Over the past 30 years, the Northwest Asian Weekly has grown from two English-language articles in the Seattle Chinese Post to a four-page black-and-white insert and finally to a stand-alone, award-winning newspaper. We are honored to have been a part of Asian and Pacific American history and to have provided a voice for communities of color. In this issue, we present a timeline of our growth, comments from our friends and partners, and look to the future.
December 1981
- The Seattle Chinese Post (SCP) receives its name from the International District community by an “open-naming” contest.
January 1982
- Initial edition of the SCP is published on Jan. 20, headquartered in the Bush Hotel, current home of the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area.
September 1982
- SCP English coverage expands from two English articles to a full four-page insert.
February 1983
- Northwest Asian Weekly (NWAW) edition launches on Feb. 5.
1984
- The NWAW receives first local recognition award, the Mayor Charles Royer Small Business Award.
- Publisher Ng is recognized on Esquire magazine’s The Best of Men and Women under 40 list.
1985
- The NWAW hosts its first event, the Chinatown Economic Development Forum at the Ocean City Restaurant.
- The first Seattle Chinese Yellow Pages is published.
1986
- George Liu joins the SCP.
- Publisher Ng is included on the Pacific Northwest Magazine’s The Brightest under 40 list.
1987
- Publisher Ng becomes the first Chinese woman ever to join Rotary International.
- The SCP office moves from the Bush Hotel to 414 8th Ave. S., the former site of the Wing Luke Museum.
1989
- Publisher Ng named one of Seattle’s Influential People Under 40 by the Seattle Weekly.
- The NWAW hosts the first community dinner honoring mayor-elect Norm Rice at the Four Seas restaurant.
1990
- Publisher Ng receives the UW Alumni Association Multicultural Alumni Partnership award.
- The NWAW hosts a dinner honoring college President Peter Ku, UW Law Dean Wallace Loh, and Judge Kimi Kondo at the Ocean City Restaurant.
- The NWAW organizes the first political debate for Seattle City Council candidates Martha Choe, Betty Patu, Charles Doyle, and Maria Ambalando at the Four Seas restaurant.
- The NWAW starts the Top Contributors to the Asian Community event.
1991
- The NWAW receives the Japanese American Citizens League Community Service Award.
- The NWAW receives the Nordstrom Cultural Diversity Award.
- Publisher Ng receives a Women of Enterprise award from Avon and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
- Publisher Ng named one of Eastside Weekly’s Influential People Under 40.
1992
- The SCP fundraises over $40,000 for the Kin On Nursing Home at the SCP’s 10th Anniversary Dinner.
- Also at the 10th Anniversary Dinner, the English Edition of the Seattle Chinese Post is renamed the Northwest Asian Weekly.
- The NWAW hosts a dinner honoring Asian and non-Asian election winners at the Ocean City Restaurant.
- Publisher Ng receives the International Women’s Forum’s “Women Making a Difference in the Corporate World” award.
- Publisher Ng receives the Small Business Administration’s Western Washington Woman Business Advocate of the Year and Minority Business Advocate of the Year awards.
1993
- Publisher Ng receives the Small Business Administration’s Woman Business Advocate of the Year award in the region of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.
- The NWAW hosts a dinner honoring King County Executive Gary Locke.
1994
- The NWAW Foundation (NWAWF) is founded.
- The Diversity Makes a Difference scholarship gala is started.
- The NWAW organizes a farewell dinner for the UW School of Law Dean Wallace Loh.
1995
- The NWAWF raises $55,000 in seed money through selling tickets to the Miss Saigon Broadway show at the Paramount Theatre.
- The NWAWF starts the Summer Youth Leadership Program.
- Publisher Ng named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Washington State by the Seattle Times.
1996
- The NWAW hosts a dinner honoring Governor-elect Gary Locke.
- The NWAW starts the Women of Color Empowered luncheon.
- Receives community service award from the Asian community.
