September 27th – 30th, 2015
Washington D.C.
- Thai CDC was honorably mentioned by Congresswoman Judy Chu as one of the co-founders of NCAPACD from her state of California at the NCAPACD reception at the Phillip’s Collection in Washington D.C. on September 28th, 2015
- Thai CDC Executive Director had the privilege and honor of meeting guests of honor, Japanese-American and Japanese-Canadian activists, Ed Nakawatase and Tamio Wakayama, who were interned during World War II as infants and then in their college days, became members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) that played a major role in the sit-ins, freedom rides, and the 1963 March on Washington that were part of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. Many people don’t know that there were Asians in the movement too working alongside their African American brothers and sisters.
- Thai CDC Executive Director attended the book signing of newly published books of NCAPACD co-founders and long-time activists, Gordon Chin from San Francisco Chinatown and “Uncle Bob” from Seattle, Washington at Bus Boys and Poets. Anyone interested in organizing and social activism should read their books and learn from these “Old Gs” as they like to call themselves.
- Thai CDC Executive Director met a fellow Thai who has been a long time employee of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Piyachat Terrell. She wants to help us get funding from the EPA for any qualified project. Chancee gave Piyachat her Thais in LA book and an I Love Thai Town sticker.
- Thai CDC Executive Director and former Thai CDC AmeriCorps VISTA, Lennox Chaiveera, were invited to attend the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders’ Public-Private Partnership Summit on Issues Facing Low-Income AAPI Communities on September 30, 2015.
For more information on the Summit, please see the resources below:
- Spotlight on Asian American and Pacific Islander Poverty: A Demographic Profile
This is a publication by National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (NCAPACD) focusing on the AAPI poverty levels. - Report, A Call to Action: Aligning Public and Private Investments in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities
Cora Mirikitani and Peggy Saika of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy presented on the key issues of the report affecting low-income AAPI communities at the Summit. - Copy of the Fact Sheet
This fact sheet was provided at the Summit. It includes a list of accomplishments and commitments made by federal agencies and foundations. - Blog Post by Nani Coloretti and Chris Lu
Esteemed speakers Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Nani Coloretti, and the United States Deputy Secretary of Labor, Chris Lu, wrote a joint blog post about the Public-Private Partnership Summit on Issues Facing Low-Income AAPI communities.
NCAPACD Policy Goals and Priorities
At the end of the convention, the majority of the NCAPACD members voted Yes on the 2014-2016 Policy Goals and Priorities with one member abstaining. The policies and priorities are under three planks: 1) Safe, affordable, and stable housing in their community of choice; 2) Financial stability, security, and access to economic mobility; 3) Healthy and thriving communities and neighborhoods.
Our staff member visits Washington D.C. for the first time and had some very thoughtful and generous comments.
This trip was eye opening for our Community Organizer, Jonathan Ayon, who visited D.C. for the very first time. He states to Thai CDC Executive Director, Chanchanit Martorell:
“I just wanted to thank you again so much for taking me along with you to DC and participate in the wonderful enriching experience. I feel so much more grounded in what I am doing at Thai CDC and am so grateful that I was able to share some great workshops with you and meet some of your old friends. I appreciate how you introduced me to everyone when you got a chance and giving me the opportunity to really meet, see, and participate in such a moving lively group. I met so many amazing people and learning about their work really motivated me to do more. From my family and myself, I just want to send you a warm thank you and I can’t express how grateful I am to be part of this organization. I look forward to growing professionally and growing as a team at Thai CDC. This trip was really exactly what I needed to grasp how I want to grow in my career and you allowed me to do that, so I thank you for that opportunity. I hope I wasn’t a hassle to travel with! And it was also nice getting to know you at a more personal level. So thanks again Chancee you have been a great mentor.”
What a generous and thoughtful comment! How touching and heartfelt. Now, that’s icing on the cake topping off this wonderfully engaging, productive, and substantive gathering with fellow API activists from past and present. Here’s to the future Representative from California – Jonathan Ayon! Had he been born here, we would say the future President of the United States of America!
The revolution won’t be funded nor televised!
The comment made by Mike Murase long-time community activist and co-founder of and current Director of Programs at Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation, who was on the panel, “What Can AAPIs Do to Move the Racial Justice Movement Forward? Organizing in Alliance and Solidarity towards Equity and Community Power,” should be the rallying cry for all of us. He said, unfortunately, there are “no revolutionary organizations today since we all receive grants from the federal government and we can’t write into the proposal “overthrow the government” or put that on our scope of work.” So who is willing to start a revolutionary organization now? Or do we need to do well while doing good? Let’s remember what Pope Francis said, “While we comfort the afflicted, we also need to afflict the comfortable.” “We should live to serve not serve to live otherwise we don’t deserve to live.”
