it'siber none. looks like one. well, i know. i put an "n" there. ah! fiber one honey clusters cereal! that's really good! it tastes good, so there can't be fiber in it! it's actually got about half a day's worth of fiber. [ asst mgr ] it says so right on the box. [ fiber seeker ] really? try it. [ mr. mehta ] honey, touch of brown sugar, crunchy clusters -- any cardboard? cardboard no, delicious yes. so where's the fiber? maybe it's in the honey clusters. [ male announcer ] fiber one. cardboard no, delicious yes. welcome to special edition of beyond the headlines, i'm kristen sze. each week we focus on a different topic affecting people that live and work in the bay area. today we celebrate asian and pacific islander heritage month.

we've invited three bay area leaders to talk about their personal experiences in the challenges for the asian-american community. how about a little perspective. asians are one of fastest growing minorities in california. according to the 2010 u.s. census, asians and pacific islanders make up 13.4%. asians have grown 31.5%. native hawaiians and pacific islanders are up 23.4%. a report by the group california watch finds that asians, native haynes and pacific islanders are largest populations in four counties. they are all here in the bay area. alameda at 27%. san francisco 33.7%. san mateo, 26.2% and santa clara 32.4%. >> the census shows the majority

population in 28 cities and cupertino and milpitas 63%. staggering numbers. and we want to introduce our guest. president and ceo of asian-americans for community involvement. community based organization focuses on asians in santa clara county and mike is the daly city city councilmember and former mayor and steve is a trial lawyer and member of the board of trustees at the san francisco community college district. you are involved in some civil rights organizations. let's take a closer look at the census figures we were talking about. california being 13.35% asian right now is it a steady growth? >> i think that air yanks from

throughout the world. you have them coming to the bay area because they lost diversity that we have here. the asian community has tremendous diversity. we have chinese, japanese and i think it's important for in the community to take a look at the status to understand the demographics of our growing community. >> if you are taking a closer look at the differences 13.5%, and mike inge has offered a bill to include more ethnic groups, expanding those groups from 11 to 21. asian category is really a disservice because it so many different groups within the community. >> i agree hundred percent. i remember a time when i was going through the census and

filling it out. it said other for silicon valley. i understand when it takes to break out those numbers. what it is involved with the san mateo county, i actually tried to help put the word out to help more services for us. it's very important that we got an accurate account for the people in san mateo county. >> in terms of getting services for the groups, do you think the breakdown, laotians and chinese is very important? >> extremely important. in santa clara county if you look at statistics for asians, on the whole, comparable with other demographic groups but when you take out the data. the vietnamese and cambodian communities are significantly higher. >> and education which is a big thing for you, steve. how important is it that we look at the differences within the

diverse group. when you say asian, it's stories of success in terms of higher education, but when you break it down further things start to change? >> i think it's important when we look at data to look at all the data. we're missing communities that are really in need. for example, for every successful start-up by color, there is -- every successful merit scholar there is a brother and sister trying to get back pab bie in the classroom. there is an importance in getting the data out. but also that we're all a community. that is very important. >> we are all familiar with minority look but not everyone is. it's the notion that asian-american immigrants don't face the same problems that other immigrant groups do.

>> absolutely. it's the concept that asians are type. they are doing well. they don't knee resources and they don't need public investments and that is not true. public health, for example and police services. knowing those differences between us in solving problems. >> and services area. >> i think asians by themselves are model minority but it makes it harder for us to help when it comes to issues such as mental illness or domestic violence. >> are you seeing those problems >> absolutely. i was talking about my involvement when we were trying to articulate to the federal government there was a need for a smoking cessation program for

filipinos in daly city, there were no numbers. so i think it's important now that we do this. >> numbers meaning no dollars. >> that is how it works. >> thank you so much. very interesting discussion. i'm gad we got it started. we'll take a short little break and be back with more of the round table discussion. [ female announcer ] most women in america aren't getting the calcium they need. but yoplait wants to change that. only yoplait original has twice the calcium of the leading yogurt. that's 50% of the daily value ♪ so pass on the news and we can help close this calcium gap together. to get you started, we're giving away a million free cups at yoplait dot com. the yoplait you love, now in a 4-pack.

