Background

I am a fifteen year resident and business owner in Washington, DC. During the last fifteen years, I lived within three blocs of this neighborhood. I lived in Chinatown above my business on Sixth Street, to the Lansburgh apartments on Seventh Street, to the Pennsylvania condominium on Pennsylvania Ave, to Gallery Place on Seventh Street.

During this time, I have always been active in civic activities. I have served as Commissioner of the District of Columbia on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs since 1999, and I was appointed Chair by Mayor Williams in 2001. I am president of my local chapter of Lions International Club, Chi-Am Lions. I am a member of the Chinatown Community Cultural Center. I attend Chinatown Steering Committee, Penn Quarter Neighborhood Association, and PS 1 meetings. I have received the Friendship Archway Award in 2003 and Asian Pacific Islander Community Award in 2005.

Being an owner of a local business, Burma Restaurant, in Chinatown, I am aware of the challenges businesses face daily in Washington. I have given free seminars in the community relating to business. Under the Commission I have been part of mediation between neighborhoods and businesses.

A graduate of Bucknell University, in Pennsylvania and United World College in Singapore, I have also lived in United Kingdom, Serbia (Formerly Yugoslavia), Burma, India, Singapore and France.