Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Blog

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

    Posted by Miya Saika Chen on October 11, 2011 at 11:49 AM EDT

    In honor of the two-year anniversary of President Obama’s signing of the executive order reestablishing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the Initiative released this Guide to Federal Agency Resources, an easy-to-use navigational tool on federal funding and programs. Within this guide, individuals and organizations can find such information as grant opportunities, loan programs to help start a business, federal resources for food and housing for low-income individuals, and health-care programs for veterans and their families.

    Over the last two years, the Initiative engaged with thousands of diverse stakeholders in cities and towns across the country on how the federal agencies may better meet the needs of the growing Asian American and Pacific Islander population. Of all the issues that were raised—from the need to collect and analyze data across ethnic subgroups, to disparities in educational attainment and health outcomes—one issue emerged time and time again: the need to help build the capacity of community-based organizations, coupled with the general lack of awareness of what services and resources the federal government offers to improve their quality of life. During these conversations with community members, the seeds of this Guide to Federal Agency Resources were planted.

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

    Posted by Kiran Ahuja on September 27, 2011 at 12:04 PM EDT

    As Director of the White House Initiative on AAPIs, I joined President Obama and several senior White House officials at a meeting with members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus last week. The meeting, held in the Cabinet Room at the White House, was a chance for the President and the Caucus members to discuss important issues facing AAPI communities.

    In my role as the Director of the Initiative, I had met with CAPAC members many times over the last couple years to talk about the progress we are making to improve access and participation for AAPIs to federal programs in which they remain underserved. Through our work, I’ve gotten to know several members personally, like CAPAC Chair Congresswoman Judy Chu and Chair Emeritus Congressman Mike Honda, and appreciate their dedication to addressing the needs of the AAPI community. It’s a promise shared by the Obama Administration and why we discussed several important issues in our discussions from growing our economy to improving access to health care.

    In fact, earlier last week, I joined Congresswoman Barbara Lee, chair of CAPAC’s Health Task Force, and several other members for the Tri-Caucus Health Equity Summit. Together, we discussed health disparities and how the President’s Affordable Care Act is making a difference for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities with more than 300 people in Oakland’s Chinatown.

    President Barack Obama meets with members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

    President Barack Obama meets with members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Sept. 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

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  • Ensuring That All Students Have A Safe Place To Learn

    Posted by Sunil Mansukhani on September 23, 2011 at 4:58 PM EDT

    This blog has previously highlighted some of the obstacles that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth face in obtaining equal educational opportunities here and here. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education is deeply committed to addressing all of these issues. As our nation’s youth head back to school this month, I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about our work on preventing bullying and harassment.

    Early on in my career, when I was at the Department of Justice, I worked on a case which involved extensive harassment, including physical violence, against Asian American high school students.  Many of the students were recent immigrants and limited English proficient.  It was through that case that I saw both the harm that can occur to students who have been harassed and the bravery of students who stand up for their rights

    OCR enforces our nation’s civil rights laws in schools to ensure that students are not discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age.  OCR investigates complaints of discrimination, conducts proactive compliance reviews, provides technical assistance, and issues policy guidance to help schools understand their legal obligations.  OCR also conducts the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) to collect data on key civil rights issues in public schools.  Each of these tools is essential to addressing issues that affect AAPI students.

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  • AAPI Communities Strengthening Our Economy

    Posted by Chris Chan on September 15, 2011 at 7:19 PM EDT

    Two out of every three jobs are created by small businesses.  Over half of this country works for or owns a small business.  

    The American Jobs Act that the President announced to Congress is a powerful, bipartisan proposal that will help create jobs and put America back to work.  It will create new job opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country.  The President put a strong emphasis on providing new and better tools to help small businesses create jobs as part of the American Jobs Act because he understands the importance of small businesses to our economic recovery.

