November 6, 2009 – Leland Cheung, 31, a dual MIT and Harvard graduate student and former Executive Vice President of the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP), was elected as the first Asian American on Cambridge City Council this week.   Cheung won one of 9 seats on City council from a field of 21 candidates. 

NAAAP proudly congratulates one of its own on this distinct honor.  Previous to Leland Cheung's election to Cambridge City Council, he served as Executive Vice President of NAAAP National.  Brad Baldia, NAAAP National President said, "We expect great things from Leland and his new role on the Cambridge City Council.  NAAAP is fortunate to have so many talented and civic-minded individuals who want to give back and make a positive difference in their communities."

NAAAP's vision, "We Make Leaders!" is both supported by and demonstrated by its members like Leland Cheung, Commerce Secretary and former Washington Governor Gary Locke, and partner at Goodwin Procter LLP, Paul Lee.   Locke and Lee served as senior advisors to NAAAP’s Seattle and Boston chapters respectively.  NAAAP programs include an annual convention, the Leadership Institute, the NAAAP 100 (recognizing America’s most accomplished Asian Americans), Women in NAAAP, and a new monthly leadership webinar series. For more information about the NAAAP, go to www.naaap.org.

Cheung is currently pursuing a dual degree M.B.A. / M.P.A. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management and the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.  Son of Chinese immigrants, Cheung grew up in Cambridge, received a B.S. in physics and a B.A. in economics from Stanford University.  He returned to Cambridge to work with a venture capital group and with energy issues.  Cheung’s campaign focused on greater city-university relations, job creation, transparency in city government, safer schools, and support for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Having used a combination of traditional campaigning methods like rallies and dinners fundraisers as well as social media, Leland announced to his supporters via the web today, “Dear Friends, I’m excited to share with you that I’ve been elected to the Cambridge City Council! (Read more here: http://bit.ly/3ROylq). Thank you for your support, encouragement, and generous contributions.”

More background about Leland Cheung is available at http://www.lelandcheung.com/about/

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The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership-based organization and is the largest and fastest growing Asian professional association with representation in over 25 cities across the United States and Canada.