Council of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA)

Hurricane Katrina Evacuee Assistance Resources

Please feel free to download and distribute in case you need to refer someone for assistance.

Evacuee Assistance Information
http://capa-mi.org/pdf_files/newsletter/051100/evacuee_info1_0509.pdf
http://capa-mi.org/pdf_files/newsletter/051100/evacuee_info2_0509.pdf

Provided by Michigan Department of Civil Rights

Please DONATE - KATRINA APIA RELIEF FUNDS

Everyday, the number of families displaced by Hurricane Katrina will continue to grow.  These families from Louisiana, Mississippi, and possibly even from Alabama will continue to arrive in Houston, seeking help from local Houstonians.  The immediate help these families are looking for is housing, food and medical needs.

In an effort to encourage local businesses and service providers to provide assistance, we need your support to specifically support the efforts of the local Asian/Pacific Islander American Community to address the needs of people with language and cultural barriers.  We currently have thousands of people coming to Houston and the local APIA community is working together to provide assistance to people in immediate need.

Currently BPSOS, HOPE Clinic, CCC, and many other APIA other organizations are on the ground helping people with FEMA applications, Food Stamps, immediate vouchers for prescription medicine to the non-insured, food, and other assistance.

OCA-Greater Houston has set-up an online donation system to assist in collecting online donations to be distributed to the 2 APIA community relief funds that do not have online donation capacity.  Please give what you can.  Go to http://www.ocahouston.org/ and click to make an online donation by credit card or paypal.

The Katrina disaster is not something that is short-term.  We are looking at a 4 month minimum time period where people will need shelter and assistance.  As the donation funds come in, assistance will be provided in the order of medical, food, shelter, and other basic needs.

If you are not making an online donation, please send checks to:

CCC-Katrina CARE
9800 Town Park
Houston, TX 77036.

Houston Asian Relief from Katrina (or HARK)
c/o Council Member Gordon Quan
P.O. Box 1562
Houston, Texas 77251

501(c)3 Tax deduction information will be sent to all donors from these 2 funds.

Linking and Engaging the Community

Tai Chan, Ph.D.

“Linking and engaging the community” will be the theme of the CAPA Retreat on September 10, 2005. Indeed, this strategic goal of CAPA should be practiced by all community organizations in doing what is right for their own constituencies and for the community at large. First and second generation Asian Americans will probably agree that we have the best of both worlds in America. Freedom, liberty and justice enable us to improve our lives and the future generations. Festive and celebration events showcasing Asian culture and heritage are entertaining, encouraging, and educational for everyone. There is so much we can learn from each other, and “life is certainly more than a box of chocolates” is quite appropriate. “Diversity is our Strength” is not just a slogan; it should be the guiding principle and a tool to build stronger communities in America. Our cultural heritage, diverse and rich, is a valuable asset as we work together to overcome the barriers, pride and prejudice in our society. We need innovative ideas to link and engage people to serve the community at large. A critical step is to identify specific societal needs which may be met by Asian American volunteers. We should have the mindset that we are here to serve the community. It is not about you or me; it is about us – the US in these United States of America.

At the last CAPA Summit in 2004, the theme “Building Bridges” was the stimulus to provoke us to find ways to be connected in the greater community. We were challenged to enrich our lives by working with others in the communities around us through service and sacrifice. At the operational level, we have to involve other community organizations, corporations, schools and universities, local businesses, government, and philanthropic foundations as partners to support high impact events in the community. Since 2001, CAPA has taken small steps to educate one another on Asian cultures, offered seminars and workshops to equip ourselves to foster friendship in understanding the needs and aspirations of Asian Americans. But, this is not enough. It is time to take bigger and bolder steps to meet the needs of the community at large.

