Asian American Justice Center Content Managers RSS Feed

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...

American Courage Awards Sponsors

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:55:46 GMT

Chairman's Circle President's Circle Director's Circle Executive Circle Benefactor's Circle Sponsorship opportunities for the American Courage Awards are still available, please click here for more information or contact Angela Smith at (202) 296-2300, x138.

Litigation Briefs

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:37:31 GMT

Below is a partial listing of our litigation briefs. For briefs not listed, please e-mail information@advancingequality.org. Annie Ling v. State of Georgia Arizona SB 1070 This action challenges Arizona Senate Bill 1070, as amended (SB 1070), a comprehensive set of state immigration laws expressly intended to discourage and deter the unlawful entry and presence of aliens and economic activity by persons unlawfully present in the United States. SB 1070 proclaims and implements an immigration policy of attrition through enforcement for the State of Arizona. The legislation creates an array of new state-law criminal offenses relating to immigration and imposes sweeping requirements on state and local law enforcement officers to investigate alleged immigration violations and to arrest and detain persons suspected of immigration violations. The law was signed by Governor Janice Brewer on April 23, 2010, and is scheduled to go into effect on July 28, 2010. ...

Dr. Franklin Odo

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:17:04 GMT

Dr. Franklin Odo has dedicated his career to furthering understanding of and appreciation for Asian Pacific American culture, which AAJC proudly celebrates by honoring him with our Distinguished Service award. Dr. Odo capped an illustrious career of serving his community when he retired from the Smithsonian Institution earlier this year. He spent 12 years as the founding director of the Institution's Asian Pacific American program. In that capacity, he was responsible for helping the Smithsonian's 19 museums and research centers with the collection and research of Asian Pacific American artifacts as well as with programs and outreach to the APA community. The program also makes the Smithsonian more access to our communities. Before taking that position, Dr. Odo was the first and only Asian Pacific American curator at the National Museum of American History. He has dedicated his life to documenting, preserving and presenting the histories of Asian Americans and...

Lt. Dan Choi

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:14:08 GMT

On March 19, 2009, Lt. Dan Choi, a West Point graduate and Iraq veteran fluent in Arabic, announced that he was gay on “The Rachel Maddow Show.” Because of three words – “I am gay” – Lt. Choi’s life changed forever. For his willingness to speak out, we honor him with this year’s Courage award.

Despite his extreme value as an Arabic speaker able to communicate quickly and clearly with the Iraqi people, the Army began discharge proceedings against him within a month. He was one of only eight soldiers from his graduating class who majored in Arabic. At West Point, Lt. Choi recited the Cadet Prayer every Sunday. It taught him to “choose the harder right over the easier wrong” and to “never be content with a half truth when the whole can be won.”

The cadet honor code demanded truthfulness and honesty. It imposed a zero-tolerance policy against deception, or hiding behind comfort. Following the honor Code isn’t always easy, but honor and integrity are 24-hour values. That is why Lt. Choi refused to lie about his identity. Lt. Choi served for a decade under “don’t ask, don’t tell,” a policy that forces American soldiers to deceive and lie about their sexual orientation and forces others to tolerate it. These values are completely opposed to what he learned at West Point. Deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force.

Lt. Choi is committed to applying the leadership lessons he learned in the military. He helped form Knights Out, an organization of West Point alumni advocating for the rights of gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Lt. Choi is an inspiration to soldiers and veterans who feel isolated, alone and even suicidal because of the torment rejection and discrimination foster. Respecting each soldier’s service is his personal promise.

Lt. Dan Choi was born in Orange County, Calif. A first generation American, his parents emigrated from Korea and founded a church. He resides in New York and has become a full time activist for the LGBT community.

