The latest news, events and ways to take action from NCAPA and its 34 member organizations.
UPDATES
National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) is celebrated each May to remember our history and recognize the contributions our diverse communities have made to our nation. This month, NCAPA, our members, and the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Washington, D.C., will host celebratory events as well as important discussions on issues facing AAPIs. Download the D.C. community calendar.
Engage with us on social media all month using #APAHM17 and tweeting at @NCAPATweets.
Thousands in AA and NHPI Community Urge OMB to Support More Detailed Data
The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, NCAPA, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC issued a joint statement in support of detailed race and ethnic data standards in federal data collection. The nationwide mobilization effort submitted more than 3,600 public comments from individuals in 47 states and U.S. territories to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in support of updated standards that include more details on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
House Votes to Repeal the Affordable Care Act
The House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act last Thursday. If the American Health Care Act passes, it would eliminate coverage for an estimated 24 million Americans. In response, APIAHF urged the public to oppose the repeal bill and ask their Senators to vote against it. SEARAC also rejected the vote, saying the American Health Care Act would exacerbate already stark disparities in the Southeast Asian American community.
OCA Chapters Nationwide Observe 135th Anniversary of Chinese Exclusion Act
OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates and its chapters recognized the 135th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act by supporting Day of Inclusion efforts nationwide, including efforts to pass resolutions and proclamations observing the anniversary across the country.
New Zika Resources for AAs and NHPIs
APIAHF launched the Zika Awareness Project, the first Zika education campaign available in Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, and Urdu. Partner organizations OCA South Florida Chapter, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum in Georgia, Boat People SOS Gulf Coast and the Hope Clinic in Texas will be conducting outreach and education events to local communities.
SALDEF Applauds Basketball Federation's Head-Covering Ruling
The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) commended the International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) ruling to let Sikhs play basketball with their articles of faith. The ruling allowing turbans, yarmulkes, and hijabs in international basketball competitions comes after several years of interfaith advocacy with Jewish, Muslim, and other groups.
AAPIs in Education during the First 100 Days
The NCAPA education committee held a webinar last week on the various impacts on AAPIs in education during this administration. Watch the full webinar here.
Congress Will Not Fund Border Wall, but Still Targets Immigrants in Approved Budget Bill
Congress denied the administration funding to begin construction of a border wall, but the deal included an additional $1.5 billion in border security. Asian Americans Advancing Justice released a statement expressing their disappointment about the continued targeting of immigrants by the new administration.
No Justice for Black Lives
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) is outraged and saddened by the murder of Jordan Edwards, a Black teenager, at the hands of a police officer in April, and by this week’s announcement that the Justice Department (DOJ) would not file federal charges against the police officers responsible for the murder of Alton Sterling last July.
New Executive Order Targets Women’s Health
In reaction to the President’s executive order on religious liberty, APIAHF released a statement that the order creates additional barriers for AANHPIs in accessing care.
NCAPA IN THE NEWS
Sen. Mazie Hirono led a letter of 10 Senate Democrats to urge the Office of Management and Budget to collect more accurate data on AAPIs. NCAPA, APIAHF, AAJC and SEARAC supported the letter. (Office of Senator Mazie Hirono)
APIAHF’s Kathy Ko Chin writes about the first education campaign for Zika virus prevention and treatment, which is available in five AAPI languages. (Medium)
APAHM SPOTLIGHT
Marita Etcubanez, Ben DeGuzman and Ameesha Sampat at the May 1, 2017 rally for immigrant and worker rights in Washington, D.C. (NCAPA Photo)
ACTION ALERTS & RESOURCES
National Week of Resistance
See the full nationwide calendar to participate.
Action Alert: Protect Affordable Health Care Now!
NAKASEC’s Immigrant Rapid Response Plan
-Share and use this number for families with immigration questions: 1-844-500-DACA or 1-844-500-3222 (Assistance available in Korean & English)
-Know Your Rights materials and trainings in Korean and English.
-The Dream Show webisode series on YouTube shares policy updates and episodes are produced in Korean.
Know Your Rights
More Know Your Rights materials for NCAPA members.
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.
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
What’s at Stake? AAPIs and the repeal of the ACA (Sono Shah, AAPI Data)
Immigrant Legislator Rep. Gene Wu Breaks Down While Speaking Out Against Texas Immigration (Kimberly Yam, The Huffington Post)
Rep. Meng Secures Funds for Asian Pacific American Center (Office of Congresswoman Grace Meng)
I know the fears of immigrants in the schools I oversee. I was undocumented myself. (Hanseul Kang, state superintendent for public schools in D.C., The Washington Post)
Community Works to Fill Wikipedia’s Asian-American, Pacific Islander Gaps (Lakshmi Gandhi, NBC Asian America)
Confessions of a wealthy immigrant: “model minority” is a myth (Iimay Ho, Vox)
EVENTS
Download the full Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) Calendar
NCAPA's APAHM Event
Wednesday, May 17
2:30 - 4:30 p.m.: Emerging Threats to the AAPI Community: A Civil Rights & Immigration Discussion. Registration now open. Register here!
5:30 - 8:00 p.m.: APAHM Reception Hosted by Mnet America, NCAPA, APAICS and AAJC, in collaboration with CAPAC. U.S. Capitol Visitor Center - HVC-201. RSVP to: [email protected]
Wednesday, May 11 @ 4:00 p.m. ET: APIAHF Webinar - Zika 101 + AA and NHPI Access to Zika Resources: An introduction of Zika prevention and APIAHF’s Zika Advocacy Project
Saturday, May 13 @ 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.: The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) will host a naturalization clinic at the Little River United Church of Christ (8410 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003) on an appointment basis. Community members can schedule an appointment by calling the NAKASEC office at 703-256-2208 no later than May 10. Spaces are limited and appointments will be taken on a first-come-first-serve basis. Community members should bring the $10 clinic fee in cash or a check made out to NAKASEC to cover the costs of printing. At the clinic, community members will receive assistance in Korean and English with completing citizenship applications (N-400) and an application review by an immigration lawyer tor qualified legal representative. Please click here to view a flyer with a list of documents and information to prepare in advance of your appointment, along with a $725 check or money order.
Wednesday, May 17 @ 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET: SAMHSA Webinar on AANHPI Boys and Men: Behavioral Health and Best Practices. With Kevin Nadal, Ph.D, President of AAPA
Wednesday, May 24 @ 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Conquering Hepatitis B! A Roadmap for a Cure. Congressional Briefing hosted by Hepatitis B Foundation, AAPCHO and the National Viral Hepatitis RoundTable. Cannon HOB. RSVP to [email protected].
Friday, May 26: AAPCHO 2nd Annual AA&NHPI Health Center Summit. San Francisco, Calif.
Wednesday, May 31 - Friday, June 2: People & Places 2017 in Arlington, Va. With National CAPACD + Partners.
Thursday, July 13 - Sunday, July 16: 14th Annual SABA North America Convention. D.C.
OPPORTUNITIES
Executive Director Openings
APALA and IAPALA Executive Director
Job and Internship Openings
External (including Hill) opportunities
Other Opportunities
NAPBA seeks a volunteer General Counsel. More information.
AARP is accepting nominations for its 2nd Annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Hero Awards to recognize the extraordinary staff and volunteers of nonprofit organizations that serve Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) age 50-plus.
Have a story to tell as an #AAPI journalist? Tell the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) about it and you could present at #AAJA17 for a cash prize!
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