Asian Avenue Magazine receives the2021 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BUSINESS AWARD

Asian Avenue Magazine is an English print publication in Colorado dedicated to sharing Asian American Pacific Is- lander (AAPI) experiences and cultures.

Founded in July 2006 by the moth- er-daughter team of Christina Yutai Guo and Annie Guo VanDan, the monthly magazine has published more than 200 issues over the past 15 years. Asian Avenue Magazine provides a platform for AAPI voices in Colorado. In 2009, Christina and Annie founded the Colorado Asian Culture and Edu- cation Network to promote leadership programs for young AAPI women and students. Most notably, they present the annual Asian American Hero of Colorado awards, recognizing AAPI leaders for their work in the community.

Significantly, Asian Avenue Magazine has explored where Asians fit into the Black Lives Matter Movement. This June 2020, the magazine published a Statement of Solidarity with the Black Lives Matter Movement.

Christina Yutai Guo Publisher of Asian Avenue Magazine

“Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals. " ——Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On January 15, the 36th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Awards ceremony celebrated community leaders and corpo- rations that proudly represent the spirit of Dr. King.

Asian Avenue Magazine was among the outstanding 2021 recipients which in- cluded Marsha Brown, Demesha Hill, Carla Ladd, Morris Price, Jr., The Other Side Acad- emy and Roz Duman.

During the Livestream awards ceremony, both the Governor of Colorado Jared Polis and Mayor of Denver Michael B. Hancock provided a welcome address, followed by “Reflections on the Past 36 Years” by former Mayor of Denver, Wellington E. Webb and Founder and Chair Emeritus, Dr. Martin Lu- ther King, Jr. Colorado Holiday Commission, Wilma J. Webb.

Governor Polis congratulated the award recipients by saying: “Dr. King’s commit- ment to justice, equality, nonviolence, and serving others allowed him to lead a movement for social, institutional, and le- gal changes. These individuals and organi- zations deserve our heartfelt gratitude for doing their part to emulate King’s ideals and make his dream a reality. Colorado is better because of you and in these most challenging times, your work is more important than ever.”

In his keynote address, John Hickenlooper, U.S. Senator from Colorado said: “I know that we can and we will achieve so- cial justice and tackle the civil rights issues of our time. To do it together, we must accept the baton from our freedom fighters who died too early, but were cat- alytic to monumental change... we must never lose sight of the dream.” The event was produced by Stephen Straight and moderated by journalist Ta- mara Banks. Asian Avenue Magazine was nominated for this award by the Asian Chamber of Commerce.