2010 Summer Clerks

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:58:24 GMT

UNDERGRADUATE CLERK: Mindy Chu hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and is a rising senior at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. She is majoring in Economics and minoring in Asian Pacific American studies. Passionate about social justice, civil rights and public service, Mindy has been active in the community and has interned for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the U.S. Department of Treasury, Bureau of Engraving and Printing. At Smith, Mindy is active on campus. She is a residential adviser, a peer outreach leader with the Center for Women and Financial Independence, and this year was the co-conference chair for the 5 College Pan Asian Network, an intercollegiate APA organization that seeks to raise awareness and mobilize students around social/political issues affecting the APA student community. LAW CLERKS: Pavan Mehrotra is currently a rising 2L at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. He is the incoming...

Annual Reports

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:11:23 GMT

Over the years, AAJC has successfully helped to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans through advocacy, public policy, public education and litigation. To learn more about our program highlights, please view our annual reports.

2009 Annual Report - Coming Soon!

2008 Annual Report and 990

2007 Annual Report, Audited Financial Statements and 990

2005-2006 Annual Report and 990

Summer Clerkship

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:23:02 GMT

Get information about the Summer Clerkship!

Learn more about AAJC's Summer Clerks Past and Present:

Adult English Language Learning

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 19:50:09 GMT

When it comes to immigrant integration – naturalization, participation in civic life and economic self-sufficiency – English proficiency is a must. And while the inability to speak English leads directly to poverty for many in the Asian American community – 60 percent of which is foreign born – there is no national voice on this issue.

This is why the ELL program is so important. Through a concerted, comprehensive public education and advocacy campaign, ELL will help Asians and others access the English language programs they so desperately need so that they, too, can realize their goal of being a part of the American dream.

In 2006, AAJC brought together key stakeholders from major advocacy groups, as well as those from government associations, labor, religious and business sectors to identify needed policy changes and approaches to implement adult literacy programs and thereby promote immigrant integration. As a result of this convening, we have recently produced a groundbreaking report, Adult Literacy Education in Immigrant Communities: Identifying Policy and Program Priorities for Helping Newcomers Learn English, highlighting priorities for strengthening adult ELL programs nationwide.

In 2008, AAJC hosted a follow-up convening titled, “Expanding Pathways to Learning for Limited English Proficient Adults” that built upon the discussions from the 2006 convening. Discussions at this follow-up convening centered around: 1) highlighting new research and developing a research agenda for the field, 2) advancing ELL through use of technology, 3) advancing ELL through use of communications and messaging, and 4) advancing ELL through advocacy.

Click here for publications and materials. Visit our Media Center for recent news releases.

2002 Summer Clerks

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:09:21 GMT

David Chang is Communications Intern at NAPALC. David is in his third year at Brown University majoring in Ethnic Studies and Sociology. At Brown, David is the co-chair of the Brown Taiwan Society and has been involved in many intercollegiate organizations and conferences, including the Chinese American Intercollegiate Conference, Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Students Association, Boston Intercollegiate Taiwanese Students Association, and Coalition for Asian Pacific American Youth. After graduating from Brown, David plans to attend law school. Shejal Desai is an intern focusing on Anti-Asian Violence and Affirmative Action. Shejal is a graduate of The George Washington University, with a degree in Marketing and International Business. Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Shejal was an information technology consultant working in the telecommunications industry for four years. Shejal was actively involved in the South Asian community throughout her undergraduate...

2008 Summer Clerks

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:08:09 GMT

Ivy Cheng is a summer law clerk in the affirmative action and anti-Asian violence programs. She is a rising 2L at the University of Michigan Law School, where she serves on the executive boards of the Michigan Immigration and Labor Law Association and the Organization of Public Interest Students. She graduated cum laude from Tufts University in 2007 with a B.A. in Political Science and American Studies. During college, she was actively involved in Asian American political activism through her leadership in organizations such as the National Asian American Student Conference and Asian American Curriculum Transformation, and her work with organizations such as the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and Greater Boston Legal Services. Her clerkship at the AAJC is supported by the Sonnenschein Scholarship Program and the University of Michigan APALSA Public Interest Fellowship. Naju Lathia is a summer clerk in the affirmative action program. She is a rising senior...