AAPIs and the 2013 Budget

Earlier this year, in his State of the Union Address, President Obama laid out his blueprint for an America Built to Last.  This week, the President followed up on those remarks with a Budget for fiscal year 2013 that illustrates how we put that blueprint to work.  At the core of the President’s Budget is the need to grow our economy and restore middle-class security.  It is built around the idea that our country does best when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.

President Obama delivers remarks on the FY 2013 Budget at Northern Virginia Community College, in Annandale, Va., Feb. 13, 2012.  Annandale’s population is almost one-quarter AAPI.

(Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

The Administration is dedicated to addressing the multi-layered challenges affecting the diverse subgroups and communities that make up the more than 14 million AAPIs.

To construct an economy that is built to last and provides security for AAPI families, the 2013 Budget will:

• Support the DREAM Act;
• Strengthen Anti-Discrimination Enforcement;
• Promote Citizenship and Integration;
• Take Immediate Action to Support Growth and Job Creation;
• Give Every American a Fair Shot at Success by Improving and Reforming K-12 Education, among many more priorities that will positively affect the AAPI community.

Read more about how the President’s 2013 Budget will promote economic security for AAPI families by clicking here.

“What’s Your Story?” Video Contest Finalists Announced!

We asked AAPIs across the country to share their inspiring stories in the “What’s Your Story?” Video Challenge, and we received over 200 creative, engaging, and powerful video submissions. After much deliberation, we have announced the 11 finalists for the Video Challenge. You can view these 11 videos at www.whitehouse.gov/whatsyourstory.

From now until March 1, we want all of you to watch and vote for their favorite videos (one vote per email). We’ll be inviting a select number of the finalists to the White House as Champions of Change in Mid-March.

Congratulations to the finalists, and good luck! Your stories were truly inspiring!

(Source: www.whitehouse.gov/whatsyourstory)

USCIS Engages with Chinese Americans on Paths to Citizenship

On February 16, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) expanded its multilingual outreach by hosting a public session in Mandarin and Cantonese to help Chinese-speaking immigrants learn how to apply for citizenship and immigration benefits.  Titled Jiao Liu (which means “engagement” in Mandarin), the event took place at the USCIS San Francisco Field Office, and brought together Chinese-speaking immigrants in person, via teleconference, and through live web stream.

Ivan Fong, General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and a member of WHIAAPI’s Interagency Working Group, reflected on the importance of this event in his White House blog, USCIS Engages Chinese-Speaking Immigrants with “Jiao Liú”.

Every year, over 650,000 immigrants take the momentous step of becoming U.S. citizens. In doing so, they pledge their allegiance to the United States because they believe in its core values of freedom and opportunity and in the democratic principles upon which our Nation was founded. For many of these new citizens, one of the most significant challenges they have had to overcome to build a new life in America and to pass the naturalization test was to learn English … I am therefore extremely pleased that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is expanding its multilingual outreach by hosting public sessions in Mandarin and Cantonese to help Chinese-speaking immigrants learn how to apply for citizenship and immigration benefits.

To read the rest of Ivan’s blog, click here.

Each “Jiao Liu” will focus on a specific immigration or citizenship topic and include a question and answer session with USCIS officials.  For more information on future “Jiao Liu” events, please email USCIS at public.engagement@dhs.gov  and write “Jiao Liu” in the subject line.  To learn more about USCIS’s citizenship resources, please visit www.uscis.gov/citizenship.

Have Small Business Questions? Join Us for SBA 101!

On February 22, from 3:00-4:00PM EST, join us for the next session in our Weekly Web Chat Series titled “SBA 101”.  This will be the first of two webinars in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and will highlight SBA’s resources that support entrepreneurs and small businesses.  This will be an opportunity to chat with officials from SBA and learn about major programs that provide access to capital, expand opportunities for federal contracting, and more.

Weekly web chats take place every Wednesday from 3:00-4:00PM EST.  If you would like to participate, e-mailWhiteHouseAAPI@ed.gov with “RSVP for 2/22 Chat” in the heading by February 21, at 12:00PM EST.  Login details will be emailed to registrants.

