Tag: White House

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FACT SHEET: President Biden Establishes the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

On May 28, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order establishing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and delivering on the President’s commitment to reinstate and reinvigorate this historic Initiative.

The new Initiative is charged with driving an ambitious, whole-of-government agenda to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities by:

  • Helping to coordinate a comprehensive Federal response to the rise in acts of anti-Asian bias and violence
  • Addressing the systemic lack of disaggregated data on AA and NHPI communities in Federal statistical systems
  • Expanding language access and language assistance programs for AA and NHPI individuals across Federal programs
  • Strengthening economic security and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities by empowering AA and NHPI entrepreneurs, building new workforce training opportunities, and promoting workplaces that are free from harassment against AA and NHPI workers
  • Addressing the concentration of poverty experienced in many AA and NHPI communities
  • Addressing disparities in educational outcomes for AA and NHPI students of all ages, and addressing bullying, harassment, and discrimination in our Nation’s schools
  • Advancing climate and environmental justice for AA and NHPI communities who are particularly impacted by the climate crisis and are overburdened by environmental degradation
  • Promoting inclusion and belonging for all AA and NHPI communities by strengthening public awareness and education about AA and NHPI communities, cultures, and traditions
  • Empowering AA and NHPI communities to be civically engaged, including through electoral participation
  • Building a Federal workforce where AA and NHPI public servants are leaders at the most senior levels of our government
  • Ensuring that AA and NHPI communities are empowered and equitably served by Federal funding, grants, and contracts

To read The White House’s full fact sheet, click here.

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NAPABA Congratulates Krystal Ka’ai, who was Appointed to Become Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

For Immediate Release:
Date: May 28, 2021

Contact: Edgar Chen, Policy Director

WASHINGTON – NAPABA congratulates Krystal Ka’ai, who today was appointed by President Biden to become Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. NAPABA has worked with Ms. Ka’ai for nearly a decade in her role as Executive Director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

“Krystal has been a steadfast advocate for the AA and NHPI communities,” said NAPABA Executive Director Priya Purandare.  “Her experience working on nearly every important legislative and policy priority affecting the AA and NHPI populations makes her uniquely situated to lead the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders during the most critical times for these communities. NAPABA is proud to have supported her candidacy, and we look forward to working with her in her new role and strengthening our relationship with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.”

The White House today also announced that the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders will be housed in the Department of Health and Human Services, to ensure that the Federal government is mitigating COVID-19 related anti-Asian bias, advancing health equity for all AA and NHPI communities, and ensuring AA and NHPI communities can equitably recover from these crises.

Ms. Ka’ai’s prior experience includes working with late Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii, a Legislative and Research Fellow in the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and Program Associate of the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation.  A graduate of the Kamehameha Schools, Ms. Ka’ai will be the first native Hawaiian to serve in this position. For more on this announcement by the White House, click here.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) in the largest Asian Pacific American membership organization representing the interests of approximately 60,000 legal professionals and nearly 90 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. NAPABA is a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.
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#MyAAPIStory: Sharing the Diverse Stories of the AAPI Community

#MyAAPIStory: Sharing the Diverse Stories of the AAPI Community

Tell your story for APA Heritage Month. Thank you to Alissa Ko, Associate Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement, for sharing this opportunity to speak about our shared identity and diverse perspectives. 

In February, we launched a call for nominations for White House Champions of Change for AAPI Art and Storytelling. But we know that there are countless other inspiring and powerful stories within the AAPI community. That’s why we’re teaming up with StoryCorps to document and share these stories.

We encourage you to share your story and those of others within the AAPI community. Highlight issues you care about, share what your identity means to you, or interview others – friends, family members, community leaders, for instance – that are making a difference for the AAPI community.

You can share a story about any topic you wish, and the recording can be as short or as long as you’d like. Themes could include:

  • Being the first in your family to go to college
  • Your immigration story
  • Defying the model minority myth
  • Preserving culture and identity
  • Overcoming odds

Be as creative as you’d like!

You can use the StoryCorps app to record your story or interview, and then post it on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #MyAAPIStory. Select stories may be highlighted throughout the month of May in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

For more information, click on the link in the title.

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White House Reaches Out to Asian-American Leaders About Supreme Court Seat

White House Reaches Out to Asian-American Leaders About Supreme Court Seat

It’s been pretty hard to miss the news about the SCOTUS opening created by the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s passing. If you have entertained the thought that we might see an Asian American Supreme Court Justice in our lifetime, check out Zoe Tillman’s article about the White House’s discussion with Asian Pacific American community leaders. 

