Council of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA)

National CAPACD seeks 2008 Congressional Fellow & Spring Intern

National CAPACD is currently accepting applications for our 2008 Congressional Fellowship and our Spring 2008 Internship.

The 2008 Congressional Fellowship will provide an individual the opportunity to learn about federal housing and community development policies while gaining experience working in Congress. The Fellow will provide leadership and expertise on housing and community development issues to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) analyzing housing and community development legislation and its impact on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and/or other Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). The Fellow will work with National CAPACD, the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) and other AAPI housing and community development organizations to raise awareness among elected officials, policy makers and advocates.  Applications must be postmarked by October 15, 2007.

Our Spring 2008 Internship will provide undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to meet community and congressional leaders, engage in substantive research and writing, organize and/or attend local and national events, participate in AAPI social justice networks and learn about AAPIs in nonprofits and community development.    We are seeking students with a strong interest in community and economic development, housing, immigration and civil rights issues impacting low-income Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.  Applications must be received by November 15, 2007.

Please visit our website at http://www.nationalcapacd.org for more information about both opportunities and applications.

Matt Shiraki as the new White House Asian Pacific American Liaison

Please join me in welcoming Matt Shiraki as the new White House Asian Pacific American Liaison. In this role, he will be responsible for communicating the President’s policies and priorities to the Asian Pacific American community and bringing the needs and concerns of the community to senior White House staff. In addition, Matt will represent the White House at community events and will organize briefings and outreach activities for Asian American and Pacific Islander constituency groups.

Currently, Matt Shiraki serves in the Office of Strategic Initiatives, aiding the director and his deputies in message development and policy research. Matt’s primary duties include researching current and historical policies, planning senior staff strategy meetings and the White House Lecture Series, coordinating communications efforts, and serving as Strategic Initiatives’ intern coordinator.   

Prior to joining the Office of Strategic Initiatives, Matt worked in the White House Offices of Presidential Correspondence and Intergovernmental Affairs. He also served in the offices of U.S. Senators Rick Santorum and Mike DeWine. 

After attending Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania, Matt transferred to Cedarville University in Ohio, where he was elected student body president. He graduated with a degree in history education and was awarded the President’s Trophy, the highest honor given to a graduating senior. 

The son of Korean and Japanese-American parents, Matt was born and raised in the U.S. territory of Guam.  His family now lives in the Philadelphia area and he currently resides in Arlington, Virginia.   

Matt's Contact Information:
(202) 456-2108 (office)
(202) 494-4987 (mobile)
shiraki@who.eop.gov

Thank you very much.

Best wishes,

Julie CramDeputy Assistant to the President and
Director of the Office of Public Liaison
The White House

Trade Mission to India

Automation Alley International Business Center
Trade Mission to India
New Delhi, Pune, Bangalore and Chennai
October 10-20, 2007

Automation Alley's International Business Center invites you to join our trade mission to India, a nation primed with unrivaled trade and investment opportunities for local companies exploring growth overseas.  For more information, please call 800-427-5100 or visit www.automationalley.com.

Campaign Director Position

Rights Working Group (in DC) has a job opening housed at the Asian American Justice Center.

Please click here for details.

Asian American Community Related Events at OCC

Hello,

My name is Dorothea McCurdy and I am the VP of Service for the local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society at Oakland Community College in Waterford, Michigan.  We have a few events planned for this Fall semester that we feel would be of interest to the Asian American community.

The first event is October 18th at 7pm at Oakland Community College Highland Lakes campus at 7350 Cooley Lake Road in Waterford. It will be held in the Student Center Arena in the Student Center building on campus.
The guest speaker is Dean Frank Wu on the topic of Diversity and how to achieve it in the community and on the college campus.  Click here for flyer.

The second event is November 8th at 7pm at the same location as the October 18th event.  The guest speakers will be immigration attorney Reginald Pacis, and NY Times author Da Chen. The topics will be: the Asian American community, immigration issues, growing political involvement, and U.S.-China Relations.  Click here for flyer.

