Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Blog

  • Across Asia, Reaching out a Hand in Support of Development

    Posted by Raj Shah on May 5, 2011 at 9:20 AM EDT

    In 1954, South Korea was still reeling from the devastation of the Korean War.  Its economy was poorer than 2/3 of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa and its people had an average life expectancy of 54 years.

    In that same year, the International Cooperation Association—USAID’s precursor—developed a partnership between the University of Minnesota and the National University in Seoul.  “The Minnesota Project” as it came to be called, facilitated an exchange of medical professors during a critical period of the country’s reconstruction.

    The alumni of the Project went on to found hospital departments, build nursing schools, conduct open heart surgeries and kidney transplants.  Continued US assistance helped construct Korean hospitals and medical schools.  And today, South Korea has six times as many physicians as it did in 1954, many of them who now practice here in the U.S.

    Throughout our history, USAID has worked closely with Asian countries, Asian diaspora groups and Asian organizations to help support development and humanitarian assistance missions on the continent.

    In the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan last month, we immediately activated our response teams, delivered nuclear emergency kits and held regular calls with Japanese-American NGOs to hear their thoughts and concerns.

    We’ve also begun consultations for a Diaspora Collective Fund in Nepal.  Modeled after a mutual fund, contributions from the Nepalese diaspora can be channeled into productive investments for the country’s development.

    In 25 countries across Asia, from Kazakhstan to Papua New Guinea, we work to support the success of emerging economies and help address the challenges of hunger and poverty.  We do this not just by extending a helping hand, but sharing the hope of the American Dream to people around the world—the mother who eats less so her children can eat more, the girl who risks her life to get an education, the entrepreneur who beats the odds to create a small business that employs his neighbors.

    I remember seeing that dream at work in a remote village in South India.  When I was in medical school, I volunteered in a poor tribal community.  There in a one-room schoolhouse where children who didn't speak our language and who didn't enjoy our freedom from hunger and disease could look up on the wall of their classroom and find inspiration in the portraits of their heroes—Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru—and USAID’s founder John F. Kennedy.

    With perseverance, innovative approaches and the support of diaspora communities, we can ensure these children grow up in a safer, freer, more prosperous world.

    Dr. Raj Shah is the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

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  • Watch Live: White House AAPI Leaders Briefing Beginning at 1:50 PM EDT

    Posted by Miya Saika Chen on May 4, 2011 at 12:17 PM EDT

    The White House will host a briefing for over 500 AAPI community leaders from across the country. Watch the livestream to hear from the following senior Obama Administration officials about Administration priorities as they relate to AAPI communities, including the economy and jobs, immigration, education and healthcare:

    Arne Duncan, Secretary, Department of Education

    Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President

    Cecilia Muñoz, Director, White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Deputy Assistant to the President

    Jon Carson, Director, White House Office of Public Engagement, and Deputy Assistant to the President

    Garth Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, Department of Health and Human Services

    Ronnie Chatterji, Senior Economist, White House Council of Economic Advisors

    Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

    Bryan Jung, Director of Special Projects, White House Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs

    Watch live beginning at 1:50 p.m. EDT:

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  • Engaging Communities and Supporting Families

    Posted by Tina Tchen on May 4, 2011 at 9:18 AM EDT

    It seems my career and life have been made to bring me to this moment, and each day I am amazed and honored to serve as Assistant to the President, Chief of Staff to the First Lady, and Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls.  Serving this Administration gives me a sense of pride and wonder at the great country we live in, and it is an honor to witness the dedication of the men and women who serve in our Government.  Simply put, walking through the iron gates of the White House every day takes my breath away.  

    I was born in Columbus, Ohio, and my parents arrived in the United States in 1949, leaving their parents and many of their family members behind in China.  My sister and I were raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where my dad was a physician and my mom, who was trained as a chemist, stayed home to raise my sister and me.  Early on, my parents instilled in me a strong sense of service, especially my mother who served as a Girl Scout leader and community activist, even as she battled the crippling disease rheumatoid arthritis. 

