Asian Pacific Islander American Vote – Nonprofit Organization

GO, GO DEMOCRACY -  APIAVote is a fairly new nonprofit organization that creates effective and strategic partnerships to mobilize AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) communities to participate in the electoral and public policy making processes. APIAVote is the only national institution focused on voter mobilization and civic participation of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community.


Leverett Wing, a good friend and fellow Harvard Kennedy School of Government alumnus, is the Executive Director.






Lady Rogue Business Network Interview: Natalie Keng, Entrepreneur

Lady Rogue Business Network Interview: Natalie Keng, Entrepreneur







Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show, May 1-2, 2010

We’ll be an exhibitor at the upcoming Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show, May 1-2, 2010 at the Cobb Galleria, Atlanta. Paula Deen, Bobby Flay, Guy Fieri and many more will be there, plus lots of shows and food vendors.


Come by and say howdy!





Social Innovation Forum’s Susan Musinsky Receives Idealist Award

Susan and I worked together at NCCJ (The National Conference for Community & Justice) in Boston. It was my first job after graduate school (Harvard Kennedy School).  We co-facilitated many diversity workshops and ran LeadBoston, the city’s leadership development program. Susan is a compassionate leader, mentor and a dear friend. Social Innovation Forum is a unique national model that channels capital for social impact. Congratulations, Susan!


Social Innovation Forum Director, Susan Musinsky, Recieves the 2010 Social Capital, Inc. Idealist Award


Susan will be honored with the 2010 Social Capital, Inc.  (SCI) 2010 Idealist Award at a special SCI Luncheon on Wednesday, April 7th at the Radisson Hotel in Boston. The Idealist Award is presented annually to individuals who exemplify SCI’s mission of mobilizing neighbors and volunteers to strengthen Boston-area communities.

As you know well, Susan’s work in this area is precisely what has helped to make the Social Innovation Forum a success. Under Susan’s leadership, the Social Innovation Forum has grown from a small volunteer initiative to a respected model for directing resources to the best available approaches for solving social problems. Since 2003, the Social Innovation Forum has worked with 39 social innovators in Greater Boston and connected them to Boston area social impact investors who have provided more than $5 million in cash and in-kind resources.





CSB photo gallery, courtesy of Cynthia Bohannon-Brown

18a CSB Cooking Demo

10 CSB Cooking Demo 2











Check out new photos here from our Sushi and Eggrolls shows, courtesy of Cynthia Bohannon-Brown and Cbbstudios Photography


Check out our new schedule of classes and events! Ni Hao, Y’all!





Congratulations to Nathaniel Smith, Emory University: Marshall Fellow Award!

Congratulations to Nathaniel Smith and fellow awardees for being selected as 2010 Marshall Memorial Fellows by the Civic League and Community Foundation!


Marshall Memorial Fellows are emerging leaders in their respective fields and are chosen to travel throughout Europe learning about business, policy and politics across the pond. The four fellows are Dr. Ayanna Buckner, Morehouse School of Medicine; Tony Chan, Habitat for Humanity; Amol Naik, McKenna, Long & Aldridge, LLP; and Nathaniel Smith, Emory University, University-Community Partnerships. Jeremy Cole of the International Community School has been selected as an alternate.





A Day in the Life of Chinese Southern Belle

  • Tuff Mug shake-it-up breakfast “drink” : oatmeal, multi-grain black sesame cereal powder, honey
  • Received mini-TV gig call, researched show’s public policy theme
  • Dropped off application for chili cookoff
  • Speed networking at Chamber of Commerce
  • Tried new Korean restaurant (for me) on Buford Hwy
  • Wrote a blog entry
  • Snack sampling #1:  Dried green mango strips (addictively tangy)
  • Gave Chinese hotpot party quote
  • Gave Asian Market Tour for families and kids quote
  • Lost eBay bid for southern belle dress pattern (??)
  • Proposed fundraising event with GA Farm Flood Relief Fund, Slow Food Atlanta
  • Updated mailing list with new contacts made at Taste of Atlanta
  • Bought ingredients for my next hit-or-miss homebaking idea: whole wheat sticky rice poundcake
  • Read essays from YELL-Oh Girls! Emerging Voices Explore Culture, Identity and Growing Up Asian American
  • Snack sampling #2:   seaweed/scallion crackers (like Chinese Saltines, but loaded with flavor)
  • Discussed new demo and market tour dates for Nov and Dec
  • Played tennis w/RB and MK
  • Enjoyed mom’s homemade daikon radish and bone soup and birdseed bread from Magnolia– perfect meal for a cool, fall evening!






The Power of Networking and Novocaine!

I accompanied my mom to her new dentist  (a major procedure).  She was dreading the visit and I didn’t want her to drive in the rain in pain.


We arrived and I met Cheri and Marie at the front desk.  Marie is Haitian and just moved down here from Boston. We discover a common friend. I need a dentist, too, so I made a quick appointment with Cheri.  While the novocaine set in, I chatted with the Doc from Detroit who now lives in a McMansion in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward. He is also the office partner of Scott’s cousin, whose son helped us at our recent Taste of Atlanta demo. Doc says he wants to build another house but this time smaller and on eco-principles. I give him my good friend’s eco-house website and an invitation to come over for a house tour.  (MK gurgles and motions that she’s numbed and ready.)


We continue. Doc needed to sell the old house first. I motioned to my mom, “she’s a great realtor” and dug a business card out of her purse. He also started the website, Herodontics. com (love the name) a social networking site for dental professionals. Doc’s wife, Sally, an attorney, happens to drop by today with her son. Her son is learning Chinese at an Atlanta charter school. The school may be interested in CSB for a culinary fundraiser.  (Mom has cotton-in-mouth and is now waving to get Doc’s attention)


Sally and I chatted and exchanged cards. I told her I was researching copyright and trademark protection. She recently branched out on her own practice, helped small businesses and knew affordable IP/trademark attorneys. We also made a lunch date since she wanted to travel more and heard about my trip to Asia (she’s from the Virgin Islands).


While Doc drilled my mom’s teeth, I met Doc #2 in the hallway, a new colleague in the office. He moved here from Taiwan when he was only a year old, but spoke  Mandarin (a new practice partner!) because his parents sent him to Chinese school in Norcross, GA. We chatted and discovered that we both had family restaurant backgrounds. His parents owned one of my favorite restaurants on Buford Hwy and one of the few that served Taiwanese specialties!  We exchanged cards and he said he would connect me to his parents.


Finally, my mom stumbles out, slurring in Chenglish. Doc reminded me about playing tennis and getting a house tour at our next party.  We all do hugs and say goodbye!  I didn’t get any reading done but got 5  business cards!


Moral of the story: Bring your business cards and flyers everywhere you go because you never know WHO you’ll meet when!