ICAS Bulletin
Institute for Corean-American Studies, Inc.
The Hon Elaine L Chao
Secretary
U S Department
of Labor
Guest of Honour
ICAS Annual Liberty Award Luncheon
March
19, 2004 Friday 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Park Hyatt Philadelphia
Broad and Walnut Streets
Philadelphia,
PA 19102
Dear Friend:
We are pleased to share with you that The Hon Elaine L Chao has been
nominated for the ICAS Annual Liberty Award 2003 for her "distinguished achievements
advancing the great American values; life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, and
her outstanding courage and leadership in the government during a time of crisis"
and that Secretary Chao will be honoured at the ICAS Annual Liberty Award Luncheon.
Elaine L Chao is the nation's 24th Secretary of Labor, representing a new generation
of American leadership. Since her confirmation by the United States Senate on January
29, 2001, she has been dedicated to carrying out the Department of Labor's mission
of inspiring and protecting the hardworking people of America. She is respected
as an effective and articulate champion of the nation's contemporary workforce,
acting quickly to focus the Labor Department on the modern realities of workers'
lives.
When President George W Bush nominated Elaine L Chao, the first Asian-American
woman appointed to a President's cabinet in the U S history, he described her as
an individual with "strong executive talent, compassion, and commitment to helping
people build better lives."
Secretary Chao's compassionate nature stems from her
own background as an immigrant to this country at the age of eight. Her family's
experience transitioning to a new country, supported by one another and the kindness
of friends and neighbors, taught her that encouragement is the key to fostering
independence, and that Americans are naturally compassionate people. This inspired
her to dedicate most of her professional life to ensuring that people have the opportunity
to pursue lives of dignity and financial independence.
As Director of the Peace
Corps, she was one of the first Americans to personally embrace the people of the
former communist bloc into the family of democratic nations, establishing Peace
Corps programs in the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and the newly
independent states of the former Soviet Union. Later, as President and Chief Executive
Officer of United Way of America, she restored public trust and confidence after
the organization was tarnished by mismanagement and financial abuse, thus preserving
the nation's largest institution of private charitable giving.
The experience she
gained at the United Way helping communities address their local needs prepared
her to mobilize the Department of Labor to promote pathways to economic freedom
for individuals and families working to achieve the American Dream. She describes
her vision for America's workforce as "one in which everyone can participate… where
jobs and opportunities are available for those leaving welfare, job training is
accessible for those left behind, disability never bars a qualified person from
the workplace, and where parents have an easier time balancing the responsibilities
of work and home."
Secretary Chao's previous government career includes serving
as the Deputy Secretary at the U S Department of Transportation, Chairman of the
Federal Maritime Commission, and Deputy Maritime Administrator in the U S Department
of Transportation. She brings a wealth of business experience to the post, having
worked as Vice President of Syndications at BankAmerica Capital Markets Group and
a banker with Citicorp. Prior to her nomination as Secretary, she expanded her
study of policy as a Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based
public policy research and educational institute. She was selected as a White House
Fellow in 1983.
Secretary Chao received her MBA from the Harvard Business School
and her undergraduate degree in economics from Mount Holyoke College. She also
studied at M I T, Dartmouth College, and Columbia University. Active in many volunteer
activities, Secretary Chao has received numerous awards for her professional accomplishments
and community service. She is the recipient of 21 honorary doctoral degrees from
colleges and universities around the world.
Secretary Chao is married to the Assistant
Majority Leader of the United States Senate, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Previous honourees (www.icasinc.org/liberty.html) include The Hon Viet D Dinh
(U S Assistant Attorney General), The Hon Becky N Dunlop (Vice President Heritage
Foundation), The Hon Tony P Hall (U S House of Representatives), The Hon Charles
Kartman (U S Ambassador), Dr Jeong H Kim (President Lucent Technology), Nobel Laureate
Lawrence R Klein, The Hon Harold Hongju Koh (U S Assistant Secretary of State),
The Hon Jerome J Shestack (Wolf Block; former President American Bar Association),
The Hon Richar L Walker (U S Ambassador; deceased), The Hon Alfred P West (Chairman
SEI Investments) and The Hon John C Yoo (U S Deputy Assistant Attorney General).
Sincerely,
Sang Joo Kim / signed
Sr. Fellow & Executive Vice President
ICAS
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