NCAPA Weekly Roundup | Feb. 5 - 12, 2016 - National Council of Asian Pacific Americans

News and Updates

APALA, APIAHF, SEARAC respond to President’s FY 2017 Budget: Several NCAPA groups supported the President’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget released Tuesday. APALA applauded the budget proposals with regard to efforts to improve education, job training and employment, and APIAHFpraised investments to eliminate health disparities and proposals to eliminate Medicaid caps. SEARAC noted the budget would expand educational opportunities, such as providing two free years of college at a community college or minority-serving institution. Read the AAPI Fact Sheet here.

Social Security matters for AAPIs: Many AAPIs do not know much about the benefits of Social Security and the resources available to our communities, such as in-language assistance. National Director Christopher Kang has a piece in the Social Security Administration’s blog about why Social Security benefits our communities. The blog also cites work and data from NCAPA member NAPCA, the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging.

APIAVote launches state fact sheets on AAPI electorate: This week, APIAVote released a fact sheet about the AAPI electorate in Nevada, a state where the AAPI population has grown 155% since 2000. Download the fact sheet and more state fact sheets are coming soon. APIAVote also led this week’s #RestoretheVRA Twitter storm, organized by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, to show that voter protection is important for AAPIs.

NAAAP honors Juju Chang with NAAAP 100 Award: NAAAP awarded ABC journalist Juju Chang Tuesday at the National Society of Leadership and Success in New York for her work in covering stories affecting the Asian American community. Chang was the first NAAAP 100 award of 2016.

NCAPA stands against anti-Muslim hate, xenophobia and bigotry: A top priority for NCAPA is ensuring we take on the hateful rhetoric and harsh climate for American Muslim communities and those perceived to be Muslim. We are continuing to promote our statements of solidarity, with APAICS being the latest addition to the list this week.

NCAPA in the News

For Asian-American organizations, all eyes on Nevada ahead of caucus: NBC Asian America featured Asian American groups, such as APIAVote, who are working to get AAPIs to turn out for the Nevada caucus and take advantage of the growing population.

Take Action!

Newest:

#AAPI4SentencingReform: Join us, SEARAC and APALA in urging the Senate to support the Sentencing Reform and and Corrections Act athttp://bit.ly/AAPI4SentencingReform and follow the conversation on Twitter with #SentencingReform and #AAPI4SentencingReform.

OCA questionnaire on undocumented student access to higher education: OCA is gathering stories from undocumented students regarding obstacles they faced in accessing higher education. The stories will be used for Hill visits to push priorities in the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act as well as in a social media campaign. Please share the questionnaire: https://ocanational.site-ym.com/?Undoc_Student_Access

Survey on AAPIs with disabilities: Alice Wong of the Disability Visibility Project is giving a talk at a law symposium about AAPIs with disabilities, and is collecting stories for her presentation. Please share the following survey widely: http://goo.gl/forms/gZvs2FvQ1O. The deadline to complete the survey is February 28.

Ongoing campaigns:

APIASF - “We Are Not The Same” or #NotTheSame celebrates the unique stories of AAPI students and challenges stereotypes.

NAKASEC - Adoptee Defense Fund: Sign a petition to support Korean adoptee Adam Crasper who now faces deportation.

NCAPA - Support as an individual or organization an independent investigation on potential profiling of Asian American scientists: http://bit.ly/supportdojinvestigation

NCAPIP - Screen at 23 focuses on the importance of screening for diabetes in the Asian American community, as our communities are at risk for type 2 diabetes at the body mass index of 23.

Find Your Park - Share your National Park Story: FindYourPark.com

In Case You Missed It

Turban 101: A SALDEF SikhLEAD alum created a video for NBC News about facts the general public may not know about turbans, “Turban 101.” For instance, 99 percent of people who wear turbans in the U.S. are Sikhs who have ancestry tied to Punjab, India.

Our Three Winners: In memory of Deah, Yusor and Razan, who were university students murdered one year ago because of their faith, Muslim Advocates debuted a web page, ourthreewinners.org, to honor their legacy by telling each of their stories. Suggestions to honor their legacies include holding a food drive, creating a fundraising page and conduct any service in your community.

Research review of the “model minority” myth: Journalist’s Resource published an article about a 2015 study about how the model minority myth is presented in literature and higher education academic scholarship. The study found that the myth made suggestions that future scholarship on AAPIs should be more intentional about how diverse these communities really are.

Other Announcements

New:

Call for proposals for “Know Her Truths: Advancing Justice for Women and Girls of Color” Conference in N.C.: The Anna Julia Cooper Center at Wake Forest University invites proposals for a national conference focused on the lives of women and girls of color by March 1. NAPAWF’s Miriam Yeung serves on the advisory committee for the initiative this conference is a part of. Learn more.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Teach for America Leadership Summit: The application period has been extended for college students and recent graduates for a leadership summit hosted by the New York region’s Teach for America on Feb. 19 and 20. Apply here by Sunday, Feb. 14.

3rd Annual Art as a Voice Call for Submissions: The Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project is looking for poetry, music, visual art, craft or objects from one’s own cultural identity as part of their annual Art as a Voice event to speak out against abuse. If you have questions or submissions, contact Marie Ramos at [email protected] by April 14. The event will take place April 21, and they are also looking for volunteers.

Call for volunteers for NAKASEC: NAKASEC is seeking volunteers who are interested in engaging with the Korean & Asian American communities in Northern Virginia. Civic engagement volunteers will assist with naturalization clinics, voter registration and education activities, precinct walking, phone banking, and general voter outreach in the community. Immigrant rights volunteers will assist with DACA outreach, education, and application assistance and, potentially, for DACA+ and DAPA as well.

Ongoing:

Free tax assistance from OCA & AARP: OCA is working with AARP Foundation to offer low and moderate income taxpayers in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community free, individualized and no-strings-attached tax assistance and preparation services through their volunteer run Tax-Aide program. To find a location visit http://bit.ly/OCAtaxes or call OCA at 202-223-5500 x118.

SABA North America Foundation Grant Applications (Deadline: March 1): SABA North America is committed to increasing the capacity of community-based organizations to respond to the legal needs and uphold the civil rights and liberties of the South Asian community and marginalized communities across North America. To foster this work, the SABA North America Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, awards grants of up to $5,000 in the following areas: Domestic Violence, Immigration Rights, Hate Crimes, Discrimination and Racial Profiling, and Community Access to Justice.

Appointments Project: The White House Presidential Personnel Office (responsible for presidential appointments) is continuing to develop slates for principal, assistant to principal and functional positions. NCAPA and APAICS continue to work with PPO in diversity outreach and are seeking individuals who are interested in an appointment positions for various levels, roles and background experience for agencies (e.g. speech writers, digital background, policy, etc.). Please help us to identify ideal appointment candidates who are AAPI. Once candidates complete the online application athttps://apply.whitehouse.gov/, they should fill out this form, which will go to NCAPA and APAICS: http://goo.gl/forms/8Lnjv3G4oB

NAPABA Pro Bono General Counsel Program: This program provides AAPI organizations pro bono legal advice and counsel that they cannot afford. Get the application for organization and application for attorneys.