PAST EVENTS & PROGRAMS

Come celebrate Asian/Pacific Islanders Heritage Month with MTA Executives and TransportAsian Employee Resource Group. Event will include pre-recorded cultural performances.

Special Guests: Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO and Paige Graves, MTA General Counsel
Event Organizers: Cindy Lam and Qiumei Zhang, Jesse Sze, and Lillian Li
Special Thanks to performers Yingna Lu (instrument) and Lawrence Lin (Poetry)

May 3, 2022

Via Zoom.

EWT & TransportAsian sends a special shout-out to all Women in honor of WOMEN HISTORY MONTH!!! What is EWT? Watch introductory video HERE:

TransportAsian members includes: Denise Cosme, Sapna Shah, and Jesse Sze! Other members of EWT are: Cherise Myers, Kim Moore-Ward, Evette C, Ennis, Cinnamon Paltoo, and Toni Watt

Empowering Women in Transportation (EWT) celebrates Women's History Month with a series of online events in March 2022.

Organized by Cherise Myers.

Watch March 8th - International Woman's Day with Michael Garner and Cherise Myers, Sapna Shah, Divya Sibi, Marge Ginsburg, Katherina Mangal Ramsaroop.

HAPPY LUNAR/CHINESE NEW YEAR 2022!!!

Join TRANSPORTASIAN to celebrate LUNAR/CHINESE NEW YEAR with a Roar! Happy Spring Festival! 🧨🧧🧨🧧🧨🧧

February 1st begins the celebrations Lunar or Chinese New Year—the Year of the Tiger and continues over a few weeks. The holiday is celebrated by some 2 billion people worldwide. That includes over 890,000 ethnic Chinese here in the New York City area, the largest local population outside of Asia. This holiday is also celebrated by Koreans, Thai, Vietnamese, and many others. Wishing you all a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year - filled with strength, peace, new joys and new beginnings! 🙏🙏🙏

Video is coordinated and created by Jesse Sze

Year of the Tiger

Visit and subscribe to our YouTube Channel for new updates.

Watch our Lunar New Year’s greetings from our friends and colleagues. It's an amazing exchange of great luck and well wishings that is something you don't want to miss! Watch Here

2021

DYNAMIC DIALOGUES:

API Heritage Celebrations: Conversations with MTA NYCT Executives

Let's celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage virtually with TransportAsian and NYCT Executives in an open and safe space about a range of topics! Learn about what API means to them, current events and more! There will also be a Q&A opportunity to hear from you.

Hosted & Video by Jesse Sze

MAY 27, 2021

Watch:

Introduction video

Full Event Video

SARAH E. FEINBERG
Interim President, NYCT

CRAIG CIPRIANO
President, MTA Bus, Sr. VP, NYCT Dept of Buses

JAIBALA PATELDeputy Chief Financial Officer

In Celebrations of ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH

CELEBRATING ASIANS IN MOTION with MNR & LIRR

Please join Presidents Catherine Rinaldi and Phillip Eng in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islanders and their contributions to the Transportation Industry.

May 19, 2021

by Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Railroad with TransportAsian

Special Thanks to Mayra Bell and Nancy Cotto in MNR EEO for putting this together!

Watch the PROGRAM or

TransportAsian short Intro video

RALLY AGAINST HATE! Asian American and Pacific Islander & Friends

STOP ASIAN HATE MARCH FOR FREEDOM AND JUSTICE by American Leaders, 4/10/21, NYC City Hall march to Times Sq
EMERGENCY RALLY TO STOP ASIAN HATE 4/3/2021 & 4/4/2021. Rally Opens, Kickoff, People's March | Livestream: http://cvd.cm/live
NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION: Call it What it is, a Hate Crime! Stop Anti-Asian Violence! 3/27/201, Flushing,NY
AAPI RALLY AGAINST HATE 3/21/2021 |Columbus Park, NY | AnswerCoalition.org

Asians are no strangers to racism and violence but it is often not reported or is not listed as a hate crime. Since the pandemic in late 2019, there has been an increasing amount of racism, hate and violence to the Asian/Pacific Islander communities across the United States including many disturbing violence and senseless deaths to women, men, and elderly!

_______________________________________________

Thank You to everyone who was able to make the rally and support the cause! It included the "Black & Asian Solidarity" 5K run to "re-establish the importance of our cross-cultural allegiance." It was packed with amazing speakers with many voices speaking up and being heard!

In solidarity WE stand!!