Other Agency Announcements

On Feb 1, 2012, the Department of Education (ED) launched the National Education Startup Challenge, asking students to develop innovative, real world solutions to improve education.  Students from across the country are invited to submit a business plan and a video pitch for a for-profit or non-profit startup that includes an innovative strategy, product or service designed to address one of these four topics:  middle school completion, internship/learning opportunities, college affordability, and college completion.  Winning students will be celebrated by senior White House and Department of Education officials, and may qualify for additional recognition opportunities.  Submission deadline is May 1, 2012.  For more information and application details, click here.

On February 18, from 2-4PM EST, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program will host Secretary of Veterans Affairs General Eric Shinseki for their Annual Day of Remembrance.  The year 2012 marks 70 years since the signing of Executive Order 9066, the action that led to the internment of more than 110,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.  The event will take place at the Warner Brothers Theater in the National Museum of American History.  Click here for more information.

(Source: Smithsonian APA Program)

On March 1, the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC) will kick off Women’s History Month with an event honoring women innovators.  “Women Entrepreneurs: Celebrating the Past, Inventing the Future” will take place from 9:00AM to 12:00PM EST at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, VA.  The celebration will be followed by a public meeting of the NWBC from 1:15PM to 4:00PM EST.  To register for either event, please click here to fill out the registration form by no later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 29.  For more information on the day’s events, click here.

The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting comments on their Draft Publication: Creating Equitable, Healthy, and Sustainable Communities by March 1, 2012.  Communities across the country are developing approaches to achieve development that is healthy, economically and environmentally sustainable, and beneficial for all residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, and income.  This publication aims to help low-income, minority, tribal, and overburdened communities implement their own versions of equitable development.  To read the draft, click here.  To submit your comments, click here.

In the fall of 2011, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders launched the “What’s your story?” video challenge. The challenge aimed to highlight the personal stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) across the country who have impacted their community through their dreams, experiences, and dedication to a cause.

Ultimately, we received over 200 unique and inspiring stories. Each video shines a light on the important work happening around the country. And they remind us what makes this community so strong. From these submissions, we have chosen the top 11 video entrees based on strength of content and creativity.

Now we need your help. Please help us by watching these 11 video submissions at www.whitehouse.gov/whatsyourstory and voting for the story that most inspires you. The deadline for voting is March 1, 2012.

After you select your favorite video we will choose a group of these exceptional AAPI leaders to share their stories at the White House as special guests at a White House Initiative event in March. Please take some time to watch and share these inspiring stories.

Will you sign up to be a member of the Truth Team? www.BarackObama.com/truthteam

OBAMA FOR AMERICA LAUNCHES THE TRUTH TEAM TO PROMOTE THE PRESIDENT’S ACHIEVEMENTS AND HOLD REPUBLICANS ACCOUNTABLE

Chicago, IL – Today, Obama for America announced the launch of the Truth Team, a new national effort by President Obama supporters online and on the ground to promote the President’s achievements, respond to attacks on his record and hold the eventual Republican nominee accountable. More than a million people took action as part of the Fight the Smears initiative during the 2008 campaign; the goal of the Truth Team is to double that number, reaching two million grassroots supporters who will communicate the President’s record and fight back against attacks before the Democratic National Convention this fall.

Beginning today with events across the country and continuing through the election, the Truth Team will engage grassroots supporters to spread the truth about the President’s record and respond to Republican attacks. The program will be housed at BarackObama.com/TruthTeam, with individual websites - KeepingHisWord.com, KeepingGOPHonest.com, and AttackWatch.com – serving as quick, comprehensive resources to help set the record straight. Designed to put responsibility for spreading the truth in the hands of the President’s supporters, the websites contain videos and information on the President’s record, and fact checks on Republican claims about the President and themselves. The sites also contain tools for sharing materials via Facebook, Twitter and email, and empowers supporters to take further action by volunteering, writing letters to the editor, sending postcards to undecided voters with information about the President’s record, and more. The goal is to ensure that when Republicans attack President Obama’s record, grassroots supporters can take ownership of the campaign and share the facts with the undecided voters in their lives.

Republican Super PACs have committed to spend a half billion dollars on negative ads to defeat the President. But from the start, the Obama for America campaign has relied on grassroots supporters to spread the truth, and today’s announcement builds on and expands that effort.

Truth Teams will be announced today in many states including Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina and Wisconsin with events being held in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia.  National supporters including the National Education Association (NEA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and the United Steelworkers Union (USW) will be participating in this effort.

