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The 14th Annual American Courage Awards on 7-Oct-10 6:00 PM

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 22:00:00 GMT

The 14th Annual American Courage Awards
Start Date: 7-Oct-10 6:00 PM
End Time: 7-Oct-10 8:30 PM
Location: The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC 20036
Event Details:

The 14th Annual American Courage Awards

Thursday, October 7, 2010

6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel

1127 Connecticut Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20036

Since 1997, the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) has recognized and awarded individuals, companies and organizations of merit in its annual American Courage Awards.

The American Courage Awards reception features the presentation of the following awards:

The American Courage Award goes to an individual, company, or organization that has shown extraordinary courage or commitment to the cause of civil rights. This may include a corporate leader who has taken an important stand, an activist who overcame extraordinary challenges, an artist with a unique vision, or a journalist breaking an important story.

This Year's American Courage Award Recipient: Lt. Dan Choi

The Bridge Builder Award recognizes an individual or corporation that has developed an innovative approach to successful community empowerment and strives to overcome obstacles for the Asian American community, as well as other minority communities. This may include programs for citizenship, voter participation, community education or other community programs.

This Year's Bridge Builder Award Recipient: State Farm Insurance Companies

The Distinguished Service Award acknowledges an individual, group, corporation, or institution who has worked successfully to give voice to the aspirations and challenges facing the Asian Pacific American community and has exhibited extraordinary commitment to advocating on behalf of those most vulnerable in their community.

This Year's Distinguished Service Award Recipient: Dr. Franklin Odo

For more information, please visit the American Courage Awards page on our Web site: http://www.advancingequality.org/american_courage_awards/

The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel

1127 Connecticut Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20036

Join Us at the 7th Annual Low-Income Immigrant Rights Conference, Dec. 6-8

Nicole Duran — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:58:00 GMT

Between our battle to make health-care reform as inclusive as possible and our efforts to build momentum toward long overdue immigration reform, 2009 has been nothing short of exhilarating for immigrants’ rights advocates.

And 2010 promises to require even more engagement from the field to promote and advance our common cause. Join AAJC Sunday-Tuesday at the 7th National Low-Income Immigrant Rights Conference so we can learn from each other, organize joint events and coordinate our advocacy agendas for the upcoming political and legal battles.

The schedule includes panels on health care and immigration and an address by Sen. Robert Menendez.

This year, AAJC is proudly serving as a co-convener of this conference.

Contact Magdalena Morales at 213-674-2816 or morales@nilc.org for more information.

These are historic times for immigrants’ rights. Don’t miss this opportunity to help build the movement!

30-Nov-09 11:58 AM

Commentary: When Considering Health-Care Reform, Do Not Exclude Legal Immigrants

Nicole Duran — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

By Alice Dong
For Northwest Asian Weekly

Though we are on the brink of historic change regarding our nation’s haphazard health care system, it is stunning that even these sweeping reforms continue those policies that exclude legal immigrants.

With a few exceptions, legal immigrants must live in the United States for a minimum of five years before they are eligible for Medicaid, and in many states, the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Given that more than 60 percent of Asian Americans are foreign-born and more than 17 percent are uninsured, this provision hits our community particularly hard.

This waiting period prevents many low-income, legal immigrants from obtaining quality health care. Without access to affordable health services, many of those in our community, including children, put off receiving care until the problem is so severe that expensive emergency services are their only option. While emergency rooms cannot turn away uninsured or indigent patients, the cost of treating them is transferred to those with health insurance.

Most proposals would make health care subsidies available to legal immigrants – a bare-minimum, given that they pay taxes. However, allowing them access to Medicaid and CHIP, instead of placing them in the insurance exchanges under consideration, will likely prove to be more cost-effective.

Moreover, parents of children enrolled in CHIP pay less out-of-pocket than they likely would in private-run insurance plans. Meanwhile, Medicaid provides low-income children with services better suited to their needs. With many legislators worrying about health care reform’s price tag, removing the five-year bar could lower costs.

Health care reform promises great innovation, but keeping in place a policy that perpetuates a more expensive health care system will only stifle real reform. Lifting the five-year waiting period will make for a healthier America.

We must tell Congress how important this provision is. ♦

Alice Dong is the health law policy staff attorney with the Asian American Justice Center in Washington, D.C.

12-Nov-09 10:00 AM

Wrap Up of First Annual Advancing Justice Conference

Nicole Duran — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Untitled document

October 29-30, 2009 | The Center at Cathedral Plaza - Los Angeles, CA

Tom Perez, U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Promises a New Era of Enforcement at the Inaugural 2009 Advancing Justice Conference
SAVE THE DATE! 2010 Conference will be held in Washington, DC in June

Leaders of the host organizations and Tom Perez, U.S. Assistant Attorney General

During the keynote address last Friday, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez pledged to the more than 400 participants assembled at the first annual Advancing Justice Conference that the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, under his leadership, would restore civil rights enforcement, by equally upholding all of the nation’s civil rights laws, and transform civil rights by ensuring that his division was responsive to the challenges facing diverse and emerging communities.

