>(Ms.) Cecilia Buenaflor\,&nbsp\;</strong>Entrepreneur\; Founder/Owner\, Life Home Health Care\, Inc.\, named one of the Top 500 Home Health Care Agencies in the USA by &ldquo\;Home&nbsp\; Care Elite&rdquo\; magazine<em> \;</em>&nbsp\;<strong>Filipino American Community Awardee\;&nbsp\;</strong >\n\n&nbsp\;\n\n4.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Mr.) Zul Kap adia</strong>\, Sophomore\, Northwestern University\; Volunteer\, Chicago Partnership Walk and Cub Scouts\;&nbsp\;<strong>Indian American Community Awardee\;</strong><em></em>\n<em>&nbsp\;</em>\n\n5.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&n bsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>Dr. Hondojo Tjondro Kusumo\,&nbsp\;</strong>Research S cientist\, Neurobiology of Alcoholism at the University of Illinois at Chi cago\; Member\, Board of Directors\, Indonesian American Community of Illi nois\;&nbsp\;<strong>Indonesian American Community Awardee\;</strong>\n<st rong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n6.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Mr. ) Shigeo Ito</strong>\, Horticulturalist\;&nbsp\; Creator/Caretaker\, Japa nese Garden at Heiwa Terrace senior citizens residential facility\; Volunt eer/Member\, Midwest Bonsai Society\; Volunteer/Consultant to the Chicago Botanic Garden\;&nbsp\;<strong>Japanese American Community Awardee\;</stro ng>\n\n<p align="center">&nbsp\;\n\n7.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;< strong>(Ms.) Celine Thum</strong>\, Medical Student\, Model and Musician\; Vice President\, Malaysian Club of Chicago\;&nbsp\;<strong>Malaysian Amer ican Community Awardee\;</strong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n8.&nbsp\; &nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Ms.) Sahar Ali Dar\,&nbsp\;</strong>A ttorney and Non-Profit Consultant\, President-Elect\, Pakistani American B ar Association\; Director\, Apna Ghar (Domestic Violence Agency)- Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Family Law Clinic\;&nbsp\;<strong>Pakistani Ameri can Community Awardee\;</strong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n9.&nbsp\;& nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Ms.) Busra Thepjatri\,&nbsp\;</strong> Director\, Thai Classical Dance School of the Thai Buddhist Temple in Chic ago<em>\,</em>&nbsp\;Illinois\; President\, Thai Illinois Project\,&nbsp\; <strong>Thai American Community Awardee\;&nbsp\;</strong>and<strong></stro ng>\n\n10.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Dr.) Jackie Conley\,&nbsp\;</strong>Vice President of Marketing\, Citrine Home Health Care\, Inc.\, Skokie\, Illino is\; President\, Vietnamese American Community of Illinois\,&nbsp\;<strong >Vietnamese American Community Awardee.</strong>\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong> \n\nThe Coalition announces its 2011 Youth Who Excels Award recipients as follows:\n\n&nbsp\;\n\n1.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Ms.) Serena M. Taj</strong>\, 16\, Junior\, James B. Conant High School\, Hoffm an Estates\, Illinois\,&nbsp\;<strong>Bangladeshi American Community Award ee\;</strong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n2.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\ ;&nbsp\;<strong>(Mr.) Harlan Cao</strong>\, 17\, Senior\, Lane Tech Colleg e Prep High School\, Chicago\, Illinois\,&nbsp\;<strong>Chinese American C ommunity Awardee\;</strong>\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n3.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;& nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Mr.) Alexander Alberto\,&nbsp\;</strong>20\, Senior\, DeVry University\, Chicago\, Illinois\,&nbsp\;<strong>Filipino &n bsp\;American Community Awardee\;</strong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n 4.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Ms.) Aisha Wadhwani\,&nbsp\; </strong>17\, Senior\, Downers Grove South High School\, Downers Grove\, I llinois\,<strong>&nbsp\;Indian American Community Awardee\;</strong><em></ em>\n<em>&nbsp\;</em>\n\n5.