Honoring Mike Honda
Presenting the 2017 recipients of our annual American Courage Awards
Former Congressman Michael M. Honda has been a longtime ally of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC and beloved within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. He has been an invaluable partner to civil rights and AAPI orgs alike — dedicating his life to public service as an educator, a California assemblyman, and member of Congress. After having served as Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) for an unprecedented seven years, Honda is now Chair Emeritus of CAPAC.
For more than four decades, Congressman Honda has been a stalwart champion of civil rights for both the AAPI and LGBTQ communities. He has won some hard-fought battles on Capitol Hill for issues such as education, income inequality, transportation, access to technology, and the environment.
Throughout his career, he has encouraged Asian Americans and all new Americans to participate actively in the democratic process, including registering to vote so the growing AAPI population can be represented at the ballot box. Congressman Honda has given numerous media interviews, including exclusive outreach to ethnic and specialty media, but it is his work behind the scenes in encouraging ethnic media diversity that we applaud among his many accomplishments.
Congressman Honda is a mentor to many within the AAPI community and a steadfast presence who has fought for our rights every day of his career. His fight is just as strong today as it was more than four decades ago when he interrupted his college studies to serve in the Peace Corps. Those who have moved through Congressman Honda’s staff are among the most dedicated civil rights advocates in the AAPI community — a legacy of which he can be proud.
Advancing Justice | AAJC thanks you for the decades of service to Asian Americans and fighting for the civil rights of us all. You have been an ever-vigilant and vocal champion for the AAPI community. You are deserving of this President’s Award and so much more.
Join us on October 5, 2017 to recognize former Congressman Mike Honda and our other honorees as we reflect on the accomplishments of this year and get ready for the work ahead.
