Volunteers Needed in New York: Asian American Election Protection and Poll Monitoring, Defending Asian American Voting Rights
Trainings Sessions are on Tuesday, Oct. 15, Wednesday, Oct. 16 and Tuesday, Oct. 28
10/15/14 – 12 noon – Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022
10/16/14 – 12 noon – Weil Gotshal, 767 5th Ave, New York, NY 10153
10/16/14 – 6 p.m. – Wilson Elser, 150 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017
10/28/14 – 12 noon – Baker Hostetler, 45 Rockefeller Plaza #10, New York, NY 10111
10/28/14 – 6 p.m. – Debevoise & Plimpton, 919 Third Ave, New York, NY 10022
AALDEF seeks volunteers to monitor the November 4th elections for compliance with the federal Voting rights Act and to document instances of anti-Asian voter disenfranchisement. Our Asian American Election Protection and Poll Monitoring Project will be conducted in Massachusetts, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
In past elections, Asian Americans have faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote. For example, poll workers were hostile and made racist remarks, poll sites had too few interpreters to assist Asian American voters, translated voting materials were missing or hidden from voters, and ballots were mistranslated listing Democratic candidates as Republicans, and vice versa. When the news media reported on election results and the vote by specific groups, Asian Americans were often overlooked.
On November 4, 2014, AALDEF, along with other Asian American groups and bar associations, will be monitoring the elections and conducting non-partisan voter surveys at poll sites in Asian American neighborhoods.
We need your help. Advanced registration required. Signup at http://www.aaldef.net/volunteer_monitor_form.aspx.
Polling sites in New York are in:
- NYC – Chinatown
- Brooklyn – Kensington, Sunset Park
- Queens – Flushing, Richmond Hill, Midwood, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Floral Park, and Jamaica
Trainings Sessions are on Tuesday, Oct. 15, Wednesday Oct. 16 and Tuesday, Oct. 28 (Light lunch/dinner will be provided)
10/15/14 – 12 noon – Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022
10/16/14 – 12 noon – Weil Gotshal, 767 5th Ave, New York, NY 10153
10/16/14 – 6 p.m. – Wilson Elser, 150 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017
10/28/14 – 12 noon – Baker Hostetler, 45 Rockefeller Plaza #10, New York, NY 10111
10/28/14 – 6 p.m. – Debevoise & Plimpton, 919 Third Ave, New York, NY 10022
This 90-minute training session is required for all volunteers. (Attorneys can receive 1.5 CLE credits including 0.5 ethics credit.) All volunteers must be non-partisan and work a 3-hour shift.
For more information, contact AALDEF Staff Attorney Jerry Vattamala or Voting Rights Organizer Judy Lei at 800-966-5946 or [email protected].
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List as of September 17, 2014
National Co-Sponsors
Alliance of South Asian American Labor
APIAVote
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
North American South Asian Bar Association
OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates
South Asian Americans Leading Together
Local Co-Sponsors
APIA Vote – Michigan
Asian American Society of Central Virginia
Boat People SOS Delaware Valley – PA
Center for Pan Asian Community Services – GA
Chhaya CDC – NY
Chinese Community Federation of Atlanta – GA
Chinese Progressive Association – MA
Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia
Hunter College/CUNY, Asian American Studies Program – NY
Korean American Civic Empowerment of NY/NJ
MinKwon Center for Community Action – NY
OCA Georgia Chapter
OCA Greater Houston Chapter
Princeton Asian American Students Association – NJ
University of Maryland, College Park, Asian American Studies Program
University of Massachusetts Boston, Asian American Studies Program
Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans – LA
Legal Co-Sponsors
Asian American Bar Association of Houston
Asian American Bar Association of New York
Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts
Asian American Legal Advocacy Center of Georgia
Asian Bar Association of Las Vegas – NV
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Washington, DC
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania
Asian Pacific American Lawyers Assoc. of New Jersey
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center – DC
Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Greater Boston Legal Services: Asian Outreach Unit – MA
Korean Amer. Bar Assoc. of the Washington DC Area
Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater NY
Louisiana Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Pace Law School, Public Interest Law Center – NY
South Asian Bar Association of New York – NY
Suffolk U. Law School, Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service – MA
and Asian Pacific American Law Student Association chapters across the country.