Perez spoke about the Justice Department’s duty to uphold all of our laws, instead of a piecemeal approach to civil rights enforcement. The crowd cheered enthusiastically as he told them, “The Civil Rights Department is now open for business!” Read more about his keynote address in the Los Angeles Times.

CONFERENCE VIDEOS AND PHOTOS:

Video recordings and photos of the keynote speech and other plenaries and select workshops will be posted on www.AdvancingJustice.org in the coming weeks.

WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS:

Perez’s speech capped off a morning session that featured a lively discussion about hate crimes prevention, a timely subject given the newly-enacted Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expands the federal definition of a hate crime to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability. Other panels in the morning included a discussion by low-wage workers rights advocates organzing to overcome obstacles to fair wages, equal treatment, and safe and healthy working conditions for Asian and other immigrant workers.

Hate Crimes Prevention Low Wage Workers' Rights

Students, activists and other leaders also spent the morning gaining a skills-based understanding of community organizing, including defining power, identifying organizing models and building an issue campaign. Linda Trinh Võ, chairwoman of the Asian American Studies Department at the University of California, Irvine, moderated panelists Sefa Aina, director of Asian American Resource Center at Pomona College; Sophya Chum, program director of Khmer Girls in Action; and Arnold Lee, president of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association of Southwestern Law School.

In the afternoon, Tuyet Le, executive director of the Asian American Institute, moderated a panel discussion about capacity building for small, community-based organizations. Such organizations face numerous challenges in good times, and even more so in difficult economic times. Board development was a main theme as panelists provided volunteer management tools to enable small organizations to grow. The panel included: Jury Candelario, director of the Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team; Deborah Ching, principal of the Nonprofit Consulting Group; and Preeti Kulkarni, a member of the Asian Pacific Americans’ for Progress board.

Capacity Building for Small Organizations Foundation Fundraising in Tough Times

Another capacity building workshop addressed foundation fundraising. Given the severe economic downturn that has affected fundraising for nonprofits, panelists discussed national, state, and local trends in how foundations are changing their giving to meet the increased needs in the nonprofit sector. Moderated by Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director of the Asian Pacific Asian Legal Center, the panel included Kafi Blumenfield, president and chief executive officer of the Liberty Hill Foundation; Cristina Regalado, vice president of programs at The California Wellness Foundation; and Cynthia Renfro, director of programs and evaluation at the Marguerite Casey Foundation.

Civil Rights At The Intersections Of Gender Identity, Sexuality, Immigration And Race

Also in the afternoon, Karin Wang, vice president of programs at APALC, moderated a discussion about civil rights at the intersections of gender identity, sexuality, immigration and race. The panel explored intersections between lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) struggles and the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander civil rights agenda, with a goal of promoting greater inclusion of LGBT issues by AAPI organizations and advocates. The panel discussed parallels between the efforts to ban marriage between same-sex partners and earlier laws prohibiting interracial marriage, the similar struggles of undocumented immigrants and transgender individuals, and efforts to address immigration issues of same-sex binational couples. Panelists included Ben De Guzman, co-director of programs at the National Queer API Alliance; Yongho Kim, civic participation coordinator at the Korean Resource Center; Hector Vargas, deputy director of education and public affairs at Lambda Legal; Doreena Wong, co-founder of the Asian/Pacific Islander Queer Women/Transgender Activists; and Shin-Ming Wong, attorney at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

SAVE THE DATE! 2010 ADVANCING JUSTICE CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, DC IN JUNE

Tuyet Le, Karen Narasaki, Chris Punongbayan, and Stewart Kwoh at the closing ceremony.

At the closing ceremony, Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center, thanked everyone for making time to participate in the Advancing Justice Conference and invited everyone to Washington, DC, June 24 and 25, for next year’s conference. She noted, “We are coordinating with a number of AAPI organizations that will host concurrent events in the hope of creating a massive presence of AAPIs in the nation’s capital.”

We hope you will join us in Washington, DC for the second annual Advancing Justice Conference. Stay tuned for more information on our website. If you missed this year's Advancing Justice Conference, a recording of the keynote speech and other plenaries and select workshops will be posted on www.AdvancingJustice.org in the coming weeks.

Stay connected and get real-time updates by visiting our Facebook and Twitter.

The 2009 Advancing Justice Conference is a joint project of:

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6-Nov-09 9:00 PM

New AAJC Report Shows Asian Businesses Face Many Obstacles

Leticia Miranda — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Leticia Miranda

Report Shows Asian Business Owners Really Do Face Discrimination

Oh yes, it’s true. A group of fancy researchers have now said it: Asians face race discrimination in government business contracts.