Looking back, the early Asian American pioneers who came more than a hundred years ago have literally given their blood, sweat, and tears to build America. They came alone without their family, worked as laborers for years under very harsh conditions, then returned to the old country with their life savings to live out their golden years. Sadly, this cycle repeats itself for several generations until the end of WW2. Asian Americans no longer have to maintain the confining lifestyles by keeping their noses to the grindstones in the community. Their new lives as passport carrying American citizens with all the rights and privileges had begun. Asian Americans are getting more educated and more affluent, capable of giving back to America in their new roles as scientists, engineers, doctors, businessmen, lawyers, community leaders, and even elected officials in government.

What can Asian Americans do for America ? That is an open question. What do we have to offer ? How can we use our talents and resources effectively to meet the challenges ? Should we lead or be a follower ? These are issues we have to discuss in an open dialog thru the CAPA Blog at http://www.capa-mi.blogs.com/, by sharing our views on specific issues and explore options to address the well being of Asian Americans and all Americans. The editorials in the CAPA e-newsletter will serve as a stimulus and provoke us to think and act in a positive way. As Americans, our collective wisdom should move us to act and provide the compass of CAPA in serving the community with the right focus in this great nation of ours.

This is a call to “Pour out our hearts, put our minds and hands to work with words and actions” to nurture our relationships with one another and to strengthen the communities across America. Together, we will develop the strategic goals and action plans to accomplish something truly significant. Will you join us ?

_______________________________________________________________________
© 2005  Tai Chan

Dr. Tai Chan chairs the CAPA Education Committee since 2005, and served as VP of CAPA in 2004.  He is an environmental health research scientist with General Motors since 1977, and led the GM Chinese Affinity Group as Chairman in 2003. He was president of the American Association of Aerosol Research (AAAR) in 1996, and the Detroit Chinese Engineers Association (DCEA) in 2000.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in the editorials are solely of the individual author and are not necessarily those of the Council of Asian Pacific Americans or its members.

CAPA reserves the rights to delete any reader's response or comment to the article, if considers inappropriate.

Katrina and Vietnamese Americans

From Linh Song, a local vietnamese activist --

There are an 34,656 Vietnamese living in the federally-declared disaster areas, with Louisiana in the lead with 23,434 people (US Census). It is not known yet how many have lost their homes and their livelihoods. A substantial number have sought refuge in the Vietnamese community of Houston.

Please give what you can.  Please donate to the KATRINA APIA RELIEF FUNDS.

Go to http://capa-mi.blogs.com/capami/2005/09/please_donate_k.html for more information.

Take a poll on Asian Americans: Supreme Ct. Justice Nominee

Will you take 3 minutes to take a poll to advance equal justice for Asian Americans (AsAms)? Tell 80-20 if it should work to get an AsAm appointed Supreme Court Justice (SCJ). If yes, who?

A second Supreme Court position has opened up. Already most news articles speculate that "the nominee may be a woman or a minority." Note that our nation already has African Am. and female SCJs, while a Hispanics is the US Attorney General, who heads the Dept. of Justice.

In contrast, even our nation's second highest court, the Circuit Court, has only 1 AsAm out of 179 such judges. America’s glorious past was unfortunately tainted with infamous cases of injustice towards AsAms, e.g. The Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, the internment of Japanese Americans in WWII, and recently the Wen Ho Lee case.

Injustice towards AsAms looms in the future. As China & India rise, friction between the US and those two nations will inevitably increase. Jealousy and even hatred towards people of those two nations may occur and may indeed spill over to Chinese-, Indian- & all Asian-Americans, since most Americans don't know the differences. In the century of Asia, the US will benefit greatly from appointing an AsAm SCJ. Instead of remaining "Eurocentric," America has the AsAm assets to aspire to become "global centric."

Our chance of getting an AsAm SCJ is not great but is NOT zero, unless we don't make an effort. Are you willing to bear the burden of "A PIONEER" with 80-20?

80-20 is prepared to commit resources and large amounts of its leaders' time to create a brighter future for all of us, PROVIDED

(1) 3000 or more of YOU take the poll and URGE us to go fight for an AsAm SCJ. (15,000 AsAm ACTIVISTS will receive this poll.)

