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APAICS May 2012 newsletter
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PRESIDENT OBAMA ADDRESSES MORE THAN A THOUSAND
ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER LEADERS AT
APAICS AWARDS GALA
Congressional Leaders, Federal Appointees, Celebrities, Community Leaders Gather to Celebrate Political Strength of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - In commemoration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, President Barack Obama gave the keynote address at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) 18th Annual Gala Awards Dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington on Tuesday, May 8, 2012.
Prior to the President's address, CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu elevated the room's energy by sharing her story as the first Chinese American woman in Congress and speaking about the AAPI community's current political growth.
Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, who co-founded APAICS, welcomed President Obama to the stage. The energy was at an all-time high as the President shared stories of living in Hawai'i and Indonesia and how the night's gala felt like a homecoming. President Obama eloquently spoke of the community's diversity from native communities to immigrant stories. The President addressed our rich history in the U.S. of both resilience in the face of discrimination as well as achievement and leadership, and also spoke of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
CAPAC Chair Emeritus Rep. Mike Honda thanked the President and praised his keynote address.
"It's a very special occasion to have the President address our community's rising leaders at this annual gathering," said APAICS president and CEO Gloria Chan. "In the four decades since the first Asian American became mayor of a major U.S. city, the ranks of AAPI political leaders at all levels of government have grown by leaps and bounds, in part thanks to
President Obama."
Chan commended President Obama's record of appointing an unprecedented number of Asian American and Pacific Islander leaders to senior positions in his Administration - including three to his Cabinet - and doubling the number of AAPI federal judges, two of whom attended the evening's festivities, namely the Honorable Jacqueline Nguyen, the first AAPI female appointed to a federal appellate bench and The Honorable Denny Chin, a circuit court judge also nominated by President Obama and confirmed in 2010. An increasing number of AAPI leaders have become more involved in the political process since APAICS was founded, a trend that continued throughout both the Clinton and Bush Administrations.
With over 1,000 attendees, APAICS was honored to celebrate 18 years of leadership in the AAPI community by presenting awards to unparalleled leaders: Floyd Mori, national executive director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), Karen Narasaki, immediate past president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), and the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, a coalition of 30 Asian Pacific American organizations around the country, with the Community Leadership Award. APAICS was also honored to award another community leader, C.C. Yin, McDonald's Owner/Operator, founder of Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association (APAPA), and co-founder of the Asian McDonald's Operators Association (AMOA), who was presented with the night's Corporate Achievement Award.
  
Prior to the gala program, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) hosted the VIP Reception, welcoming the evening's VIPs including Members of U.S. Congress.
Members and guests present at the gala included President Pro Tempore Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (HI), and his wife Irene Hirano, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32), Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15), Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-08), Rep. Xavier Becerra (CA-31), Rep. Madaleine Bordallo (GU), Rep. Eni Faleomavaega (AS), Rep. Mazie Hirono (HI-02), Rep. Al Green (TX-09), Rep. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (MP), Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-09), Rep. John Larson (CT-01),
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Rep. Charles Gonzalez (TX-20), and Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY-06).
APAICS co-founders Secretary Norm Mineta and Rep. Robert Underwood (GU), California State Controller John Chiang, and Member of the California State Board of Equalization Betty Yee also joined over a dozen state and local elected officials at the gala, including Washington State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, chair of the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators (NAPACSL), and Vice Mayor of Campbell, Evan Low, president of the Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials (APAMO).
Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta at the US Department of Interior and Assistant Secretary Howard Koh at the US Department of Health and Human Services attended along with dozens of federal appointees. Daphne Kwok, former APAICS executive director and current chair of President Obama's Advisory Commission on AAPIs was joined by her fellow Commissioners at the festivities.
 Hollywood's finest also attended the APAICS gala celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The following stars were among the night's celebrities: gala celebrity host Leonardo Nam of The Fast and Furious 3: Tokyo Drift, actress Grace  Park of Hawai'i Five-0, James Kyson of Heroes, former Olympian Michelle Kwan, Dante Basco of Hook, MSNBC Dayside Anchor Richard Lui, host of PBS's America Revealed Yul Kwon, comedian Dan Nainan, American Idol contestant Heejun Han who sang the national anthem
at the gala, host of Windy City Live Billy Dec, co-founder and co-chair of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) Wenda Fong, and comedians Tou Ger Xiong and Jenny Yang.
 
The gala also highlighted APAICS's programs of leadership building. APAICS alumni crowded the stage as APAICS Fellow Moh Sharma shared her invaluable experience as an AAPI leader working as a full-time staff member for the past nine months in Rep. Judy Chu's office in Washington, D.C.
