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GUAM - Naomi Tacuyan Underwood, former Guam resident and 1998 graduate of Harvest Christian Academy, was recently named as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the U.S., a recognition given by the Filipina Women's Network (FWN) to women for their exceptional work in their fields of expertise and for their inspiring leadership and achievements in the U.S. workplace and communities.
Naomi was nominated for FWN's recognition as a "Behind the Scenes Leader" by close friends and mentors Charmaine Manansala, the highest ranking Filipina in the Obama Administration, and Vida Benavides, a political strategy consultant with the Dewey Square Group, and by selection committee member Gloria T. Caoile, a widely respected AAPI labor leader. "Her unequaled passion and commitment to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) empowerment through voter mobilization, her leadership qualities in always connecting all members of the AAPI community in rallying on issues that affect them, sets her above the rest. She brings with her values, attributes and incomparable skills to any endeavor," said Caoile.
"As a Filipina Guamanian, I am so proud yet humbled to join the ranks of women whom FWN has honored with this award. I truly stand on the shoulders of giants-- many of these FIlipina American women have inspired me and mentored me toward a life of public service and advocacy. Guam is never far from my heart, and whether near or far, I hope to continue to use my skills and experiences to benefit Guam and the Philippines, as well as our larger Asian American and Pacific Islander community," said Tacuyan Underwood.
Naomi is currently APIAVote's Deputy Director, managing media and partner communications, and providing media strategy trainings and technical assistance for APIAVote partners. In the 2008 elections, APIAVote was instrumental in garnering unprecedented attention on the growing importance of the AAPI vote, and in empowering and equipping local organizations and coalitions to conduct voter registration, education, and mobilization.
Naomi recently graduated with a Master's in Public Policy (MPP) degree at the UCLA School of Public Affairs, concentrating on community development and public management. For her degree, Naomi fulfilled a Policy Fellowship with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she worked on Hawaiian homelands community development issues. At UCLA, she was a Research Associate on a forthcoming Asian American Studies Center project on community-based organizations and their asset building programs.
Naomi has also been active in the legislative push to restore full veterans' benefits to Filipino World War II veterans, and remains committed to ensuring that Filipino veterans are recognized for their service and attain the benefits that were recently passed by Congress. A recent milestone in the fight for equity was Congress' passing of the America Recovery & Reinvestment Act, in which a lump sum benefit for Filipino American veterans was included and is now being distributed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Naomi has also served on the board for the D.C. chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, where she worked on a national lobby day for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA).
Naomi graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Print Journalism and Asian/Pacific/American Studies from New York University in 2002. She graduated with honors from Guam's Harvest Christian Academy, where she received Guam's Congressional Achievement Award upon her graduation in 1998. She currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband Ricardo Hurao Underwood. She is the daughter of Bonifacio & Ruth Tuazon Tacuyan of Tamuning, Guam and the daughter in law of UOG President Robert A. Underwood.
For more information visit http://www.filipinawomensnetwork.org/fwn100-2009.
This news announcement was prepared by a media release from the Filipina Womens Network.
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