1997
- 15th anniversary of the NWAW.
- Publisher Ng receives the Big Sisters mentor award.
- The NWAWF starts the Asian American Pioneers Dinner.
1998
- The NWAW organizes a mayoral candidate forum between Paul Schell and Charlie Chong.
- The NWAW receives the Asian Management Business Association (Currently NAAAP) Collaboration Award.
1999
- Ground breaking for the current SCP-NWAW headquarters building.
- The NWAW receives a Department of Health and Human Services Health Coverage Award.
2000
- The NWAW receives the Anderson Almquist Distinguished Service to Journalism award from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).
- The NWAW eliminates its dark room and transitions to digital photography.
2001
- The NWAW organizes mayoral candidates forum between Greg Nickels and Mark Sidran.
- The NWAW hosts a dinner honoring Mayor-elect Greg Nickels.
- Publisher Ng receives the Citizen of the Year award from the Municipal League of King County.
- Publisher Ng receives the Asian Pacific American Women’s Leadership Institute’s National Summit Heroine Award.
2002
- The NWAW celebrates 20th anniversary at the Seattle Sheraton with over 900 guests.
- Grand opening of the new SCP-NWAW building.
2003
- John Liu joins the NWAW.
- The NWAW receives a Korean Community Service Award.
2004
- The NWAWF establishes the Gov. Gary Locke scholarship endowment at the UW School of Public Affairs, raising $150,000 and hosting an appreciation dinner for Gary Locke at the Meydenbauer Center.
- The NWAW receives a 2nd place award for Best News Photo from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA).
- The NWAW receives a UW Communications Department Hall of Fame award.
- The NWAW receives a University of Washington Multicultural Education Community Service Award.
- The NWAW receives a Diversity Employment Award.
2005
- Publisher Ng receives a Spirit of Liberty award from the Ethnic Heritage Council, a Distinguished Alumni of the Year award from the University of Washington Communications Department, a Brava! Award from the Women’s University Club, and a Puget Sound Business Journal Women of Influence award.
- The NWAW transitions to full-color printing.
- The NWAW receives two writing awards from the WNPA.
2006
- Publisher Ng’s story selected to be included in Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneurial Soul.
- Publisher Ng receives U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton and Maria Cantwell’s Women of Valor award and Seattle University Law School’s Women of the Year award.
- The NWAW wins 1st place for a Feature Photo from the SPJ and 2nd place in Feature Writing from the WNPA.
2007
- The NWAW receives a Community Service Award from the India Association of Washington.
- Publisher Ng receives a mentoring award from the Women of Color Empowered committee.
- The NWAW staff receives four SPJ awards.
- The NWAW is completely digitized.
2008
- Publisher Ng receives a Wells Fargo Women Small Business Trailblazer award.
- The NWAW hosts a dinner honoring Gary Locke’s appointment as Secretary of Commerce at the House of Hong restaurant.
- The NWAW receives a Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce Best Business Practice award.
- The NWAW staff receives a 1st place award for Best Arts Column, 2nd place award for Best News Writing, and 3rd place award for Best Feature Writing from the SPJ.
2009
- The NWAW receives a 2nd place award in Web Design and a 3rd place award in Writing and Advertising Design from the WNPA, and a 3rd place award in Opinion Writing from the SPJ.
2010
- The NWAW receives 13 awards in one year, including Women in Small Biz and Indian Community Bridge Builder Awards for Publisher Ng and 11 journalism awards from the SPJ and WNPA, setting a record for the company.
2011
- The NWAW receives ten awards from the SPJ and WNPA.
- Publisher Ng receives the UW’s Charles E. Odegaard Award.
2012
- The NWAW receives seven awards from the SPJ and WNPA.
- Publisher Ng receives the UW College of Arts and Sciences Timeless Award.
- The SCP celebrates its 30th anniversary in April at the House of Hong with over 430 guests.