A UCLA study found that Asians get the fewest local, state and federal contracts through government minority business programs. The study, commissioned by the Asian American Justice Center, focuses on San Francisco, Chicago and Atlanta to get a picture of what happens in metropolitan areas and national trends. The researchers told the Northwest Asian Weekly that they also found that:

— Korean Americans have the highest self-employment rate among Asian Americans, but they still do not earn as much as their non-Latino white counterparts, even after controlling for education and other characteristics.
— Controlling for other factors, race still affects differences in self-employment rates, earnings potential, and incorporation rates.

— Racial discrimination has created a significant barrier for Asian Americans to enter social networks, where contracting deals often originate and close.

The issue of race discrimination against Asian business owners runs so deep that in 2003, they were excluded from Chicago’s Minority Business Enterprise program, run by the state of Illinois. The reason? There wasn’t enough evidence to conclude that Asian business contractors really do face racism. After a series of testimonies and quantitative data put together by advocacy groups and researchers, the program finally agreed that there really is racism against Asians. Shocker!

The study will be released in the next couple of weeks.

6-Nov-09 2:00 PM

Census Newsletter

Nicole Duran — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:22:59 GMT

Asian American Justice Center Census 2010 Campaign

About AAJC's Involvement

As an appointed member of the commerce secretary's 2010 Census Advisory Committee, and a member of the previous Decennial Census Advisory Committee, AAJC has been a major player in census policy and community outreach for more than a decade. Known for its acclaimed Census 2000 campaign, AAJC continues to push for a fairer and more accurate count of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs).

National Collaborative Census 2010 Campaign

AAJC is a national partner of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund’s national collaborative campaign to educate the nation about the importance of a fair and accurate 2010 Census. The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the NAACP are also national partners. Among other activities, the national campaign will conduct grassroots mobilization of community leaders around the importance of the census through outreach, dissemination of materials, and thirteen regional train-the-trainers briefings across the country which will identify and train proven local leaders, who will then provide materials, support, and assistance to other local entities in ways that are specific and appropriate to their community.

Asian-focused Census 2010 Campaign

As a complement to the broader campaign, AAJC has its own initiative focused on the Asian American community. In July, AAJC’s Census Web site was launched. www.asianamericancensus.org/census-2010/ provides general information, discusses why the census is important to Asian Americans, and highlights the efforts of community-based organizations across the nation to promote Asian American participation. AAJC’s aggressive, nationwide initiative includes traditional, ethnic and blogosphere media outreach, community education and social networking. AAJC will translate many of its materials, such as factsheets and toolkits, into several languages.

Local Component

AAJC is also partnering with local groups to ensure that outreach and educational efforts are conducted at all levels to maximize the number of Asian Americans we can reach through materials dissemination, workshops, and trainings and with technical assistance:

Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California in Los Angeles
Asian American Institute in Chicago
Asian American Federation in New York
Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation in Seattle
Boat People SOS in Houston
Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc., in Atlanta
Hmong American Partnership in St. Paul, Minn.
Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation in New Orleans

Materials & Resources

Census Webinar: How to Approach Media on Census 2010

On Oct. 16, AAJC conducted a Webinar training with its local partners that provided them with valuable tools to help them educate our communities about Census 2010. They learned how to craft effective messages and talk to the media, including tips on television and radio interviews, and engaging ethnic media. The Census Webinar is available for download at: www.asianamericancensus.org/census-2010-media-center/.

AAJC Census 2010 Facebook Page: Asian Americans: It’s Time! Make Yourself Count!

Become a fan of our Facebook Page, Asian Americans: It’s Time! Make Yourself Count”! Join us and stay up-to-date on census news and efforts around the country by Asian Americans to ensure an accurate count in 2010.

www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Asian-Americans-Its-Time-Make-Yourself-Count/161891303692?ref=ts

Keep checking back – there are more materials and tools to come!!!

Please visit our website, www.asianamericancensus.org/census-2010/ for more information.

29-Oct-09 10:22 AM

Advancing Justice Conference

Nicole Duran — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:09:19 GMT

22-Oct-09 11:09 AM

Survey on Adult English Language Learning

Pang Houa Moua — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Untitled Document

Please distribute this invitation widely!

Please help us push for more and better adult English language learning (ELL) opportunities by filling out this survey!

Everyone who works with adult ELL programs (otherwise known as ESL or ESOL) is invited to participate in this survey. This includes teachers, administrators, advocates, volunteers, researchers, supervisors, and everyone else who works to make sure that adults in the U.S. have the opportunity to learn the English language.

This survey will guide work to strengthen ELL throughout the United States, and with people from all backgrounds – from Mexico, to Cambodia, Poland, Ethiopia, and everywhere in between, as well as people who were born in the U.S. The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) is implementing this survey, in cooperation with Daylight Consulting Group.

By completing this survey you are helping us to support more and better adult English language learning programs, which are bound to become even more important as Congress moves towards Comprehensive Immigration Reform (perhaps in 2010) and the immigrant population continues to grow.

