AALDEF Volunteer Trainings to Defend Asian American Voting Rights

Volunteer Trainings to Defend Asian American Voting Rights
Sign up by Oct. 23.

Trainings for AALDEF election monitoring are now on-line. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is seeking volunteer attorneys, law and undergraduate students, and community volunteers to assist in monitoring poll sites during the elections in NYC, NJ, and Virginia on November 5 to ensure compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act.  Attorneys and law students can receive pro bono hours or free CLE (including ethics) credits.

Volunteers will inspect poll sites for required language assistance, interview voters, and document instances of anti-Asian American voter discrimination.  Bilingual ability in an Asian language is helpful but not required.

Lunch/lite dinner will be provided.  All volunteers must be non-partisan during the time that they help.  Sign up by WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, at  http://www.aaldef.net/volunteer_monitor_form.aspx

TRAINING DATES AND LOCATIONS

NEW YORK
Tues, Oct. 22 at 12N – Shearman & Sterling, 599 Lexington Avenue, at 53rd Street, NYC

Tues, Oct. 22 at 6PM – NYU Law School, Furman Hall Room 324, 245 Sullivan Street, NYC
Wed, Oct. 23 at 1PM – Brooklyn Law School, 205 Joralemon St., Room 505, Brooklyn, NYC
Mon, Oct. 28 at 12N – Columbia Law, 435 West 116th Street, Room 107, Manhattan, NYC
Tues, Oct. 29 at 12N –  Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, 51 West 52nd Street at 6th Avenue, NYC
Tues, Oct. 29 at 12:45pm –  New York Law School, Room TBD, 185 West Broadway, NYC
Wed, Oct. 30 at 6PM – Weil Gotshal & Manges,767 5th Ave at 59th Street, NYC

NEW JERSEY
Thurs, Oct. 24 at 12N – McCarter & English, 100 Mulberry St., 4 Gateway Center, Newark, NJ
Thurs, Oct. 24 time TBD – Rutgers Law School, Room TBD, Newark, NJ

WASHINGTON DC
Thurs, Oct. 24 at 6PM – Dickstein Shapiro, 1825 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC
Fri., Oct. 25 at 12N  – Dickstein Shapiro, 1825 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 
Glenn D. Magpantay or Jerry Vattamala at [email protected],[email protected] or call 212-966-5932.

NATIONAL CO-SPONSORS: 
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)

STATE/LOCAL CO-SPONSORS:
Alliance of South Asian American Labor (ASAAL)

Asian American Society of Central Virginia (AASOCVA)
Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC)
Chhaya CDC
Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia (CAPAVA)
MinKwon Center
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)–DC and NY Chapters

LEGAL CO-SPONSORS: 
Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY)
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Greater DC (APABA-DC)
Asian Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey (APALA/NJ)
Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY)
Muslim Bar Association of New York (MuBANY)
South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY)
South Asian Bar Association of Greater DC

 

//static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/picasaweb.googleusercontent.com/slideshow.swf

At the 2013 NAPABA Northeast Regional/AABANY Fall Conference hosted by Weil Gotshal, a plenary session was held during the luncheon to explore the recent United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin.

The luncheon was sponsored by Kobre & Kim. Welcome remarks were given by Mike Huang, President of AABANY, Fred Green, Management Committee Member, Mergers & Acquisitions Partner and Sponsor to the Asian Attorney Affinity Group at Weil, and Wendy Shiba, President of NAPABA. Board member and past AABANY President Robert Leung presented brief remarks about AABANY’s newest committee, the Career Placement Committee, and invited broad participation in it.

The Program Chair for the plenary session was Sarah Seo, Co-Chair of the Academic Committee. She introduced the Hon. Pamela K. Chen, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, moderator of the panel.

Panelists included Khin Mai Aung, Director of the Educational Equity Program at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), who submitted an amicus brief in the Fisher case, and Hemmie Chang, Partner at Foley Hoag, who led her firm’s efforts in supporting AALDEF’s amicus filing in Fisher. Also on the panel were Michael Park, Partner at Dechert, and William Consovoy, Partner at Wiley Rein, who submitted briefs on Fisher’s side of the case before the Supreme Court.

The room was filled to capacity and many of the attendees had to go to the overflow room next door to watch the panel discussion on video.

The panel took several thoughtful and pointed questions from the audience during the Q&A portion.

Thanks to our Key Sponsor Hudson Court Reporting and Video for taking video and transcription of the plenary session.

