Caroline Nguyen Ticarro, founder of the Catalyst Foundation, a non-profit helping to build stronger communities in rural areas of Vietnam by providing education, clean water, and resources to help fight sex trafficking of our most vulnerable victims: children.
Asian Premier Magazine’s Most Influential Asian Americans of 2022
As we look forward to a new year and new beginnings, let’s take a moment to recognize Asian Americans who have distinguished themselves through their extraordinary talents in the arts, philanthropy, and business. First on the list is Viet Thanh Nguyen, the affable Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Sympathizer.” Nguyen’s book sold over a million copies worldwide, and his literary influence shows no sign of declining. Since winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2016, he has become a regular op-ed writer and charismatic TV guest. Now, he can add screenwriter and producer to his illustrious résumé. In July 2021, Variety reported Nguyen’s best-selling book will be made into an HBO limited TV series, with Robert Downey Jr. as a producer and a co-star.
Another name to watch for is author Ly Ky Tran. Her searingly honest and moving coming-of-age memoir, “House of Stix,” has earned glowing reviews from top critics. Tran spoke about her ethnic Chinese-Vietnamese parents’ struggles in Vietnam, her family’s hardships in New York City, how she overcame depression, and her journey to self-discovery and finding her voice through writing.
Asians also continued to make waves in film. Award-winning playwright and TV/film writer Qui Nguyen co-wrote Disney’s animated film “Raya and the Last Dragon.” He succeeded with scripts because of his ability to tell stories that are close to his heart: his parents’ journey to America, a story marked by grit, courage, and uproarious humor.
Giving back matters now more than ever. Two leaders shared their stories with us: Duy-Loan Le, chairwoman of the Mona Foundation that empowers children and girls with education programs in 23 countries; and Caroline Nguyen Ticarro, founder of the Catalyst Foundation, a non-profit helping to build stronger communities in rural areas of Vietnam by providing education, clean water, and resources to help fight sex trafficking of our most vulnerable victims: children.
Other individuals have quietly made a difference through their work. For instance, Uyen Nguyen, a Seattle entrepreneur, whose family’s heartbreaking journey to find freedom in America has fueled her passion for immigrant advocacy. Last year, she co-founded Viets4Afghans, a volunteer coalition that helps Afghan refugees resettle in the United States. Her friend and cofounder, Thanh Tan, is a veteran journalist and exceptional storyteller whose words have compelled others to take action to support Afghan refugees.
We are inspired by the personal stories of Thieu Hua, whose company–Platinum Manufacturing in Oklahoma–is the distinguished industry leader in designing and manufacturing custom trailers for clients worldwide. In California, Darren and Tiffany Nguyen’s teamwork resulted in their successful real-estate companies. Victoria H Vy Le, led the way in finance; and Mindy Luong manages more than 150 real-estate agents and staff.