At the end of the night, APAICS Board Chair Jim Park welcomed the new Board Chair Susan Jin Davis, Vice President of Strategic Services - Communications and Data Services of Comcast Cable. Jin Davis captured the room's attention while sharing her vision for the further development of APAICS and to support the growing political strength of the AAPI community across the country.
"As Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are fastest growing in population and as we see record breaking political engagement, I am honored to be voted by my colleagues as the new chair of the
APAICS Board," said Jin Davis. "With increased interest in serving in public office from our community, I am looking forward to continuing to strengthen our community's leadership during this historic moment. I thank our outgoing chairman, Jim Park, for his leadership and commitment to this important mission."
APAICS shared appreciation for its sponsors for the evening. The gold sponsor of the gala awards dinner was Walmart. Silver sponsors of the evening were AARP, Comcast/NBCUniversal, State Farm, the Asian Real Estate Association of America, and Southwest Airlines. Bronze sponsors were the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Association of Realtors, Toyota, AMGEN, General Motors, McDonald's, Anheuser-Busch, and Google. Supporters of the evening were AT&T, Raytheon, Hilton, BP America, CTA, CBS, CIT, National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers, National Education Association, Nielsen, News Corporation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Verizon, Knowledge Advantage Inc., Beekman Advisors, AFSCME, NCAA, and Wells Fargo.
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RECORD NUMBER
OF AAPI POLITICAL CANDIDATES PROMPTS FORMATION OF NATIONAL
"APAICS LEADERSHIP NETWORK"
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2012 Congressional Races Include Historically High Number of AAPI Candidates from Both Parties; Rising Generation of 25 Could Affect Balance of
Power in Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. - To capitalize on the recent, dramatic increase of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) elected officials and candidates, state and federal AAPI legislators from across the country have formed the "APAICS Leadership Network," a new membership organization affiliated with the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS). The network launched the same day that President Barack Obama keynoted the 18th Annual APAICS Gala Awards Dinner, on Tuesday, May 8, at the Ritz Carlton in Washington, D.C.
In the 2008 and 2010 election cycles, six to eight AAPI candidates ran for Congress. This year, the number has tripled to 25 challenger candidates - one running for the Senate and at least two dozen contending for the House - making the AAPI community crucial in the battles to control Congress. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have also seen the fastest and most dramatic increases in their numbers in the last 10 years, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.
The APAICS Leadership Network is the first of its kind to unite AAPI elected and appointed officials, incumbents and challengers from across the political spectrum. It will provide support and training to AAPI policymakers and candidates. The network is affiliated with APAICS, which promotes civic participation and leadership development.
"There can no longer be any question about the political clout of the Asian American community - the time for an AAPI leadership network has come," said Congresswoman Judy Chu, a founding board member of the APAICS Leadership Network and chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Chu first ran for office in 1985, when she sought and won a seat on the local school board. In July 2009, she was elected to represent California's 32nd District and became the first American woman of Chinese descent to serve in the U.S. Congress.
Congressman Mike Honda, an APAICS Leadership Network co-founder is currently serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 15th District. Born in California in the 1940s, he spent his early childhood with other Americans of Japanese descent in an internment camp in Colorado, before beginning his political career in the 1980s.
"When I first started, reaching Congress seemed like a far-off dream - there were only seven Asian Americans in the House then," said Congressman Honda. "Today, there are 10 Asian American and Pacific Islander Members of Congress - and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) has 42 Members and associates. That's a testament to the persistence, enthusiasm and sheer will of the community to get and stay involved in the mainstream political process of this country."
Political Landscape
Currently, two AAPIs serve in the U.S. Senate and 10 serve in the U.S. House of Representatives (including delegates from American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands). Since 1903, there have been five AAPI U.S. Senators and 21 AAPI U.S. Representatives along with 20 Delegates and Resident Commissioners representing territories. They have come from a mix of ancestries, states and party affiliations.
Founders of the APAICS Leadership Network see involvement at the local and state levels as important to increasing Asian American and Pacific Islander political participation at the federal level.
"Making sure local excitement leads to cadres of AAPI policymakers at the state and federal level is a key goal of the APAICS Leadership Network," said Washington State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos, chair of the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators and a founding board member of the network. "Politics is a tough business and this network will help us ensure that, through mentoring, networking and support, no AAPI leader falls through the cracks."
"As more and more AAPIs get interested in and run for local and state offices, they become role models which in turn fuels the next generation of AAPI policymakers," said Evan Low, founding board member and the president of the National League of Cities' Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials.