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Ms. ) Golda Rubina\,&nbsp\;</strong>22\,<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>Candidate for Master&rsquo\;s Degree\, Columbia College Chicago\, Chicago\, Illinois\,&n bsp\;<strong>Indonesian American Community Awardee\;</strong>\n\n<strong>& nbsp\;</strong>\n\n6.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Mr.) Jaso n Yum</strong>\, (<em>information pending as of presstime)\,</em>&nbsp\;<s trong>Korean American Community Awardee\;</strong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</str ong>\n\n7.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Mr.) Maxter Thai</st rong>\, 19\, Freshman\, Purdue University\, West Lafeyette\, Indiana\,<str ong>Malaysian American Community Awardee\;</strong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</st rong>\n\n8.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Ms.) Zahra Fatima L alani\,&nbsp\;</strong>17\, Senior\, Adlai E. Stevenson High School\, Linc olnshire\, Illinois\,&nbsp\;<strong>Pakistani American Community Awardee\; </strong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n9.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nb sp\;<strong>(Ms.) Sicha Chantaprasopsuk\,&nbsp\;</strong>18\,<strong>&nbsp \;</strong>Freshman\, University of Illinois at Chicago - UIC\, Chicago\, Illinois\,&nbsp\;<strong>Thai American Community Awardee\;</strong>\n<stro ng>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n10.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;<strong>(Mr.) Anthony Mai\, 16\,&n bsp\;</strong>Junior\, Lake View High School\, Chicago\, Illinois\,<strong >Vietnamese American Community Awardee.</strong>\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong> \n\n<strong>SPONSORS</strong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\nTop sponsors this year include: Pan Asian Sponsors:&nbsp\;<strong>American Family Insur ance</strong>&nbsp\;and&nbsp\;<strong>CNA Foundation</strong>\; Community Sponsor:&nbsp\;<strong>I-55 Greater Chicago Truck Stop\, Bolingbrook\;&nbs p\;&nbsp\;</strong>Coalition Sponsor Plus:&nbsp\;<strong>Granite Innovatio n\, Inc.</strong>&nbsp\;and Coalition Sponsor:&nbsp\;<strong>R.M. Chin &am p\; Associates\, Inc.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n \n<strong>TICKETS\n\n</strong>For ticket reservations\, please contact&nbs p\;<strong>M. Bhaskaran at&nbsp\;<a title="mailto:m_bhaskaran@hotmail.com" href="mailto:m_bhaskaran@hotmail.com" target="_blank">m_bhaskaran@hotmail .com</a></strong>&nbsp\;or&nbsp\;<strong>(630) 217-6190.</strong><strong>< /strong>Advance purchase is required. Tickets are $750 per table of ten or $75 each. They are being distributed through community outlets as well as directly from the Coalition. They are&nbsp\;<strong>first funded\, first seated.</strong><strong></strong>\n\n&nbsp\;\nCHECKS\n\n&nbsp\;\n\nAll che cks should be made payable to&nbsp\;<strong>AACC 2011.</strong>\n\n<strong >&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n<strong>SPONSORSHIPS</strong>\n\n&nbsp\;\n\nSponsorsh ip rates and packages are priced as follows: $10\,000 Global&nbsp\;Sponsor \; $5\,000 Pan-Asian Sponsor\; $3\,000 Community Sponsor and $1\,500 Coali tion Sponsor.&nbsp\;<strong>To inquire about or to reserve sponsorships\, please contact&nbsp\;<a title="mailto:aacc2011@aacchicago.org" href="mailt o:aacc2011@aacchicago.org" target="_blank">aacc2011@aacchicago.org</a>&nbs p\;.</strong>\n&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nb sp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\; &nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbs p\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;& nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp \;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;\nADVERTISEMENTS \n\n&nbsp\;\n\nIn addition\, advertisement space reservations in the Souve nir Program Book are available at $525 for a full page (size 8-1/2&rdquo\; x 11&rdquo\;) and $325 for a half-page (8-1/2&rdquo\; x 5-1/2&rdquo\;). N on-profit full-page ads (8-1/2&rdquo\; x 11&rdquo\;) are available at a di scounted rate of $325.