The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Welcomes New Co-Chairs, Alvina Yeh and John C. Yang; and Creation of New Civic Engagement Committee

Washington, DC—Following its two-day strategic planning retreat, The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans announced the election of its new co-chairs, Alvina Yeh, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) and John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice—AAJC.

In addition to the exciting leadership transition, the coalition made significant progress towards a strategic refocusing and commitment towards 2020. Other key decisions included:

• Creating a Civic Engagement Committee, with the intent of harnessing and focusing the collective civic outreach strength of coalition members and the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.  
• Formally acknowledging and embracing NCAPA’s evolution and responsibility to both policy change and movement building for the AAPI community.
• Modernizing its membership structure to boldly solidify the foundation of the coalition and strengthen its long-term trajectory.

New Co-Chair, Alvina Yeh stated: "I am honored to be elected to the position of co-chair, especially serving with John Yang. I believe our organizational and leadership differences will complement well to build a coalition that can push a policy agenda informed and grounded by our grassroots communities. As Executive Director of an organization that serves to uplift and build power for AAPI workers, I also welcome the chance to further advocate for workers' rights among our advocacy peers."

Co-Chair John C. Yang added: “I am honored to serve the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans in this capacity, and look forward to working towards the organization’s mission of striving towards equity and justice for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.”

Outgoing Chair, Quyen Dinh, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) said: "It has been an honor and privilege to serve NCAPA as its first Southeast Asian American chair.  I am so proud of the progress that NCAPA has made in amplifying the voices and power of the AAPI community in our nation’s capital, and the infrastructure that has been built to strengthen NCAPA's capacity for many years to grow its impact. I am proud to call NCAPA an ally to SEARAC's communities. SEARAC looks forward to supporting NCAPA's new leadership and progressive strategy as we collectively build our community's political power."

NCAPA National Director Gregg Orton said: “I would like to thank Quyen for her years of leadership to NCAPA. The progress we have made as a coalition over the last 12 months is a direct reflection of her unwavering commitment and belief in the potential power of NCAPA. I am personally grateful for her support and patience as she helped guide me through my first year as National Director.

In addition, I am thrilled to welcome both Alvina and John as Co-Chairs and believe they bring the leadership NCAPA needs as we move towards 2020. Far too much is at stake over the next two years, and I look forward to working with them to ensure that the AAPI community is both seen and heard nationally as we approach a critical moment in determining our nation’s future.”