NCVA eREPORTER - August 16, 2005

The National Congress of Vietnamese Americans' NCVA eReporter is a regular email newsletter containing information on grant/funding opportunities, events/forums/conferences, available internships and news items pertinent to the Vietnamese American and Asian Pacific American communities.

In this NCVA eReporter:

EVENTS

• NCVA’s 19^th Annual Convention – Oct 21-23, 2005
• Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center's "Under the August Moon" – Aug 18, 2005
• UVA Scholarship Awards Ceremony – Aug 21, 2005
• National Conference on Citizenship: 2005 Annual Conference – Sept 19, 2005
• Korean American Coalition 3^rd Annual National Convention – Sept 23-25, 2005

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

• YouthActionNet Awards Program
• Humana Foundation Supports Health, Education and Civic Affairs
• Green Communities Initiative - Healthier Housing Grants
• NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education
• Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan Announces $14.5 Million Initiative to Increase Philanthropy
• Adobe Action Grant Application Deadline Nears

 JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

• DC Mayor’s Office - Community Outreach Coordinator
• Job Openings at the Innovation Center
• NAPAWF Undergraduate and Law School Interns

TIPS/RESOURCES

• Online Advocacy: Lifting response rates via the Internet
• Online - Volunteer management in cyberspace
• Management - Building a capacity framework
• Finance - Cash and the federal government

NEWS

• AALDEF Launches New Initiative to Challenge State and Local Enforcement of Immigration Laws (Press Release)
• Texas Becomes Nation’s Newest “Majority-Minority” State, Census Bureau Announces (Press Release)
• Reaching across a double divide (Mercury News)
• The National Asian Pacific American Political Almanac 2005-2006, 12th edition (Press Release)
• Students learn about plight of immigrants (The Advocate)
• Turning immigrants into Virginians (The Roanoke Times)

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EVENTS

SAVE THE DATE
NCVA’S 19^TH ANNUAL CONVENTION

October 21-23, 2005

Hello Friends,

We invite you to the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans' (NCVA) 19th Annual Convention to be held at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, CA.

Workshops, career fairs and exhibits are free to the public.

Registration fees are for those who wish to access meals (breakfast, lunch, banquet dinner, reception and other exciting opportunities).

It should be an exciting time for us to consider "Building a Stronger Community" by Empowering Neighbors, Creating Business Opportunities and Building a Sustainable Community.

Visit us at:
http://www.ncvaonline.org/conferences/2005

We hope to see you in San Jose, CA!

Hung Nguyen
President/CEO
National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA)
http://www.ncvaonline.org
- e pluribus unum -

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SACRAMENTO CHINESE COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER’S “UNDER THE AUGUST MOON”

Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center's (SCCSC) "Under the August Moon" will be held at KVIE Channel 6 next Thursday, August 18th at 6 pm. SCCSC provides a multitude of programs and services including after-school activities for at-risk kids, job training for adults, and transportation services for senior citizens. Annually, SCCSC serves 3,000 youths, adults, and elderly people from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Proceeds from this event will help SCCSC deliver and expand these programs and services.

SCCSC's "Under the August Moon" will honor CAPITAL First Vice Chair Jeanie Lee as "Distinguished Community Leader" for the many years of service and dedication Jeanie has given to not only the Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center, but to CAPITAL, Chinese American Council of Sacramento and many other API organizations and cross communities.

There will also be a special Kung Fu demonstration by the monks of the Shaolin Temple.

Tickets are $75.00.  Please email Alice Wong at AWWong@cwnet.com or call Carole Chong at 443-7398 if you wish to attend and the # of tickets you would like (and names) to help share this special evening with Jeanie Lee and the Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center.

Thank you for your support and recognition of one of our great community leader.

Sonney Chong, Chair - CAPITAL

Jerry Chong, Chief Legal Counsel, CAPITAL

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UVA PRESS RELEASE

For more information:
Contact Debbie Nghiem, Vice President, UVA
at (408) 888-7483

UVA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS CEREMONY AT THE TECH MUSEUM OF INNOVATION

United Vietnamese Americans (UVA) will hold the 2005 UVA Scholarship Awards Ceremony at The Museum of Innovation at 201 South Market Street, San Jose, California on Sunday, August 21, 2005.  UVA will award approximately $20,000 in academic scholarships to outstanding high school and college students who have excelled academically and socially.  Selection criteria are based on scholastic achievements, leadership skills, interests in the Vietnamese community, and financial need.

UVA is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization with two distinct goals: (i) to help better the Vietnamese community through service projects and (ii) to provide a forum for the community to come together. Through a sense of civic duty, UVA members are dedicated to making a positive change by improving and enriching the lives of others. UVA members share in the belief that one’s journey through life is given more meaning and purpose by helping others along the way.  As stated in UVA’s mission, “It is through compassion and kindness that we achieve a better sense of our own humanity, which is our reward for doing good.” In addition to volunteer service projects, UVA provides a venue for members to develop and cultivate friendships, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie. Through a friendly environment of openness and acceptance, UVA members discuss and address the pressing issues of the day, enabling our community to come together to achieve a common good - helping others.