AALDEF seeks Pro Bono Volunteer Attorneys for Asian American Poll Monitoring for Primary Elections Sept 10th

To Download the volunteer form click here.

Pro Bono: Asian American Poll Monitoring

NYC Primary Election – September 10, 2013

Training on Monday, Sept. 9 at 12N at Fried Frank, 1 New York Plaza, New York, 10004

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is seeking pro bono volunteer attorneys to assist in monitoring poll sites during the NYC Primary Elections on September 10 to assess compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act.

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.

 Volunteers are needed to inspect poll sites for required language assistance, interview voters, and document instances of anti-Asian American voter discrimination.

There will be a ninety minute training session for all volunteers hosted by Fried Frank on Mon., Sept. 9 at 12N.  Lunch will be provided.  All volunteers must be non-partisan during the time that they help.  To sign up, complete the registration form.  Thank you! 

For more information, contact:

Glenn D. Magpantay or Jerry Vattamala at [email protected],[email protected] or call 212-966-5932.

AALDEF Press Release on SCOTUS Decision in Shelby

AALDEF Press Release on SCOTUS Decision in Shelby

From AALDEF:

Why We Rise is a compelling new documentary short featuring three brave young Asian New Yorkers who reveal what it’s like to grow up without having legal immigration status. Their struggles and their strength are on full display as they come out of the shadows and into the light. 

[Recently], the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-5 on an immigration bill that will soon be considered by the entire Senate. Although it contains many positive changes, the new immigration bill undercuts family unity, props up programs that exploit immigrant workers, and provides only a long and harrowing path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. 

We hope you’ll watch Why We Rise and share the link with your friends. The film provides a unique glimpse into the lives of real individuals affected by immigration reform and will remind you about why AALDEF’s work to defend immigrant rights is so important. 

A New Film & Theater Performance By Undocumented Asian Youth

May 20, 7:30-9 | The Culture Project, 45 Bleecker Street

#UndocuAsians brings the lived experiences of people most intimately affected by immigration laws to The Culture Project’s stage. This rare theater performance features undocumented Asian American youth sharing their personal stories of growing up in the United States in a culture of silence. 

The performance opens with a short film following the lives of three undocumented Asian American youth and features an onstage performance by more than a dozen other undocumented youth (members of AALDEF’s undocumented youth group RAISE) whose stories bring a different face to the immigration debate and highlight the diverse and difficult realities that undocumented Asian communities face beyond the conventional “DREAMer” narrative. Poet/activist Kelly Tsai will be a special presenter.

Purchase tickets: undocuasian.eventbrite.com
(student discount available)

#UndocuAsians is presented by RAISE (Revolutionizing Asian American Immigrant Stories on the East Coast). RAISE is a pan-Asian undocumented youth-led group on the East Coast supported by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF). RAISE aims to create safe spaces in our communities while advocating for humane immigration policies. Our visibility increases through political activism, leadership development, community education, and coalition building. Through youth organizing, we will reimagine and realize justice for immigrants in America.

Can’t make it? You can still support RAISE by clicking here to make a donation!

AALDEF Fundraisers – Mets & Yankees Tickets

From our friends at AALDEF:

The baseball season is heating up! 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. Most of these tickets (including the donation) are below regular price. 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. Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field
Friday, April 26, 7:10 pm

Promenade Sec. 515 (directly above home plate)
$21per ticket, plus $9 donation or more

SUBWAY SERIES: Mets vs. NY Yankees at Citi Field
Monday, May 27, 7:10 pm
Promenade Sec. 522 (above third base)
$50per ticket, plus $40 donation or more

FOURTH OF JULY SPECIAL: Mets vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Citi Field (with post-game Fireworks Show)
Wednesday, July 3, 7:10 pm
Promenade Sec. 515 (directly above home plate)
$25per ticket, plus $5donation or more

YANKEES

Yankees vs. Oakland A’s at Yankee Stadium
Friday, May 3, 7:05 pm
Grandstand Sec. 409 (above right field)
$11per ticket, plus $9 donation or more

Yankees vs. LA Dodgers at Yankee Stadium
Wednesday, June 19, 7:05 pm
Grandstand Sec. 409 (above right field)
$22per ticket, plus $8 donation or more

Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium
Wednesday, June 19, 7:05 pm
Grandstand Sec. 409 (above right field)
$22 per ticket, plus $8 donation or more

Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium
Friday, August 9, 7:05 pm
Grandstand Sec. 409 (above right field)
$11per ticket, plus $9 donation or more

LABOR DAY GAME: Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium
Monday, September 2, 1:05 pm
Grandstand Sec. 409 (above right field)
$16.25per ticket, plus $3.75 donation or more

Tickets are limited, so act fast! Please contact Eva Lew at [email protected] or (212) 966-5932 x 208 to reserve your tickets.

