Beyond the Model MINORITY 2018 | ASIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION

Beyond the Model MINORITY 2018 | ASIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION

Asian American Federation to Release Analysis of City Government Funding to Social Service Organizations Serving NYC’s Asian American Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                     Thursday, May 21, 2015                                                      

CONTACT:
Howard Shih, (212) 344-5878, x219                                                                         [email protected]

Report shows imbalance in City’s contract awards and dollars to Asian American organizations.

WHO:                    Asian American Federation

WHAT:                The Asian American Federation will release a new analysis of contracts issued by New York City’s social service agencies for the past 13 years.  The report will show that despite Asians now making up close to 15% of New York City’s population, the contract dollars received to serve the Asian American community is less than 1.4% of the contracts and only 3% of the contract dollars given by city agencies.

WHEN:                 TUESDAY, MAY 26TH, AT 11 AM

WHERE:               Asian American Federation Conference Room
                               120 Wall Street, 9th Floor

SPEAKERS:            

  • Linda Lee, Korean Community Services of Metro. New York
  • Shao-Chee Sim, Charles B. Wang Community Health Center
  • Hong Shing Lee, CMP
  • Mohammad Razvi, Council of Peoples Organization
  • Grace Shim, Minkwon Center for Community Action
  • Tenzing Chadotsang, Chhaya Community Development Corporation

RSVP by no later than Tuesday, May 26th, at 8 AM.  RSVP is required for security desk purposes.

ASIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION BOARD APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

New York City.  The Board of Directors of the Asian American Federation (AAF) is delighted to announce the appointment of Jo-Ann Yoo as Executive Director, effective September 1, 2014.  Ms. Yoo’s appointment is the culmination of a strategic review by the AAF Board.  Ms. Yoo previously served as the interim Executive Director at the AAF since January, and was the Managing Director of Community Services since October 2011.

“We are excited to have Jo-Ann take the leadership helm at the Federation,” said George Wang, AAF’s Board Chair.  “Jo-Ann brings years of grassroots advocacy, program development, and fundraising experience, which will be immensely helpful in building the next phase of the Federation,” continued Wang. 
 
“I am honored to be named as the Federation’s next Executive Director,” said Jo-Ann Yoo.  “I am committed to building upon the legacy of Cao O.  I look forward to forging stronger relationships with our member agencies, funders and other partners, and supporting their efforts to serve some of the most vulnerable residents of our City,” added Yoo. 
 
Ms. Yoo succeeds Mr. Cao K. O, the Founder and Executive Director who stepped down last year after 23 years of service.  Prior to the Federation, Ms. Yoo served as the Director of Community Building & Organizing, and the Special Assistant to the Executive Director at Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), and as the Administrative and Special Projects Director at the New York Immigration Coalition.

                                                                                 * * *
The Asian American Federation (AAF) is a 501©(3) organization representing a network of community service agencies in the Northeast working in the fields of health & human services, education, economic development, civic participation, and social justice.  AAF seeks to raise the influence and well-being of the Pan-Asian American community through research, policy advocacy, public awareness and organizational development.

From AAF: State of Asian American Children – National Report and Conference

From our friends at the Asian American Federation comes this announcement:

The Asian American Federation is preparing a first ever national report to examine changes in demographics and socioeconomic status of Asian American children. The report will help us better understand the characteristics and growth of Asian American children, identify family support, as well as financial, educational and health related needs.

A conference to discuss the report’s findings, policy implications and philanthropic responses will be held:

Thursday, March 27, 2014
Time Warner Center, New York City
8:00am breakfast & registration
8:30am program

This full day event will include continental breakfast, plenary sessions, concurrent workshops and a networking reception. Discussion topics include:

  • Early childhood development including health disparities and access to care
  • Health policy that promotes healthy children in Asian American communities
  • Social policy towards working poor families
  • Education policy to promote academic success for at-risk youth
  • Depression and suicide among adolescent females
  • Philanthropy as an advocacy tool

CONFERENCE AGENDA

FEATURED SPEAKERS

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION

 