&nbsp\;Checks\, insertion orders\, and camera-ready black and white artwork creative for 2011 ads are due&nbsp\;<strong>Februa ry 15\, 2011.&nbsp\;Ads must be funded by the deadline in order to run.</s trong><strong></strong>\n\n&nbsp\;\n\n<strong>AACC... WHO WE ARE</strong>\ n\nAccording to the latest Census\, the Asian Pacific American population in Illinois numbers approximately 428\,213\, or 3.4% of the statewide popu lation.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;Approximately 71\,469 Asian Pacific Americans reside in DuPage County\, comprising 7.9% of DuPage County's population\, with th e bulk of the other 262\,731 residents of Cook County\, comprising 4.8% of Cook County's population. The 2000 Census shows that Asian Pacific Americ ans reside in Chicago in communities including West Rogers Park\, Albany P ark\, Uptown\, Armour Square and Bridgeport\, and in suburban Cook County in communities including Schaumburg\, Hoffman Estates and Skokie.\n\n<stro ng>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n<strong>FOR MORE INFORMATION</strong>\n\n<strong>&n bsp\;</strong>\n\nSponsor\, ad and general inquiries should be directed to &nbsp\;<a title="mailto:aacc2011@aacchicago.org" href="mailto:aacc2011@aac chicago.org" target="_blank">aacc2011@aacchicago.org</a>&nbsp\;(e-mail pre ferred).\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n<strong>MEDIA</strong>\n\n<strong> ENERI Communications</strong>&nbsp\;again has been named the&nbsp\;<strong >agency of record</strong>&nbsp\;for this year&rsquo\;s Lunar New Year Cel ebration\, and has received the assignment to coordinate media relations\, TV station/media company participation\, celebrity presenters and press c redentials. All media requests may be directed to ENERI Communications at& nbsp\;<a title="mailto:info@enericom.net" href="mailto:info@enericom.net" target="_blank">info@enericom.net</a>&nbsp\;or (312) 635-0888. &nbsp\;\n\n &nbsp\;\n\nMedia wishing to cover from the press platform that evening mus t be credentialed and requests are due by<strong>Monday\, February 21\, 20 11 COB.&nbsp\;</strong>Media wishing to sit at dinner tables should pre-ar range purchase of dinner tickets through the assistance of community organ izations.\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\n\n<strong>* ABOUT THE SHOW&nbsp\;</ strong><em>(Based on information provided as of presstime)</em><strong></s trong>\n\nMusic and drums are the focal point of many South Asian celebrat ions.&nbsp\;<strong>Tabla Dhol Entertainment</strong>originally started as a forum purely for drummers and musicians to get together to share their passions for music.&nbsp\; From world percussion to music production and m ixing\, its founding members came together to share in what they love: Rhy thm! Guests will&nbsp\; enjoy the rhythmic vibrations of the Dhol Drum\, p layed by the group&rsquo\;s founding members\,&nbsp\;<strong>Nishad Parmar </strong>&nbsp\;and&nbsp\;<strong>Vimal Prajapati</strong>.&nbsp\;\n\n&nbs p\;\n\nIn the Kathak\, an Indian classical dance\, the importance of the t hree colors of the Indian national flag will be celebrated. This tricolor\ , or tiranga\, features the color saffron\, which symbolizes courage\; the color white\, which symbolizes peace and honesty\; and the color green\, which symbolizes hope\, joy and fertility. Costumes for this evening&rsquo \;s&nbsp\; debut of this dance were designed by Gauri Jog\, tailored in In dia especially for this event\, and then shipped to the Chicago area\, A c ombination of musical styles &ndash\; classical to liquid dance\, will sho wcase nine performers &ndash\; three garbed in each of the colors.