Completing the survey will take approximately 15 minutes of your time.

The deadline for completing the survey is Oct. 31, 2009.

Link to the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=NUWp3ULMuQLB_2f39z6S6Tww_3d_3d

http://tinyurl.com/ygjwaga

This survey is being distributed by the following national organizations (partial list):

Asian American Justice Center (AAJC)

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

National Council of La Raza (NCLR)

14-Oct-09 3:00 PM

Narasaki Named to 100 Most Powerful Women List

Nicole Duran — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:46:47 GMT

Untitled Document

AAJC’s Narasaki Named to Most Powerful List

Narasaki Again One of Washingtonian Magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Washington Women

WASHINGTON — AAJC President and Executive Director Karen K. Narasaki is one of the 100 women Washingtonian Magazine celebrates today as the most powerful women in Washington, an honor Narasaki has now earned four times.

This year she joins such insiders as Obama confidant Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the president, fellow advocate Janet Murguía, president of the National Council of La Raza, and National Public Radio veteran Nina Totenberg.

In naming this year’s list, Washingtonian said: “In almost every part of the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, there’s a deep bench of smart, savvy women who could each be considered one of the top 100. This year we’ve chosen to recognize those who make things happen in hometown Washington as well as the nation’s capital.”

In addition to her positions with the Asian American Justice Center, Ms. Narasaki is vice chairwoman of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the nation’s oldest and broadest civil rights coalition. She heads the Rights Working Group, a coalition of human rights, civil rights, civil liberties and immigrant rights groups. And is also a member of the Federal Communications Commission’s Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age.

As chairwoman of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, Ms. Narasaki is a widely renowned leader in the Asian American community who also is a nationally respected expert on immigrant rights, voting rights, affirmative action and civil rights issues.

# # #

The Asian American Justice Center (www.advancingequality.org) is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates – the Asian American Institute of Chicago (www.aaichicago.org), the Asian Law Caucus (www.asianlawcaucus.org) in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (www.apalc.org) in Los Angeles – and 102 community partners in 47 cities and 25 states in the country.

9-Oct-09 1:46 PM

Building Bridges

Aarathi Haig — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:00:00 GMT

BUILDING BRIDGES: An Asian American Business and Contracting Leadership Summit

Written by Annie Guo | 16 September 2009

BUILDING BRIDGES: An Asian American Business and Contracting Leadership Summit by Annie Guo

Aarathi D. Haig, Staff Attorney at Asian
American Justice Center

The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) and the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will host an exclusive gathering of Denver Asian American business leaders, BLM officials, BLM prime contractors and other advocates of minority business development.

AAJC is a non-profit civil rights organization dedicated to the advancement of Asian Pacific Americans (APA) through federal policy. AAJC Staff Attorney, Aarathi D. Haig says, “While progress has been made, racial and ethnic discrimination is still a serious problem for APA business owners.”

The objectives of the event are to: highlight the capabilities and skills of the Denver-area APA business community to BLM and its large prime contractors; learn about BLM’s efforts to reach out to the Asian American business community in the Denver area; and discuss the importance of preserving, reinstating and increasing federal government minority contracting programs, and the inclusion of Asian Americans in these programs.

“Many people think we live in post-racial America,” Haig says. “The problem is that for a number of reasons, we [APAs] tend not to speak out as much as the other groups.”

Many Asian and minority companies might not be in a position to bid on the huge prime contracts but they could start as subcontractors. BLM wants these companies to be more proactive to reach out to APA communities.

“It’s so refreshing that a department in the government is reaching out to the APA community,” says Haig. “I almost jumped out of my chair because that never happens.”

The event is limited to an invitation-only group of people in order to enhance in-depth discussion and to dig deep into issues within the APA community.

Haig says, “For the contractors, this isn’t just about diversity and feeling good. It’s about increasing business! You should always be out there seeing how you can get your work done, faster and cheaper.”

“We want the APA community to have the chance to say, look my company is really qualified, but how do I get through this whole process of actually getting a contract.”

The event is co-hosted by Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Byte Technology, Inc. and the Colorado Office of Economic Development State Minority Business Office.

21-Sep-09 11:00 AM

Congressional Democrats Hosted the 4th Annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Summit

Hannah Stone — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:00:00 GMT

On June 3, 2009, Congressional Democrats hosted the 2009 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Summit. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee Debbie Stabenow, Chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Michael Honda, and Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus John Larson were joined by their colleagues in both chambers to meet with members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The theme of the summit was Restoring Our Economy: Recovery and Reinvestment in the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community.

