(Boston, MA 2/16/2016) – Former Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong (Wong Sou Fun), Quincy City Councilor Nina Liang and Newton City Councilor Amy Mah Sangiolo (Mah Hwei Mei) have all endorsed Diana Hwang for State Senate, citing her work as a mentor for young Asian women across Massachusetts.
“The significant needs of young Asian-American women were largely neglected until Diana Hwang’s ground-breaking organization, Asian American Women’s Political Initiative (AAWPI), began to reach out to them and awaken their interest in public service and political power,” said City Councilor Amy Mah Sangiolo. “I have witnessed first-hand the power of Diana’s leadership to make a difference in these girls’ future. As the longest serving Asian American in the state, I would be thrilled to see Diana elected to the State House.” Amy Mah Sangiolo has served Ward 4, City of Newton since 1997, and was the first Asian-American elected to the Newton City Council.
Founded in 2009, the Asian-American Women's Political Initiative (AAWPI) is the nation’s first and only leadership organization for Asian-American women. The organization grew out of Diana’s direct experience of being the only Asian in the State House – and the recognition that those numbers would not increase unless the role of politics – and the power of government were better understood by the next generation of young women leaders. Over the last 6 years, under Diana’s tutelage, more than three dozen young women completed a one-of-a-kind State House fellowship and mentoring program and most have gone on to work on campaigns, in legislative offices and actively participate in their communities.
Quincy City Councilor Nina Liang, the first Asian-American woman to serve on the Quincy City Council also cited Diana’s work for AAWPI in her endorsement.
“I had the privilege to attend one of AAWPI’s graduations and see the transformative difference that Diana Hwang had made in these young girls’ lives,” said Nina Liang. “I encounter, in my own community, Asian youth who serve as their families’ only link to the outside world and yet feel intimidated by the power of the State House and the larger political community to affect change. Diana and her organization made a difference to that with her leadership and passion, and she would bring the same commitment to changing the system from inside the building when she is elected to the State Senate.”
Lisa Wong, the former mayor of Fitchburg Massachusetts, was the first Asian-American Mayor in Massachusetts history. “Diana Hwang is a true trailblazer who has the proven ability to organize, lead and most importantly to listen to the needs of the community,” Mayor Wong shared. “Diana has spent her entire career fighting for women, immigrants and working families. As State Senator, she would fight fearlessly for the needs of the district as she has for the needs of the Asian girls she has mentored.”
Mayor Wong, Councilor Liang and Alderwoman Mah Sangiolo join a growing list of endorsements for Diana Hwang’s State Senate Campaign. In previous weeks Diana has been endorsed by Boston State Representative Dan Hunt and the only two minority women in the State Senate, Senators Sonia Chang-Diaz and Linda Dorcena Forry.
The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Diana Hwang previously served as a legislative aide in the State House and a Chief of Staff in the Boston City Council. Diana serves as Board member of the UMass Center for Women in Politics, served as co-chair of the Boston Women’s Fund and is a founding member of Mayor Walsh’s Women’s Commission. Diana currently lives in East Boston and previously lived in Revere.
Source:
Cayce McCabe
press@dianaforsenate.com
617-615-7011
