The Organization of Chinese Americans Greater Chicago Chapter (OCA-Chicago) in celebration of 2002 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month issues the 2002 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Commemorative Bookmark, "Honoring Charlie Soo: Champion, Hero, Friend," on Wednesday, May 1, 2002 at Szechwan Restaurant, 625 North Michigan Avenue at Ontario Street, Chicago, from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. For the fifth year in a row, OCA-Chicago cooperate with community leaders, and with FOX CHICAGO TV to kick off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This year's bookmark features Charlie Soo as memorialized in pen and ink by Chicago artist Grace Lai. The sketch of Soo was created last year, shortly after his death in April 2001. (Grace Lai was also the artist for OCA-Chicago's first commemorative bookmark release, "Hua Mulan," in 1998.) Project funding for the fifth anniversary of the bookmark issuance is being provided by FOX CHICAGO TV. Project direction is being provided by ENERI Communications, LLC of Chicago. Ten thousand bookmarks will be distributed throughout Chicagoland via community outlets, stores, libraries and schools. Bookmarks will also be available at no charge to the public, while supplies last. Requests for bookmarks, may be sent by e-mail request to ocachicago@yahoo.com or by telephone to (312) 458-0832.
Charlie H. Soo, known to some as the unofficial mayor of Chicago's New Chinatown, was long-time director and CEO of the Asian American Small Business Association. An entrepreneur, business and civic leader, Chicago's Asian Pacific American and friends of the Asian Pacific American community have sorely missed his earnest and smiling face, since he passed away in April 2001 suddenly, at home alone at the age of 56. Soo served on numerous boards and commissions earning him recognition and many awards in Chicago, including the Illinois Economic Development Commission; the Chicago Transit Authority Advisory Board and the President of Truman College Advisory Council. He served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business (appointed by the President of the United States), and the Chicago School Board Commission (appointed by Mayor Richard Daley). Soo served as a media committee member of the Asian American Coalition of Chicago Lunar New Year Celebration for over ten years. Born in Hawaii in 1945, Soo received an undergraduate degree at the College of Emporia in Kansas. He also attended the University of Illinois and Roosevelt University, where he received an MBA, in addition to other graduate studies. Soo served as director for the Neighborhood Redevelopment, Inc. (1963 -1965), president of Far East Import-Export Company and Chicago International (1965 - 1970), commissioner appointed by Governor Kerner for the first Illinois Economic Development Commission (1970-1975), where he helped organized successful trade missions to the Far East and Europe with the Governor and State's business leaders, project director/associate director with the Chicago Economic Development Corporation (CEDCO) (1975-1980), where he was responsible for pioneering technical assistance to minority firms and spurring economical development in Chicago, and director and CEO of the Asian American Small Business Association of Chicago (1980-2001), which provides technical assistance to the Asian business community, as well as developing the now famous Argyle Street (also known as the new Chinatown) which region brings in approximately $80 million sales taxes/revenue to the City/State annually and provided for the creation and retention of some 300 jobs in the community.