28-Aug-09 11:00 AM

Court Blocks Implementation of Most Egregious Sections of Arizona's Racial Profiling Law in ACLU Lawsuit

noemail@advancingequality.org — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:15:00 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 28, 2010 Contact: Leonie Campbell-Williams (202) 296-2300 ext. 135 lcampbell@advancingequality.org PHOENIX- Ensuring that Arizona law enforcement will not be required to demand papers from people they stop who they suspect are unlawfully present in the U.S., a federal court today blocked the most egregious provisions of Arizona's racial profiling law, known as SB 1070, pending a final court ruling on its constitutionality. The Asian American Justice Center, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California and a coalition of civil rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging the discriminatory measure, scheduled to take effect tomorrow, and asked the court to temporarily block several provisions of the law while the case is litigated. We are very pleased that...

AAJC Fights Arizona Immigration Law in Court

noemail@advancingequality.org — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:00:00 GMT

PHOENIX- At a federal court hearing today, the Asian American Justice Centerand Asian Pacific American Legal Center, members of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, along with a coalition of civil rights groups, argued that Arizona's discriminatory new law, known as SB 1070, should be blocked pending a final court ruling on its constitutionality. The law, scheduled to go into effect on the 29th, requires police to demand papers from anyone they stop who they suspect are unlawfully present in the U.S. According to the coalition, the law would subject massive numbers of people- both citizens and non-citizens- to racial profiling, improper investigations and detention. SB 1070 is clearly unconstitutional; it's also proof that our fragmented, out-dated immigration system is deeply flawed and in immediate need of a major overhaul, said Karen K. Narasaki, AAJC's president and executive director. The Justice Department, in a separate hearing today,...

AAJC and NAPABA Pleased with Senate Hearing for Judicial Nominees Leslie E. Kobayashi and Edmond E. Chang

noemail@advancingequality.org — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON-Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for the Honorable Leslie E. Kobayashi, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, and for Edmond E. Chang, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. President Obama nominated Judge Kobayashi and Mr. Chang to serve as federal judges on April 21, 2010. Both Judge Kobayashi and Mr. Chang are well qualified and will bring a wealth of experiences to the federal bench, said Joseph J. Centeno, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Both of these individuals will serve their country admirably as federal judges. Judge Kobayashi has served as a U.S. magistrate judge in Hawaii since 1999. Before that she was a partner and commercial litigator in Hawaii. Judge Kobayashi began her career as a deputy prosecution attorney with the city and county of Honolulu. Mr. Chang has served as an assistant...

AAJC Urges Congress to Support Legislation that Reunites Immigrant Families

noemail@advancingequality.org — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON- Statement of Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center, a member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, on comprehensive immigration reform and the Uniting American Families Act: AAJC joins congressional leaders here today in an urgent call to action for support of legislation that addresses the broken family immigration system. The chronic inadequate number of family visas keeps the spouses, children and siblings of citizens and green card holders separated for years and even decades. And there is one group that is shut out from the family immigration system entirely-same-sex permanent partners and their children have no standing in U.S. immigration law. This means that thousands of bi-national LGBT families are forced to separate, live in constant fear of separation or uproot their lives and move overseas. At its heart, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) is about...

APALC and AAJC Applaud Department of Justice Suit Against Arizona

noemail@advancingequality.org — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 22:00:00 GMT

Arizona's SB 1070 Violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution WASHINGTON- Today the Justice Department filed suit against Arizona, asserting that the state's new immigration law violates the Constitution's supremacy clause and illegally intrudes on the federal government's power to enforce our immigration laws. The announcement comes after the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and Asian American Justice Center- both members of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice- joined other major civil rights groups to represent a diverse group of plaintiffs challenging the law's constitutionality. That suit, filed in May, asserts that Arizona's law is not only preempted by federal law, but that it also violates other provisions of the U.S. Constitution, including the right to free speech, equal protection, and due process. Only a few days ago in a national address on comprehensive immigration reform, President Obama called Arizona's law...

Asian American Civil Rights Groups File Amicus Brief in Georgia Supreme Court Case

noemail@advancingequality.org — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:00:00 GMT

ATLANTA-Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, in collaboration with the Atlanta office of the international law firm King & Spalding,filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Georgia Supreme Court Monday that highlights the profound effect the absence of a trained, qualified court interpreter can have on the outcome of a case for non-English speakers. Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) and Asian American Institute (ALC) are affiliated organizations working to protect and expand the civil rights of Asian Americans as members of the newly formed Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. For millions living here, English is learned as a second language, said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of AAJC. Courts across the country have begun to recognize that meaningful access to the justice system means providing skilled foreign language interpreters. The failure to...

President Obama Urges Congress to Push Forward Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation

noemail@advancingequality.org — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON - Today, President Obama called on Congress to address the urgent need to fix our broken immigration system. The Asian American Justice Center, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific American Legal Center and Asian American Institute-all members of the new Asian American Center for Advancing Justice-welcomed the president's renewed push to get comprehensive immigration reform passed this year. Citing the historic mistreatment of Chinese and other immigrants, the president eloquently reminded Americans that while we are a nation of immigrants, and that immigration issues have always been contentious despite the clear value that immigrants have brought and continue to bring to our country. He outlined the danger in the failure of Congress to act exemplified by indiscriminate laws like the one recently passed in Arizona which is polarizing communities. He reiterated his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform legislation that addresses backlogs for family...

Leading Asian American Civil Rights Organizations Announce New Shared Brand at the 2010 Advancing Justice Conference

noemail@advancingequality.org — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON- Four leading Asian American civil rights organizations announced during their annual conference today that they are formally affiliating under a new name, Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. The announcement coincides with the second annual Advancing Justice Conference, a three-day event focusing on issues of special interest to the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The four affiliating organizations-the Asian American Institute (AAI), Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), Asian Law Caucus (ALC) and Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC)-jointly host the conference, which has brought together hundreds of participants from across the country. This represents a tremendous opportunity not only for the Asian Law Caucus and our sister organizations, but for the larger Asian American community, said Titi Liu, executive director of ALC, the nation's oldest Asian American civil rights organization. Through Asian American...

Asian American Civil Rights Organizations Oppose Arizona's New Anti-Immigrant Law in National Day of Action

noemail@advancingequality.org — Fri, 28 May 2010 22:00:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES - On Saturday, May 29, tens of thousands of community members and advocates will participate in the National Day of Action Against SB 1070, both in Arizona and in solidarity actions nationwide. The Asian American Justice Center, Asian Law Caucus, Asian American Institute and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California will join civil and human rights advocates across the country in demanding an end to SB 1070, an anti-immigrant state law that will invite racial profiling and discrimination against minorities and immigrants, and in calling for the passage of federal comprehensive immigration reform. “The passage of SB 1070 in Arizona shows that Americans are dissatisfied with the federal government’s inaction on enacting comprehensive immigration reform legislation,” said Stewart Kwoh, executive director and president of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. “But SB 1070 is not the right solution. Asian Americans and Pacific...

The Impact of Arizona's New Immigration Law on Asian Americans

noemail@advancingequality.org — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT

PHOENIX – Last week, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) and Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), members of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, jointly filed a federal lawsuit with other civil rights groups to challenge SB 1070, Arizona’s unconstitutional anti-immigrant law that requires police to demand papers from people they stop that they “reasonably suspect” are undocumented. “Arizona’s actions not only interfere with federal law, but will invite widespread racial profiling in violation of the U.S. Constitution,” said Ronald Lee, staff attorney at AAJC. “The precedent it sets — numerous states have already introduced similar legislation — just underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform at the national level.” The coalition of civil rights lawyers represents more than 20 plaintiffs, including Arizona South Asians for Safe Families, Asian Chamber of Commerce, Japanese American...

Senior Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:58:51 GMT

Title: Senior Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program Description: Asian American Justice Center Senior Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program Exempt or Non-Exempt: Exempt - does not qualify for overtime Founded in 1991, the Asian American Justice Center (formerly the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium) works to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans through advocacy, public policy, public education, and litigation. In accomplishing its mission, AAJC focuses its work to Promote Civic Engagement, to Forge Strong and Safe Communities, and to Create an Inclusive Society in communities on a local, regional, and national level. AAJC is one of the nation's leading experts on issues of importance to the Asian American community including: affirmative action, anti-Asian violence prevention/race relations, census, immigrant rights, immigration, language access, and voting rights. AAJC affiliated with the Asian...

Support Judge Edward Chen's Nomination!

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:06:10 GMT

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

Targeting: Sen. Harry Reid (NV) and Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY)

Started by: Asian American Justice Center

President Obama nominated Magistrate Judge Edward M. Chen to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in August 2009. Judge Chen has been waiting to be voted on by the full Senate longer than any other nominee this Congress despite broad support. With the upcoming August recess fast approaching, however, it's possible that Judge Chen might have to wait even longer for a vote.

Magistrate Judge Edward M. Chen has a reputation as a balanced, fair, and unbiased jurist based on his nine year record as a judge and enjoys broad support from the judiciary, the litigation bar and legal community, and law enforcement. Judge Chen was rated "Unanimously Well Qualified" by the American Bar Association.

Judge Chen would be the first Asian Pacific American Article III judge in the history of San Francisco. This is especially significant given that some of the most infamous cases affecting Asian Pacific Americans - including United States v. Korematsu, Yick Wo v. Hopkins, and Lau v. Nichols - were first decided by the federal district court in San Francisco. Further, the absence of an Asian Pacific American Article III judge in San Francisco is particularly shocking given that approximately 35% of the population in San Francisco is Asian Pacific American.