As stated in the article, potential nominees include our very own Judge Denny Chin of the Second Circuit. Click on the link in the title to read more about what this vacancy could mean for our community.

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Press Release: NAPABA Commends White House Plans to Reunite Filipino American WWII Veterans with Their Families

For Immediate Release
July 17, 2015

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
202-775-9555, [email protected]

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds the White House for announcing plans on Wednesday for a parole program that would allow Filipino American World War II veterans to be reunited with their families. This program was announced as part of a Visa Modernization Task Force report.

“NAPABA commends the Administration for improving our immigration system and for honoring the sacrifices many Filipino veterans have made for our country,” said George C. Chen, president of NAPABA. “This action has been long overdue as these World War II veterans have waited decades to be reunited with their families, including their children.”  

During World War II, more than 260,000 Filipino soldiers fought for the United States and were promised citizenship and benefits in honor of their service. After finally being granted eligibility for citizenship decades after their wartime service, these veterans were able to petition for family members to immigrate to the United States. However, family visa backlogs have kept many of these families separated for more than 20 years.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or [email protected].

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and approximately 70 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

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White House Summit on AAPIs

White House Summit on AAPIs

The White House Summit on AAPIs is on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Washington, DC. The Summit will run from 9am-6pm at the George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium and Marvin Center.

Please join us for the White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders on May 12, 2015 at The George Washington University in Washington, DC! Register today!

Held during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, this Summit will be an unprecedented and historic all-day convening of senior federal officials and leaders from across the country. The day will include conversations with federal officials and AAPI leaders, artistic presentations by distinguished AAPI artists, and interactive sessions on diverse issues including economic growth, education, healthcare, civil rights, and immigration. The Summit will celebrate President Obama’s leadership, showcase Administration policies and programs that have supported the AAPI community over the past six years, and outline efforts for the next two years and decades to come.

As a participant, you will have the opportunity to Connect, Share, and Mobilize:

  1. Connect. Interact with federal and community leaders from across the country working on diverse issues to advance the AAPI community.
  2. Share. Discuss your own experiences, stories, and priorities with leaders and other participants.
  3. Mobilize. Gain tools to mobilize your communities to expand opportunity for AAPIs everywhere.

Your participation in the Summit will be vital as we continue our work together to improve the quality of life for AAPIs.

The Summit is free of charge and open to the public.

Questions? Email [email protected]. Click here for more information on the Summit.

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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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NAPABA Congratulates Bonnie M. Youn on the White House Cesar Chavez Champion of Change Award

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

1612 K Street NW, Suite 1400 
Washington, DC 20006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
March 26, 2013

Contact: Azizah Ahmad 
(202) 775-9555

NAPABA CONGRATULATES BONNIE M. YOUN ON 
THE WHITE HOUSE CESAR CHAVEZ CHAMPION OF CHANGE AWARD

WASHINGTON – Today, the White House honored 10 individuals with the Cesar Chavez Champions of Change Award. Among the 10 honorees is Bonnie M. Youn, who is a member of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

The Cesar Chavez Champions of Change Award honors citizens who demonstrate a commitment to improving their communities, the country, or the lives of their fellow citizens. Ms. Youn was honored for her dedication to the Asian Pacific American (APA) and immigrant communities of Georgia. “We are proud that the White House recognized Bonnie Youn for her efforts on behalf of the growing immigrant and APA populations in Georgia,” said Wendy C. Shiba, president of NAPABA. “Bonnie is an energetic and accomplished advocate and NAPABA member and we congratulate her for being named a Champion of Change.”

Ethnically Korean but born in the Philippines, Ms. Youn was inspired by her own immigrant experiences to dedicate herself to the APA and immigrant communities of the Southeast. She began practicing law as an immigration attorney in 1997 and is now principal of her own law firm, the Youn Law Group. Recently, she led teams that organized the 2013 Georgia APA Legislative Day, gathering the largest number of APAs in history at the Georgia State Capitol to meet and lobby elected officials. In 2012, she worked closely with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to organize its Southeast Regional Action Summit at Emory University in Atlanta. The Summit brought together over 500 participants to meet federal agency officials, culminating in a town hall meeting for participants to discuss concerns about immigration, healthcare and mental health issues, small business matters, and housing needs. She is an advocate for increasing the number of APA judges and political appointees, challenging state legislation that disenfranchises immigrants, and creating a legacy of a sustainable APA Commission for Georgia. Ms. Youn is a co-chair of NAPABA’s solo and small firm committee and was a member of the NAPABA 2012 Annual Convention host committee.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 63 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of people of color in the legal profession.