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Volunteer Opportunity
Special Events Volunteer
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, founded in 1974, is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all. For more information about AALDEF, please visit our website at www.aaldef.org.
The Special Events Volunteer will assist in the planning, preparation and execution of our annual dinner gala and silent auction in February 2015.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
· Assisting with sponsorship development and outreach, writing materials, managing and following up on reservations, ticket sales, and donations.
· Maintaining databases and files.
· Preparing and maintaining sponsor/donor solicitations and acknowledgments, mailings, and emails.
· Coordinating silent auction/raffle donations, including developing prospects, solicitations and acknowledgment, brochure and silent auction planning, and production.
Some fundraising experience is preferable. Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel required. Experience using Filemaker is a plus. Volunteers should be able to work 20-30 hours per week. Flexibility with extra hours around the time of special events is necessary. Volunteers must be available to work during AALDEF office hours (9:30AM – 5:30PM). Position starts immediately and will conclude in March 2015.
Interested volunteers should submit a resume by Tuesday, September 30th, 2014.
Please send to:
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12 fl, New York, NY 10013-2815
Attn: J. Weng
Or Email to: [email protected] (write “Special Events Volunteer” in the subject line)
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO DEFEND ASIAN AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS NY • NJ • MA • PA • NV • MI • TX • GA • LA • VA • MD • DC Asian American Poll Monitoring for Mid-Term — Tuesday, November 4, 2014
In past elections, Asian Americans have faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote. When the news media reported on election results, Asian Americans were overlooked. In response, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund along with several partners will monitor the elections for bilingual ballots under the federal Voting Rights Act and to document instances of anti-Asian voter disenfranchisement.
We need your help. In the 2012 elections, 850 volunteers polled 9,096 Asian American voters in 14 states and Washington, DC. Volunteers work in 3-hour shifts. There will be a 90-minute training session for all volunteers. (Attorneys can receive 1.5 CLE credits including 0.5 ethics credit.) Sign up online here. Thank you!
For more information, contact: AALDEF Staff Attorney Jerry Vattamala or Voting Rights Organizer Judy Lei at 800-966-5946 or [email protected]
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AALDEF 2014 Poll Monitoring Trainings
Lite Lunch/ Dinner will be provided.
Advanced Registration required. Sign up here.
Tues., Oct. 14 – Boston
8:30 a.m. – Mintz Levin, 1 Financial Center, Boston, MA 02110
12 noon – Ropes & Gray, 800 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199
6 p.m. – Edwards Wildman, 111 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02199
Wed, Oct. 15 – New York City
12 noon – Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022
Thurs, Oct. 16 – New York City
12 noon – Weil Gotshal, 767 5th Ave, New York, NY 10153
6 p.m. – Wilson Elser, 150 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017
Fri, Oct. 17 – Las Vegas
12:30 p.m. – Ballard Spahr, 100 North City Parkway, Suite 1750, Las Vegas, NV 89106
6 p.m. – Location TBD
Mon, Oct. 20- Washington DC
12 p.m. – Finnegan, I St NW # 700, Washington, DC 20005
6 p.m. – Crowell & Moring, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
Tues, Oct. 21 – Atlanta
12 noon – Ballard Spahr, 999 Peachtree Street, Suite 1000, Atlanta, GA 30309
6 p.m. – CPACS, 3510 Shallowford Rd NE, Chamblee, GA 30341
Wed, Oct. 22 – Houston
12 noon – Fullbright & Jaworski, 1301 McKinney St #5100, Houston, TX 77010
6 p.m. – OCA-Greater Houston, 9800 Town Park #142, Houston TX 77036
Thurs, Oct. 23- New Orleans
2 p.m. – Cotton, Schmidt & Abbot, 650 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130
6 p.m. – VAYLA, 13235 Chef Menteur Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70129
Thurs., Oct, 23 – Ann Arbor/Detroit
12 noon – Detroit, location TBD
6 p.m. – University of Michigan Law School, 625 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (tentative location)
Mon, Oct. 27 – Newark, NJ
12 noon – McCarter & English, 100 Mulberry St, Newark, NJ 07102
Tues, Oct. 28 – Manhattan
12 noon – Baker Hostetler, 45 Rockefeller Plaza #10, New York, NY 10111
6 p.m. – Debevoise & Plimpton, 919 Third Ave, New York, NY 10022
Wed, Oct. 29 – Philadelphia
12 noon – Ballard Spahr, 1735 Market St #5100, Philadelphia, PA 19103
6 p.m. – BPSOS – South Philly, 600 Washington Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19147 (tentative location)
Wed, Oct. 29 – Brooklyn
12:45pm – Brooklyn Law School, 250 Joralemon St, Room 500, New York, NY 11201
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AALDEF 2014 Poll Monitoring Co-Sponsors
List as of September 17, 2014.