Congressional Candidates
The 25 AAPI challenger candidates running in the 2012 Congressional elections represent a large and diverse swath of the AAPI community. At least eight are Indian American, four are Chinese American, three are Japanese American, two are Korean American, and there is one each who is Hmong American, Taiwanese American and Native Hawaiian. Another three are mixed race. Four candidates are Republican, with the remainder running as Democrats. In addition to Asian American hub states like California, Hawaii, Michigan, New York and Texas, the candidates also hail from Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Washington.
Ten of the AAPI congressional contenders are on the national party committees' radar screens as key races because they could alter the balance of power in the next Congress. They are Senate candidate Mazie Hirono, House candidates Ricky Gill, Ami Bera, Mark Takano,Tammy Duckworth, Manan Trivedi, emerging candidates Blong Xiong and Nathan Shinagawa, and Steve Hobbs and Darshan Rauniyar who are vying in a crowded primary for a targeted seat. (Click here for more information about key races with AAPI
candidates.)
ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER
2012 CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES
*Mazie Hirono (D), U.S. Senate HI
*Dr. Ami Bera (D), CA-07
*Ranjit "Ricky" Gill (R), CA-09
*Blong Xiong (D), CA-21
*Otto Lee (D), CA-22
*Justin Kim (D), CA-31
*Sukhee Kang (D), CA-45
*Jay Chen (D), CA-39
*Mark Takano (D), CA-41
*Vipin Verma (D), FL-06
*Charles Djou (R), HI-01
*Muliufi Francis "Mufi" Hannemann (D), HI-02
*Tulsi Gabbard (D), HI-02
*Esther Kia'aina (D), HI-02
*Tammy Duckworth (D), IL-08
*Dr. Syed Taj (D), MI-11
*Upendra Chivukula (D), NJ-07
*Grace Meng (D), NY-06
*Nathan Shinagawa (D), NY-23
*Dr. Manan Trivedi (D), PA-06
*Ron Bhalla (R), TN-3
*Joe Chow (R), TX-06
*K.P. George (D), TX-22
*Steve Hobbs (D), WA-01
*Darshan Rauniyar (D), WA-01
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APAICS LAUNCHES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AT INAUGURAL AWARDS CEREMONY |
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APAICS Alumni Councilmember Mark Pulido and Commerce Appointee Victoria Tung Honored at Inaugural Alumni Awards Breakfast in Washington, D.C.
On May 8, APAICS was honored to recognize the accomplishments of two distinguished alumni: Cerritos City Councilmember Mark Pulido with the Trailblazer Award and Victoria Tung with the Horizon Award at the inaugural APAICS Alumni Awards Breakfast in Washington, D.C.
As alumni poured into the Rayburn House Office Building, the room was filled with laughter and smiles. Alumni from all classes embraced as they reconnected for the first time in years and greeted new alumni with excitement.
Former Fellow and current APAICS President and CEO Gloria Chan gave a warm welcome to her fellow alumni who traveled across the country to reunite formally for the first time as an alumni association.
APAICS co-founder Secretary Norm Mineta danced up to the podium before giving his opening remarks to APAICS alumni, reminiscent of the previous night's festivities at the APAICS Entertainment Night at the Kennedy Center. Secretary Mineta's eyes were filled with pride as he addressed alumni at all points of their careers.
During the breakfast ceremony, Kendee Yamaguchi, former APAICS intern and current executive director of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, beamed with enthusiasm as she announced the launch of the national APAICS Alumni Association.
"For many of us, our dedication to public service began here in Washinton, D.C.," said Kendee. "With the newly launched Alumni Association, that same spirit will connect us wherever we may go."
Alumni classes from 1995 to this year's class of 2012 will be able to connect regardless of distance or time. Alumni can look towards the Association for mentorship opportunities and to build meaningful, professional relationships.
As the breakfast continued, Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA-39) presented her friend, constituent, and APAICS alumnus Cerritos City Councilmember Mark Pulido with the APAICS Trailblazer Award. In 1996, as an intern of APAICS, then known as CAPACI, Councilmember Pulido first came out to the nation's capital to explore opportunities, but left with the inspiration to run for elected office, and soon after became the first Filipino American student body president at UCLA. Pulido later served for a decade as a school board member on the ABC Unified School District before his election onto the Cerritos City Council.
"I encourage each and every one of you to consider running for public office," says Councilmember Pulido. "I made my life dream of giving back to my hometown a reality. I want to be there for you. We have this opportunity to forge a better future for our families."
