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What's New Section

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:13:29 GMT

Check out AAJC's New Census 2010 PSAs on YouTube! Job Vacancy: Director of Programs A Call to Action: Asian Americans and Immigration Reform

Family-Based Immigration

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:58:07 GMT

Legislation Reuniting Families Act of 2009 (S. 1085) Bill Text Reuniting Families Act of 2009 (H.R. 2709) Bill Text Reuniting Families Act of 2009 (S. 1085) Summary Reuniting Families Act of 2009 (H.R. 2709) Summary Reuniting Families Act Talking Points Fact Sheets The Economic Impact of Family-Based Immigration The Importance of Adult Children and Sibling Immigration Asian Americans and Family-based Immigration Latinos and Family-based Immigration Africans and Caribbeans and Family Sponsored Immigration Fact Sheet on Family-based Immigration Background Materials Immigration Polling: A qualitative and quantitative study of registered voters assesses their views family-based immigration and reforms aimed at reducing the family backlog. These voters reported viewing family as the basic unit of society and immigration as a key issue that needs reform. Many respondents said that they consider immigration to be a values issue. Family Immigration Polling...

American Courage Awards

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:31:58 GMT

The 14th Annual American Courage Awards Thursday, October 7, 2010 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm Location TBA 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. Last Year's American Courage Award Recipient: Mallika Dutt 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,...

Immigration Publications & Materials

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:10:05 GMT

To order hardcopies of any of our publications, please send an e-mail to information@advancingequality.org. Immigrant Rights Comprehensive Immigration Reform Family-Based Immigration Family Immigration Stories Campaign Naturalization Low-wage Workers APA Mobilization Prior Legislation and Background Materials SAVE Act of 2007 Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 Reform Immigration FOR American Campaign Nov. 18 House Party Toolkit On November 18th the Reform Immigration FOR America Campaign (RI4A) will host a national teleconference with Congressman Luis Guittierez to discuss his proposed comprehensive immigration reform legislation. Invite your family, friends and colleagues to join the call together! Restore Fairness: bring back due process to the immigration system from Breakthrough on Vimeo. “Restore Fairness,” produced by Breakthrough...

Past recipients of the Distinguished Service Award

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:50:33 GMT

2009 – Gloria T. Caoile

2008– Irene Y. Hirano and John C. Yang

2007 – Peggy Saika, President / Executive Director of Asian Americans / Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP)

2006 – O’Melveny & Myers LLP

2005 – Current sitting Asian Pacific American Federal Judges. Award accepted by the Honorable Atsushi Wallace Tashima, the Honorable Ronald Lew, the Honorable Denny Chin, the Honorable Susan Oki Mollway, and the Honorable Dana Makoto Sabraw

2004 – Gilbert Heintz & Randolph, LLP. Award accepted by Mark Packman, Partner

2003 – Hogan & Hartson, LLP. Award accepted by Warren H. Maruyama, Partner

2002 – Service Employees International Union. Award accepted by Patricia Ford, Executive Vice President

Past recipients of the Bridge Builder Award

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:48:11 GMT

2009 – Edison International. Award accepted by Barbara J. Parsky

2008 – The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Award accepted by Wayne Winborne

2007 – AT&T. Award accepted by Randall L. Stephenson, Chairman and CEO

2006 – The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta

2005 – Bill Imada and the IW Group, Inc. Award accepted by Bill Imada

2004 – ChevronTexaco Corporation. Award accepted by Peter Robertson, Vice Chairman of ChevronTexaco Corporation

2003 – Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Award accepted by August A. Busch III, Chairman of the Board

2002 – SBC Pacific Bell. Award accepted by Cynthia Marshall, Sr. Vice President and Officer, Regulatory and Constituency Relations

2001 – Merrill Lynch. Award accepted by George A. Schieren, Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel

Past recipients of the American Courage Award

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:42:52 GMT

2009– Mallika Dutt

2008– Professor Eric K. Yamamoto

2007 – Carol C. Lam

2006 – Susan Ahn Cuddy

2005 – Major General Antonio M. Taguba, USA

2004 – Japanese American Military Intelligence Service Veterans. Award accepted by Harry Fukuhara

2003 – Ramu V. Potarazu, Chief Operating Officer of Intelsat, Ltd

2002 – Justin Lin, Director, Writer, Editor and Producer

Lou Diamond Phillips, Actor and Director

2001 – MTV Network, Fight for Your Rights Campaign. Award accepted by Van Toeffler, MTV President

