FELLOWSHIP & COMMUNITY AWARDS

Joe Montano was one of DAAV's co-founders and was the close aide of Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA).

For the longest time, he'd always wanted to attend the DNC Convention and finally get a chance to do so when he was assigned to staff his boss during the DNC Convention in Philadelphia.

However, God had a different plan for him. He was elevated from earth to be with Him, just a few days before he was supposed to leave for Philly.

Niharika Joe, one of DAAV's past Board members, wrote in her tribute to Joe.

"At DAAV, Joe was our go-to guy. He was our sounding board, our adviser, our galvanizer, our rock. He was selfless and dedicated and he immediately put everyone at ease. He was the commanding presence in a room full of people, yet, he was quietly comfortable chatting with high school students.

He fired up volunteers the same way he fired up elected officials — like no other — with a passionate, loudly delivered call to action. He mentored and inspired the next generation, led by example, and encouraged them to give back to their communities. And he did it all with kindness and compassion – with that bright Joe Montano grin, never uttering a negative word."

After his passing, the DAAV Board decided to honor him and continue his legacy.

They renamed the "DAAV Community Engagement Award" to "Joe Montano Community Engagement Award."

And in 2017, DAAV Board added the Joe Montano Fellowship, which is a paid organizing fellowship for aspiring community organizers. The recipient of the fellowship will then be placed in any Democratic campaign in Virginia to help activate and turn out AAPI voters.

--

More about Joe:

Facebook: Remembering Joe

Joe Montano, Filipino American activist and aide to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Washington Post, August 1, 2016.