    In 1978, as the fight to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) heated up in Illinois, I moved to Springfield.  It was there I learned about the importance of public engagement, and some of the frustrations of the political process.  While it was disappointing that the ERA failed in 1982, I was proud to work with the activated grass roots movement to pass the Illinois Criminal Sexual Assault Act - a sweeping modernization of Illinois’s arcane rape laws the next year.   

    From then on, community action and public service would remain an important part of my life and career, including my 23 years as a lawyer in Chicago at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.  At Skadden, I chaired the pro bono committee and encouraged lawyers to represent cases that protected victims of domestic violence, fought gender discrimination in high school athletic programs, and helped community groups organize themselves.  I also worked with the Chinese American Service League, a major social service agency that provides child care, job and citizenship training, and senior care in Chicago’s Chinatown.  As I’ve often said, our obligation as attorneys is to use our unique skills to help those in need, and working with the community can provide a wealth of rewarding experiences and life-long friends. 

    This community action and public service was a key part of the Obama campaign, and I, like so many others, was thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking election.  I first joined the Administration as Director of the Office of Public Engagement, and I quickly realized my involvement with a broad range of constituency groups in Chicago had prepared me for precisely this job.  I was tasked with building the outreach office for the White House, and making sure all Americans had the ability to participate in our government and the rich diversity of our country would be represented.  During my time at OPE, the President signed Executive Orders to reestablish the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI), and to create the White House Council on Women and Girls — both personal highlights for me. 

    The WHIAAPI aims to assist those in need, and works to increase participation in Federal programs where AAPIs remain underserved.  The opportunity to help meet the needs and highlight the dynamic assets of the AAPI community reminded of my work the Chinese American Service League, and I was grateful to be working on these issues once again.  When the Council on Women and Girls was created, I was thrilled to become the Executive Director.  As a convening council, we have a substantial impact on the policies affecting America’s women and girls.  In my role, I work to ensure every part of the Federal Government takes their interests into account, and that they are treated fairly in all matters of public policy.  I strongly believe that when we protect and advance the role of women and girls we strengthen our Nation.   

    In late January, I was honored to join the Office of the First Lady as Chief of Staff.  Mrs. Obama and I share a commitment to nurturing young women and supporting families, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to help her carry out her vision.  We are working to support military families, encouraging young girls at home and abroad to reach for their dreams, striving to improve the health of our Nation’s children, and highlighting the rich culture of our country.   

    As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month I am proud of the many ways this Administration is engaging diverse communities, working to improve the lives of all people, and supporting the causes that are so close to my heart.  I know together we will make great strides towards progress, and I look forward to continuing this amazing work.

    Tina Tchen is Assistant to the President, Chief of Staff to the First Lady and Executive Director of the White House Council on Women and Girls.  Ms. Tchen most recently served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement.

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  • Contributions of AAPIs in the Federal Government

    Posted by Chris Lu on May 3, 2011 at 6:00 AM EDT

    Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the many contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have made to our great nation.  As the head of the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs, I have the privilege of working with many dedicated AAPIs across the federal government.  These public servants work on diverse and compelling issues that impact the AAPI community, such as rebuilding the economy, implementing new health care laws, expanding public transportation and livable communities, protecting our civil rights, and reforming our schools. 

    One of the great highlights of my job is working with our three AAPI Cabinet members:

    • As a distinguished scientist and Nobel Prize winner, Secretary of Energy Steve Chu has dedicated his career to searching for new solutions to our nation’s energy challenges.  He leads the President’s efforts to create a cleaner, safer, and more secure energy future that will produce clean energy jobs for Americans and energy independence for our country. 
       
    • As Commerce Secretary, Gary Locke has worked tirelessly to support American businesses, promote competitiveness and innovation, and double our country’s exports within five years.  As a Chinese American, I am proud that Secretary Locke has been nominated to be our next Ambassador to China.
       