AAPIs SAY NO TO ARIZONA

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:59:33 GMT

On April 23, 2010, Arizona Governor Janice Brewer signed Senate Bill (SB) 1070 in law. SB 1070 imposes a comprehensive set of state immigration enforcement laws in an effort to reduce the population of undocumented immigrants in Arizona. One of the most egregious provisions of the law is to require police officers to demand papers from anyone they stop who they reasonably suspect is undocumented. This provision not only legitimizes racial profiling, but will cause fear and mistrust among immigrants and other minorities. This law is unconstitutional, and is the subject of a legal challenge by the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and the Asian American Justice Center. Barring a successful legal challenge, the law will go into effect on July 29, 2010. Click here to to learn about SB 1070. Then, find out how to take action. Racial Profiling Affects AAPIs The evolution of our country's immigration laws, dictating who belongs and who does not belong in the...

Support Judge Edward Chen's Nomination!

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:45:49 GMT

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

Targeting: Sen. Dianne Feinstein (CA), Sen. Barbara Boxer (CA) and Sen. Harry Reid (NV)

Started by: Asian American Justice Center

Please help us ask the Senate leaders to give fair consideration before the August recess to the nomination of Judge Edward M. Chen, an outstanding jurist being considered for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. President Obama nominated Magistrate Judge Edward M. Chen to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in August 2009. Judge Chen has been waiting to be voted on by the full Senate longer than any other nominee this Congress despite broad support. With the upcoming August recess fast approaching, however, it's possible that Judge Chen might have to wait even longer for a vote. Magistrate Judge Edward M. Chen has a reputation as a balanced, fair, and unbiased jurist based on his nine year record as a judge and enjoys broad support from the judiciary, the litigation bar and legal community, and law enforcement. Judge Chen was rated "Unanimously Well Qualified" by the American Bar Association. Judge Chen would be the first Asian Pacific American Article III judge in the history of San Francisco. This is especially significant given that some of the most infamous cases affecting Asian Pacific Americans - including United States v. Korematsu, Yick Wo v. Hopkins, and Lau v. Nichols - were first decided by the federal district court in San Francisco. Further, the absence of an Asian Pacific American Article III judge in San Francisco is particularly shocking given that approximately 35% of the population in San Francisco is Asian Pacific American.

Maulik Pancholy

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:19:56 GMT

Maulik Pancholy told his parents that he wanted to be an actor at the age of five, at a time when there weren't many people who looked like him acting in American television or film. Undeterred by the lack of Indian Americans on screen, he honed his craft at Northwestern University, the Groundlings Improv school, and the prestigious Yale School Of Drama. He now plays Jonathan on the multiple Emmy Award winning, NBC series 30 Rock; and Sanjay on the Showtime hit Weeds. As a high-strung executive assistant on one, and a gay drug dealer on the other, both roles have been recognized for breaking through the stereotypes of brown people so often perpetuated on television. Pancholy's other television credits include The Comeback, Tracey Takes On, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and The Sopranos. He is also the voice of Baljeet on the Emmy Award winning animated series Phineas and Ferb on the Disney Channel. His filmwork - which has given him the chance to play...

Immigration and Immigrant Rights

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:34:33 GMT

Immigration continues to be a pressing issue that is engendering charged and volatile national debate, much of which disproportionately ignores Asian Americans. However, three statistics underlie the critical stake Asian Americans have in this debate: nearly 40 percent of all immigrants to the U.S. come from Asia, 1.2 million of them are undocumented, and nearly two-thirds of all Asian Americans are foreign born. As the nation's premiere authority on immigration policy as it affects the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, AAJC has long led the struggle to educate the public, lawmakers and the media on the pressing need to overhaul our nation's badly broken immigration system. We provide the Asian American community with essential information, insight and analysis on newly enacted and proposed immigration policies. We have also successfully helped initiate bipartisan reform in the House and Senate that addresses many of the pressing needs of the...

AAJC Staff

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:32:26 GMT

Karen K. Narasaki: President and Executive Director

Operations

Lucy M. Lee: Director of Operations

Lisa Campbell-Thornton: Deputy Director of Administration

Angela Smith: Director of Development

Hannah Stone: Director of Foundation Relations

Programs

Terry M. Ao: Director of Census and Voting Programs

Aarathi D. Haig: Staff Attorney, Affirmative Action

Meredith Higashi: Staff Attorney/NAPABA Law Foundation Partners and In-House Counsel Community Law Fellow

Jason Lagria: Pro Bono Attorney

Jeanette Lee: Census 2010 Program Associate

Communications

Leonie Campbell-Williams: Director of Communications

Peter J. Swing: Web Specialist

Access

American Courage Awards

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:06:17 GMT

The 14th Annual American Courage Awards Thursday, October 7, 2010 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel 1127 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20036 Event Emcee Maulik Pancholy Since 1997, the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) has recognized and awarded individuals, companies and organizations of merit in its annual American Courage Awards. The American Courage Awards reception features the presentation of the following awards: The American Courage Award goes to an individual, company, or organization that has shown extraordinary courage or commitment to the cause of civil rights. This may include a corporate leader who has taken an important stand, an activist who overcame extraordinary challenges, an artist with a unique vision, or a journalist breaking an important story. This Year's American Courage Award Recipient: Lt. Dan Choi The Bridge Builder Award...

