Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Blog

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

    Posted by Doua Thor on October 27, 2011 at 3:25 PM EDT

    Kabzuag Vaj’s story begins like that of many other Hmong Americans who immigrated to this country. As a child, she arrived in the U.S. as a refugee with her mother and siblings. She spoke no English, had few resources, and life was difficult, but at 15 years old she began working to empower and organize her community. Last Thursday, she was honored by the White House as a “Champion of Change” for her work to eradicate domestic violence. This honor is a testament to her courage, dedication, and passion for serving low-income immigrant communities. I am proud to support my friend as she is honored for her work during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

    I first met Kabzuag many years ago when we were starting our careers as advocates for Southeast Asian American, particularly Hmong American, communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  Over a million Southeast Asian American refugees were resettled in the United States from 1975 to 2002—a large percentage making their new home in these Midwestern states. The Hmong had fought alongside American troops in Laos during the war in Southeast Asia, and they were brought to the U.S. as refugees when a Communist government took over the country in 1975 and began persecuting the Hmong for their allegiance to America. Because of their history as refugees, and because of their relatively recent arrival to this country, the community continues to face high rates of poverty and other issues including barriers to education and health access.

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  • Helping Nonprofits Empower Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities

    Posted by Kiran Ahuja on October 25, 2011 at 11:46 AM EDT

    With the introduction of the President’s American Jobs Act, I am reminded of the critical role nonprofits play in rebuilding our economy.  For the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, we know that small businesses and community organizations play a significant role in this effort, whether providing housing counseling and servicing community health clinics or hiring our long-term unemployed and providing important training and language assistance to transition AAPIs into 21st century jobs.  To support these groups in the critical work that they do, we recently created a Guide to Federal Agency Resources to provide vital information on federal grants and programs. 

    Though Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities face significant economic challenges, there are tremendous non-profit assets and leadership on the ground making a world of difference in their communities.  And we found out recently the incredible impact they have had, improving the quality of life of NHPIs around the country, especially on the islands.

    The Initiative recently partnered with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to host a Pacific Islander Philanthropy Forum in Honolulu for their Annual Convention.  The purpose of the forum and workshops that followed was to increase the more than 1000 participants’ knowledge about foundations and philanthropy and the work of the growing number of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community-based organizations.

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  • Launching the Senior Executive Service Development Program

    Posted by Thomas Phan on October 21, 2011 at 2:28 PM EDT

    It is uniquely challenging for any career employee to rise to the Senior Executive Service (SES) level in the Federal government, and for many of us the road to SES has often been a long and challenging one.

    My own long road to the SES first began in 1981 when I left Vietnam for the United States. In Vietnam, I served as a military officer in a special combat unit until I was captured during a mission and kept as a P.O.W. in a communist concentration camp.  As a P.O.W., I was tortured and buried alive, and I nearly died of starvation.  Managing to miraculously escape, I sailed across the Pacific Ocean for 17 days, 10 of which I was without food, to come to the United States.

    Upon arriving in the United States as a refugee, I sought to learn English and achieve the American Dream.  Fortunate encounters with kind people led to college and work.  My days cycled through a full day of university classes to an 8-hour night shift at work. The hard work and sacrifices paid off, and I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.  Ultimately, I opted for a career in public service to contribute to a country that had been so good to me, and I worked my way up through the federal government until I stood at the gateway of the SES.

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  • “What’s Your Story” Video Challenge Deadline Approaching

    Posted by Eddie Lee on October 19, 2011 at 3:24 PM EDT

    Last month, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders announced the launch of its “What’s Your Story?” video challenge. The stories we’ve received so far are inspiring and we hope to hear from more of you. As a reminder, the deadline for the video challenge is November 1. You can submit your entry by going to www.whitehouse.gov/whatsyourstory.

    In your video, tell us how your unique experiences have shaped who you are today. Are you a passionate advocate of green and health initiatives for nail salons? Have you made a difference in your community through work with immigrant integration programs? Are you part of a movement that paves the way for AAPIs in the arts? In your video of 3-minutes or less, tell us about your own experience and community leadership. You may also submit an essay under 1,000 words to address these questions.

    We will review the submissions and post a select number of entries on the White House website. In addition, we’ll invite a group of exceptional AAPI leaders to share their stories at the White House as special guests at a White House Initiative event.

    Eddie Lee is an Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement.

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  • Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Strengthening Our Economy and our Country

    Posted by Rozita Villanueva Lee on October 14, 2011 at 11:25 AM EDT

    I came to Las Vegas, Nevada 32 years ago from Hawaii, where I was born and raised.  Like so many other diverse people in the state of Nevada, I have made this place my home and have been embraced by the community.  I have seen my community change dramatically over the years.

    The 2010 Census indicates that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) make up over 10 percent of the population in Nevada, and that nationwide, AAPIs are the fastest growing ethnic group.  I am proud to serve on President Obama’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs.  In my role as a commissioner, I advise the White House Initiative on AAPIs about the issues facing my community.  Almost every day, I meet with stakeholders, organizations, and advocates—from youth to elders, from performing artists to business leaders in the local chambers of commerce, from labor union members to veterans groups and churches.  What I hear is an overwhelming concern about the economy, and about housing stability and affordability, as illustrated by some startling statistics.

    According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the country—at 13.4 percent. Nevada also posted the nation’s highest state foreclosure rate for the 56th straight month in August 2011, with one in every 118 housing units with a foreclosure filing during the month.  It breaks my heart to have seen so many friends lose their jobs and lose their homes during these difficult economic times.

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  • Join our Virtual Youth Town Hall on Friday October 14th

    Posted by Eddie Lee on October 13, 2011 at 3:20 PM EDT

    In celebration of the two-year anniversary of the signing of the Executive Order that reestablished the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the Initiative cordially invites students, youth, and community advocates across the country to attend its first ever Virtual Youth Town Hall on October 14, 2011 from 4pm to 5:30pm PDT.

    During the Virtual Town Hall, the White House Initiative will explore increasingly important issues relevant to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth. Singer/songwriter Clara Chung and YouTube personality Ryan Higa are among the prominent AAPI role models that will serve as Town Hall panelists and address issues such as anti-bullying, access to education, and AAPI representation in the arts and media. The Town Hall will be moderated by Sefa Aina, Vice Chair of the President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs.

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