Sharing the American Dream

Growing up a small town American kid, Wallace Coulter became a citizen of the world. His business reflected it, his associations reflected it, his prized collections reflected it. He loved the smell of a particular deli in Paris, the climate of the Caribbean, and the culture of China.

His interest in Asia began in the late 1930s, as an X-Ray equipment representative for General Electric. He was based in Manila, Shanghai and Singapore; which served as a springboard to further travel, as he ventured through large cities and remote villages. The experience had a profound effect on Wallace, as he developed an interest and fondness for the art, food and society. His jade collection became a valuable reflection for his fondness of the Asian culture. As an international crossroad, Shanghai also allowed him to meet business people from the four corners of the globe. It cemented his world-view of business, and became the foundation of his worldwide diagnostic corporation.

As years passed, his affinity for the region grew; and he returned, on many occasions, for both business and pleasure. Consistent with his interest for the region, Wallace had a special affection for Asian-Americans, as well. He appreciated the hardships they overcame to achieve success and realize the American Dream.

Perspectives

To commemorate that interest, the Foundation began reaching out to Asian communities across the United States. The Asian community has historically been undercounted, and therefore under served on both state and federal levels.

Giving voice to the Asian-American community, the Foundation assisted with both money and expertise, in creating a more accurate census count. Public Service Announcements were created in various Asian languages, compelling the local communities to comply with the census. More recently, the Coulter Foundation created the Coulter Consortium, a collection of national, state and local Asian organizations. The consortium will collaborate on shared issues, allowing them to maximize resources in order to achieve greater impact on the health, education and welfare of all Asian- Americans.

The AAPI initiative began in 2010 with the hope of providing healthier and happier lives for all newcomers to this country so that the American Dream could become a reality for millions of immigrant families. Our goal is to help communities reach out to their members and encourage them to become citizens, attend school, achieve post-secondary education, have a career or start a business to support their families and participate in the democratic process in America through civic engagement. We encourage community leaders to give back to the nation and the communities that supported their first steps in the U.S.

The Coulter Consortium was founded to:

– Unite disparate AAPI groups of 50 ethnicities and 100 languages
– Leverage resources for maximum impact
– Open communication lines
– Eliminate barriers to success
– Facilitate cultural transformation
– Recognize the “power of partnership”
– Host the annual National AAPI Forum
– Educate the U.S. population regarding the AAPI community
– Promote civic engagement, health & well-being
– Encourage participation in the National Census