Thank you for supporting AALDEF!

AALDEF Press Release: AALDEF 2013 Justice in Action Awards

February 20, 2013 – Congressman John LewisMember of the U.S. House of Representatives (Georgia), Jose Antonio Vargas of Define American, and Simone Wu of Choice Hotels International, Inc. were honored with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s (AALDEF) 2013 Justice in Action Awards on February 19.

Since 1987, AALDEF has presented the Justice in Action Awards to exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and efforts in advancing social justice. The awards were presented by Rep. Grace Meng, the first Asian American to represent New York in Congress, Tony Award-winning playwright of M. Butterfly David Henry Hwang, and Gordon Smith, CEO of Consumer and Community Banking, JPMorgan Chase.

Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, Chief Digital Officer at Columbia University, both long time supporters of AALDEF, were the co-emcees for the banquet of over 700. They were joined at the end with a surprise appearance on stage from actor BD Wong, who urged the guests to show their support for AALDEF.

Among the guests at Pier Sixty in New York City were Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York, U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Debra James, and past Justice in Action Award recipients Don LiuParkin LeeAlice Young, and Sandra Leung.

AALDEF Board president Tommy Shi wished the audience a happy new year and shared the story that, seven days before the 2012 election, with AALDEF’s national poll monitoring and exit poll project at stake, Hurricane Sandy hit New York. AALDEF staff was stranded in outer boroughs and the office was without electricity. “We put out an emergency call for help,” said Shi. “AALDEF staff and volunteers lugged boxes of voting materials down 12 flights of stairs in the dark. We were lucky that Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP donated temporary space with computers and phones for our staff and volunteers. And Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP opened its conference rooms to us. In the end, the Asian American Exit Poll surveyed over 9,000 voters in 14 states on Election Day, the largest multilingual survey of its kind.”

Margaret Fung, AALDEF executive director, said that the three Justice in Action Award recipients had taken courageous stands on some of AALDEF’s current priority issues: securing real immigration reform, expanding diversity, and defending the Voting Rights Act before the U.S. Supreme Court.

David Henry Hwang introduced honoree Jose Antonio Vargas as having “one of the great immigrant stories of our time.” Vargas, an award-winning Filipino American journalist, publicly revealed himself to be an undocumented immigrant in a 2011 New York Times Magazine article. “Immigrant rights are human rights,” said Vargas, who acknowledged the work of AALDEF and civil rights organizations by joking that the reason he “was still here” was that he was “all lawyered up.”

Honoree Simone Wu, senior vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary, and chief compliance officer of Choice Hotels International, spoke about the need for diversity and inclusiveness. “So many Asian Americans do not get a chance to share in the model minority myth,” said Wu. “At Choice Hotels we value diversity in all our decisions and our results are better as a result of doing that.”

The evening came to a close with Rep. Grace Meng introducing civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis with a surprise video of the Congressman dancing “Gangnam-style” for the right to vote.

“The right to vote is precious, even sacred,” said Congressman Lewis, who, in 1965, led over 600 peaceful protesters in the march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The marchers were attacked by Alabama state troopers in a brutal confrontation known as “Bloody Sunday,” and the senseless cruelty hastened passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. “I gave a little blood for the right to vote. But some of my friends gave their lives. We have made too much progress to stop now.”

Past Justice in Action Award recipients include Fred Korematsu, David Henry Hwang, Fareed Zakaria, BD Wong, Sandra Leung, Harold KohMira NairDeval Patrick,George TakeiSalman RushdieSeymour HershCharles Ogletree, Jr.Harry BelafonteMargaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.

Contact:
Ujala Sehgal
212.966.5932 ex.217
[email protected]

image

Image Credit: Lia Chang for AALDEF

image

Image Credit: Corky Lee for AALDEF

image

Image Credit: Lia Chang for AALDEF

image

Image Credit: Corky Lee for AALDEF

View release online >

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), 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 further information and updates, please visit us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

AALDEF 2013 Summer Legal Internships

ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND
2013 SUMMER LEGAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Founded in 1974, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) 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.