2000 – Rose Ochi, Director of Community Relations Service at the Department of Justice

1999 – George Takei, Actor and Community Activist

1998 – Anna Deavere Smith, Distinguished Actress, Playwright, and Professor

1997 – Chang-Lin Tien, Former Chancellor, NEC Distinguished Professor of Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:06:01 GMT

Videos On the Frontlines of Immigration Reform Karen Narasaki, along with other leaders of the nation’s top immigrant rights groups, describe the life experiences that inspired them to join the fight for comprehensive immigration reform. 01 THE FRONTLINE from Esther Gentile on Vimeo. Briefings Reuniting Families Act Tele-briefing with Senator Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) May 20, 2009. (MP3 file) Reuniting Families Act Briefing with Congressman Mike Honda on June 4, 2009. (MP3 file) Background Materials “Our Nation’s Broken Immigration and Naturalization System” – A chart detailing the complexities of navigating the legal immigration system NCAPA Principles for Comprehensive Immigration Reform Testimony April 30, 2009: Written Testimony of Karen K. Narasaki submitted to U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security Hearing: “Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2009: Can We...

Immigration and Immigrant Rights

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:36:33 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 community. AAJC has...

Community Partners Roster

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 13:58:00 GMT

Alabama There are no current Community Partners in this state. Please e-mail information@advancingequality.org for assistance. Alaska There are no current Community Partners in this state. Please e-mail information@advancingequality.org for assistance. Arizona There are no current Community Partners in this state. Please e-mail information@advancingequality.org for assistance. Arkansas There are no current Community Partners in this state. Please e-mail information@advancingequality.org for assistance. California ...

Aarathi D. Haig

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:38:18 GMT

Aarathi D. Haig is a Staff Attorney for the Equal Opportunity Program with the Asian American Justice Center.

In this capacity, Aarathi primarily leads the Asian American Contractor Empowerment Project (AACEP), an initiative that seeks to build alliances with Asian American business associations and other advocates of small and disadvantaged businesses in order to strengthen and defend Asian American participation in government contracting programs. Aarathi’s efforts to accomplish AACEP’s goals include active participation in Congressional hearings, hosting regional convenings for minority business leaders and federal government agency representatives, and collecting the testimonials of Asian American business owners who have faced discrimination in federal government contracting. In addition to AACEP, Aarathi also monitors and participates in equal opportunity issues related to higher education and employment. Aarathi was also recently appointed Chair of the Advisory Committee of the South Asian Business Alliance Network (SABAN).

Prior to joining AAJC, Aarathi was an attorney in international arbitration at the Paris, France office of Freshfields, Bruckhaus, Deringer. She is fluent in Marathi and French and is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Her professional affiliations include the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the National Asian and Pacific American Bar Association and the Washington, D.C. chapter of the South Asian Bar Association.

AAJC Staff

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:35:38 GMT

Karen K. Narasaki: President and Executive Director Vincent A. Eng: Deputy 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 Dana Malone: Development Associate 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 Jeanette Y. Lee: Census 2010 Program Associate Ronald H. Lee: Senior Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program Inessa Mirkin: Staff Attorney, Litigation Communications Leonie Campbell-Williams: Director of Communications Access

Inessa Mirkin

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:58:00 GMT

Inessa Mirkin is a deferred associate from Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe LLP, and joins the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) for 2010 as a staff attorney working on litigation and judicial nominations. Her work focuses on civil rights issues pending before the Supreme Court and developing an impact litigation project at AAJC. Ms. Mirkin also provides advocacy and support for Asian American judicial nominees.

Ms. Mirkin earned her law degree from American University, where she was articles editor on the American University International Law Review, and received a bachelor’s degree in foreign service, from Georgetown University. Ms. Mirkin is fluent in Russian and can speak French.

She was admitted to the New York bar Jan. 21.

Development Internship

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:59:28 GMT

There are no positions available at this time. Please check back soon for information on the Summer Development Internship.

