While you can’t always see the speakers in this video, you can hear them. Please give their words your careful attention:

This video was taken at the Nassau Community College Board of Trustees meeting on May 7th, 2013. A portion of the video has been redacted upon the advice of NYSUT legal.

When Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers (NCCFT) member Yih-Jin (Jim) Young helped found the Suffolk County Executive’s Asian American Advisory Board (AAAB) in 2005, his goal was to connect his academic work as a professor in Nassau Community College’s Sociology Department to the community in a meaningful way. Since then, his work as the AAAB’s chair, from 2008-2009, and as either chair or co-chair of the AAAB’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration, has earned him proclamations, citations and other forms of official recognition from the executive officers of both Suffolk and Nassau Counties, the governor of New York State, and the New York State comptroller. Professor Young earned this recognition through the community work the AAAB has done, bringing issues important to Asian-Americans to the attention of the county executive, encouraging civic involvement by members of the Asian-American community, and addressing community concerns, including education, health, legislation, and small business development.

Professor Young has been a member of the Nassau Community College sociology faculty since 1999. His teaching and research interests focus on demography, race/ethnic relations and social stratification. “My research has shown that Asian-Americans have the highest levels of educational attainment among all ethnic and racial groups,” Professor Young explained. “Nevertheless, their overall level of personal income is still lower than that of non-Hispanic whites. Prejudice and discrimination offer one possible explanation for this disparity.” When Professor Young, as chair of the AAAB, organized the first Asian Pacific Heritage Month (APAHM) celebration in 2009, one of his goals was to fight that bigotry. “We all need to learn to be more tolerant of other cultures,” Professor Young said. “The APAHM provides a venue for that kind of learning.” The gathering also strengthens the communities themselves, Professor Young went on to explain, by helping Asian-American children to feel proud of their heritage. May was officially designated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by an act of Congress, signed by President George H. W. Bush, in 1992. The celebration dates back to 1978, when President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution declaring the first week of May to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. This year’s proclamation was signed by President Obama on April 30^th.

Now in its fifth year, the 2013 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebration will be held on Saturday, May 11, from 12:00 – 6:00 at the Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook. Attending will be the Hon. Daphne Kwok, Chair of President Obama’s Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Advisory Commission, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, other representatives from Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the New York State Assembly, ambassadors and consul generals from several Asian countries represented in the festival, and local community leaders. Admission is free and open to the public.

In consultation with our Political Action Committee, co-chaired by Stephanie Sapiie and Dawn Smith, the NCCFT Executive Committee has decided to endorse Tom Suozzi for Nassau County Executive and Wayne Wink for County Comptroller. The endorsements received a brief write-up in Newsday. The full text of the press releases are in the two posts below.

Press Advisory

NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE TEACHERS ENDORSE SUOZZI

NCCFT first academic union to endorse in race for County Executive

April 30, Garden City: The Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers Local 3150, noting that his vision for improving the County’s economy will strengthen Nassau’s already-stellar school system, officially endorsed Tom Suozzi for County Executive. The NCCFT is the first union of educators to endorse a candidate in the 2013 Nassau County Executive race.

“We are pleased to announce that the NCCFT is endorsing Tom Suozzi for the Democratic nomination for County Executive,” said President Debra DeSanto. “He understands that a vibrant and healthy public educational system, which includes Nassau Community College, the leading community college in the state, is key to this County’s economic revitalization. We are confident that Tom Suozzi can, and will, lead this County to a brighter financial future while also placing a value on public sector employees.”

DeSanto also mentioned that Suozzi was a dedicated advocate for Nassau’s youth as County Executive.  Suozzi pioneered “Healthy Youth,” a program that informed young people across the county about healthy foods, the importance of staying active, and the benefits of making healthy life choices. He also started the Nassau County Summer Youth Employment Corps, which coordinated all available youth employment services in the county so that our young people had access to employment and paid internships.

“I am proud to receive the endorsement of the Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers,” said Suozzi. “We need a vision to keep Nassau’s young people here once they have finished their education. By creating affordable centers of 21^st century culture and technology and prioritizing job training, we can assure that the next generation stays here to raise their families, strengthening our tax base. I look forward to working with the full-time faculty of Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers to realize our shared vision together.”

The NCCFT represents the full time faculty at Nassau Community College and is a local of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), which is part of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the fastest growing union in the United States.

For more information contact Richard Newman, the NCCFT Communications Coordinator, at rjnewman@nccft.org.

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Press Advisory

NASSAU COMMUNITY COLLEGE TEACHERS ENDORSE WAYNE WINK FOR COUNTY COMPTROLLER

NCCFT first academic union to endorse in race

Garden City: Garden City NY: The Nassau Community College Federation of Teachers (NCCFT) endorsed Legislator Wayne Wink for the office of Nassau County Comptroller.

“Wayne Wink understands that without a fair and reasonable approach to school funding, public education cannot function. That’s the kind of Comptroller Nassau County needs, and that’s why the NCCFT is endorsing him,” said NCCFT President Debra DeSanto.

“I am thrilled to receive NCCFT’s endorsement,” said Wink. “To me, this serves as a validation of my stalwart commitment to quality public education and affordable higher education. I have been committed to these values for my entire career in public service, and I will continue to partner with the college as Nassau County Comptroller,” he concluded.

Wink, 46, holds a Bachelors Degree from Hofstra University and a Juris Doctorate from the St. John’s University School of Law. He has served as an elected official for over eleven years, the last six as a member of the Nassau County Legislature, where he has served as Deputy Minority Leader and Chairman of both the Finance and Government Services & Operations Committees. Prior to his election to the Legislature, he served as a member of the North Hempstead Town Council from 2002-2007.  Wink is also a former adjunct professor at Hofstra University.

The NCCFT represents the full time faculty at Nassau Community College and is a local of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), which is part of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the fastest growing union in the United States.

For more information, contact the NCCFT Communications Coordinator, Richard Newman, at rjnewman@nccft.org.

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