AAJC Media Advisory: Advancing Justice and Asian American Federation to Present New Data on Asian American Community in the Northeast

Please go here if you would like to register
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
November 18, 2013
CONTACT: Kimberly Goulart

Presentation of findings will discuss population growth, economic diversity, and implications for policy makers
WHAT:
Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the Asian American Federation will present key findings from the New York section of a new report that
documents the social and economic diversity of two of the fastest-growing racial groups in the region:
A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the Northeast, 2013 Members of the media are asked to RSVP to Dana Malone at [email protected]

WHEN:
Thursday, November 21, 2013
12:00pm – 2:00pm  

WHERE:
Asia Society and Museum
725 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10021

WHY:
The AANHPI community is experiencing explosive growth in the Northeast, which is fueling a host of policy concerns including economic access and language barriers. At the same time the growth is leading to unprecedented levels of civic participation, making the AANHPI community a key electorate in metropolitan New York. A Community of Contrasts profiles this incredibly diverse population.

ABOUT:
A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the Northeast, 2013 compiles the latest data on growing Asian American and NHPI communities in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. This is the fifth in a series of reports that strive to make disaggregated data more accessible in order to promote better understanding of our communities, and to help policy makers, government agencies, service providers, and other stakeholders better respond to and serve the needs of Asian American and NHPI communities.
The following sponsors made the report and launch event possible: the
Asia Society and Museum, the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, the Chung Ying Tang Foundation, and Bank of America.
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Asian Americans Advancing Justice
 (www.advancingjustice.org) works to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other underserved communities. We comprise Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC (www.advancingjustice-aajc.org), Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Asian Law Caucus (www.advancingjustice-alc.org), Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago (www.advancingjustice-chicago.org), Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Los Angeles (www.advancingjustice-la.org).

Call to Action and Save the Date! Asian Pacific American New Yorkers Count Talking Transition

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CALL TO ACTION and SAVE THE DATE

Asian Pacific American New Yorkers Count

For the first time in twelve years, New Yorkers will have a new mayor in January 2014.  Asian and Pacific New Yorker are the fastest growing population in our City, a community that provides myriad assets to the vitality of this City. 

As you may have heard, Talking Transition is an open conversation about the future of New York City.  A tent has been set up on Canal Street and Sixth Avenue for New Yorkers to send to our new Mayor and his transition a message of how he can improve our city. 

Please join the Asian American Federation, Asian Americans for Equality and the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families for a “Asian Pacific American New Yorkers Count” session on Friday, November 22, from 12:30pm-1:30pmThis is OUR opportunity to come together and share concerns and priorities of our community, as well as give recommendations to Mayor-Elect de Blasio, his administration and key decision makers. 

In addition to our Talking Transition session, we are asking APA-serving groups to collect messages and letters from your community members, in language, on what services are top priorities or their vision for New York City.  We encourage creativity!  Please bring clients to record a direct message to the Mayor-Elect.

If you are interested in speaking at the Talking Transition session on Friday, November 22nd, please contact Jo-Ann Yoo ([email protected]) or Marissa Martin ([email protected])

Time/Location

Friday, November 22, 12:30pm-1:30pm

(Please arrive a 12:00pm to get a seat)

Duarte Square

Canal Street & 6th Avenue

The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), the nation’s only pan-Asian children’s advocacy organization, aims to improve the health and well-being of Asian Pacific American children and families in New York City.

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AAF: New York State Senate and Assembly Districts Highlight the Growth and Diversity of Asian New Yorkers

AAF Logo 3
 
PRESS RELEASE

Friday, October 25, 2013
For Immediate Release 
Contact: Jo-Ann Yoo
(212) 344-5878, x217
 
New York State Senate and Assembly Districts Highlight
the Growth and Diversity of Asian New Yorkers
 

New York, NY—Today, the Asian American Federation released briefing papers that detail the Asian population, ethnic breakdowns and the major Asian languages spoken in the State Senate and Assembly districts in New York City based on new lines finalized in May 2012.  The briefing papers examine the 65 Assembly districts and 26 Senate districts in New York City. 
 