Internships for the summer of 2013 are available in the following program areas:

Anti-Trafficking Initiative – legal research and writing on the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and Fair Labor Standards Act, as well as outreach, community education, and advocacy on the rights of exploited and abused workers.
Community Health Care Initiative – legal research, community education and outreach in the areas of immigration, government benefits, language rights, and health care access;
Economic Justice for Workers – legal research, advocacy and direct representation on behalf of Asian immigrant workers experiencing wage-and-hour, retaliation, and workplace safety violations in the restaurant, nail salon, domestic work, and other low-wage industries.   
Educational Equity – legal services, policy work, community education, research and litigation concerning educational equity, juvenile justice, affirmative action, student free-speech and police surveillance, and anti-Asian harassment;
Housing Justice Project – community outreach/education, community planning, research, and litigation on housing and land use issues affecting low-income Asian immigrant communities;
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 immigrant communities’ access to representation and education about immigration policies and practices that may impact them, including unconstitutional DHS stops, new deferred action policies for youth, and Secure Communities.
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 the redrawing of local, state, and federal district lines; produce reports and organize public forums; assist in organizing legal trainings.

Description of Summer Internship Program:
The summer program is ten weeks, from approximately June 3 through August 9.  Interns work full-time and are supervised by attorneys in specific program areas.  Depending on the program area, interns will work on litigation, legal and policy advocacy, community outreach and education, or client intakes; each program area differs in emphasis.  Summer interns attend weekly brown bag lectures on a range of public interest legal topics along with interns from other legal defense funds and civil rights groups.  The position is unpaid.  However, in previous years many AALDEF interns have been successful at securing independent funding.  Academic credit can be arranged.

To Apply:
·   AALDEF has extended its legal internship application deadline to Friday, February 1, 2013.  Interested applicants should e-mail or mail a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to AALDEF on or before that date at the address below.  Please indicate in your cover letter the top three preferred program areas.  Only law students qualify for AALDEF’s legal internships.  Applications may be faxed or emailed.
·   Any bilingual ability should be stated in the application.  Bilingual ability is helpful, but not required.  Gujarati, Hindi, Khmer, Korean, Indonesian, and Urdu-speaking applicants are especially urged to apply.
·   Applications will be reviewed upon receipt through the February 1, 2013 deadline.  Interviews will take place on a rolling basis.  Only applicants who have been granted interviews will be notified of their advancement in the application process. 

Summer Internship Search (Legal)
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York, New York 10013-2815
Fax: 212-966-4303  Email: [email protected]

For more information, contact:
Shirley Lin at 212-966-5932 x220 or [email protected]
Thomas Mariadason at 212-966-5932 x223 or [email protected]

* * *Please do NOT email applications to [email protected] or [email protected] * * *

# # #

UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Summer interns attend weekly brown bag lectures on a range of public interest legal topics along with interns from other legal defense funds and civil rights groups.  The summer program is ten (10) weeks, beginning approximately June 3rd through August 9th.  The position is unpaid.  However, in previous years many AALDEF interns have been successful at securing independent funding and work-study funds may also be available.  Academic credit can be arranged.

Community Health Care Initiative:  community education and outreach in the areas of immigration, government benefits, language rights, and health care access.
Educational Equity Intern: Responsibilities include community outreach and presentations with Asian American youth groups, public education policy research, assistance with client intakes and general support for projects on educational equity, juvenile justice, affirmative action, student free-speech and police surveillance, and anti-Asian harassment.

Housing & Environmental Justice Project: Responsibilities include community outreach and research on land use, community planning, and anti-displacement issues.
Office Assistant: Responsibilities include data entry, organizing press clippings, answering phones, doing mailings, assisting with fundraising and other events, and performing general clerical duties.  Other responsibilities include providing support for community education and outreach projects and acting as an interpreter/translator.  Computer experience with databases, graphics and web programs is helpful.  
Voting Rights Intern: research and fact development under the Voting Rights Act and Equal Protection Clause challenging anti-Asian voter discrimination, advocacy on bilingual ballots, and the redrawing of local, state and federal district lines; produce reports and organize public forums; assist in organizing legal trainings; help prepare for election monitoring of the 2013 Mayoral Elections; conduct voter registration drives.

Requirements: Candidates must be detail-oriented and possess strong writing skills. Spoken and written knowledge of Korean, Bangla, Chinese, or another Asian language is a plus. Qualified applicants should indicate which internship they are applying for and send a resume and cover letter by Monday, February 11, 2013 to:

Summer Undergraduate Intern Search
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York, New York 10013
fax: 212.966.4303 or email: [email protected]  

For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932, ext. 212 or [email protected]