    • After a distinguished Army career, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is now working to ensure that veterans are receiving the health care and benefits that they deserve.  Secretary Shinseki is also taking decisive action to end homelessness among America’s veterans in five years.

    Secretaries Chu, Locke, and Shinseki are wonderful examples of AAPIs contributing to this Administration and why it is important to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month.  Of course, there is not one AAPI community.  AAPIs hail from over 30 countries and ethnic groups.  They speak over 100 different languages and number more than 16 million.  According to the 2010 Census, the Asian American population grew faster than any other race over the past decade. 

    This tremendous growth speaks to our country’s bright future and what AAPIs can and will contribute, but also reflects the challenges of a diverse and disparate population.  For every successful AAPI serving in this Administration, there are thousands of taxicab drivers, restaurant workers, fishermen, and nail salon workers who struggle to earn a decent living.  That’s why the White House Initiative on AAPIs includes an effort by more than 20 federal agencies to improve the availability of federal services to underserved AAPIs.  This is a historic effort, and speaks to the commitment of the Obama Administration to better assist our AAPI community.  

    As we kick off AAPI Heritage Month, I encourage you to visit this website each day to read about the significant work taking place to improve the lives of all Americans by the many dedicated AAPIs in the federal government. 

    Chris Lu is Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary.

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  • WHIAAPI Weekly Highlights: AAPI Heritage Month Edition

    Posted by Miya Saika Chen on May 2, 2011 at 6:08 PM EDT

    Welcome to the first May AAPI Heritage Month edition of the WHIAAPI Weekly Highlights. Read below for details, including briefings at the White House, blogs by AAPI Obama Administration appointees, events happening across the country, and important announcements from our federal agency partners. WHIAAPI and AAPI Commission events will be updated weekly, so stay tuned for more.

    May Events:

    White House Blogs: This month, WHIAAPI will be posting a new blog a day highlighting the work of the administration, its impact on the AAPI community, and the personal motivation behind these efforts by our Administration bloggers. Learn more about the people, policies and actions that have a direct impact on you. Check out Secretary and WHIAAPI Co-Chair Gary Locke’s blog kicking off the month at: www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/05/02/kicking-asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage-month.

    On April 29, the President issued a proclamation on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is available at: http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2011/04/29/presidential-proclamation-asian-american-and-pacific-islander-heritage-m

    On May 3, Deputy Director Christina Lagdameo will speak at the National Association of Professional Asian American Women Training Conference (www.napaw.org) at the Department of Health and Human Services. 

    On May 3 and 4, Commission Chair, Daphne Kwok will serve as a panelist at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) Leadership Symposium, and AAPI Commissioners and WHIAAPI staff will attend APAICS Gala Awards Dinner (www.apaics.org).

    On May 4, there will be a White House AAPI Leaders Briefing, which will bring together national, community and government leaders to hear from senior White House officials on critical issues facing the AAPI community, including the economy, immigration, healthcare and education. This event will be live streamed at: www.whitehouse.gov/aapi. 

    On May 5, Deputy Director Christina Lagdameo will visit and deliver remarks at the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience in Seattle, Washington. On May 6, Ms. Lagdameo will meet with presidents of three community colleges in the Seattle district and the Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) implementation team and discuss the importance of AANAPISIs and implementing key strategies moving forward.

    Also on May 5, WHIAAPI will convene an AAPI Student Success Programat South Seattle Community College, followed by a TEACH Campaign Student Roundtable at the University of Washington Ethnic Cultural Center, a collaborative event between WHIAAPI, the Associated Students of Washington Pacific Islander Student Commission, and the U.S. Department of Education TEACH Campaign to encourage AAPI students to become teachers. For more information visit: www.teach.gov.

    On May 7, WHIAAPI Senior Advisor Akil Vohra will speak at the American Muslim Women’s Empowerment Conference in Irvine, California.