    For the last two and a half years, I’ve met hundreds of small business owners across the country, including many Asian Americans, while working for the US Small Business Administration.  Like many diverse communities throughout the U.S., I know that AAPI communities have a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that continues to grow and strengthen our economy even in the face of tough times.   With 1.5 million AAPI-owned businesses in the United States generating more than $507 billion dollars in sales, and employing more than 2.8 million workers, the success of AAPI-owned businesses is critical to the future growth of our economy.

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

    Posted by Miya Saika Chen on September 12, 2011 at 7:27 PM EDT

    The American Jobs Act reflects a commitment to strengthen the recovery and help increase access to jobs for all Americans. With nationwide unemployment at an unacceptably high rate – and at least 235,000 Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) out of work for more than six months – the President believes that inaction is not an option. That’s why the President is putting out a plan to increase the pace of job creation, and why he is committed to fighting for Congress to act on this plan.

    These measures – which will expand opportunities for the long-term unemployed to reenter the workforce, provide incentives for businesses to hire, and make investments in revitalizing schools, infrastructure and neighborhoods – will help create new job opportunities in AAPI communities and across the country. Download the fact sheet (pdf) to read about how the American Jobs Act will grow the economy and put AAPIs back to work.

    If you would like to find out more about the American Jobs Act, you can watch a special enhanced version of the President's address to Congress, featuring charts and other relevant information here.

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

    Posted by Mori Rothman on September 8, 2011 at 3:48 PM EDT

    Earlier this week, members of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders released the following joint statement on the 10-year anniversary of the tragedies of September 11th. Here’s what they said:

    Joint Statement from the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

    The President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders joins all Americans in remembering and honoring those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. The horrific tragedy that occurred that day claimed the lives of thousands of people and deeply impacted all Americans, including many Asian immigrants and American Muslims. The immediate aftermath of 9/11 compelled many Americans, including AAPIs and American Muslims, to contribute heroically to relief and recovery efforts and serve their fellow citizens and communities.

    The aftereffects of the 9/11 tragedy also saw a rise in hate crimes against American Muslims, Arab Americans, and those perceived to be Arab or Muslim. Specifically, the Federal Bureau of Investigation found a 17-fold increase in hate crimes against American Muslims immediately after 9/11. Tragically, this backlash included the loss of lives of American Muslims and those who were perceived to be Muslim. 

    In the wake of such acts, the government took steps to counter such backlash and make clear that the 9/11 attack was an attack on all Americans, including Muslims, Sikhs and persons of Arab and South Asian descent. President George W. Bush urged all Americans to treat their fellow American Muslims with respect. Likewise President Obama underscored the administration’s commitment to upholding America’s values in saying, “I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear.”

    Over the past ten years, the Department of Justice has placed a priority on prosecuting bias crimes and incidents of discrimination against Muslims, Sikhs and persons of Arab and South Asian descent. To date, DOJ has investigated more than 800 incidents involving violence, threats, vandalism and arson, obtaining 47 convictions. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez has engaged in extensive outreach to Muslim, Sikh, Arab and South Asian communities, and has expanded the Civil Rights Division’s anti-discrimination enforcement efforts in this area.

    Additionally, in the aftermath of 9/11, DOJ’s Community Relations Service (CRS) provided technical assistance and targeted training efforts towards establishing dialogue between government officials and Arab, Muslim, and Sikh communities in the United States, working with community leaders to develop a Cultural Awareness Program for law enforcement officials. Thus far, CRS has provided this training to more than 500 law enforcement departments and agencies across the country. CRS continues to respond to tension and conflicts related to allegations of disparate and discriminatory treatment faced by Arab, Muslim, and Sikh communities across the country by offering conciliation and mediation services, as well as appropriate training programs for law enforcement, government officials and members of the community.

    This Commission is committed to ensuring the AAPI community has a voice in reaching that fundamental American aspiration of liberty and justice for all. We are resilient as a community and nation, but acknowledge that there is still work to be done to ensure America stays true to its ideals. As a Commission, as we mark the tenth anniversary of 9/11, we are doubly committed as proud Americans to ensuring that those who took American lives do not tear apart the fabric of our communities.

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