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Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Blog

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From Words to Action: Integrating Newcomers Who Want to Learn and Work in America

Ryan Edgar, Policy Specialist in the Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior, writes about his experience organizing a roundtable on integration with the White House Domestic Policy Council in Honolulu, Hawaii.
January 9, 2012 at 1:42 PM ET by Ryan Edgar

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Listens to AAPI Community Leaders

Nicholas Rathod of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes a meeting with AAPI community leaders to discuss consumer finance issues facing the community, including predatory lending, access to financial literacy training, and more.
December 15, 2011 at 1:47 PM ET by Nicholas Rathod

Supporting Small Businesses: The Engines of Our Economy

Christopher Chan of the U.S. Small Business Administration discusses SBA's work with the small business community and new programs that will help AAPI-owned small businesses.
December 9, 2011 at 4:31 PM ET by Christopher Chan

Asian American Entrepreneurship: An Asset to the Nation’s Economy

Asian American entrepreneurs are poised to play an expanding role in the U.S. economy by driving innovation in technology, medicine, and many other fields.
November 22, 2011 at 9:30 AM ET by Dilawar Syed

Federal Agencies Making Strides for the AAPI Community

Chris Lu, White House Cabinet Secretary and Co-chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, presides over a meeting of the Interagency Working Group (IWG). The meeting hosted agency representatives as they shared their plans on how to engage AAPIs in the year ahead.
November 21, 2011 at 12:36 PM ET by Chris Lu

Connecting Business and Government in the AAPI Community

Jiyoung Park discusses opportunities for small businesses to work with the federal government and reflects on a roundtable discussion with small business leaders in the AAPI community.
November 18, 2011 at 12:10 PM ET by Jiyoung Park

Let’s Move! Community Leaders as Models for Change

First Lady Michelle Obama visits MA'O Organic Farm in Waianae, Hawaii, for a tour of the farm and a discussion on health and nutrition.
November 16, 2011 at 4:15 PM ET by Kamuela Enos

Diwali at the White House

President Obama marks Diwali at the White House and Senior Administration officials discuss the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
November 9, 2011 at 1:05 PM ET by Paul Monteiro

Ensuring a Safe and Bright Future for Our Children

Amardeep Singh, Co-Founder and Director of Programs at the Sikh Coalition, speaks about preventing bullying in the American American and Pacific Islander community.
November 3, 2011 at 12:18 PM ET by Amardeep Singh

Improving Health Disparities Data for a Healthier Nation

Dr. Howard Koh examines the milestones that have been achieved to reduce racial and ethnic health disparities.New breakthroughs include the release of Healthy People 2020 and the National Prevention Strategy, as well as the launch of the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.
November 2, 2011 at 11:15 AM ET by Dr. Howard Koh

Continuing Progress and Increasing Opportunities for the AAPI Community

Arne Duncan, Secretary of the Department of Education and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, discusses the accomlishments of the White House Initiatvie on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).
October 28, 2011 at 1:31 PM ET by Arne Duncan

Kabzuag Vaj, A Champion of Change in Eradicating Violence in AAPI Communities

Doua Thor discusses Kabzuag Vaj's work, which advocates for culturally and linguistically appropriate responses for the AAPI community.
October 27, 2011 at 3:25 PM ET by Doua Thor

Helping Nonprofits Empower Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities

Kiran Ahuja shares the stories of nonprofits and community organizations, from clinics to charter schools, that are working to strengthen Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.
October 25, 2011 at 11:46 AM ET by Kiran Ahuja

Launching the Senior Executive Service Development Program

Thomas Phan shares the story of his personal journey and announces the launch of the Senior Executive Service Development Program.
October 21, 2011 at 2:28 PM ET by Thomas Phan

“What’s Your Story” Video Challenge Deadline Approaching

Share your story with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through the “What’s Your Story” Video Challenge.
October 19, 2011 at 3:24 PM ET by Eddie Lee

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Strengthening Our Economy and our Country

Rozita Villanueva Lee, a member of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian American and Pacifiic Islanders, discusses the importance of passing the American Jobs Act to create new job opportunities in AAPI communities and across the country.
October 14, 2011 at 11:25 AM ET by Rozita Villanueva Lee

Join our Virtual Youth Town Hall on Friday October 14th

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) cordially invites students, youth, and community advocates to attend its first ever Virtual Youth Town Hall, in celebration of its two-year anniversary since re-establishment.
October 13, 2011 at 3:20 PM ET by Eddie Lee

Announcing the Guide to Federal Agency Resources: Promoting a Healthy, Vibrant Asian American and Pacific Islander Community

Miya Saika Chen provides a guide to individuals and organizations with a starting point and ideas on how to access federal resources available to help improve the quality of life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country.
October 11, 2011 at 11:49 AM ET by Miya Saika Chen

Strong Partners: The President Meets with Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, discusses his meeting with the CAPAC members and the progress being made to improve access and participation for AAPIs to federal programs in which they remain underserved.
September 27, 2011 at 12:04 PM ET by Kiran Ahuja

Ensuring That All Students Have A Safe Place To Learn

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education is committed to addressing obstacles that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth face in obtaining equal educational opportunities. Learn what OCR is doing to overcome these obstacles.
September 23, 2011 at 4:58 PM ET by Sunil Mansukhani

AAPI Communities Strengthening Our Economy

The American Jobs Act will create new job opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country.
September 15, 2011 at 7:19 PM ET by Chris Chan

The American Jobs Act: The Impact for AAPIs and the Economy

Get the break down of how the American Jobs Act will create more opportunity for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and grow the economy.
September 12, 2011 at 7:27 PM ET by Miya Saika Chen

President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs Remembers and Honors Those Who Lost Their Lives in The Tragedies of Sept. 11

Earlier this week, Members of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders released a joint statement on the 10-year anniversary of the tragedies of September 11th.
September 8, 2011 at 3:48 PM ET by

What's Your Story Video Challenge

Our stories define who we are, and they reflect our impact on the community around us. At the White House Initiative on AAPIs, we seek to amplify these voices nationally. We are pleased to announce the first ever White House Initiative Video Challenge, called “What’s Your Story?”
August 29, 2011 at 1:30 PM ET by Miya Saika Chen

Weekly Highlights, August 28

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders previews upcoming events and describes other ways you can get involved.
August 29, 2011 at 11:09 AM ET by Shin Inouye

Weekly Highlights, July 17, 2011

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders previews upcoming events and describes other ways you can get involved.
July 15, 2011 at 6:42 PM ET by Shin Inouye

Integrating Immigrants to Strengthen the Economy

Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders met with members of the Seattle, Washington community as part of a series of New Americans - Citizenship and Integration Initiative Roundtables. These roundtable discussions provide meaningful insight into how the federal government can support local integration efforts.
July 14, 2011 at 6:07 PM ET by Chris Lu and Christina Lagdameo

Watch Live: Sustainable Growth Summit

Join the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in a discussion on federal efforts to promote sustainable communities, encourage innovation, and support economic growth.
July 8, 2011 at 12:15 PM ET by DChen

Sustainability Means Equity

At the Sustainable Growth Summit on July 8th at North Seattle Community College, business owners, educators, community organizers, and students will gather to hear from government representatives who can connect them to right resources.
July 6, 2011 at 4:10 PM ET by Hyeok Kim and Kamuela Enos, Commissioners, President's Commission for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Weekly Highlights, July 1, 2011

It's been a busy couple weeks for the White House Intiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: U.S. Census Bureau data releases, briefing and reception for community leaders, and other community events. Also, check out what's happening next Friday in Seattle!
July 1, 2011 at 6:47 PM ET by Miya Saika Chen