\n\n&nbs p\;\n\nThe show will feature an unusual segment for this type of evening & ndash\; a Yoga segment\, &ldquo\;Aasan\,&rdquo\; which means &ldquo\;diffe rent postures&rdquo\;. Yoga is the fitness of body and soul. Yoga dance is inspired by sadhus and rishis on the banks of the Ganga. This segment wil l feature 10-15 different poses\, with the youngest performer age 7.\n\n&n bsp\;\n\nThe show will also feature a lively &ldquo\;Bhangra&rdquo\; dance number by five members of&nbsp\;<strong>Hareepa! Chicago\,&nbsp\;</strong >a group led by&nbsp\;<strong>Kate Levinstein</strong>. These artists atte nd the University of Chicago.&nbsp\;\n\n&nbsp\;\n\nIn the &ldquo\;<strong> Unity in Diversity&rdquo\;</strong>&nbsp\;fusion presentation\, 25 teenage rs will be showcased in a number featuring&nbsp\; Korean Tai Kwon Do\, (le d by&nbsp\;<strong>Master Seok Bong Kim</strong>\, of S.B. Kim&rsquo\;s Ma rtial Arts Academy)\, and dances by members of the Indian\, Filipino\, Tha i and Vietnamese communities\, all interpreting the same song. &ldquo\;Uni ty in Diversity&rdquo\; is based on the premise that no matter how differe nt our cultures are\, music and rhythm binds us together. Choreographers f or the fusion number are:&nbsp\;<strong>Isha Jog</strong>&nbsp\;from India n Dance Company\;&nbsp\;<strong>Jane Quiaoit-Miran\,&nbsp\;</strong>Founde r/Choreographer\, Sulyap Pilipino Cultural Dance Company\;&nbsp\;<strong>V allapa Kongsri</strong>&nbsp\;from the Thai American Association of Illino is and&nbsp\;<strong>Landy Nguyen</strong>&nbsp\;from Nghia Sinh Internati onal\, Inc.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;\n\n&nbsp\;\n\n&nbsp\;\n\nIn the &ldquo\;<strong> Jai Ho&rdquo\;</strong>&nbsp\;number\, 17 community delegates dressed in n ative costumes\, not necessarily dancers\, will join seven members of the Indian Dance School\, a not-for-profit organization\, who will help lead t he number\, for an upbeat number that the Director&nbsp\;<strong>Gauri Jog </strong>&nbsp\;wanted to do &ldquo\;for fun.&rdquo\;\n\n&nbsp\;\n\n<stron g>Masala T</strong>&nbsp\;and&nbsp\;<strong>Alisha</strong>&nbsp\;will als o appear. They star in the television show called HOTCHAAT\, a&nbsp\; vari ety show by Lotus Production Group seen in 33 countries worldwide\, and al so seen online at<a title="http://www.hotchaat.com/" href="http://www.hotc haat.com/" target="_blank">www.hotchaat.com</a>.&nbsp\;Masala T and Alisha &nbsp\; say they are the first to bring the worlds of Bollywood and Hollyw ood together in a variety talk show format covering comedy\, fashion\, mov ies\, fun and social networks.&nbsp\;\n\n&nbsp\;\n\n<strong>Anita Chugh</s trong>&nbsp\;is serving as 2011 AACC Cultural Program Committee Chair.\n\n &nbsp\;\n\n<p align="center">-&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&n bsp\;30&nbsp\;&nbsp\; - &nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;\n\n<strong>&nbsp\;</strong>\ n\n<strong>2011 ASIAN AMERICAN COALITION OF CHICAGO</strong>\n\n<strong>28 th ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION</strong>\n\n_________________________ ____________________________________________________\nAACC &rsquo\;11 Mail ing Address: 568 Raintree Drive\, Glen Ellyn\, Illinois 60137\ntel. (630) 739-7089&nbsp\; e-mail&nbsp\;<a title="mailto:aacc2011@aacchicago.or" href ="mailto:aacc2011@aacchicago.or" target="_blank">aacc2011@aacchicago.or</a >g&nbsp\; web site:&nbsp\;<a title="http://www.aacchicago.org/" href="http ://www.aacchicago.org/" target="_blank">www.aacchicago.org</a>\n\n&nbsp\;& nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp \;&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbsp\; &nbsp\;\nFOR:&nbsp\; 2011 Asian American Coalition of Chicago Planning Committee\n\n<strong><em>&nbsp\;</em></strong>\n DTSTAMP:20241205T221124Z SUMMARY:28th ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION URL:/en/events/2011/02/26/28th-annual-lunar-new-year-celebration/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR