Following the Supreme Court’s favorable rulings on gay rights and Obamacare, Filipino Americans joined millions of supporters across the country to celebrate two historic victories, in an outpouring of emotion here in the nation’s capital. 

The 20 states forming the Climate Vulnerable Forum, chaired by the Philippines, urged the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to reconsider the current 2 °Celsius climate goal to be reaffirmed at the Paris climate summit (COP 21) in December. Presenting three new independent reports, the Forum qualified 2°C as “inadequate”, posing serious threats for fundamental human rights, labour and migration and displacement, among other factors.

Dr. Jei Africa, Director of the Office of Diversity and Equity was honored with the California Psychological Association, Distinguished Humanitarian Contribution Award. The award honors a person whose voluntary and career efforts have directly and significantly improved the quality of life for a broad range and large number of persons in our society. The award is intended to highlight members of the psychology profession who transcend guild interests.