    On May 10, the Department of Labor Region 9’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will hold an AAPI Worker Protection Summit in San Francisco, California. The summit will provide AAPI workers with relevant information on federal and state worker protections and safety and health rights. For more information or to attend the summit, contact Peter Wilsey at aapiregion9@gmail.com.

    On May 11, Commission Vice Chair Sefa Aina, Commissioner Hyeok Kim and Deputy Director Lagdameo will speak at the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) Annual National Leadership Training Conference in Bellevue, Washington. FAPAC represents the interests of over 153,000 AAPI employees in the federal government and the District of Columbia.

     On May 12, Commissioner Dilawar Syed will lead a roundtable with AAPI entrepreneurs in conjunction with the Start Up America Initiative. For more information visit: www.whitehouse.gov/issues/startup-america.On the same day, WHIAAPI Director Kiran Ahuja will speak at the Annual Spelman College Leadership and Women of Color Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

    On May 13, WHIAAPI will host a nationwide conference call focused on AAPI women. Administration officials will speak about the Affordable Care Act, workplace safety and health, and violence against women issues. For more information, email WhiteHouseAAPI@ed.gov.

    On May 16, WHIAAPI Director Kiran Ahuja will speak at the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum’s (APIAHF) VOICES 2011 Conference in Arlington, Virginia (www.apiahf.org). The conference will bring together 300 community leaders, funders, policymakers, health experts and advocates to celebrate APIAHF’s 25 years of leadership influencing policy, mobilizing communities and strengthening programs and organizations to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. On May 17, WHIAAPI will participate in a“White House Young American Roundtable” discussion on health reform and AAPI youth.

    On May 18, WHIAAPI will lead an interagency Nail Salon Worker Roundtableat the Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters. The cosmetics industry, which includes nail salons, is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S., and nail salon workers are predominantly AAPI women. Advocates from the National Healthy Nail Salon Alliance (www.nailsalonalliance.org) and officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Food and Drug Administration and the Small Business Administration will discuss recommendations on how to improve working conditions for AAPI nail salon workers. For more information email WhiteHouseAAPI@ed.gov.

    On May 19 at 12pm ET (9am PT), Nicholas Jones, chief of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Racial Statistics Branch, will present for the WHIAAPI and stakeholders 2010 Census figures that track the growth of Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders over the last decade.  This event will be livestreamed. WHIAAPI Senior Advisor Audrey Buehring will also speak at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) “Leadership, Diversity, Empowerment and Beyond,” AAPI Heritage Month event in Washington, DC. On the same date, Commission Chair Daphne Kwok will be honored by The Asian Professional Exchange (www.apex.org) for her work and leadership in serving the AAPI community.

    On May 21, the DC Chapter of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA-DC) (www.apalanet.org) will hold a hearing on immigrant worker exploitation and workers’ rights to organize. A panel of workers will testify about their experiences, and WHIAAPI Advisor Miya Saika Chen will provide remarks.

    Also on May 21, the Association for Asian American Studies (www.aaastudies.org) will convene a policy roundtable in New Orleans, Louisiana. WHIAAPI Deputy Director Christina Lagdameo will speak about WHIAAPI’s role in addressing research and data issues concerning the AAPI community.

    On May 23, WHIAAPI and the White House Office of Public Engagement will convene an AAPI LGBT Youth Roundtable at the White House with AAPI LGBT youth and advocates. AAPI LGBT federal officials will discuss the importance of public service and mentoring. For more information or to participate, email: WhiteHouseAAPI@ed.gov.

    Important Announcements

    On April 27, the Department of Homeland Security announced the elimination of the list of countries whose nationals have been subject to registration under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), effectively ending the NSEERS registration process through the publication of a notice in the Federal Register: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2011-10305_PI.pdf.