_______________________________________________

In addition to NYC, there were several simultaneous demonstrations across many major cities including are Pittsburg, San Francisco, Chicago, and more. It was also broadcasted in many news channels and articles. See NYCT Veteran's Employee Group Newsletter (other press below)

NY Daily News, SiLive.com, AM NY, People.com, New York Times, NYMag Intelligencer, NY Post, Washington, Post.com, Newsday.com, ABC News

Safety Tips if you plan to attend a rally.

RALLY PHOTOS

To see more images, mouse on picture and click right or left arrow

3/21/2021 TransportAsian, NYCT EEO, Veterans TEG, MTA family and friends attended! (In group pic) Joann R, Irene C, Aye M, Monty B, Sunil J, Bonnie H, Jesse S and friends! (also in attendance: Joel A, Gloria & Riaz B, Cynthia C, Howard L, Jonathan I) 4/3/2021 Esther O, Nina W, Jonathan I, Jesse S. and friends 4/4/2021 Qiumei Z 4/10/2021 Qiumei Z, Jesse S, Amanda and friends

On Monday 4/29/2021 at 11:40am in midtown Manhattan, a man kicked a 65-year-old woman to the ground in broad daylight, stomped on her several times and made anti-Asian remarks in what the police are calling another targeted hate crime. This attack is just the latest in a year long surge of anti-Asian violence, with hate crimes against Asians rising 800% over the past year in NYC — as a whole, NYC hate crimes dropped by 40% in comparison. We are hosting this rally to call the nation to action and speak out against this senseless violence. We ask everyone to call these acts for what they are — hate crimes #callitahatecrime. Our call to action is for everyone to reach out to their District Attorneys, elected officials, and media to pressure everyone to recognize that their is an epidemic of hate crimes against the Asian American community. We will be providing a platform for diverse grassroots voices to be heard complemented with live music & performances to rally our community.

Mission: Protect and Unite our communities. ‘We won't be distracted by comparison if we are captivated by purpose.’

Other rally photos, 4/1/2021,

3/21/2021 rally, watch long video or longer version here
4/2/2021: Watch Rally or the March in NYC Chinatown
4/10/2021: Watch Rally in Columbus Park. Watch march to Washington Sq
April news Pix 11, CBS News,

Speaking up against Racism and Hate is something we need to continue to have a discourse on - It is everyone's responsibilities because we are all in it together! -J Sze

LUNAR NEW YEAR | SPRING FESTIVAL CELEBRATIONS

Did you know it is the year of the OX and it lasts to February 2022?

February - March 2021

LUNAR NEW YEAR GREETINGS (video 3 min)

TransportAsian and our MTA family presents our first Lunar New Year Greetings and mini-program! If you want to welcome in an amazing list of happy and wonderful wishes for the whole year, then you should definitely check it out! It includes employees from HQ, NYCT/MaB, LIRR, MNR and C&D agencies.

YEAR OF THE OX CELEBRATIONS

(mini-program 22.5 min)
And because we received a number of interests, we also have our first mini-program where you will learn more about Lunar New Year OR Spring Festival as well as get a flavor of Asian culture and traditions. You will also be supporting our fellow MTA family and friends who shared their culture, greetings, and creativity!!! It includes some important messages, music/dance festivities, greetings, performance & art, and educational segment.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year of the Ox!

Coordinated and edited by Jesse Sze

Watch VIDEO OR Click below

Watch here for Greetings VIDEO only

2020

Lunch & Learn (Zen-Style)

AMERICANS' CHANGING CULTURE OF FACE MASKS AND THE MEANING OF WELLNESS

In this informal webinar, we will explore the different cultural meanings and messages of face masks from an East vs West perspectives and will touch on the symbolic representation and uses of protective face masks and some of the changes since COVID-19. We will go over a few techniques to manage stress and mental health. In the last segment, we will include a brief meditation session.

June 11, 2020 - 12noon

Opening Remarks:
Anita L. Miller, Chief Employee Relations and Administrative Officer, MTA

Guest speaker:
Qalvy Grainzvolt, M.S., MHC-LP, Reverend, Psychotherapist, NYPD Clergy Liaison, Chaplain- MTA, Port Chester Police, & White Plains Police, Meditation Instructor at New York University, Westchester County Police Academy, and NYPD and a U.S. Army National Guard veteran.

Closing Remarks:
Sally Librera, Senior Vice President, Department of Subways, NYCT

Hosted by Jesse Sze

Watch VIDEO.

(Free webinar and Open to everyone: Registration required for those wishing to participate in Q&A through the Webex platform.)

If you attended one of our events, please consider sharing your pictures or videos with us for posting.

Click on the paperclip image. You may be prompted to login to your work outlook email address.

