Tag: community

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WHIAAPI Forum on Faith-Based and Community Leaders: 9/21

Save the Date

New York AAPI Forum with Faith-Based & Community Leaders

Saturday, September 21, 2013

The City University New York Murphy Institute, 25 West 43rd Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10036

9:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will convene federal officials and faith-based and community leaders in a day-long forum to share key Administration policies on economic growth, immigration, education, and civil rights. The forum will provide leaders and the broader AAPI community critical information and a better understanding of federal resources and services.

The focus of the WHIAAPI Community Forum is to accomplish three key goals:

1.    Establish a space where faith-based and community leaders can meaningfully engage and interact with federal officials; 

2.    Identify policy and programmatic areas of concern, receive feedback, and share local success stories and practices that benefit the AAPI community;

3.    Share opportunities for leaders to collaborate with the Obama administration.

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’22 Lewd Chinese Women’ and Other Courtroom Dramas

’22 Lewd Chinese Women’ and Other Courtroom Dramas

A U.S. circuit judge brings historic Asian-American trials back to life

The Atlantic has published an article about the AABANY trial re-enactments spearheaded by Judge Denny Chin and Kathy Hirata Chin. It provides a good history of the re-enactments and discusses how they have helped share lessons in Asian American history with the legal profession as well as the broader community. Click on the link in the title for the full article.

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Apex for Youth: Volunteer to be a Role Model for Youth this Fall!

Volunteer to be a Role Model for Youth this Fall!

Make a difference in the lives of underserved children in our community. 

Volunteer now or tell your friends about these opportunities to help.

Educational Programs

Reading to Children (10 Needed Now!) – Read to 1st & 2nd graders to grow their love of reading and improve their English skills.  Meets on Saturdays in Lower Manhattan from 10:30am – 12:30pm

Tutors for Math & English (20 Needed Now!) – Help 4th graders get into middle school by tutoring them for their statewide English and Math exams.  Meets on Saturdays in Lower Manhattan from 10am – 12pm.  

SAT Prep Teachers (10 Needed) – Help students get into college with a higher SAT score!  Meets 1.5 hours on Saturdays in Lower Manhattan from 10am – 11:30am or 11:30am – 1pm. 

Arts, Theater & Basketball

Art Mentors (10 Needed) – Mentor children who have been affected by domestic violence through digital art therapy.  Meets on Saturdays from 10am-3pm from Oct. – Jun.   Mandarin language volunteers needed.

Theater Instructors (20 Needed Now!) – Direct 3rd – 5th graders who speak English as a second language to perform in a theater production and improve their English skills.  Meets on Saturdays in Elmhurst Queens from 12-3pm or in Lower Manhattan from 10-12pm.  

Basketball Coaches (10 Needed) – Coach elementary school students and teach them the game of basketball.  Meets on Saturdays in Lower Manhattan from 10:30am – 1:30pm or 12pm – 2pm.

Mentoring

One-on-One Mentors (20 Needed) – Mentor a 13-18 year old student to provide guidance and introduce him or her to new experiences.  Meet with mentees twice a month.

To volunteer, contact us at [email protected] or 212-748-1225 ex.105

No prior experience necessary.  Volunteers can sign up as a sub if they cannot attend all the sessions.

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New Council Districts Highlight the Growth and Diversity of Asian New Yorkers

AAF Logo 2 3     

July 23, 2013

New York, NY— Today, the Asian American Federation released a briefing paper that details the Asian population, ethnic breakdowns and the major Asian languages spoken in each of the 51 Council Districts based on new lines finalized in May 2013.
 
“As discussed in our demographics report in April 2012, the Asian population remains the fastest growing in the City,” said Howard Shih, Census Programs Director at the Federation.  “But to see the Asian American community as monolithic would be erroneous.  The population numbers disguise the diversity of our population.  With the upcoming City elections, term limits, and with many of the Council Districts slated for new representatives, we hope this will be a useful tool for the incoming City Council to better serve our Asian community,” added Shih.
 
Some of the key highlights from the briefing paper are:
  1. In addition to one majority Asian district, eleven other districts had more than one in five residents who were Asian.
  2. Four City Council Districts were home to a very diverse mix of Asian ethnic groups.  Each of these districts had seven or more different Asian groups who each had populations of more than 1,000 people.
  3. The diversity of Asian languages spoken in the city is a particular challenge when reaching out to the community.
 
“This report is an invaluable tool that will serve to help elected officials better understand the growing Asian population in New York City,” said Council Member Daniel Dromm, who represents Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and East Elmhurst.  Dromm’s district, one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the City, saw an increase of over 8,000 Asians in the total district population.  “The data in this document provides key insight into my district that will enable me to better communicate and understand a vital part of my constituency”.
 
As the briefing paper points out, Council District 20, centered in Flushing, remains the district with the largest Asian population at 66% of the population.  “While I represent the largest Asian population, it is important to note that Asians are living throughout the City.  The myth that Asians live in identifiable enclaves [has] long been dispelled.  Our city leaders have to be mindful of the diversity of the Asian community, from languages spoken to the cultural practices,” said Council Member Peter Koo.  “The onus is on us – the elected leaders – to hear their issues, address their concerns, and make room for them to contribute to their neighborhoods,” added Koo.
 
Manhattan’s Chinatown still remains as a district with one of the largest Asian populations.  “My constituency represents one of the largest populations of Asians and Asian Americans in New York City, and this report highlights what we already know:  we must have greater service and resources in these growing communities,” said Council Member Margaret S. Chin, who represents the area.  “Cultural understanding, linguistic access, and civic participation are essential keys to ensuring that these voices are heard.”
 
“The briefing paper shows our growing electoral strength.  Asian New Yorkers can play a significant role in determining the next leaders of our city in the upcoming elections,” said Cao K. O, executive director of the Federation.  “And our community must re-cast our importance in the city’s civic matters.  We have to be willing to embrace this opportunity by going to the polls.”

To access the report, please visit:  http://aafederation.org/headlines.asp?hid=141

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From the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs: Host a Community Conversation on Immigration

Receive $200 for hosting a conversation

Community-based groups and organizations are eligible to receive a $200 stipend from the Council for hosting a Community Conversation by registering to be a featured site. Featured sites must register their event in advance and complete a final evaluation, including attendance information. Facilitators at featured sites are required to attend a free 60-minute facilitator-training webinar.  Training webinars will be offered at the following throughout the summer and fall; see the Council’s webinars page to learn more and sign up.  

For more information about hosting a Community Conversation, contact Senior Program Officer Erika Halstead ([email protected] / 212.233.1131).

New Community Conversations Toolkits on Immigration

From New Netherland to New York, immigrants from every part of the world have made their home in our state. Community Conversations invites New Yorkers to explore our shared history as immigrants and the descendants of immigrants, and to discuss the ways that immigration continues to shape the experience of being American today. Each conversation uses a short text as a starting point for discussions about cultural understanding and our roles as active citizens in a diverse and democratic society.  

There are community conversation toolkits for children, young adults, and adults. All of the toolkits contain everything you need to host these “do-it-yourself” discussions, including: texts suitable for each audience; a set of sample questions; guidelines for starting and sustaining good conversations; tips for hosting a conversation; and a sample participant evaluation. Anyone can register and download the toolkits for free from our website.

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NAPABA Disaster Relief Database

The NAPABA Pro Bono and Community Service Committee introduces the disaster relief database. The database provides information on federal and local level resources on disaster relief and preparation. To address the needs of limited English proficient members of the APA community, many of the resources on the database are available in various Asian languages.