The 11th Annual Voters Education & Candidates Forum held on September 30, 2012 at CSU, Sacramento is scheduled to air on:

Sunday, 10/28 @ 3:30pm-7:45pm

Sunday, 11/4 @ 3:30pm-7:45pm

Both cablecasts will be on Comcast/Surewest Channel 17 and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 Pacific Daylight/Standard Time, unless otherwise specified.

Don't have those services? View the programs online at www.accesssacramento.org at the times listed above. Note: the Internet stream is not video on demand

For immediate release                          CONTACT: Maeley Tom, APAPA Special Advisor

October 4, 2012                                                        (916) 928-9988, office@apapa.org

APAPA Statewide Voters Forum Targets U.S. Fastest Growing Racial Group That Can Make A Difference In Key Elections In The State

According to the Los Angeles Times, “Asian Americans are now the nation’s fastest –growing racial group, overtaking Latinos in recent years as the largest stream of new immigrant arriving annually in the United States.”  “Geographically nearly half of all U.S. Asians live in the Western states, California, the traditional gateway for Asian immigrants, has by far the largest number, almost 6 million.”

The APAPA organization’s goal and mission focuses on these new API immigrant groups to help them understand the importance of civic and political engagement in this country in order for them to have a voice as a part of America.

The 11^th Annual APAPA Voters Forum in Sacramento attracted close to 1,000 attendees and participants to hear candidates seeking regional state and congressional seats debate as well as hear pros and cons about the most controversial ballot initiatives facing voters today. 

State Constitutional officers Debra Bowen, Secretary of State, Dave Jones, Insurance Commissioner, Tom Torlakson, Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Mayor of Sacramento Kevin Johnson addressed the importance of API voters today. Dan Walters, nationally recognized McClatchy political columnist along with a panel of respected journalists, Sandy Close of New America Media, Lonnie Wong of local channel 40 and Larry Lee of the Observer led the discussion among the candidates.

Voters Forum article in the Sacramento Bee:

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/01/4869017/influence-of-asian-american-pacific.html

APAPA Forum Photo Gallery: http://apapa.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=6040

Dear Amy,

I want to write to you personally to congratulate and thank you for another successful APAPA Voters Forum this year. The success of this huge and historical event is a result of your hard work and leadership. You, your team leaders, and volunteers have given many hours and made personal sacrifices to bring this unique educational opportunity to all API Americans and the public. This event has developed API participation, leadership, and ownership of the community and government. Many political candidates and government leaders were able to speak and communicate with the API voters and the general public.

This was also an opportunity for the corporate and business community to partner with APAPA to fulfill their corporate citizenship. You and your team have organized an entire California API community and have successfully demonstrated APAPA's Mission to empower API Americans through education, active participation, and leadership in civic and public affairs.

This event demonstrated a great ability for us to work together on common grounds for a common vision because we all take great pride and ownership of this country. I look forward to our continued success and expansion of APAPA's programs and services to the entire state through our newly formed chapters.  We Asian Americans and all Americans should be very proud and grateful to you and your team.

I would like to thank Maeley for her guidance and help in the program, VIP invitation, communication and media organization. The program is outstanding, the program book was well thought of, great AV & stage set up, excellent food & drinks coordination and VIP Reception and good media coverage. Thanks to all the many volunteers who tirelessly worked for the success of this program.

I would like to ask Amy to plan a celebration at the upcoming Holiday Mixer in December.

You have set a great role model.

Sincerely,

C.C. Yin

To view photos taken at the Forum, please visit APAPA's Gallery at www.apapagallery.org. Thanks to John Oback, Dr. Kingman Louie, and Paul Quong for attending and taking photos.

Advancing Justice and over 70 groups from the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community will file a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of race-conscious admissions in higher education. Each of the 70+ organizations have been longtime supporters representing the interests of AAPI communities on various issues. The brief describes how the race-conscious programs have opened up higher education for AAPIs and other minorities and how AAPIs have benefited from these programs in employment, business, and government contracting.

Read the full press release and brief at http://advancingjustice.org/.

Chevron Presents the 11th Annual Voters Education & Candidates Forum
Hosted by the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association

Co-hosted by CAPITAL, Sacramento CAIR, NAACP, OCA, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
In partnership with Ethnic Community Organizations and Major & Ethnic Medias
 
SAVE THE DATE
 
Sunday, September 30, 2012, Noon - 5:00pm
 
California State University, Sacramento - University Union
6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819
 
Noon-1:00pm Lunch & Registration
1:00pm-5:00pm Forum Program
5:00pm-6:00pm Hosted VIP Reception (Invitation Only)  
Fully Educational. Non-Partisan. Discussions on Issues Affecting Californians.                            Media Coverage by Major & Ethnic TV, Radio, & Newspapers.

Free Admission
Open to the Public 

Please visit www.apapa.org for more details.

As our Annual Capitol Internship & Scholarship Awards Banquet is approaching us, I can’t help but think back to 2008 when I was awarded a scholarship from APAPA.

As a starving college student tired of increasing tuition and fees, my biggest focus was getting any money to pay for college. My goal was short-term. I didn’t think about how it would truly affect my life outside of college.

Thinking back, without that scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to afford to intern that Fall semester for Assemblyman Dave Jones. Without that internship (and no one was hiring!), I wouldn’t have landed my first real job out of college at a boutique public relations firm in Sacramento. If you think about it, that scholarship helped get me a job!

I don’t recall much from the banquet except for making an unprepared speech to thank APAPA, its sponsors and, of course, my parents. I just went for the food and certificate. I never thought I’d ever see or hear from APAPA much, if ever.

Four years later, I’m a new and devoted member on APAPA’s Board of Directors. Not only do APAPA’s goals and missions align with my beliefs, but it does a fantastic job of ensuring the Asian and Pacific Islander American community has representation in the political, social and economic world. After I graduated in 2009, I realized how much the community has helped me get to where I am today. It was my turn to give back.

Giving back through an organization that helped me is very rewarding – and a great story to tell. I use my knowledge and skills to help with what I can – writing, marketing, media relations and event planning.

The first event I volunteered to help plan is the biggest event for APAPA each year – Voters Education and Candidates Forum. I obtained free advertisement on Clear Channel’s electronic billboard on Highway 50 by California State University, Sacramento. The Forum was held at CSU, Sacramento in 2010. At the Forum, I managed the backstage and ensured that every elected official and candidate was present and ready to make their speech to over 2,000 attendees. It was amazing and touching to see the community’s overwhelmingly appreciative response to the Forum.

Now it’s your turn to take action.

For all the recipients of 2012 Capitol Internship & Scholarship Awards, I only ask one thing of you. Give back. Give back to an organization and community that helped you move onwards and upwards.