48th Ward First Annual Lunar New Year Luncheon
For Immediate Release:
February 22, 2024
CHICAGO - 48th Ward Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth and State Representative Hoan Huynh (IL-13) will host the 48th Ward’s First Annual Lunar New Year Luncheon at Hon Kee BBQ & Seafood Restaurant (5009 N. Winthrop Ave., Chicago, IL 60640) on Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 12-3 p.m. Special guests include Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza, Illinois Senator Ram Villivalam (IL-8), State Representative Kevin Olickal (IL-16), 40th Ward Alderperson Andre Vasquez, and 46th Ward Committeeperson Sean Tenner.
Elected officials and special guests will give Lunar New Year remarks at Saturday’s event. Live dance performances from the Chinese Mutual Aid Association’s youth program will also take place. Attendees include various Asian Uptown organizations and members, as well as asylum seeker families from Edgewater’s Broadway Armory. This event is the first of its kind for Chicago, and will bring together Asian American communities and recent asylum seekers for the first time to wish all a happy Lunar New Year and celebrate the holiday.
In the 2024 Illinois legislative session, State Representative Hoan Huynh introduced House Resolution 590, which recognizes the cultural and historical significance of the Lunar New Year holiday. Representative Huynh also filed House Bill 5576 this month, which aims to make Lunar New Year an observed state holiday.
Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth and State Representative Hoan Huynh are the first Asian American representatives in Chicago’s North Side history. Both elected officials represent the most diverse neighborhoods and communities in the city, including Uptown’s Asia on Argyle street. We invite media representatives and press to join us for what promises to be an impactful event.
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Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth represents Chicago’s 48th Ward, which includes parts of Andersonville, Edgewater, and Uptown — since May 2023. She is the first queer Asian American woman to sit on the Chicago City Council as well as the first Filipina to serve in it since its creation.
State Representative Hoan Huynh represents the people of Illinois' 13th State House District, covering North Side Chicago and the lakefronts (includes Uptown, Andersonville, Buena Park, Sheridan Park, Ravenswood, Wrigleyville, Lake View, Southport, Lincoln Square, Bowmanville, Winnemac, Arcadia Terrace, Budlong Woods, and West Ridge). Representative Huynh is the first Vietnamese American elected in Illinois' state history of 204 years and the first refugee elected in Illinois.
Contact:
Abbie Huynh, District Director
Office of IL State Rep Hoan Huynh
hoan@rephoanhuynh.com
(773) 914-3341
