OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates recognizes President Carter’s contributions in advancing the rights of Asian Americans and raising awareness of Asian American achievements
(January 9, 2025) – On the day that President Carter’s official state funeral begins in Washington, D.C., OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates (“OCA”) and its chapters, including OCA Georgia, remember President Carter’s lifetime of accomplishments including his contributions to the Asian American community. During his presidency, President Carter recognized the accomplishments and the issues important to Asian Americans. In 1979, President Carter signed Presidential Proclamation 4650 that designated May 4, 1979, as the start of Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. Following President Carter’s lead, OCA was instrumental in advocating for and further establishing Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, now celebrated every May. Further, President Carter signed bipartisan legislation into law establishing the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, which investigated the facts surrounding Executive Order 9066. The Commission ultimately recognized the gross injustices against Japanese American WWII survivors and their families, leading the way to a formal apology including funding reparations to the survivors. President Carter continued to further Asian American interests for over 40 years after his Presidency ended in 1981 through the generous work of the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Since its founding in 1983, OCA Georgia, the Georgia chapter of OCA, has hosted numerous events at The Carter Center including its 35th Anniversary Gala event in 2018 to recognize the achievements of local Asian American community leaders.“President Carter was responsible for signing presidential proclamations and executive actions that deeply impacted the AANHPI community,” said OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates President Sharon Wong. “These presidential actions highlighted AANHPI communities across the country and emphasized that we, too, belong.” OCA Georgia President Brian Lin remarked, “President Carter was an exceptional citizen, who served not only the State of Georgia and the United States, but also sought positive change for millions of people around the world. Asian Americans are grateful for President Carter’s leadership and persistence throughout his life, and we will deeply mourn his passing.”
OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national social justice organization of community advocates dedicated to improving the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Learn more about our work at ocanational.org/about.
Cheryl Chow Park Ribbon-Cutting CeremonyApril 5, 202512:00 pm - 2:00 pmSouth Charlestown Street & 35th Avenue South, S Charlestown St & 35th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144, USA
Seattle Parks and Recreation to Open New Park in Rainier Valley named after beloved Seattle Councilmember Member, Cheryl Chow
Seattle, WA-Seattle Parks and Recreation will celebrate the opening of a new park in the Rainier Valley on April 5, 2025 named after late Seattle Councilmember, Cheryl Chow.
Cheryl Chow Park will host a ribbon cutting community celebration on April 5, 2025, from noon to 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome to come celebrate! The afternoon will be filled with entertainment, food and an opportunity to explore the new park.
Cheryl Chow’s life and career were dedicated to public service. A long-time Seattle City Councilmember, Chow devoted her life to serving the people of Seattle, particularly those in marginalized communities. Serving on the City Council from 1990–97, Chow championed parks, spearheaded the renovation/building of recreation centers throughout Seattle, forged the Seattle Public Schools-Community Centers agreement, and extended recreation hours for after-school programs. Chow was also an educator for many years, teaching at Hamilton International Middle School, a public school in the Seattle School District, and a principal of Sharples Junior High School (now Aki Kurose Middle School), Franklin and Garfield high schools. She also served on the Seattle School Board, coached girls’ basketball for SPR and led the famed Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team. Chow passed away in 2013.
Cheryl Chow Park is located at S Charlestown Street between 34th and 35th Avenue South and creates a new multi-generational neighborhood park for the North Rainier community. This park space consists of property acquired by SPR over the past 10 years. The design incorporates accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as SPR’s intent to create access to open space in areas of high urban density. The park will be a multi-generational community gathering space with adult exercise equipment, a half-court basketball feature, BBQ grills, picnic areas and colorful play equipment. Community-provided graphics of textile fabric designs that hang as banners in the park reflect a broad representation of cultures in the North Rainier neighborhood.
Cheryl Chow Park was created with support from numerous community members, Seattle Park District Funding, and funding from King County Parks Levy and Conservation Futures funding, Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office and Group Health/Kaiser Permanente.
*Disclaimer* OCA-GS is posting this event on our Community Calendar as a service to the community. Date/Time/Location details are subject to change.
OCA Greater Seattle is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. Donations are tax deductible. Please use “Organization Of Chinese Americans Inc” for tax purposes. Tax ID # 91-1668038.
