By Assunta Ng
Diane Narasaki and UW president Michael Young (Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW)
Oct. 26 was my lucky day. No, I didn’t win a lottery. Nor did I get a big business deal. You think I got a “scoop” for a story? Wrong.
Within 12 hours, I witnessed two exemplary leaders being recognized. Diane Narasaki received the Dr. Samuel E. Kelly Award from the University of Washington’s Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP) (see Names in the News on Page 2), and later, Dr. Sandra Madrid received the 2013 Latino Heritage Award at the Seattle Center. I happened to nominate both of them. I was so thrilled that I bought a Husky hat at the University Bookstore after the MAP event, and a hula hoop across the street so I could dance up and down all day.
Politics is good business
Over 500 people showed up at the MAP “Bridging the Gap” breakfast. Among those in the crowd, close to 20 were present and past elected officials. Both former and current officials are paid guests. They paid — or someone else paid — for their seat. But no officials spoke.
Even the masters of ceremonies were politicians: Former State Representative Dawn Mason and Congressman Jim McDermott. On stage, they looked like an odd couple. The pair collaborated superbly as co-emcees.
Both Seattle mayoral candidates, Mayor Mike McGinn and Sen. Ed. Murray, attended the event. However, they didn’t sit at the same table. The organizers deliberately placed them at two separate front tables with another table between them. What a historic moment for MAP with two mayoral rivals for its 19th annual gathering! My table was between their two tables, so I had an opportunity to observe both candidates. Did they look like they enjoyed themselves? Take a guess. (end)
Leave a Reply