To find out more about the Truth Team, please visit: Barackobama.com/TruthTeam

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO: Founded in 1992, the
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO, is the first and
only national organization of Asian Pacific American (APA) union members.
APALA unites generations of Asian Pacific Americans and labor activists in
advocating for worker, immigrant, and civil rights.

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Education Fund: The APALA Education
Fund will educate Asian Pacific Americans and the broader public regarding
rights in the workplace; host forums with the goal of educating the public,
policy leaders and public officials regarding the working conditions of and
challenges for the Asian Pacific American community; and to promote civic
engagement and participation among the community.

INTERNSHIP DESCRIPTION

APALA is seeking interns with a strong commitment to social justice and
worker rights for our national office, located in Washington D.C.
Internships are available year-round and APALA is flexible on start and end
dates. There are full-time and part-time internships available. At least a
two-month commitment is required. Depending on individual interests, APALA
interns will have the opportunity to work on a host of projects, including,
but not limited to the following:

Political: Conduct research on APA voter behavior, develop election
materials and work with local, state & national partners on beginning to
build “Every Vote Counts”-2012 Political Program;

Communications: Draft media advisories, press releases, opinion
editorials & Letters to the Editor, monitor coverage of APA worker issues,
and update APALA facebook, twitter & website;

Research: Conduct research on APA worker history and co-author report
from local workers rights hearings;

 Organizing: Plan & implement campaign that engages APA students & young
workers and support the planning of student & young worker Organizing
Institute; and

Legislative: Assist in producing legislative materials summarizing the
impact on APA workers and support APALA staff on organizing congressional
briefings.

REQUIREMENTS

Eligible candidates must have completed at least two years of college.
College graduates and graduate-level students are also encouraged to
apply. Candidates with less formal education, but with relevant
experience, will also be considered

Preferred qualifications include: leadership, student or community
organizing, detail-oriented, excellent interpersonal skills and strong
writing abilities.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

COMPENSATION

Depending on experience, a small financial stipend can be provided to
full-time interns. Academic credit can often be arranged for part-time
interns as APALA internships often offer direct exposure to the workings of
labor and non-profit organization, close supervision by APALA staff,
interaction with labor, community, & student activists and opportunities to
attend lectures, trainings, and special events relating to worker,
immigrant & civil rights. Students should check with their individual
academic institutions for requirements.

HOW TO APPLY

First, visit our website (http://www.apalanet.org). Then submit the
following : (1) your résumé, (2) a cover letter, (3) state if you would
like to apply to be a full-time or part-time intern and your top 2 project
choices (Communications, Research, Organizing, Political & Legislative) and
(4) 3 references to [apalajobs@gmail.com]. Email subject shall state “APALA
2012 Internship”. Please no phone calls, faxes or mail in applications.

APALA is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, women, gay,
lesbian, bisexual, transgender and differently-abled people are strongly
encouraged to apply.

The goal of this roundtable was to highlight VA’s work in leveraging partnerships with the AAPI community.  Hosted by Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the roundtable gathered high-level Veterans Affairs officials, other federal leaders, and representatives from the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Japanese American Citizen League, National Alliance for Filipino Veterans, National Filipino Veterans for Equity, National Organization of Chamorro Veterans in America, and others, in discussions of great importance to AAPI veterans: data collection, access to healthcare, and veterans benefits.

This roundtable could not have come at a more crucial time, as the data from the 2010 Census revealed that AAPIs are one of the fastest growing racial groups in this country.  Among the nearly 17 million AAPIs across the nation, there are over 265,000 Asian American veterans and 28,000 Native Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander veterans.

Over the past three years, the President has provided unprecedented levels of funding to help veterans.  And Secretary Shinseki and his team have worked tirelessly to ensure that VA is doing all it can do to ensure that veterans are receiving the services and benefits they have earned, and that they receive this support in a timely manner.

In recent months, the President has announced a series of new initiatives to help veterans.  At the end of 2011, the President signed into law the Returning Heroes Tax Credit, which provides firms that hire unemployed veterans with a maximum credit of $5,600 per veteran, and the Wounded Warriors Tax Credit, which offers firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities with a maximum credit of $9,600 per veteran.  The President also announced a series of initiatives designed to give veterans additional career development support, including the Veteran Gold Card, which entitles veterans to six months of personalized case management, assessments and counseling, as well as the Veterans Job Bank, a tool to help veterans find job postings from companies looking to hire them.