    On April 28, the U.S. Census Bureau released data indicating that the number of U.S. businesses owned by Asian Americans increased 40.4 percent to 1.5 million between 2002 and 2007, increasing at more than twice the national rate. These businesses also generated $507.6 billion in receipts, a 55.4 percent increase from 2002. http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/business_ownership/cb11-74.html

    On April 28, the Department of Labor announced protocols to complete the portion of the U visa nonimmigrant status application requiring certification by a law enforcement agency that the applicant is a victim of a qualifying crime and willing to cooperate with law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of that crime. For more information visit: http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/whd/WHD20110619.htm.

    FREE Publications on Health and Government Benefits in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog and Vietnamese: Now is your chance to share valuable information about health and government benefits with your community. These educational publications are available in Chinese, Tagalog, Korean and Vietnamese. The health package includes three booklets on cholesterol, high blood pressure and lung cancer. The government benefits package includes two booklets on Social Security. These publications are available FREE in bulk for you to share with people who want to receive information in these languages.

    To order these packages, go online to www.pueblo.gsa.gov/rc/asianoffer.htmand fill out the online order form. Supplies are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. This offer is provided by the U.S. General Services Administration’s Federal Citizen Information Center in partnership with WHIAAPI, the Social Security Administration and U.S. Food and Drug Administrations’ Office of Women’s Health.

    If you have friends or family that would like to join our efforts, please have them click here.

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  • Kicking Off Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

    Posted by Gary Locke on May 2, 2011 at 9:52 AM EDT

    As co-chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, I’m honored to bat lead-off in what promises to be an interesting and informative month of blog posts on this site.

    Today, more than 16 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) make up one of the fastest growing and most diverse populations in the United States.  Each of the dozens of distinct AAPI ethnic and language groups has a rich history that contributes to the fabric of our nation. 

    A month-long commemoration of that history may be a relatively recent invention – Congress expanded it from a week-long celebration in 1990 – but May is a fitting month to pay tribute to our saga. It was May 1843 when the first Japanese immigrants came to America, and in May 1869 the first transcontinental railroad was completed with substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants.

    Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders continue to play outsized roles in our nation’s society and economy. According to the newest Census data released just last week, between 2002 and 2007, AAPI-owned businesses increased 40.4 percent to 1.5 million, generating over $500 billion in sales and employing more than 2.8 million people. Many of these companies are small proprietorships, like the grocery store my family owned when I was growing up in Seattle.

    Small businesses are the engines that drive our economy, accounting for almost two-thirds of all jobs in America.  In fact, firms less than five years old accounted for nearly all increased employment in the private sector from 1980 to 2005. This is the power and promise of entrepreneurship, and that’s a power that runs through the AAPI community today.

    A big part of my job as Commerce Secretary is to smooth the way for that long line of accomplishment to continue.

    But we have our work cut out for us. Despite tremendous successes, members of the AAPI business community still face hurdles to accessing federal programs and other assistance, including language barriers and a lack of awareness about the many resources offered by the federal government.

    Today, many AAPI entrepreneurs need access to resources such as management and technical assistance and small business loans to expand their businesses. Since the earliest days of the Obama administration, we have passed a variety of measures to help AAPI businesses thrive:

    • The Recovery Act enabled 8,000 AAPI-owned businesses to receive over $5 billion worth of new loans.
    • We passed new tax incentives that enable small businesses to deduct the cost of new equipment, new hires and even healthcare coverage.
    • We’ve also focused on educating AAPI firms about government procurement opportunities.  Thus far, AAPI businesses have collected over $1 billion in new government contracts and played a major role in our National Export Initiative.
    • And because the AAPI community often has such extensive contacts in foreign countries, we’ve offered significant aid for those interested in export and trade initiatives abroad.

    We have an opportunity to make a difference in the everyday lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our country – and the everyday lives of all Americans. That is what I strive to achieve every day as Commerce Secretary, and I promise this administration will continue this important work into the future.

    Thank you – and have a wonderful AAPI Heritage Month.

    Gary Locke is the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

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