Karin Wang Chosen as Assembly District's Woman of the Year

Assemblymember (D-Monterey Park), who represents the 49th assembly district that includes San Marino, honored Karin Wang as the 49th Assembly District’s Woman of the Year at the state capitol Monday.

“Karin has an outstanding record of fighting for the rights of disadvantaged communities, including immigrants, limited English speakers, low-income families, and gays and lesbians, which has distinguished her as a member of my community,” said Eng in a statement released Monday.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Legislative Women’s Caucus hosts a Woman of the Year Ceremony every year in Sacramento to honor women who have distinguished themselves through their community involvement.

Wang is the Vice-President of Programs & Communications at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), which is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization serving Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

“Much of APALC’s work is rooted in the communities of the San Gabriel Valley, from naturalization services for aspiring U.S. citizens to leadership training programs for immigrant youth and parents to advocacy for the language and civil rights of new immigrants,” Wang said, according to Monday’s statement. “It's a privilege as a civil rights lawyer to represent the west San Gabriel Valley.”

San Marino Patch when she, Eng and Congresswoman Judy Chu spoke of the need for the growing population of Asians and Pacific Islanders to acquire U.S. citizenship. As part of the push for citizenship, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center is organizing a March 26 workshop in Rosemead.

"There's a misperception that just because we're a large presence in the state that somehow elected officials and policy-makers will pay attention to us," said Wang. "Maybe Mike and Judy will because they're Asian American, but the reality is if we don't become citizens and we don't vote, it doesn't matter if we're a large percentage of the state. We're still not a political voice."

An active advocate for gay marriage since 2005, Wang is a founding and current Steering Committee member of API Equality-LA, leading the coalition’s media efforts against Prop 8. She helped to file several amicus briefs in the California Supreme Court in support of gay marriage, including one on behalf of 63 Asian American organizations.

Currently, Wang serves on the board of OneJustice, which seeks to provide legal help to underserved Californians. Wang is also co-chair of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association's ProBono & Community Service Committee.

In the past, Wang directed APALC’s immigrant rights project and helped file a milestone civil rights complaint against Los Angeles County on behalf of limited English speaking welfare recipients, leading to major reforms to the department’s services to immigrants and payment of $1.7 million in back benefits, according to Monday’s statement.

“We congratulate Karin on this well-deserved recognition,” said Stewart Kwoh, APALC executive director, according to Monday’s statement. “She has made an indelible mark on the AAPI community with her passionate and committed leadership in advancing justice. Our communities are better because of her leadership and passion.”

In the past, Wang managed the first Los Angeles field office of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, enforcing federal civil rights laws across the Southwest.

Wang also served as past President of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County, past board member for the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association, and the former chair of the State Bar's Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services.