NATIONAL CO-SPONSORS
Alliance of South Asian American Labor
APIAVote
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
North American South Asian Bar Association
OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates
South Asian Americans Leading Together
LOCAL CO-SPONSORS
APIA Vote – Michigan
Asian American Society of Central Virginia
Boat People SOS Delaware Valley – PA
Center for Pan Asian Community Services – GA
Chhaya CDC – NY
Chinese Community Federation of Atlanta – GA
Chinese Progressive Association – MA
Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia
Hunter College/CUNY, Asian American Studies Program – NY
Korean American Civic Empowerment of NY/NJ
MinKwon Center for Community Action – NY
OCA Georgia Chapter
OCA Greater Houston Chapter
OCA Las Vegas Chapter
Princeton Asian American Students Association – NJ
University of Maryland, College Park, Asian American Studies Program
University of Massachusetts Boston, Asian American Studies Program
Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans – LA
LEGAL CO-SPONSORS
Asian American Bar Association of Houston
Asian American Bar Association of New York
Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts
Asian American Legal Advocacy Center of Georgia
Asian Bar Association of Las Vegas – NV
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Washington, DC
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania
Asian Pacific American Lawyers Assoc. of New Jersey
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center – DC
Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Greater Boston Legal Services: Asian Outreach Unit – MA
Korean Amer. Bar Assoc. of the Washington DC Area
Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater NY
Louisiana Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Pace Law School, Public Interest Law Center – NY
Suffolk U. Law School, Rappaport Center for Law and Public Service – MA
and Asian Pacific American Law Student Association chapters across the country.
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Fall 2014 Internships For Undergraduate, Graduate, and Law Students
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is the first organization on the East Coast to protect and promote the legal rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy, and community education. For more information about AALDEF, please visit our website at www.aaldef.org.
Fall internships are available for the following program areas (open to all unless otherwise noted):
Immigrant Access to Justice, litigation, legal services, and organizing/outreach with communities impacted by post 9/11 immigration and law enforcement policies. An additional emphasis on Asian communities’ access to representation and education about immigration policies and practices that may impact them, including deferred action policies and administrative relief for youth and other immigrants, unconstitutional DHS stops, and collaboration between state/local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement, e.g., “Secure Communities” program. **Law students ONLY**
Voting Rights, legal research and fact development under the Voting Rights Act and Equal Protection Clause challenging anti-Asian voter discrimination, advocacy on bilingual ballots, and state and local election reform; produce reports and organize public forums; work with volunteer attorneys and assist in organizing legal trainings. Voting Rights Interns work on the following:
- Election monitoring to ensure that Asian Americans are treated fairly at the polls and to document violations of the Voting Rights Act and the federal Constitution. The Voting Rights Act mandates the availability of Chinese, Korean, and Bengali language assistance and forbids anti-Asian voter discrimination.
- Work with pro bono lawyers at corporate law firms and volunteer law students to inspect poll sites for compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Help America Vote Act.
- Coordinate a survey of Asian American voters to document the use of bilingual ballots and report on Asian American voting patterns. The survey will be taken at several poll sites across the nation. Interns will recruit, train, and supervise volunteers, as well as coordinate logistics at three dozen polling locations.
- Register new voters after citizenship swearing-in ceremonies.
- Conduct research and advocacy on local, state, and federal election reform proposals.