APAICS alumna Victoria Tung was then presented with the Horizon Award by Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15). Victoria's dedication to strengthening the political pipeline first started during her fellowship in Congressman Honda's office. Victoria has mentored countless of up-and-coming AAPI students and young leaders. Despite her countless hours devoted to the Office of the Secretary in the U.S. Department of Commerce, Victoria always makes herself available to APAICS interns and fellows and others in the community. Her work ethic and passion has helped pave a path for those behind her in the public service pipeline.
Victoria moved the room with tears as she accepted her award. "APAICS and Congressman Honda saw the potential in me and gave me the opportunity to grow, learn and succeed on Capitol Hill," said Tung. "As we reflect on our professional and leadership paths, I hope we take a second to always remember how we can provide those opportunities to others, to constantly be mentors and teachers and to support amazing programs like APAICS."
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APAICS WELCOMES OVER ONE HUNDRED AAPI ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR TRAINING IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
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APAICS National Leadership Academy Hosts Largest AAPI Leadership Training for Elected and Appointed Officials and Community Leaders with
Host Sponsor Walmart
APAICS was proud to support the growing interest of political engagement of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community by hosting its 12th National Leadership Academy on May 6-7, 2012, in Washington, D.C. The host sponsor of this event was Walmart.
This year's National LeadershipAcademy was historic. Over 100 participants traveled to the nation's capital for the training. Participants represented 37 states and 4 US Territories, bringing with them new challenges and insight into public service from their respective communities. The participants' family origins were from 15 different countries, making them the most diverse group of participants in the Academy's history. The participants of the training included over two dozen state and local elected and appointed officials. The training was held in partnership with the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators and the Asian Pacific American Municipal officials.
The national training was inspirational. Elected and appointed officials connected organically with community leaders interested in a future in public service. With the qualified trainers and presenters, participants walked away with new skills to better serve their communities.
Keynote speaker California State Controller John Chiang captured the feeling in the room as he inspired participants to take on new leadership roles for their community. "It is not just about winning elections, it's about doing what you love, and about doing what's right for the community," shared Controller Chiang. When asked about the fear of losing elections, he said, "The fear of losing is great, but you won't know how great you could be until you are faced with failure."
A substantial part of the nonpartisan two-day training helped participants fine-tune their communication strategies. Participants' attention was glued to head trainer Tom Bacote and communication trainer Bill Pritchett, of Community Support LLC, as they developed their public narratives. Keith Kamisugi, Director of Communication of Equal Justice Society, also trained participants to hone in on communicating their unique message. Adam Conner, Manager for Public Policy of Facebook, presented the benefits of utilizing Facebook tools to assist the participants in their fields.
Trainers Parag Mehta and Tom Bacote collaborated to share their expertise in building leadership teams. Christine Chen, acting executive director of APIAVote, captivated the room as she presented on a recent national survey recently conducted on AAPI voters.
Jason Chung of Livingston Group, Madalene Mielke, principal of the Arum Group, LLC, and Caroline Fan, Endorsements Chair of the Asian American Action Fund, shared their expertise on fundraising and endorsements. To close the two-day intensive national training, former Minnesota State Senator and president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) shared her experiences as the first Hmong American woman to be elected to a state legislature; and Washington State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos shared her story as the chair of the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators.
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APAICS HOSTS FIRST ENTERTAINMENT NIGHT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER |
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Leading AAPI Comedians Create an Evening of Laughter with host sponsor Comcast / NBC Universal
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community leaders joined Members of Congress for an evening of laughter for the first-ever APAICS Entertainment Night at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on May 7, 2012.
The Daily Show's Aasif Mandvi headlined the night and was joined by comedic friends, Jenny Yang, Paul "P.K." Kim, Jen Kwok, and Dan Nainan.
Emcee Tou Ger Xiong made the evening memorable when he brought Secretary Norm Mineta, Congressman Mike Honda, Former Minnesota State Rep. Mee Moua, APAICS President and CEO Gloria Chan, and others on the stage for an impromptu dance skit.
Earlier this year, Comcast, our Entertainment Night Host, proudly announced the launch of its Cinema Asian America (CAA) Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/WatchAsianAmerica. Visit the Cinema Asian America Facebook fan page and click the "Like" button to stay in the know about the latest news, events and activities for all Asian-American entertainment. | |
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The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) is a national non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting Asian Pacific American participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office. Founded in 1994 by former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, APAICS serves as a resource to Congress and the general public on issues related to the political advancement of Asian Pacific Americans.
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