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welcome back to this special edition, in celebration of asian and pacific islander heritage month. this is an unprecedented time. two of the three largest cities, san francisco and oakland are currently led by asian-american mayors. jean quan made history. first female and the first asian-american to hold that job. let's learn more about her in this report by alan wang. >> there was a grassroots feel at the open house inauguration where the public was invited into her office. >> the neighborhood and people should influence about the decisions that happen to city hall. >> mayor quan hung this out, translated, the work for and

employed by the people. >> mayor quan begin by paying her respects to ancestors in chinatown. walking past the building that her immigrant father was cook. >> the first thing i want to do is put the children at the heart of the politics and the big of oakland. >> quan wants to reduce the city's crime rate by improving education and job opportunities for youth. she is asking for 2,000 mentors. >> if i can get a caring adult on a one to one basis to help parents, i think it will make a huge difference. >> quan wants current promises to focus funding on developing young people. >> not just cleaning up the streets and stuff. i want something more corporate, inside businesses, give you that feel of how to be an adult.

>> across the bay, ed lee is interim mayor. and president of the board of supervisors. there is increasing numbers in the state legislature and government. right now there are more role models than ever before. let's start with you mike, being in politics. >> there weren't many role models back in 1992 when i first ran. we do have road models. we have several people in the assembly and 12th district representative. and northern san mateo and southern san francisco is fairly represented. >> i have and we have a cabinet secretary. >> the climate, it's easier i

believe to get people to listen. to see people to see it and not be put off by it. we got a long way to go. the example is those two individuals, quan and lee have done well. >> what do you think. is it a pure numbers game, there are more asian-american representatives because there is more in california or is it evolving behind the culture? >> we were talking about this earlier. 13% in california is not a mistake. it's the result of 1965 bill that drastically changed how we took in immigrants in this country and shifted the population from european countries to asian and african and latin american countries. that is a consequence of that law. on the flip side of it, having

candidates run for office mobilizes those communities but also informs other communities we can have leaders in the community. the more that run that hold these positions reinforce to others and also mobilizes our own communities we can be at the table. >> it's okay, right? >> so classically speaking why is more involvement so important? >> it's so important to have these elected officials and asian communities throughout because we know the issues in our community. congressman mike hando and he carries important pieces of legislation that deal with asian health disparents. i'm not sure others would carry that limitation. >> in terms of disparities, what

is the one growing one? >> the one that keeps me up at night is hepatitis "b", it's extremely more prevalent in the asian community. and with a simple vaccination we can cure this disease. >> it's fear of being tested? >> i think there is a lot of ignorance about the disease so we need to get the word out about ep tight "c" and treatment options available. >> all right. mike, do you think voters will step to the plate here? >> first ran fo first ran for y council, there was assumption that filipino americans would vote for me. unfortunately that didn't play out because there was low voter registration. the earlier point influx of asians or is it an electorate that is getting used to voting

for asians. i think it's the latter. we have made penetration and its worked out. >> and mainstream audience. we'll continue this discussion when we come

welcome back to a special

beyond the headlines focusing o asian-american issues. to think about the greatest challenges facing the asian-american community. let's dive into that a little more. you feel like not just started working in the community but form coalitions in the political arena. >> being cynical about the numbers. we may have grown in san francisco county but it's still not the majority of the state. there is no way for us to majority rule. it turns outs for the asian community. african community, latino community and white community to engage in multiracial and multiethnic coalition building in order to win elections. from a cynical point of view we need to do that.