Administrative Assistant, provide administrative support in preparation for AALDEF’s annual gala, including: researching for prospective dinner sponsors and silent auction donors. Computer experience with databases, graphics and web programs are helpful. **Undergraduate students ONLY. Workstudy grants accepted.**
Description of Internships:
Interns are supervised by attorneys and/or AALDEF staff in specific program areas. These internships are not paid positions, but academic credit may be arranged. Interns work anywhere between 8 to 25 hours per week. The internship usually commences with the start of classes and ends in early December.
To Apply:
Any bilingual ability should be stated in the resume. Bilingual ability is helpful but not required. Applications should also state the number of hours the intern is able to work per week and which program area(s) you are interested in. Email applications are accepted. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Send a resume and cover letter (law students should include a writing sample) to:
AALDEF Fall Intern Search
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor, New York, New York 10013-2815
Fax: 212-966-4303 or Email: [email protected]
For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932, ext. 212 or [email protected].
From AALDEF: Support Civil Rights and Root for the Mets or Yankees!
Did you know that there’s a way that you can attend Mets and Yankees games and support the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund? AALDEF participates in a special program that helps to raise funds for public interest organizations. By purchasing tickets to select baseball games through this program, your cost will include the value of the ticket plus an additional donation to support AALDEF. All donations go directly toward AALDEF’s legal and education programs. Please take advantage of this opportunity to root for your team while making a contribution for a good cause!
METS
Mets vs. Atlanta Braves at Citi Field
Tuesday, August 26, 7:10 pm
Section 512 (above home)
$25 per ticket, plus $5 donation or more
YANKEES
Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium
Thursday, September 4, 7:05 pm
Section 426 (above third base)
$29 per ticket, plus $11 donation or more
Tickets are limited, so act fast! Please contact Eva Lew at [email protected] or (212) 966-5932, ext. 208 to reserve your tickets. After your reservation is confirmed, we will accept check and credit card payments. Tickets can either be mailed or held for pick-up at the AALDEF office at 99 Hudson Street in Manhattan. Thank you for supporting AALDEF!
AALDEF 2014 Annual Summer Cocktail Party
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
will hold its annual Summer Cocktail Party on
Monday, June 23, 2014
6:00 – 9:00 PM
Hudson Terrace
621 W. 46th Street, NYC
(btwn 11th & 12th Aves.)
Please save the date!
RAFFLE – LIVE DJ – HORS D’OEUVRES – CASH BAR
$50 (advance) $40 (nonprofit/student) $55 (at door)
For more information: 212.966.5932 x212 or [email protected].
AALDEF Position Announcement – Voting Rights Organizer
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
Voting Rights Organizer
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a New York-based national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans through litigation, advocacy and community education. AALDEF has a 17-person staff and is supported by foundations, corporations, individual contributions, and special events. For more information about AALDEF and its voting rights activities, visit our website at www.aaldef.org.
DESCRIPTION:
AALDEF’s Asian American Democracy Program seeks to promote fairness in the electoral process and invigorate the civic participation of Asian Americans, especially new citizens and persons not yet fluent in English. By expanding access to the electoral process for Asian Americans, AALDEF improves the quality of democracy for all Americans.
The Voting Rights Organizer is a one-year position and may be extended, subject to available funding. The Organizer will be responsible for mobilizing Asian American community groups for a non-partisan exit poll of Asian American voters and overseeing volunteers for Election Day poll monitoring in several states for the 2014 midterm elections.
The job includes recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers; working with community leaders; supervising the development, translation, and printing of materials; and giving educational presentations. The Organizer will also oversee post-election follow-up and assist in writing a report about Asian American voter participation in the 2014 elections.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Highly organized, detail oriented, and able to supervise volunteers and work with a wide variety of community leaders and organizations.
Strong knowledge of MS Access and other database systems.
Bilingual ability in an Asian language is desirable.
Strong communication skills.
Experience in community organizing is desirable.
Ability to travel and work on occasional weekends.
TO APPLY:
Send a cover letter, resume, and three references to:
Voting Rights Organizer Search
AALDEF
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York, NY 10013-2815
fax: 212-966-4303
Email: [email protected] (put “voting rights organizer search” in the subject line)
DEADLINE: Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until filled.
–AALDEF is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer–