National CAPACD News - February 2010

1) In the Field: Local community-based organizations in Philadelphia partner to support students facing violence in their high school

 Racially-motivated violence erupted at a public high school in South Philadelphia on December 3, 2009, where over 30 students were attacked, and over 15 were sent to the hospital.  Local National CAPACD member, the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC), had been working with the youth from the local high school for over a year and a half through their after-school programming for youth.  The violence was the culmination of deteriorating conditions in the public school system, and a lack of proactive attention paid to increasing complaints from the Asian immigrant students that were being bullied and harassed in the schools.  Administration officials from the public schools were slow to respond to the proactive requests by the Asian students, and were also slow to respond to the eruption of violence.

Students participated in a week-long boycott from the school, mostly due to the fact that they did not feel safe to return to school, and were unsure of the school’s commitment to protect them and their rights to equal access to education at the school.  Negotiations with the school ensued, and the students actively led the charge to create their list of findings describing the poor conditions at the school, and their demands from the School District to ensure that long-term change would be achieved through changes at the staff level, and increase and education of security officials, and the commitment to implementing diversity programs.

Asian Americans United (AAU), Boat People SOS - Philadelphia, the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia (CAGP), the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC), and Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia supported the students and parents through this incredibly challenging time, and will continue to work closely with the students to follow the progress of the School District of Philadelphia’s long-term response.  The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a national civil rights organization based in New York, has also played a role in supporting the students in the situation.  AALDEF has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice urging them to open an investigation into the conduct of the School District of Philadelphia, and South Philadelphia High School specifically. If you are interested in learning more about how you can help, please contact Mr. Xu Lin, Community Organizer at the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation ( or 215-922-6056).

2) Federal Policy Update: National CAPACD Joins the Americans for Financial Services Reform

National CAPACD joins the Americans for Financial Services Reform.  It is a coalition of 200 state and national organizations that has joined together to fix the financial sector that fairly serves all Americans.  The coalition philosophy supports the following values:

more closely regulate financial institutions that pose systemic risk;
    * limit excessive leverage in key financial institutions;
    * increase supervision of the shadow financial system;
    * create a new system for federal and state regulation of mortgages and other consumer credit
       products;
    * put in place executive pay structures that discourage excessive risk taking;
    * reform the credit rating system;
    * establish a global financial regulatory floor; and
    * start planning now for dealing with the next crisis.

 For more information please visit the Americans for Financial Services Reform website.

 3) Resources: Get Connected to the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

One of the ways in which National CAPACD engages federal lawmakers is through regular connection with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is a nonpartisan, bicameral caucus comprised of 29 Members of Congress, chaired by Congressman Mike Honda, which advocates on behalf of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.  CAPAC’s Housing Task Force is chaired by Congressman Al Green (D-TX).

Since its inception in 1994, CAPAC has ensured that AAPI communities are well-represented at the policymaking table and has fought to advance an agenda that reflects the needs of underserved AAPIs. As Congress tackles significant reform on important issues such as economic recovery, healthcare, and comprehensive immigration reform, it’s critical that you, as a leader in your community, stay informed with the latest movements on the Hill.

To sign up for updates from CAPAC, please click here.

To learn more about CAPAC, or to find out how you can help the Congressional representative in your area get connected with CAPAC, please visit CAPAC website. Gloria Chan, the executive director of CAPAC is also available to speak with you directly on how to connect your local organization with the efforts of the Caucus.  She is available at or (202) 225-2631.

4) Policy Update: Critical Moment for Affordable Housing Funding
    
Legislation on two critical proposals for affordable housing funding, close to approval until recent political events, are now in jeopardy and require attention.

In December the House of Representatives approved funding that will finally launch the long awaited National Affordable Housing Trust Fund.  But it remains uncertain where the funding will be attached on the Senate side. 

The House has also approved an extension of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit ‘exchange program.’   It is also considering proposals to expand program. But again, Senate action is required to keep afloat this critical program which has been severely impacted by the ongoing financial crisis.

Action to support both bills is needed now:
To support the Trust Fund see the National Low Income Housing Coalition advocacy website.  

To support the Low Income Housing Tax Credit see the Affordable Rental Housing A.C.T.I.O.N. Campaign website.

National CAPACD strongly supports both initiatives.  If you have any questions please contact Gen at .