(2) There is a good consensus on which AsAm. candidates will best serve the nation & AsAms in the Supreme Court. 11 AsAm legal eagles, together with their bios, are listed in the poll for you to choose, including A. Wallace Tashima, Senior Judge, 9th Circuit Court (Japanese Am), Harold Hongju Koh, Dean, Yale Law School (Korean Am), & Anthony B. Ching, the first ever Solicitor General of Arizona (Ch. Am). 80-20 has introduced all 10 to you in emails.

80-20 will plug for the top 5 AsAm candidates, and will be open- minded about adding others. You are 80-20's boss, tell us what to do. Show us that you CARE.
Go http://www.80-20.ws/sv05.html.

At least 3000 of YOU must give us feedback. Feel free to pass this email to your friends and relatives.

__________________________________

Information shared by Felix H. Chow, Ed.D.

Chinese Community Center Now Open

The Association of Chinese Americans, the Detroit Chapter of the National Organization of Chinese Americans, a 33 year old non-profit organization, purchased the old Chi-Chi’s restaurant in December 2003 to serve all Asians as well the surrounding communities in fulfilling its mission which includes a dedication to advancing the political, social and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the U.S.

After extensive renovation for over a year, the center finally opened for business on August 8, 2005. The Chinese Community Center (CCC) hopes to build its charitable programs to serve the community to a much fuller scale in the very near future. For the time being, we offer Tai Chi classes, Chinese language classes, citizenship classes, senior activities and youth activities. A summer camp for youth was just completed during the first week of it opening. More programs are being negotiated at this point with the community. We hope to offer regular health promotion clinics, translation services, immigration translation services, Medicare/Medicaid information services, free legal clinics etc.

Currently we have 2 class offerings for the fall:  Mandarin Level I and a FREE Tai Chi class.  Contact Shenlin Chen at 313-831-1790 for days/time and to register.

Click for Association of Chinese Americans (ACA) Activity Schedule.
http://capa-mi.org/pdf_files/newsletter/050900/aca_activity0508.pdf

We have space for rental.  Please contact Shenlin Chen at 313-831-1790.

Chinese Community Center (CCC) address:
32585 Concord Drive, Madison Heights, MI 48071
Phone: 248-858-9343
The hours are: M-F  10a.m. - 4:00p.m.  Sat-Sun 1:00-4:30p.m.
Evening Hours: TBA

SOS Villages Tsunami Relief Update
New start for tsunami victims in Thailand

16/08/2005 - After his trip to Aceh Province, Indonesia, SOS Children's Village President Helmut Kutin is visiting Thailand. In Phang Nga, a northern province neighbouring Phuket, family houses and fishing boats were given to families who lost all their belongings in the sea surge on 26 December.

The disaster-struck regions in Thailand received the most well-organised assistance after the tsunami tragedy, which was supported by a professional network of national and international organisations. SOS Children's Villages therefore focused on providing assistance to areas outside the tourist centres which had to wait a long time until they could receive any reconstruction help.

In the Ban Tung Wha village (Ban means village in Thai), 20 houses were given to families in the presence of Helmut Kutin and the governor of the province of Phang Nga. The families had had to stay in inadequate living quarters until the new houses were completed. With tears of relief and joy, they were able to move into the houses, which were built in record time. These same families also received a total of 18 boats, with which the fishermen can stay out at sea overnight as well, and can earn their livelihoods independently.

Additionally, in the neighbouring village of Ban Tub Tawan, 23 fishing boats with motors, fully equipped with fishing gear such as locally-produced nets, were distributed. In Ban Tub Tawan, SOS Children's Villages only provides fishing boats, as the reconstruction of the houses has been taken on by another relief organisation.