from a political or moral sense built, it's important we do that. we come from a legacy of that. we we advocated on different things. all the way up to 1965 that i just mentioned. that has led to population changes that we're now benefiting today. in our context, we can look at all these issues we have an obligation to engage in as a community and carry that legacy forward. >> you think that line of thinking can extend to higher education of u.c. admissions where, if you have some asians, and other minorities have certain grades but you make a

valid argument, as well. the numbers, 4.1% admission rate is unacceptable. it should be unacceptable for us. we know that when other communities do better we can do better. that is what we should strive to do. >> and you would like to make a point about some of the social problems. you talk about gambling? >> right. in the asian community, gambling is part ouvp culture. one of the issues we need to address in our community as well as in other ethnic communities is problem gambling, people who have a gap cling addiction. in santa clara county we have started a partnership in san jose in card rooms to make services available for the gamblers and their families. it's an issue that has often gone undiscussed in a community. >> and domestic violence you

wutd putd in that category, as well. >> mike, the different communities need to work together. you have been advocating for healthcare. >> i have to say, when asked the question, anecdote there were people in daly city that happened to be filipino that didn't know there were services available to them way of the waf healthcare. elderly people didn't know that we had a health center across the street from city hall. so i would hear these things, where can i do that? and we're not putting the world out well enough or they are not being receptive to it. there are people that need services that we can actually provide. >> it does sound like there are more similarities than differences when we talk about all the different groups within that? >> yes.

>> thanks a lot. we're going to take another short break. a lot of interesting ideas and explore more right these messages. male announcer ] using frontline plus shows your pet you care... by unleashing a complete killing force against fleas and ticks. and not just adult fleas. what makes frontline plus complete is that it breaks the flea life cycle -- killing adults, eggs, and larvae.

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welcome back. we're talking about opportunities and challenges facing our bay area's asian community. we have who is your biggest role model growing up. >> i like to call them my tiger parents, my mom and dad. they working very hard and made sure that my brother and i had everything we need. >> and tiger parents with parenting works? >> everything in moderation. i would say. >> in your case, how about mike,

your role models? >> bruce lee. the reason why, a lot of young men my age were looking for a positive role model. seeing bruce he for the first time and actually living -- bruce lee was something that was fantastic. i thought he was great role model for a lot of asians. >> when you were growing up, kids were more bullied, they didn't see themselves as strong? >> no, i don't think it was that. we were looking for a hero. it was a hero that looked like us. it was something we could all relate to. i like willie mays and football players but bruce lee. >> there are more role models. >> it was my mother. she came from vietnam with a

third grade education. she had me when i was 16. she is survivor of domestic violence and she was able to go from working there and being able to afford to buy her own house before she passed away in 2006. easily she is my role model. i get all my ins raise operation from her. >> do you think there is a culture aspect to the drive in the need to succeed. is that common among all immigrant kids, do you think? what is your take, that it has helped you? >> i can tell you something that came to me earlier. it's like the education is the big equalizer and i think we all share. if you can educate yourself you can increase your station in life. i have toll you, growing up, my

mother wasn't telling me i had to be active in my community. there wasn't any big connection to the community. it was basically, this is what you need to do and i expect you to excel. >> so you are talking about mentoring and helping out the next generation for the kids to come. are their opportunities within your organization? >> yes. our organization can be checked out aci.org and we have volunteer opportunities and opportunities for people to take a tour. >> and we give people a chance in the community college, no matter what you did in high school you can go and learn english and do what you can to make a better life for yourself and your family. >> and you are concerned with

the state budget cuts? >> absolutely. we defunding the future. we need to invest in it and it brings rewards for us. if we close the international achievement gap we would have gotten 1.16 trillion dollars and it could have been $500 billis there is an economic reason to invest in our schools and our kids. thank you very much. we are out of time right now. we certainly want to thank you and our guests. that is it for this special edition. i hope you enjoyed the conversation and our guests today. more is available at our website at abc7news.com. and if you are looking for community services. dial 211.

i'm kristen sze. thanks so much for joining us today. have a great week. bye-bye.