Full & Part-Time Employment

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:06:52 GMT

Telecommunications and Broadband Policy Staff Attorney

Senior Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program

What's New Section

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 04:04:27 GMT

Asian American Center for Advancing Justice Recently Released its National Platform for Advancing Justice

AAPI's Say No to Arizona! Learn About SB 1070 and Take Action

Save the Date: Thursday, October 7, 2010 - The 14th Annual American Courage Awards

President Obama's Message to Immigration Advocates

Job Vacancy: Telecommunications and Broadband Policy Staff Attorney

Job Vacancy: Senior Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program

Support AAJC

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:19:23 GMT

The Asian American Justice Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so your contributions are tax deductible. Your support is critical to ensure the future success of our programs. There are many ways you can contribute to AAJC. For questions or more information, contact Angela Smith or call 202-296-2300 x138. Contribute Directly Make checks payable to AAJC and send to: AAJC 1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 1200 Washington, D.C. 20036 Contribute Stocks and Securities You can donate stocks and other publicly traded securities to AAJC. If you have owned the stock for at least one year and it has increased in value, a donation may be tax-wise. By making a gift of stock to AAJC, you can avoid capital gains tax. You are also eligible to receive a charitable contribution deduction equal to the full fair market value of the stock. Contribute to a Scholarship The Joyce Chiang Memorial Scholarship was established by the Asian American Justice...

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noemail@advancingequality.org — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:36:14 GMT

Objectives:

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Release Date: 13-Aug-07 5:36 PM
Expiration Date: 13-Nov-07 5:36 PM

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March for America

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:22:40 GMT

March for America

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:22:40 GMT

March for America

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:22:40 GMT

Elmo Siap, Community Advocate from Chicago

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:22:40 GMT

March for America

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:22:40 GMT

March for America

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:22:40 GMT

March for America

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:22:40 GMT

March for America

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:22:40 GMT

Rep. Mike Honda addresses the crowd

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:22:40 GMT

March for America

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 05:22:40 GMT

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2007-08-13T21:36:14Z

Instructor: Instructor

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Asian American Justice Center RSS Feed

The 14th Annual American Courage Awards on 7-Oct-10 6:00 PM

The 14th Annual American Courage Awards

Join Us at the 7th Annual Low-Income Immigrant Rights Conference, Dec. 6-8

Commentary: When Considering Health-Care Reform, Do Not Exclude Legal Immigrants

By Alice DongFor Northwest Asian Weekly

Wrap Up of First Annual Advancing Justice Conference

New AAJC Report Shows Asian Businesses Face Many Obstacles

Leticia Miranda

Report Shows Asian Business Owners Really Do Face Discrimination

Census Newsletter

Advancing Justice Conference

Survey on Adult English Language Learning

Narasaki Named to 100 Most Powerful Women List

Building Bridges

BUILDING BRIDGES: An Asian American Business and Contracting Leadership Summit

Congressional Democrats Hosted the 4th Annual Asian American & Pacific Islander Summit

Court Blocks Implementation of Most Egregious Sections of Arizona's Racial Profiling Law in ACLU Lawsuit

AAJC Fights Arizona Immigration Law in Court

AAJC and NAPABA Pleased with Senate Hearing for Judicial Nominees Leslie E. Kobayashi and Edmond E. Chang

AAJC Urges Congress to Support Legislation that Reunites Immigrant Families

APALC and AAJC Applaud Department of Justice Suit Against Arizona

Asian American Civil Rights Groups File Amicus Brief in Georgia Supreme Court Case

President Obama Urges Congress to Push Forward Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation

Leading Asian American Civil Rights Organizations Announce New Shared Brand at the 2010 Advancing Justice Conference

Asian American Civil Rights Organizations Oppose Arizona's New Anti-Immigrant Law in National Day of Action

The Impact of Arizona's New Immigration Law on Asian Americans

Senior Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program

Support Judge Edward Chen's Nomination!

AAPIs SAY NO TO ARIZONA

Support Judge Edward Chen's Nomination!

Maulik Pancholy

Immigration and Immigrant Rights

AAJC Staff

Communications

American Courage Awards

Full & Part-Time Employment

What's New Section

Asian American Center for Advancing Justice Recently Released its National Platform for Advancing Justice

AAPI's Say No to Arizona! Learn About SB 1070 and Take Action

Save the Date: Thursday, October 7, 2010 - The 14th Annual American Courage Awards

Support AAJC

Lorem ipsum survey

March for America

March for America

March for America

Elmo Siap, Community Advocate from Chicago

March for America

March for America

March for America

March for America

Rep. Mike Honda addresses the crowd

March for America

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By Alice Dong
For Northwest Asian Weekly