Monarch Awards 2006


The awardees in the photo are, left to right: Sara Fewer, Madison Nguyen, Lauren Yee, Mimi Kwan, and Winnie Yu.

2006 PAAWBAC Monarch Awards

As a former recipient of a Woman Warrior award bestowed by the Pacific Asian American Women Bay Area Coalition (PAAWBAC), Leslie Tang-Schilling, special guest at the 2006 Monarch Awards, threw her hands up at the podium, exclaiming:  “I’m inspired – I’m ready to start over again!”

Leslie – who serves on the University of California Board of Regents and is founder/president of Union Square Investment Company – was referring to the remarkable accomplishments of the five Asian Pacific Islander women being honored as emerging young leaders in the Bay Area at the Monarch Awards ceremony on May 18.

The first-ever PAAWBAC Monarch Awards were conceived to support and promote new leadership by identifying API women who are making waves and contributions at an early age.  It represents a shift from the Woman Warrior awards, which PAAWBAC presented from 1983 to 2005 to 101 Bay Area API women for their long records of outstanding achievement and community service.

Linda Yee of KPIX-TV served as mistress of ceremonies for this year’s event, which was attended by family and other supporters of the awardees, and by PAAWBAC members and friends.  Nordstrom, a PAAWBAC supporter for many years, was a major sponsor of the awards ceremony, and hosted this event at its San Francisco Centre store.  Other corporate sponsors were AARP California, St. Francis Memorial Hospital and Pacific Gas & Electric.

Sara Fewer – Fundraising Assistant, EMILY’s List

Sara has pursued her interest in politics at full steam, having served as finance staffer for Democrat Joe Driscoll’s campaign for U.S. Congress – in which $2.3 million was raised. At the Washington, D.C.-based EMILY’s List, Sara is working to help elect pro-choice Democratic women to office.

Sara cited her great-grandmother as one of her biggest inspirations.  “My great-grandmother was harassed every day at school for being Asian,” she said. “I hope to change that. I know we can change that.”

Even while working at EMILY’s List, Sara noted that there is still a lack of Asian American women in political office.  “We need to be more visible today.”

Mimi Kwan – Director of Public Affairs, KGO-TV

Starting out as an intern at KGO-TV, Mimi quickly ascended the ranks and became the youngest department head ever at the station. Mimi has won several regional Emmy awards for her work, and said it is her dream job to be able to highlight community issues.

Through her position at KGO-TV, Mimi has made significant contributions in setting the agenda for public affairs in the influential world of media.  “I thought, ‘Gosh, I’m getting recognized just to do my job!’ But then I realized that there are few young Asian Pacific women in my field,” she said.

In thanking everyone who paved the road before her, Mimi did not hesitate to acknowledge her hardworking parents who run a restaurant in San Jose – which is open 365 days a year. Yes, even on Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Madison Nguyen - San Jose City Councilwoman

Elected in September 2005, Madison became the first Vietnamese American to serve on the San Jose City Council. She also serves on the Board of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Agency, and is a member of Building A Strong Neighborhood Committee, Driving a Strong Economy Committee and the Evergreen East Hills Vision Strategy Task Force.

An immigrant from Vietnam, Madison now plays an important role in the 10th largest city in the nation.  “I never thought that I would become a city councilwoman.”

All modesty aside, Madison was already an active member of the community prior to her successful election bid – having served as President of the Franklin-McKinley Board of Education and worked as an Associate Ombudsperson with the Santa Clara County’s Office of Human Relations.

Lauren Yee – Playwright, Student at Yale University

She hasn’t even graduated from college yet, but already, her name has been flashed on marquees across the nation. Lauren’s list of accomplishments includes being the founder and Executive Director of the San Francisco Young Playwrights Foundation, as well as the Youth for Asian Theater.

She is also the past winner of the California Young Playwrights Festival, Florida Teen Playwright Festival, and the New South Young Playwrights Festival. Lauren said she came to the realization that “I’m remarkably selfish for all the work I do with non-profits and the community. I’m driven by what I think the world should be.”

It doesn’t hurt if she thinks the world should be a better place, serving more of our artistic needs.

Winnie Yu – Community Advocate, Asian Law Caucus

Winnie has worked to give voice to the voiceless. Armed with her ability to speak three different Chinese dialects, Winnie has committed herself to advocating for young women and girls – especially those from immigrant backgrounds.

As a Community Advocate at the Asian Law Caucus, Winnie works to ensure the rights of low-income immigrant, monolingual seniors and Asian Pacific Islanders.  “From the dim hallways to the marble steps of City Hall, we are witnessing democracy at work,” she said.