AAFF

The Asian American Federation of Florida (AAFF) is a 501(c)(3) coalition that aims to unity and collaboration among the various Asian Pacific American organizations and to improve the relationship of a culturally diverse Asian Pacific American community in Florida. The AAFF is a statewide organization made up of more than 70 Bangladesh, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Iranian, Korean, Laotian, Taiwanese, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese faith-based and community-based organizations, businesses and media.

 
Asian Leaders Meet to Plan for China Town
 
Miami, Florida – December 2, 2010
 
On November 30, 2010, Asian-American community leaders met with Mikki Canton, a well known legislative and corporate law counsel, to discuss plans for establishing a China Town as a public-private community development project in Miami.
 
  Dr. Joy Bruce (President. Asian American Federation of Florida and Founding President/Chair,  NANAY, Inc), Evelyn Bruce (Executive Director, NANAY Inc), Bennie Trinidad (Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, NANAY Inc), Sang Whang (President, Alkalife International and co-Chair of NANAY Governing Board), Josephine Gordy (Director of NANAY, Miami-Dade Asian American Advisory Board and Asian American Federation of Florida), Mohammad Shakir (Executive Director, Miami-Dade Asian American Advisory Board), Khanya Moolsiri (President, Thai-American Association of South Florida), Kachen Prajeobsuk (Manufacturer and Wholesaler of Thida Thai Jewelry), Dennis Murasaki (President/CEO of Tropi-Pak, Inc and Member, NANAY Governing/CEDC Board), Rick Garcia (Board member, Philippine American Cultural Foundation of Florida), Tessie Garcia (former Corresponding Secretary, Philippine American Federation of South Florida), Dr. Antonio Wong (Medical Director, Doctors Plus Medical Center), Heidi Wong (Administrator, Doctors Plus Medical Research Inc). Hiroyoshi Murasaki (Youth Representative) attended the meeting and comprise the Asian Core Group that will explore and develop the plan in greater detail.
The project involves the potential establishment of a multi-dimensional complex that will incorporate Asian American and Latin businesses with workforce housing, senior Community Center, medical center, Asian heritage school and Asian cultural center.
“We still have a long way to go”, says Dr. Joy Bruce who heads the Asian Core Group. “But I believe it is doable. The Asian American Federation of Florida (AAFF) will help oversee the project and hopefully will serve as the glue that will finally unite and empower our typically diverse Asian American communities in Florida.”
Dr. Bruce plans to introduce the concept at the Annual AAFF Summit in conjunction with the 2011 Annual Florida Minority Community Reinvestment Coalition (FMCRC) Economic Development Summit – Let’s Do Business Florida that will be held on June 16-17 at Marriott Harbor Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The AAFF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to empower and preserve the culture and tradition of Asian Americans in Florida. 
 
Dr. Bruce is also the Founding President and Chairperson of NANAY (National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the Youth), a North Miami-based  501(c)(3) organization that has been providing supportive services to elders and youth since its inception in 1994.
Mikki Canton, the major mover for this project, has served as legislative and corporate law counsel to both public and private clients representing a wide range of local and national governmental entities, entrepreneurs, entertainment, gaming, transportation, global engineering and architectural firms, healthcare organizations and hospitals, commercial developers and real estate and other major enterprises at the local and state levels.
Always intrigued and drawn to the emerging Asian countries, with particular emphasis on China and its desire to enter the Latin American market full-force, in 2007 Mikki founded AsiaAmericana International LLC to serve as the strategic business and legal guide to international organizations and clients wishing to capitalize on the growing relationship between China and Latin America while focusing on promoting Miami as the major bridge and connecting point between the two. She named this exciting entrepreneurial opportunity and journey "The New Silk Road".
 “I believe deeply in the value of public service and in giving back to our community and country," says Mikki, who is involved in many public and private educational and community organizations which serve to better the lives of others.
She is on the Board of Trustees at Miami Dade College where she was deeply involved in the establishment of The Confucius Institute and serves as China and Asia Chair of various state and local organizations which promote trade, commerce and cultural and economic development and understanding between the people of China and Latin America.  

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Mikki Canton (left) exchanges ideas with Sang Whang, President of Alkalife International and Board member of NANAY, Inc.