5) National CAPACD Executive Director meets with the National Economic Council

On December 22, National CAPACD was invited to a meeting with Larry Summers, Director of the National Economic Council to discuss the Administration’s approach to jobs, unemployment and impacts on communities of color.  Senior staff from the White House included Tina Tchen, Director of the Office of Public Engagement (OPE), Cecilia Munoz, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Melody Barnes of the Domestic Policy Council.  Other advocacy groups who were present included Center for Community Change, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, NAACP, National Urban League, National Council of La Raza.  This meeting was convened as a follow up to the President’s Jobs Summit held in early December.  CAPACD joined with other national advocacy organizations in “The Jobs for America Now Coalition,” launched on December 16th 2009.

These civil rights and national advocacy organizations called for a major investment in jobs and strengthening the safety net for unemployed people.  One of the major differences with this recession is that it follows 8 years of disinvestment in social safety nets.  While the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) created or saved over a million jobs with investments in transportation and infrastructure, education, census and small businesses, private sector actions will not be enough to dramatically reverse the rates of unemployment.  Service jobs could be located in the public sector, community-based not-for-profit organizations, and small businesses that provide community benefits.

More information about the Jobs 4 America Now Coalition, please check out their website.
Center for Community Change concept paper calling for an investment of $40 Billion for public service jobs through the Department of Labor. For more information on the proposal please click here for a copy of the Community Job Proposal Leave Behind.  This proposal is included in HR 4268, the “Put America To Work Act of 2009” sponsored in the house by Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN).

6) National CAPACD Staff News

National CAPACD sends off Hieu Truong, our program coordinator, with our best wishes as she starts a new position at the Chesapeake Bay Trust in Annapolis, Maryland.   Hieu will be serving as a Program Officer at the Trust, and will have an opportunity to work in the environmental justice field, partnering with communities of color in outreach and education around community greening projects.  While at National CAPACD, Hieu was responsible for numerous projects, including the ACTION Technical Assistance program, which she led with great skill and care.  Many of you may have gotten to know Hieu through the training scholarships that she administered to support those in our network being trained in foreclosure and housing counseling.  Hieu will be greatly missed, but we wish her well as she focuses on another area of interest for her in the environmental field.  Thank you, Hieu, for your service to National CAPACD and our members!

National CAPACD would like to welcome Vickie Asato who will be our Office Manager/Executive Assistant.  Vickie brings over 15 years of organizational management experience to National CAPACD. She has served in the non-profit and public sector as well as for professional services firms. Prior to joining National CAPACD, Vickie served as the Development Services Coordinator for a water conservation district in Arizona, Program Director for the Voluntary Action Center of Honolulu, and Legal Services Administrator for a Hawai`i law firm amongst other positions. Vickie is an AmeriCorps alumni and a former board member and advisor to the Serteens Club of Hawai`i.  Welcome Vickie!

7) National CAPACD Internship Opportunity: Spring 2010 Internship

National CAPACD is seeking undergraduate or graduate students to work with a dynamic, progressive non-profit organization committed to advancing the well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities through advocacy, organizing and leadership development.

Interns will have 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.

Description of the Spring 2010 Internship position can be viewed by clicking here and application can be downloaded here.

For more information, please contact Vickie at or 202-223-2442.

8) National CAPACD announces the 2010 Convention to be moved to September 26-29, 2010

Planning for the 2010 Convention is currently underway.  We look forward to seeing you all in Washington, DC on September 26 - 29, 2010 for three days of exciting plenary sessions on the latest federal policy initiatives, in-depth skill-based trainings for staff working with low-income Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and networking opportunities with funders, elected officials and Obama administration officials.

In the coming months, National CAPACD staff will be engaging with our members nationwide to build a policy platform that will be utilized to engage federal policy makers and other national entities throughout 2010.  We are focused on ensuring that the topics presented during the Annual Convention bring the most impact to our members, and are the most relevant to the needs and changing characteristics of the local communities that we collectively serve.  As you know, the economic crisis has wreaked havoc on our nation’s housing and financial systems, trickling down to all aspects of life for our respective communities.  Nonprofit organizations are not exempt from this serious impact.  National CAPACD aims to ensure that the information presented during the Annual Convention will enhance your organization’s ability to engage with other nonprofit organizations across the country, federal lawmakers and administrators, funders and other key stakeholders in the goal of creating neighborhoods of hope and opportunity.

Watch for future e-newsletters for updates on the 2010 Convention and how to get involved!