Past Community in the Capital Participants:
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
2011 Community in the Capital
The 2011 CITC program focused on the federal government’s role in ensuring that low-income communities have equal opportunities to achieve economic security through good jobs, affordable homes, and access to fair financial products. Participants discussed issues related to consumer protection, credit and asset building, housing counseling services, and other issues impacting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations across the country.
This year’s CITC was highlighted by a meeting with Raj Date, interim director of the newly-established Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which provided an opportunity for participants to draw attention to the economic security issues and challenges affecting their communities while offering suggestions for the agency as it engages low-income ethnic groups. The meeting specifically underscored the need for a strong and culturally competent CFPB to properly serve diverse, low-income AANHPI communities moving forward. The group also shared their priorities in meetings with Representative Judy Chu (Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus), Representative Mike Honda, Representative Al Green, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other leaders from federal agencies and national advocacy organizations in Washington, DC.
Rosalee Puaoi and Geri Mendiola, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (Honolulu, HI)
Noelle Desaki, Hawaiian Community Assets (Honolulu, HI)
Jun Yang, Faith Action in Community Equity (Honolulu, HI)
Carol Wu, Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (Los Angeles, CA)
Richard Chang, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (Los Angeles, CA)
Linda Yang, Lao Family Community of Stockton (Stockton, CA)
Hieu Lam, Union of Pan Asian Communities (San Diego, CA)
Mamta Gurung, Chhaya Community Development Corporation (Jackson Heights, NY)
Theresa Mah, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (Chicago, IL)
Chi-mei Lin, Chinese Community Center of Houston (Houston, TX)
Charles Vang, Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce (Milwaukee, WI)
Michael Byun, Asian Services in Action, Inc (Cleveland, OH)
Nam Pham, VietAID (Boston, MA)
Tony Chung, Center for Pan Asian Community Services (Atlanta, GA)
Nancy Pomplun, Asian Economic Development Association (St. Paul, MN)
Dae Joong Yoon, Korean Resource Center (Los Angeles, CA)
Riamsalio Phetchareun, Southeast Asian Resource and Action Center (Washington, DC)
2010 Community in the Capital
2010's discussions focused on HUD policy priorities including the Office on Sustainable Communities and proposals to restructure other federal housing programs.
Genna Byrd, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Janelle Chan, Asian Community Development Corporation
John Chin, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
Phuong Do, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
Karoleen Feng, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation
Jeff Gilbreath, Hawaiian Community Assets
Hyeok Kim, Inter*im Community Development Association
Jeremy Liu, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation
Kei Nagao, Little Tokyo Service Center
Rosalee Puaoi, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Shan Rehman, Chhaya Community Development Corporation
Nenick Vu, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
Cindy Wu, Chinatown Community Development Center
Malcolm Yeung, Chinatown Community Development Center
2009 Community in the Capital
Evelyn Bruce, National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the Youth
Shannon Toriki, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Lilia Kapuniai, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Laura Matsuoka, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Shan Rehman, Chhaya Community Development Corporation
Margaret Iwanaga-Penrose, Union of Pan Asian Communities
Pany Siharath, Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota
Mark Masaoka, Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council
Sheng Lee, Hmong Asian Partnership
Jeong Yeon Hong, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium
Keh Rachanit Trikandha, Thai Community Development Corporation
Bruce Blaisdell, VietAID
Richard Lee, Asian Americans for Equality
Joel Jacinto, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans
2008 Community in the Capital
Taz Ahmed, Orange Country Asian Pacific Islander American Community Association
Afreen Alam, Chhaya Community Development Corporation
Blossom Feiteira, Hui Kako’o Aina Ho’opulapula/Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Charise Fong, East Bay Asian Local Development Center
Kipukai Kuali'i, Hui Kako’o Aina Ho’opulapula/Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Ben Lau, Chinese American Service League
Quang Nguyen, Vietnamese American Economic Development Association
Namoch Sokhom, Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment
Jose Toledo, Manilatown Heritage Foundation
Tau Ve'e Remmers, Enterprise & Development Resources for the Pacific
2007 Community in the Capital
Program participants presented and shareed their local housing and community development policy issues and priorities in interactive sessions with each other and national policy makers. Activities included providing testimony on Capitol Hill, meetings with staff of key federal agencies, dialogues with national community development intermediaries, and national advocacy organizations.
SuJ'n Chon, International District Housing Alliance
Michelle Kauhane, Hawaiian Community Assets
Ricky Lam, Chinese American Service League
Crystal Mun-hye Baik, Asian Womens' Shelter
Rev. Norman Fong, Chinatown Community Development Center
Lisa Oshiro, Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Joyce Pisanont, International District Housing Alliance
Frances Yen, Asian Americans for Equality