For more information, those interested in attending can call 248-942-3241,  e-mail: PTKHL@oaklandcc.edu or visit the website www.oaklandcc.edu/ptk-hl (click on the "events" tab and then the link for either "October speaker" or "November speaker"

If you need further clarification, please do not hesitate to ask Dorothea McCurdy, VP of Service, PTK-AOK Chapter  (email: dlmccurd@oaklandcc.edu)

The Comedy of Rex Navarette

Dear CAPA Friends and Stephanie,

Please join us to hear the comedy of Rex Navarette.

        The Comedy of Rex Navarette
                      7 p.m.

      Millenium Theatre in Southfield
          15600 J. L. Hudson Drive
             Southfield MI 48075

Tickets:  $50 Benefactor (down in front)
                  $25 regular tickets
                  $20 Students/Seniors

You may wonder - why go to a comedy show, will I like it?  But think about it - you often compare American and Filipino ways of doing things, and sometimes make a joke out of it.  Your kids may also tease you.  Rex has developed this into an entertaining art form.  You will be entertained, outraged, challenged, and laugh 'til it hurts.  Trust me, you will like it!

This summer, I was in class in Boston for 3 weeks.  Three of my Irish classmates encouraged us to go see an Irish comedian, who lives in London.  I went, as a favor to my classmates, since I thought I was too old, and the humor wouldn't be of interest.  But it turned out to be a wonderful evening, worth every penny (try $75 for regular seats).  My sides hurt from laughter when we left.  The only thing I didn't like about the comedian was that his program was too short.  After 1 1/2 hours straight, with a short intermission in the m1ddle - he didn't do an encore.  I would go again, and bring as many friends as possible if Colin comes anywhere near Michigan.

I do have REX NAVARETTE tickets to sell and would be happy to sell them to you:  Benefactor at $50 - down front (I have 10) [ Benefactor tickets are VERY LIMITED]; regular tickets at $25 and student/senior citizen tickets at $20.  Call me 248 546-3361 or 800 736-6814 or e-mail me travelisfun@comcast.net and we can work something out.  But do it quickly - before everything is sold out.  YOu can send a check made out to "PACCM" to me, with a list of who the tickets are for - and they will be held at the door.  Indicate everyone's full name and MARK who is a benefactor, who is a senior or youth, and who is a regular ticket.  My address is: 13361 Ludlow, Huntington Woods MI 48070.

Other contact people who have tickets:  Resty and Rowena Teodoro 586 243-2526 or 2345 restyt@pmfop.com ; Fred Porte 586 350-5574; Steve Miles 313 389-1371; Lito and Nona Apigo 248 245-9209 or 425-9209; Dr. Alex Naluz 313 443-1422; Opel Magbitang 734 981-0246; Pearl of the Orient 248 548-0600 or 734 466-9999; Jeramm Westside Oriental Store 734 421-0019  and American Community Homecare 734 981-0246.

Funds raised will be used for programming at the Philippine Community Center of Michigan and for the medical mission of the Pangasinan Club.

BACKGROUND

Rex was born in the Philippines, but grew up in Chicago and mainly South San Francisco.  Navarrete graduated from San Francisco State University, majoring in film and Asian American studies.

He started his comedy career in 1989 with a performance at University of California Santa Cruz. He has since performed in over two dozen colleges and universities as well as various comedy clubs and festivals, including headlining a sold-out performance at The Warfield in San Francisco as well as the Wiltern LG in Los Angeles.

In 2003 he released his first DVD entitled "Hella Pinoy."

As of December 2006, he has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. These include performances in San Francisco, New York, Montreal, Manila, Geneva, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sydney.

In 2007, an animated series featuring Filipino-American characters will be released. Navarrete will be voicing many of the characters.

He's produced 3 disks, two films, and has appeared on MTV, ABS-CBN and will be appearing on The Nutshack.  You can get a taste of his humor by clicking on the link below:

http://www.rexnavarrete.com/soundsandsights/maritess.swf

Jeff Jenks, Public Relations Officer
Philippine American Community Center of Michigan
248 546-3361 or 800 736-6814
travelisfun@comcast.net
See what is going on at PACCM:  www.paccm.org