Asian-American Village News Pirates sign first Indian pitchers in majors NJ church shooting suspect captured NJ church killings shake up close-knit community FDA: Epilepsy drug may be risky for Asians Native Hawaiians protest land appeal Secret Asian Man The NEW Secret Asian Man Also Graduate School Opportunities QuickSearch: Jobs preferring Bilingual/ Multilingual Candidates

National APA Leaders Release Policy Priorities

Release by the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans

Washington, D.C. – Today, a coalition of 18 leading national Asian Pacific American organizations, announced their endorsement of Call to Action: Platform for Asian Pacific Americans National Policy Priorities.  The Platform, a statement of policy concerns, is a project initiated by the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA).

The Platform is endorsed by the following organizations:

• Asian American Institute

• Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum

• Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations

• Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO

• Hmong National Development, Inc.

• Japanese American Citizens League

• Korean American Coalition

• National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association

• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association

• National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium

• National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum

• National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies

• National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development

• National Federation of Filipino American Associations

• National Korean American Service and Education Consortium

• Organization of Chinese Americans, Inc.

• Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force

• Southeast Asia Resource Action Center

The policy priorities outlined in the Platform include issues concerning: economic empowerment; community and economic development; education; health care; civil rights; immigration; language access; worker’s rights; women; senior citizens; data collection; and technology.

“Politically, the release of the Platform represents a coming of age for the APA community,” said Karen K. Narasaki, President and Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium and chair NCAPA.  “National APA groups representing a very diverse community have come together in this election year to speak with one voice.”

“No candidate, party or political movement can afford to ignore the APA community,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of the Organization of Chinese Americans and treasurer of NCAPA.  “We will be looking to see the extent to which our concerns are met by candidates.  Our organizations are working to mobilize our constituencies for this election.”

“As the 2000 election proved, many election are close contests.  The APA vote will make a difference in tight races,” said Jeff Caballero, Executive Director of the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations and secretary of NCAPA.  “Asian Pacific Americans, the fastest growing minority group, are an increasingly important part of our electorate.”

“This platform is non-partisan and does not endorse any candidate or party,” said Gloria T. Caoile, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance and vice-chair of NCAPA.  “The political parties, the President, and all the Democratic candidates can do a better job of addressing these issues.  We have sent the Platform to President Bush and the major Democratic candidates.  We look forward to discussing these policies with them.”

The Platform is available at here.

Thursday, February 12, 2004                             

CONTACT:  T. Andrew Rice - 202-296-2300 or arice@napalc.org