FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 2, 2017

Contact: Sung Yeon Choimorrow [email protected]

NCAPA Announces Gregg Orton as New National Director

Washington, DC - Today the Executive Committee of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) announced that after an extensive search, Gregg Orton has been selected to lead NCAPA as the new National Director.

Gregg joins NCAPA after spending nine years working on Capitol Hill for Rep. Al Green (D-TX), most recently as his Chief of Staff. He has served as a dedicated advocate for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, as well as a mentor for many AAPI staffers in Congress.

“Gregg Orton brings many years of experience working on the Hill and has demonstrated a deep commitment to our communities. I am excited about his depth of experience, leadership and commitment,” stated NCAPA Executive Committee Co-Chair and Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), Sung Yeon Choimorrow. "I believe Gregg is the director that NCAPA needs to bring this council more in alignment with the progressive vision and agenda to work for progress and justice for our communities”.

Floyd Mori, President and CEO of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) added, “Gregg brings a depth of understanding and experience in Congress, which will allow him to lead NCAPA in shaping our policy advocacy strategies. Gregg has shown his leadership capacity by his growth from an APAICS Fellow to Chief of Staff for Congressman Al Green."

Incoming National Director Gregg Orton concluded, "I am honored to have the opportunity to help lead NCAPA and build upon the hard work of the outstanding leaders who have led NCAPA to this point. Having spent the last 9 years working with NCAPA groups, while on Capitol Hill, I have seen both the power and unrealized potential of our community’s advocacy and presence at the national level. To be able to lend my own energy and passion towards advancing the AAPI community, especially at this moment in history, is truly a privilege."

Read Gregg's biography here; Gregg will officially start on January 8th.

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Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is a coalition of 34 national Asian Pacific American organizations that serves to represent the interests of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns. Our communities are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, currently making up approximately six percent of the population.