Adult English Language Learning Useful Publications and Materials

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:00:24 GMT

Adult English Language Instruction in the United States: Determining Need and Investing Wisely Findings in ESL: A Quick Reference Guide to Findings of CAAL Research on ESL Programs at Community Colleges Reach Higher, America: Overcoming Crises in the U.S. Workforce Strengthening State Adult Education Policies for Low-Skilled Workers The Integration of Immigrants and Their Families in Maryland: The Contributions of Immigrant Workers to the Economy Taking Limited English Proficient Adults into Account in the Federal Adult Education Funding Formula The ESL Logjam: Waiting Times for Adult ESL Classes and the Impact on English Learners Uneven Progress: The Employment Pathways of Skilled Immigrants in the United States

Adult English Language Learning Publications and Materials

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:03:03 GMT

To order hardcopies of any of our publications, please send an e-mail to information@advancingequality.org. AAJC Publications Language Rights: An Integration Agenda for Immigrant Communities This briefing book intends to educate staff on (1) the demographics of the LEP community; (2) the law supporting the rights of this minority community; (3) the sectors where language access most impacts language minorities; (4) recent English Only legislation in Congress; and (5) a proactive approach to ensuring the civil rights of the LEP community, while enhancing their language acquisition. Adult Literacy Education in Immigrant Communities: Identifying Policy and Program Priorities for Helping Newcomers Learn English This groundbreaking report offers an in-depth exploration of the pressing language barriers facing the estimated 2.23 million adults in this country who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) – and how best to solve them. English language skills are a must when it...

Adult English Language Learning Important Web Sites

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:01:51 GMT

USA Learns

U.S.A. Learns was an outgrowth of a project that was conceived by the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office of Vocational and Adult Education, Division of Adult Education and Literacy (DAEL). Core funding for U.S.A. Learns was provided by ED. Additional funding for U.S.A. Learns was made available by the California Department of Education, Office of Adult Education.

DAEL promotes programs that help American adults get the basic skills they need to be productive workers, family members, and citizens. The major areas of support are Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English Language Acquisition. These programs emphasize basic skills such as reading, writing, math, English language competency and problem-solving.

Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy

The Council for Advancement of Adult Literacy (CAAL) is a national public charity dedicated to developing adult education, ESL, and workforce skills in America. CAAL operates a varied program of cutting-edge research, policy and issue analysis, symposia, planning, and leadership development activities. It strives to bring about change that will inform understanding, dialogue, and action – and that will help move individual Americans and the nation toward a better future.

Affirmative Action Publications and Materials

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:02:07 GMT

To order hardcopies of any of our publications, please send an e-mail to information@advancingequality.org. Please click here to view photos from the Stimulating Change Leadership Roundatable, co-hosted by NCAABA and AAJC in partnership with the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus on June 4, 2009. Equal Access: Unlocking Government Doors for Asian American Businesses Most Asian immigrants to the United States came in search of the “American Dream,” seeking a better life for themselves and their families. Like many minorities, however, they have been denied opportunities and advancement because of race and national origin discrimination. Today, Asian American entrepreneurs have made progress towards fully participating in the mainstream American economy. However, Asian American-owned businesses lag behind their white counterparts, suggesting continuing unequal access to business opportunities. Asian Pacific Americans and Public Contracting: Equal Opportunity...

Publications and Materials

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:04:35 GMT

Publication and dissemination of public policy research are essential parts of AAJC’s work. AAJC is the leading publisher of public policy information and analysis serving the Asian American community. To order hardcopies of any of our publications, please send an e-mail to information@advancingequality.org. Please click the links below for publications and materials on specific topics or program areas: Adult English Language Learning Affirmative Action Annual Reports Anti-Asian Violence & Race Relations Census Emergency Preparedness Health Immigration Language Access Media Diversity Voting Rights

Language Access

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:49:10 GMT

In our work to prevent discrimination against language minorities, access to vital government services and programs - from legal services to health care - is an urgent priority. We have been at the forefront of the field of language rights for the past decade. AAJC, with other national partners, advocated for the issuance of Executive Order 13166 in 2000, which mandated that federal agencies must provide meaningful access to Limited English Proficient individuals through their federally funded programs. AAJC has been a primary stakeholder and commentator on federal agencies’ issuance of LEP guidances. In 2002, AAJC was one of the primary partners involved in a national convening on language access, funded by the California Endowment. AAJC is also a co-chair of the Language Access committee of the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights (LCCR). Click here for publications and materials. Visit our Media Center for recent news releases. Program Contacts Language Voting...