AT&T is among the world’s premier voice, video and data communications companies, serving consumers, businesses and government. Backed by the research and development capabilities network and is the largest cable operator in the U.S. The company is a leading supplier of data and Internet services for businesses and offers outsourcing, consulting and networking-integration to large businesses. AT&T has been a supporter of the Filipino American Library since 1999. Through its generous funding, the Library was able to upgrade its computer capability, engage an information technology consultant, establish a website, outreach to the Filipino American community, the second largest Asian population group in the United States, as well as link up the Philippines and the rest of the world. TOP
Helen Brown was active in the civil rights movement of the sixties, she championed the rights of the disadvantaged and oppressed and was a strong advocate of affirmative action for Asian Americans, particularly those of Filipino ancestry. A teacher at the Los Angeles Unified School District until her retirement in 1985, she lobbied the school district to recognize the special needs of Filipino school children advocating for the hiring and promotion of Filipino schoolteachers. TOP
Producer Dean Devlin’s films have entertained audiences and broken box-office records around the world. Dean has been a strong supporter both personally and financially of Filipino American Library projects and causes. He gave strong encouragement to the filmmakers of the first Filipino American film, THE DEBUT. Dean has not only been a staunch supporter of the Filipino American Library, but also of The Assembly for justice, the non-profit group dedicated to helping Filipino veterans of WWII to receive the benefits and formal recognition they so richly deserve. TOP
Stewart Kwoh is president and executive director of the Asian Pacific American Legal Canter of southern California (APALC), the largest Asian American legal services and civil rights organization in the U.S. After the civil unrest in Los Angeles in 1992, Stewart Kwoh helped initiate the Multicultural Collaborative, a committee of 11 minority organizations dedicated to develop a comprehensive plan for human relations improvement in Los Angeles. Under his leadership, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center has partnered with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Central American Research center to develop the Leadership Development in Interethnic Relations (LDIR) program that has trained hundreds of participants in skills to improve human relations. TOP
Lydia Solis began her journalism career in 1988 writing press releases for organizations she belonged to, segueing to feature stories about her hometown of Taal (Batangas), a Philippine historic landmark. She then contributed news stories about the city of Los Angeles where she has worked for more than 30 years. In 1993, she was invited to join the Philippine News network of correspondents. She joined the Filipino American Press Club of Los Angeles that same year. She has served the club in various capacities. As an active member of the Philippine American Women Writers and Artists, she was PAWWAÍs UCLA extension Scholar. Solis was recognized as PhilNews "Contributor of the year in" 1994. In 2000, she was PhilNews "Correspondent of the Year."TOP
Antonio R. Villaraigosa, former speaker of the California Assembly, was born and raised in Los Angeles. Following work in the labor movement and more than 30 years of political, civic and community activism, he was elected to the 45th Assembly District in 1994 and quickly rose to the position of leadership in 1998. He was the first speaker from Los Angeles in 25 years. During his leadership tenure in the legislature, he shepherded passage of the most significant investment in school constriction and modernization in the nationÍs history, the largest urban parks initiative in America, the toughest assault weapons ban in the country and the biggest expansion of health care for children in this state since the inception of Medi-Cal. Villaraigrosa authored legislation on Healthy Families, which benefited underprivileged elderly Filipino veterans. A sympathizer of the cause of Filipino veterans before it was popular to do so, he garnered the support of other California legislators on this issue. TOP
