Rehan Reza, who acted in short films and TV in his native

Rehan Reza, who acted in short films and TV in his native Bangladesh, learned about American politics in an unusual setting: Church’s Chicken.

He’s part-owner of several Church’s franchises, and a customer kept urging him to get involved in the Democratic Party and organize Asian-Americans in Kansas.

“I said, ‘It’s impossible to have Asian-Americans involved in politics in a red state,’?” Reza recalled. But he gave it a try. He founded the Kansas Asian American Democratic Caucus and now dreams of his 18-year-old daughter being elected the state’s first Asian governor .

“I talk to my people in the state of Kansas,” Reza said. “I say, ‘The only way you can get your voice heard, the only way to help your community, is if you’re involved. Otherwise there’s no voice because who’s going to talk about our problems?’?”

Issues concerning Asian-Americans, he said, are the same that concern other Democrats: jobs, education, safety and health care.

Reza got his MBA at California State University in Long Beach. He is active in the Topeka community, including membership in the Rotary Club and presidency of the Islamic Center.

He was excited to learn the 2012 convention is in Charlotte because he loves the Carolina beaches – then he learned that Charlotte is three hours inland. But he said he heard that we “have a … nice downtown.”

And something else he likes: fried chicken.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/08/10/3446962/from-bangladesh-to-dnc-delegate.html#storylink=cpy