🔍 Spotlight 

The Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce recently honored a visionary leader in science and technology, Sethuraman Panchanathan, with its Lifetime Achievement Award. As the director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and a senior vice president at Arizona State University’s Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development, Panchanathan has been a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusivity in scientific innovation.

Born in Chennai, India, Panchanathan's career has been marked by his commitment to enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Since taking the helm at NSF in 2020, he has emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives in driving progress. "Teamwork and diversity – diversity in every form, diversity of thought, experiences, backgrounds, and ethnicities – are critical to driving scalable impacts and progress," Panchanathan remarked during the gala.

A message from JPMorgan Chase 🗞

JPMorgan Chase is helping to create a more equitable and inclusive future for Asian and Pacific Islander employees, customers, partners and communities around the world.

📰 Sports

Shohei Ohtani donates 60,000 gloves: In an inspiring move that's sure to hit a home run with young baseball enthusiasts across Japan, MLB star Shohei Ohtani has announced a generous donation that will see every elementary school in the nation equipped with youth baseball gloves. This grand gesture, involving the distribution of approximately 60,000 gloves, aims to encourage the younger generation to embrace the sport with the same passion and dedication that Ohtani himself has shown.

• "I’m hoping the kids can spend their days happily with a lot of energy through baseball," Ohtani shared in a heartfelt Instagram post. 

• With hopes high, Ohtani looks forward to possibly playing alongside kids who start their baseball journey with his donated gloves.

• While Ohtani's next professional move is undetermined, teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and New York Mets show interest in the free agent.

🌃 New Night Market

SF Chinatown’s night market: San Francisco's Chinatown transformed into a vibrant night market on Friday, setting the stage for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The event not only served as an unofficial welcome to world leaders but also celebrated the city's rich Asian culture.

• Lion dancers and drum corps captivated thousands along Grant Avenue, highlighting traditional performances amidst a bustling crowd.

• Food vendors, despite not cooking on-site, offered a feast of Asian flavors, from Vietnamese egg rolls to Chinese tea eggs, with a ticket system streamlining purchases.

• The night market buzzed with activity, boosting local businesses and setting a festive tone for the 30,000 visitors expected for APEC.

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