According to Asian Americans of the Empire State:  Growing Diversity and Common Needs, published by the Asian American Federation earlier this year, New York State is home to the second largest population of Asian Americans.  “While the fastest population growth and the newest communities are in the upstate region, most Asian American New Yorkers live in the New York City metro area,” said Howard Shih, Census Programs Director at the Federation.  “The Asian American community is culturally and economically diverse. 
 
Some of the key highlights from the briefing papers are:
  1. For the first time, one State Senate district is majority Asian.
  2. Three Assembly Districts are now majority Asian, up from only one in 2002.
  3. Chinese is the most spoken language other than English in 5 Assembly Districts and 3 Senate Districts.  Korean is the most spoken language other than English in one Assembly District (District 26).
  4. The second most commonly spoken Asian language group consists of the languages of the fast-growing South Asian population.
“Asian American communities throughout our city are growing and thriving, adding to the rich cultural diversity that makes New York such a wonderful place,” said State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, whose district includes Manhattan’s Chinatown.  Speaker Silver’s district, historically one of the oldest Asian enclaves in the City, is home to almost 60,000 Asian Americans.  “These profiles are valuable tools that allow elected officials to keep track of the demographics of the constituencies we represent,” added Speaker Silver. 
 
According to the Assembly district briefing paper, District 40 in Flushing has the largest Asian population, followed by District 25 in Northeast Queens.  In District 40, 64% of the population is Asian.  “This briefing paper is a tool for elected leaders because it is so important to know what ethnic groups we are serving in our different Assembly districts, and base our services and communications on the needs of different groups.  As the only Asian American elected to a state office and the prime sponsor of Data Disaggregation bill, data breakdowns like this enable the state leaders to provide better access to the services that our constituents deserve.  I will personally be promoting this tool and sharing it with my colleagues in the New York State Assembly so that we can continue to have stronger connections with our state’s growing Asian American community,” said Assemblymember Ron Kim (D. 40). 
 
“By providing information on the diverse and growing communities across the city and in individual districts, we move one step closer to making state government accessible to everyone it serves. I look forward to working with all the great groups serving the Asian American community to ensure even greater language access to public information,” said Assemblymember Nily Rozic, who represents District 25 which has over 67,000 Asians, or 54% of total population.
 
On the State Senate side, the district with the largest Asian population is District 16 in Flushing Queens, represented by Senator Toby Ann Stavisky.  District 16 has over 176,000 Asians, making the district 55% Asian.  “This paper by the Federation highlights one of the most fascinating parts of my district—our incredible culture of diversity and inclusion.  I am glad that New Yorkers of all backgrounds, from the Chinese population in Flushing to the South Asian population in Jackson Heights and the Korean population in Murray Hill have decided to call Queens home.  I remain committed to ensuring that my constituents have in-language assistance to services, civic participation access, and other opportunities to have a stronger voice in their community.  This insightful research helps me better understand and better serve all of the people of the 16th district,” said Senator Stavisky.
 
District 11 had the second largest Asian population, with over 1 in 3 residents who are Asian.  The third largest Asian population is District 26, which encompasses Lower Manhattan’s Chinatown.  24% of the population in District 26 is Asian.  Upon review of the briefing paper, Senator Daniel Squadron remarked, “As New York’s Asian American population continues to grow, it’s critical that the community has real partners and a real voice in government.  This report only underscores how important that partnership is, on everything from language access in education and government to protecting small businesses.” 
 
“In a few months, the 2014 election cycle for state offices will begin.  We hope these briefing papers are tools for elected leaders to reach out and engage the Asian Americans living in their districts.  Oftentimes, outreach to our community is overlooked, but having tools like these that show the breakdowns of the top languages in New York City’s state assembly and senate districts, as well as the disaggregation by the top 19 Asian languages spoken in each district, will better equip our leaders to engage residents.  In turn, these papers will facilitate community leaders and advocates to show that our civic voice is growing and that we need to better connect with our elected officials to offer our expertise, ask for help and support,” said Cao K. O, executive director of the Federation. 

 

 http://www.aafederation.org/cic/briefs/NYCAssembly2012.pdf

 
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