The latest news from NCAPA and our 34 members.

UPDATES

NCAPA Opposes Bill that Would Limit Legal Immigration

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced a bill that would dramatically reduce the number of immigrants who can obtain green cards and other visas every year, cutting legal immigration by 40 to 50 percent. NCAPA and members South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) and Advancing Justice | AAJC issued statements strongly opposing this bill, entitled the RAISE Act.

NCAPA Endorses Resolution on Refugees and Asylum Seekers

NCAPA endorsed a resolution by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) expressing that the United States should remain a global leader in welcoming refugees and asylum seekers.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Applauds Court of Appeals Ruling Refusing to Reinstate Travel Ban

Advancing Justice applauded the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for their decision to refuse to reinstate President Trump’s executive order that banned immigrants and refugees from predominantly Muslim countries from entering the United States. In case you missed it, read NCAPA National Director Christopher Kang’s full remarks at last week’s Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) press conference denouncing President Trump’s Muslim ban.

NCAPA Members Disappointed at Senate Confirmation of Jeff Sessions for Attorney General

On Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Sen. Jeff Sessions  as U.S. Attorney General. NCAPA members Advancing Justice | AAJC and the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) expressed disappointment at the confirmation, given Sessions’ 30-year anti-immigrant record. NCAPA also opposed Sessions for his dismal record on civil rights and signed onto a Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights letter to Senate Judiciary Committee leadership.

APIAVote Opposes Bills to Terminate the Election Assistance Commission and Presidential Election Campaign Fund

Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) joined 43 organizations in strongly opposing bills that would end the Election Assistance Commission and Presidential Election Campaign Fund. The Election Assistance Commission works to upgrade voting systems, and the Presidential Election Campaign Fund allows the public to finance presidential elections.

Women and Minorities See Little Change in Representation on Fortune 500 Boards

A new report found that women and minorities represent 30.8 percent of corporate boards, while Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up 3.1 percent of the Fortune 500 seats. The Alliance for Board Diversity, of which NCAPA member Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Inc. (LEAP) is a part of, published the report.

OCA is Disappointed with the Confirmation of Betsy DeVos

OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates is disappointed with the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education, citing her lack of experience in the public education space.

OCA Welcomes Ambassador Nikki Haley and Secretary Elaine Chao Appointment

OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates welcomes newly appointed and confirmed U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao. OCA National President Sharon M. Wong said it is OCA’s hope that “they use their seat at the table to represent AAPI voices in critical exchanges of ideas that have real implications for our community.”

Advancing Justice | AAJC Selects John C. Yang as New President

We welcome John C. Yang as AAJC’s new president and CEO. A nationally-recognized attorney and former political appointee, Yang replaces Mee Moua to lead the organization.

NCAPA IN THE NEWS

Minorities will soon become the new majority. Are health care systems ready? Kathy Ko Chin of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) notes in this article that more data on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders  is needed to show what services our communities need.(Sophie Quinton, POLITICO Agenda)

Asset Building Policy Fellow Kelley Lou of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (CAPACD) wrote an op-ed about the often overlooked issues of poverty facing Asian American older adults. (Rooflines, National Housing Institute)

South Asian American Leading Together (SAALT) Director of National Policy and Advocacy Lakshmi Sridaran wrote about why South Asian Americans must unite against attacks by the Trump Administration on Muslims and immigrants. Lakshmi is an NCAPA civil rights committee co-chair. (Rediff.com)

The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) is starting an event series to explore Asian American Feminism in the Age of Trump. (Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, NBC Asian America)

ACTION ALERTS & RESOURCES

“Made by Immigrants” Campaign

“Made by Immigrants” t-shirt purchases via Bonfire will go toward NCAPA members Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) as they work to protect and advance the civil and human rights of immigrants and refugees.

NAKASEC’s 24-hour immigrant crisis hotline

Share and use this number for families with immigration questions: 1-844-500-3222 (English & Korean)

Stop H.R 147., Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act of 2017

Join NAPAWF in contacting your representative to stop H.R. 147, a bill targets Asian American women based on false stereotyping regarding sex-preference and makes any Asian American person seeking an abortion a suspect. It aims to undermine Asian American women’s access to safe, unbiased reproductive care.

SAALT Poster Session Proposals

Submit your projects to South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) to be showcased at the National South Asian Summit 2017. (Link opens in Word)

SAALT Changemaker Nominations

Nominate individuals, programs and organizations that have significantly advanced social justice among South Asians in the U.S. for a Changemaker Award. (Link opens in Word)

Stand with immigrants this Valentine’s Day

Join the #ToImmigrantsWithLove Thunderclap with Define American to send a virtual Valentine to show support for immigrants.

Share your FAFSA experience

Take SEARAC’S FAFSA Survey to help inform policymakers how to better support first-generation AAPI students with limited English proficiency in completing the FAFSA.

Report if you have been stopped, questioned or detained at the border

Muslim Advocates is collecting reportsfrom U.S. citizens, green card holders, and visa holders who have been harassed, searched or detained at the border. All information is confidential and encrypted.

Track hate incidents and view their databases

South Asian Americans Leading Together | Asian Americans Advancing Justice | OCA National | Southern Poverty Law Center | Muslim Advocates

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT  

Call to Filipinos: Stay vigilant, protest xenophobia in U.S.: “We must protest xenophobic actions and provide service to those unjustly targeted. If we do not, when our name is ultimately called, we cannot in good faith expect others to come to our defense.” (Christopher Lapinig, Rappler)

Self-taught jazz pianist Joey Alexander, who is from Indonesia,received a third Grammy nomination. At 13, he is the youngest jazz artist to be nominated for a Grammy. (Heidi Chang, NBC Asian America)

EVENTS

Wednesday, Feb. 15 @ 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.: Briefing - Women’s Health, Innovation and the Economic Stability of Families. Russell Senate Office Building SR-485.

Sunday, Feb: 19 @ 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.: Day of Remembrance - Smithsonian Program. National Museum of American History. JACL will compile Day of Remembrance events around the country.

Sunday, Feb. 19: “Allegiance” returns to movie theaters

Thursday, Feb. 23 @ 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.: Briefing - Aging with Health and Dignity: Diverse Elders #TellACL. RSVP to National Asian Pacific Center on Aging’s Tyrell Ma’ae: [email protected]

Saturday, Feb. 25 @ 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Citizen Application Workshop. Call (202) 393-3572 to register. Fairfax, Va.

Feb. 19 - April 1: NQAPIA Direct Action Training for People of Color. Registration still open for Philadelphia, Bay Area, Seattle workshops.

Saturday, March 11 @ 6:00 - 10:30 p.m.:NQAPIA Community Catalyst Awards Celebration. D.C.

Saturday, March 11 @ 6:00 p.m.: CAAMFest Opening Night. San Francisco. (Pre-sale tickets available until Feb. 8)

Friday, April 21 - Sunday, April 23: Hmong National Development Conference in Milwaukee (Early bird registration open)

OPPORTUNITIES

• OCA Summer Internship (Deadline: Feb. 17)

• APIAVote Summer Internship (Deadline: March 1)

• JACL National Scholarship and Awards Program (Deadline: March 1)

• Senior Executive Assistant, National CAPACD

• Community Organizer, NAKASEC (Annandale, Va.)

• Volunteer opportunity: Scholarship reader, APIASF

• CAPAL Public Service Internship and Scholarship Program

More NCAPA postings: ncapaonline.org/opportunities

External (including Hill) opportunities:bit.ly/NCAPAexternaljobs