In last week’s State of the Union address, the President proposed the creation of a Veterans Job Corps, which would help veterans find jobs as police officers or fire fighters.  And just this week, the First Lady, Secretary Shinseki, and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced new rules that would make it easier for military families to take time off from their jobs to care for wounded service members.

In the State of the Union address, the President made clear that supporting our veterans ensures that “America is as strong as those who have defended her.”  At the White House Initiative on AAPIs, we embrace this shared commitment, and will continue to ensure that AAPIs—including our brave and honorable AAPI service members and veterans—play an important role in an America “Built to Last”.
Posted by Chris Lu on February 01, 2012 at 02:53 PM EST

Chris Lu is Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary and serves as Co-chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisLu44.

A Commitment to AAPI Veterans

On January 31, WHIAAPI, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs, held a roundtable to discuss the Obama Administration’s commitment to AAPI veterans. Hosted by Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the roundtable gathered high-level Veterans Affairs officials, other federal leaders, and community advocates to discuss issues of great importance to AAPI veterans: data collection, access to healthcare, and veterans’ benefits.

Credit: Karen Ho Chaves, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
WHIAAPI Co-chair Chris Lu reflected on the roundtable in his blog entitled, An Unwavering Commitment to Asian American and Pacific Islander Veterans.

This roundtable could not have come at a more crucial time, as the data from the 2010 Census revealed that AAPIs are one of the fastest growing racial groups in this country … Over the past three years, the President has provided unprecedented levels of funding to help veterans.  And Secretary Shinseki and his team have worked tirelessly to ensure that VA is doing all it can do to ensure that veterans are receiving the services and benefits they have earned, and that they receive this support in a timely manner… In the State of the Union address, the President made clear that supporting our veterans ensures that “America is as strong as those who have defended her.”  At the White House Initiative on AAPIs, we embrace this shared commitment, and will continue to ensure that AAPIs—including our brave and honorable AAPI service members and veterans—play an important role in an America “Built to Last”. 

Read the rest of Chris’ blog here.  And follow him on Twitter @ChrisLu44.

A Commitment to AAPI Students

On February 1, WHIAAPI launched its Weekly Web Chat Series to provide the opportunity for AAPIs across the country to interact with Administration officials, ask questions, and share concerns and ideas on how our government can effectively work with you.  The first week’s focus was on the Obama Administration’s Efforts to Alleviate Student Debt.  Participants heard from the White House, U.S. Department of Education, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau about federal income-based repayment programs, college cost comparisons, federal student financial aid, and other programs.  You may find a list of websites to assist with managing student debt at the bottom of this email.

• The next web chat will be held on Wednesday, February 8, from 3:00-4:00 pm EST and will focus on How Federal Policies Impact AAPI Immigrant and Refugee Communities.  If you would like to take part in this call, email WhiteHouseAAPI@ed.govwith “RSVP for 2/8 Call” in the heading by Feb. 7, at 12:00 pm EST.  Call-in details will be emailed to registrants.
• Also this week, WHIAAPI, in partnership with the Office of Postsecondary Education, hosted a webinar and conference call training for higher education institutions interested in designation as Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).   Program officers from the Department of Education presented on application processes and eligibility requirements.  Nearly 60 representatives from institutions across the nation attended the call.

• To apply for AANAPISI designation or other grants for your institution of higher learning, read the Federal Register notice here, and the U.S. Department of Education application page here.  The deadline for application is February 10, 2012.

A Commitment to AAPI Small Businesses

On Monday, February 6, the White House will host a briefing for AAPI business leaders on President Obama’s priorities to support small businesses to create jobs and grow the economy.  Officials from the White House Business Council, Department of Commerce, and Small Business Administration will speak with participants about ensuring that AAPIs are engaged with their agencies’ policies.  Watch a livestream from 3:00 – 4:30pm EST at www.whitehouse.gov/live.
 