President Helmut Kutin on the reconstruction assistance provided in Thailand: "Ban Tung Wha and Ban Tub Tawan were completely destroyed by the Tsunami. No help has been provided to either village aside from immediate emergency relief, since they are not located in close proximity to the most important tourist resorts. Being given homes and boats and the fact that someone is there and is listening was very important to these families."

In the Ranong province in the south of Thailand, SOS Children's Villages is running another reconstruction project. The Ban Talay Nok School, in the small village by the same name on the coast of the Andaman Sea, was completely destroyed on 26 December 2004, and is being re-built from scratch by SOS Children's Villages. 47 inhabitants of Ban Talay Nok lost their lives in the sea surge, including some students and one teacher. Only the floor of the multi-purpose ground and the flagpole remained.

The new school will have five classrooms, a multi-purpose building and a study-centre, a school canteen, a library with a computer room, a sports and playground, accommodation for teachers, a sanitation complex and a water tank. It will offer classes from kindergarten to grade six and the 60 students will be taught in temporary facilities until the completion of the school at the end of 2005/beginning of 2006.

- Taken from SOS Villages enewsletter.

Jun Choi Wins Democratic Primary for Mayor of Edison, NJ
This Week at APAICS: July 5th, 2005

On June 7th, Jun Choi won the Democratic primary for Edison, NJ, defeating the three-term incumbent Mayor by more than 1000 votes. He captured 56 of 78 voting districts with 5580 votes or 55% of the votes.

His election win followed the inflammatory remarks made on April 25th by a New Jersey radio show. Hosts Craig Carton and Ray Rossi from "The Jersey Guys," which airs on WKXW New Jersey 101.5FM, made many racially offensive comments towards Asian Americans, stating "And here's the bottom line. No specific minority or foreign group should ever ever dictate the outcome of an American election. I don't care if the Chinese population in Edison has quadrupled in the last year, Chinese should never dictate the outcome of an election, Americans should." They further claimed that Jun Choi was focusing exclusively on the influx of Asian Americans for votes.

After their broadcast, New Jersey/National Taskforce Against Hate Media and the New Jersey Coalition for Asian American Civil Rights demanded an on-air apology and administrative punishment. Companies such as Hyundai and Cingular pulled advertisements from the radio station. The issue was resolved on May 27th when the coalition and Millenium Central NJ, the parent group of the radio show, came to an agreement, which required an on-air apology from the host along with long-term procedures such as a stronger policy against racially derogatory speech.

Jun Choi is 34, a Korean American, and is currently the Executive Director of the Student Achievement Task Force at the New Jersey Department of Education. Edison , NJ has a population of 97,687 with 29% Asian Pacific Americans (US Census 2000). After winning the Democratic primary, Mr. Choi will be facing Republican candidate Carl Perlin and Independent candidate William Stevens this November in the general election.

______________________________________________________

The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational organization based in Washington, D.C., that seeks to build a politically empowered APA community, to fill the political pipeline for Asian Pacific Americans to enter and advance into elected office, and to be a resource to Congress about the APA community.

APA Women and the Violence Against Women Act: A Fact Sheet

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 2000 expires in September 2005. Critical gains that have been made against domestic and sexual violence since VAWA's initial 1994 authorization could come to a halt if Congress does not act quickly. During the past decade, VAWA has provided vital programs, resources and protections for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. VAWA has and will continue to work for the cultural competency of these services that are crucial to the survival of APA women who suffer from domestic violence.

VAWA Accomplishments

•  National Domestic Violence Hotline callers now have access to interpreters in 139 languages.

•  VAWA 1994 and 2000 established a new focus on underserved populations, including communities of color and immigrants. They developed protections that consider special circumstances that may apply to non-citizen victims of domestic violence.

How will VAWA 2005 be even more effective than in previous years?