Dynamic Dialogues:

NYC’S ASIAN COMMUNITIES DURING COVID-19

Please join us to discuss current situations for Asian communities during COVID-19, statistics from the OPHC, and learn about ways to respond to challenges, on ways to protect ourselves and to help communities during these difficult times. Information and resources will also be provided.

Watch VIDEO | RESOURCE INFORMATION

Free webinar: Registration required for those wishing to participate in Q&A.

Opening remarks:
Sally Librera, Senior Vice President of Subways, New York City Transit.

Guest speakers:
John C. Liu, New York State Senator, Chairman of New York City Education Committee, and serves on the committees of Finance, Transportation, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and Rules.

Hassan S. Naveed, Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes in the NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice.

Moderated by Cindy Lam and Jesse Sze.

May 28, 2020 - 1pm

World Diversity Day: CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND RESILIENCE

Asian American & Pacific Islanders Heritage Month: Co-hosted with EEO&D, All-TEG groups

Watch AAPI Video. If you would like to watch our segment, it is towards the end or click HERE. Watch full 2hrs Webinar May 21, 2020

Brown Bag Ted Talk

Short video on ‘The power of diversity within Yourself’ with Rebeca Hwang who has spent a lifetime juggling identities - Korean heritage, Argentinian upbringing, education in the United States - and for a long time she had difficulty finding a place in the world to call home. Yet along with these challenges came a pivotal realization: that a diverse background is a distinct advantage in today's globalized world. In this personal talk, Hwang reveals the endless benefits of embracing our complex identities - and shares her hopes for creating a world where identities aren't used to alienate but to bring people together instead.

There was a round table conversation afterwards watching video (watch TED talk here) January 28, 2020

2019

Dynamic Dialogues: BREAKING BARRIERS

In 2019, TransportAsian did a kick-off event on the subject of "Breaking Barriers" with tough questions and debate. If you would like to watch the discussion, click HERE or scroll down. Hosted by Cindy Lam

PAST ANNOUNCEMENTS

(ARCHIVE)

October 6, 2021

ACEC Excelsior Award to President Phillip Eng

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC—NY) presented its 2021 Excelsior Award to LIRR President Phil Eng, citing his leadership and maintaining the system's continued safety at LIRR the largest commuter rail system in the US, during the pandemic. “It’s my honor every day to work alongside nearly 7,000 LIRR employees who truly were the backbone of New York’s survival during the height of the pandemic, and now are the backbone during its revival,” said Eng. “I’ve been lucky enough to have my entire nearly 40-year career in public service, helping to improve transportation throughout New York. I am humbled by ACEC New York’s recognition and thankful for their leadership in the engineering industry. I’m excited to continue our mission to provide the safest, most reliable service possible to all our customers.”

MTA announces first Asian and first Woman to lead subway car maintenance (Siu Ling Ko)

Please join us to congratulate Siu Ko as the Vice President & Chief Mechanical Officer, Car Equipment - Subways, New York City Transit. 👏👏👏 “Siu has been with Car Equipment for 34 years and is the first woman to hold the position of VP & Chief Mechanical Officer. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in engineering, maintenance, and procurement to the role. More importantly, her leadership and approach to decision-making are essential for the work we have ahead of us in bringing our workforce to the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic, hiring and training for critical positions, and ushering in a new and upgraded fleet of subway cars for a more reliable, data-driven, and modem system.” Special thanks to Joel Andrews, Chief Officer, EVP of EEO, NYCT for sharing.

ABC7 NY news, AM New York news, MSN news, Epoch Times, World Journal (in Chinese) Railway September 2021

In 2016, Siu was also in the video for Women’s History Month at New York City Transit

September 2021

IMAGES

Some photos of the different events

EAT AND GREET

Meet in the Park with Andy! (2019)

DINNER AFTER WORK

Nyonya in Chinatown (2019)

VIDEOS

2022 Lunar New Year Greetings | Premiere February 8, 2022

2021 API Month with NYCT, MTA Bus, MTA with
Introduction to TRANSPORTASIAN (2021) |premiere May 27, 2021

2021 API Month with LIRR & MNR with TRANSPORTASIAN | premiere May 19, 2021

Lunch & Learn (Zen-Style) | June 11, 2020

2021 Lunar New Year Greetings |
premiere Mar 3, 2021

2021 Year of the OX Celebrations - mini program
| premiere March 3, 2021

NYC's Asian Communities During COVID-19 | May 28, 2020

Breaking Barriers Panel | May 22, 2019

Introducing TransportAsian (2019)

One of several video series celebrating the rich fabric of diversity and inclusion that encompasses the MTA. Today we meet TransportAsian, one of the many newly founded Transit Employee Groups since 2019.