Other Agency Announcements

• National CLAS Standards Conference Call: On February 9, at 3:00 pm EST, WHIAAPI and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will hold a conference call to discuss HHS’ recent revisions to the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (National CLAS Standards).  This discussion will illustrate how the CLAS Standards can be used as a road map for introducing and implementing the concepts and strategies related to cultural and linguistic competence.  Please call 800-369-3192 (Passcode: 5668338) to join the call.  To receive presentation slides prior to the call, please RSVP to WhiteHouseAAPI@ed.gov by 5:00 pm EST on Wednesday, February 8 with your name, title, organization, and email.

• Public Comment Notice: The Federal Transit Administration has released a notice of proposed rulemaking and request for public comment on changes to their New Starts/ Small Starts Program.  The New Starts program is the federal government’s primary financial resource for supporting locally-planned, implemented, and operated transit “guideway” capital investments.  In the recently released notice, FTA is looking to adjust the criteria for choosing New Start/Small Starts projects to better capture the wide range of benefits of transit projects, including economic development and environmental impacts.  For more information, click here, and to read the Federal Register posting, click here.

 Resources to Alleviate Student Debt

• Help Americans Manage Student Loan Debt – Fact sheet on how the Obama Administration is helping Americans manage student debt.
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – Resource page housing student loan information and student debt repayment assistant
• Know Before You Owe for Student Loans – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is encouraging colleges to make financial aid offers easy to understand and comparable.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – Application used by colleges to determine eligibility for federal, state, and college-sponsored financial aid.
• College Navigator – College comparison tool provided by the Institute of Education Sciences refining college searches based on college location, majors, degree level and type of institution
• College Scorecard – White House tool to assist prospective students and their families in comparing college costs, graduation rates, ability to repay student loan debt, and earnings potential
• Income-based Repayment Plan – This site lists the eligibility requirements, the benefits of and examples of lowered payments for the Income-based repayment plan.
• National Education Startup Challenge – Competition for applicants with innovative education startup ideas
• National Student Loan Data System – This site provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants so that recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data

Rep. Mike Honda, DNC Vice Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Emeritus:

“Pete Hoekstra’s Super Bowl campaign ad, is a despicable example of Republican race-baiting cloaked in the guise of genuine political debate and, quite simply, is offensive to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Hoekstra stoops to using racial stereotypes and fails to engage honestly and credibly on the issues. The only point of an ad like this is to gin up anti-Asian American sentiment at a time when we need to be united as a nation in order to move all Americans forward.

There’s no room—anytime, anywhere—for this kind of ignorance and intolerance in campaigning or governing. The hard-working families of Michigan deserve real debate and real solutions. Sadly, Pete Hoekstra’s latest ad clearly demonstrates that he lacks the values and vision to move Michigan forward. Hoekstra merely offers the kind of ignorance and intolerance that harms every single family in Michigan and beyond.”

Bel Leong-Hong, DNC AAPI Caucus Chair:

Moreover, Bel Leong-Hong, the DNC AAPI Caucus Chair, stated “Ads like these that play on fear and racial stereotypes must never be tolerated. We must focus on the economic issues at hand, because the people of Michigan deserve better. Our nation deserves better representatives in Congress who can stick to the issues and not use harmful, divisive measures for political gain.”

for the Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Reception

at the 2012 California Democrats State Convention

API Caucus with co-hosts:

Filipino American Democratic Caucus
Hon. John Chaing, State Controller and Candidate for State Treasurer
Hon. Jay Chen, Candidate for Congress• Hon. Sukhee Kang, Candidate for Congress
Hon. Mark Takano, Candidate for Congress• Hon. Rob Bonta, Candidate for Assembly
Hon. Edwin Chau, Candidate for Assembly• Hon. Al Muratsuchi, Candidate for Assembly
Dr. Jennifer Ong, Candidate for Assembly •Dr.Anthony Rendon, Candidate for Assembly
Filipinos for Obama • Korean American Democratic Committee
California Young Democrats Asian Pacific Islander Caucus

California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus
2012 California Democrats State Convention Reception

Friday, February 10, 2012
7:30-9:30 PM

Hotel Solamar – Luna Loft
435 6th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101
(Cross streets: J Street and 6th Street)

RSVP on facebook here

For more information, contact Melissa Ramoso at mramoso@gmail.com or (562) 353-7075.

For more information about the CDP API Caucus, please visit: www.apicaucus.com.

*Candidates as reception co-hosts do not imply or denote endorsement by CDP or by CDP API Caucus;
titles are for identification purposes only.