VAWA 2005 recognizes barriers to traditional help that women of color and immigrant women of color may face: language, cultural attitudes, citizenship status, risk of deportation, and community relationships with law enforcement. Thus, VAWA 2005 looks beyond law enforcement and seeks to make the following improvements:

•  Better serve communities of color. Develop leadership roles for members of communities of color in designing and implementing culturally competent services. This includes language-appropriate services provided by local community members who understand the unique needs of their community. Address funding for these specialized programs.

•  Improve support and programming for immigrant women. VAWA will continue to recognize the importance of helping battered spouses and children leave their abusers without jeopardizing their immigration status. VAWA 2005 will also resolve inconsistencies in the eligibility requirements for immigrant victims to receive protection. As of 2000, 69 of all APAs in the United States were foreign born. This percentage includes both documented and undocumented immigrants, temporary migrants,
and refugees.

•  Shift from a solely criminal justice response to a holistic, community-based response. Provide services beyond law enforcement to help survivors become self-sufficient. This includes housingsupport and employment protection.

How immediate is the danger of domestic and sexual violence to APA women?

• Project AWARE's 2000-2001 survey of APA women found that 81.1 of the respondents experienced at least one form of partner violence in the past year. Of the women who did not experience intimate partner violence, more than half (64) said they knew an APA friend who experienced such violence.
• APA women experience disproportionately high rates of domestic violence-related homicide.
o Of the women killed in domestic violence-related homicides in California's Santa Clara County between 1993 and 1997, 31 of them were APA women.
o In 2000, 7 domestic violence-related homicides were reported in Hawaii. According to the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, 5 of the 7 women killed were Filipina. This statistic is disproportionately high given that Filipinos only represent 12.3 of Hawaii's total population.
o 13 of women and children killed in domestic violence-related homicides in Massachusetts in 1991 were APAs, although APAs only represent 2.4 of the state's total population.

For more information on APA organizations, domestic violence, or VAWA:

Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence:
http://www.apiahf.org/apidvinstitute

National Asian Women’s Health Organization
http://www.nawho.org/

National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women:
http://www.vawa2005.org/

Family Violence Prevention Fund:
http://endabuse.org/

Legal Momentum:
http://www.legalmomentum.org/
___________________________________
Information shared by National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum

NAPAWF
1050 17th Street. N.W., Ste 250
Washington, DC 20036
T (202) 293-2688; F (202) 293-4507
www.napawf.org

Hmong Refugees in Thailand Face Repatriation

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Over 6,500 Hmong refugees, including children, were forced from their homes in Huay Nam Khao village in Northern Thailand on Tuesday.  Thai landowners were threatened with incarceration and fines if they did not follow government orders to expel the Hmong refugees from their homes.  The eviction has left thousands of Hmong refugees homeless and hungry, on a roadside near the Laotian border in Phetchabun province, already resulting in the death of a two-month-old baby, and one attempted suicide.  Local vendors are not allowed to sell their products to the refugees , and doctors in the area have been asked by officials to stop providing medical care to the Hmong.

Thai officials view the Hmong refugees as illegal immigrants and reportedly plan to repatriate the refugees back to Laos where many fear persecution from the Lao government for their involvement with the CIA during the Vietnam War.  Lao authorities continue to deny that the Hmong fled Laos due to fear of persecution and claim that Thai officials have not raised the issue of repatriation with them.  Laotian spokesman Yong Chanthalangsy states, “We will not take them, and it is not right for the Thai government to make the decision alone.”   While Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission subcommittee on ethnic minority rights has issued a statement on postponing the forced relocation of these refugees,  their current living conditions are extremely poor, and their futures remain unclear.

Please feel free to contact HND and SEARAC with your questions and concerns:

Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC): 202-667-4690 or visit
www.searac.org
Hmong National Development (HND) – (202) 463-2118 or email
info@hndlink.org.

____________________________________________

Information shared by

Helly Lee
Program Coordinator
Hmong National Development, Inc.
1112 16th Street, Northwest
Suite 110
Washington, DC  20036
PH:  202-463-2118
FAX: 202-463-2119
www.hndlink.org