The 2005 UVA Scholarship Awards Ceremony starting at 5 pm on Sunday, August 21, is a special event to recognize and reward outstanding students in our community.  The Scholarship program will include a reception, live entertainment dance performer by Danny Nguyen dancers, Hear2Exist by Le Huy Phong/Le Huy Phat, a guitarist by Dao Dang Tuong Thuy, singer performer-Ai Dang, a presentation of scholarship awards and a private viewing of the Tech Museum.  Ticket prices are $20 per person, $10 for students and children 14 and under are free. The proceeds will benefit the UVA Education Assistance Program.

We are also pleased to announce that former ABC anchor, Thuy Vu, and publisher Nha Magagine, Sonny Nguyen  will be hosting the scholarship award ceremony.  Attendance for this UVA event is expected to exceed 500.  For more information about sponsorship opportunities or details about the program, please contact Debbie Nghiem, Vice President of UVA at (408) 888-7483 or  UVA Scholarship Chair 2005, Toan Cao at 408-655-9285 or visit UVA’s website at www.uvaus.com

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NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CITIZENSHIP: 2005 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The 2005 Annual Conference will feature top leaders in the field, who are focusing their efforts to strengthen citizenship - through American history and civics education; community, national and public service; and civic and political participation. The NCoC's Annual Conference provides our nation's leading scholars, educators, state and federal officials, and leaders of non-profit organizations the opportunity to assess our civic health and to develop a common agenda.

Monday, September 19, 2005
Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Washington, DC
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Speakers include:
Walter Isaacson, CEO, The Aspen Institute on Ben Franklin and Citizenship in America
Cokie Roberts, ABC News and NPR on What We Can Learn from the Greatest Generation
Bob Nardelli, CEO, The Home Depot on Corporate Citizenship
Robert Putnam, Harvard University on the Six Spheres of Influence
Stephen Goldsmith, Chairman, Corporation for National and Community Service and Professor, Harvard University on the State of Our Civic Union

(http://www.ncoc.net/conferences/regForm.htm)

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For questions or further information, contact David Sandak at dsandak@ncoc.net.
Korean American Coalition PRESENTS

3RD ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION 2005

September 23-25, 2005
Building Bridges for Tomorrow

The Third KAC Annual National Convention is in Denver, Colorado on September 23-25, 2005. This year's convention promises to be our most exciting and rewarding one yet! This will be an opportunity to celebrate and strengthen KAC's effort to represent and connect the underrepresented and disconnected Korean American community.

When and Where?
September 23-25 Hyatt Regency Tech Center
(Friday-Sunday) 7800 East Tufts Ave.
Denver, CA 80237

What is KAC?
Established in 1983, Korean American Coalition (KAC) is a nonprofit community based organization dedicated to facilitating full participation of Korean Americans in the civic, legislative, and community affairs of American society. Headquartered in Los Angeles, KAC maintains offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, and Washington, D.C. and 17 chapters and affiliated nationwide.

Please Join Us

The 2005 KAC 3rd Annual Convention provides an unequaled opportunity to see old friends, meet new ones, learn about Korean Americans' recent advances, and participate in discussions about some of the most important issues facing the Korean American community. We would like very much to count you among the convention participants and I encourage you to register now and make plans to join us in Denver in September.

DETAILS

Date: September 23-25, 2005

Location: Hyatt Regency Tech Center, Denver, CO

Contact Information
Ken Song at 303-941-7664 or kk7664@yahoo.com

Registration Information will follow shortly

EDUCATE, ORGANIZE, EMPOWER

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

YOUTHACTIONNET AWARDS PROGRAM

YouthActionNet awards small grants to youth leaders (age 18 to 29) and their emerging projects that promote social change and connect youth with local communities throughout the world. These youth-led projects should have clearly defined goals and have potential for growth or further replication. Individuals applying must have a leadership role in a youth-led initiative that works to create positive change in their community. Award recipients will receive $500 and are eligible to participate in an international capacity-building workshop. Applications are reviewed two times per year. The next application deadline is October 1, 2005.

(http://www.youthactionnet.org/yan_awards)

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HUMANA FOUNDATION SUPPORTS HEALTH, EDUCATION AND CIVIC AFFAIRS

The Humana Foundation supports nonprofit organizations in communities in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin where the company has a meaningful presence. The Foundation identifies, funds, and nurtures projects and organizations in three fields: domestic and international health; education; and, civic and cultural development. Religious organizations with nonprofit status are eligible for project-specific support (e.g. social services outreach) or funds for an accredited, church-affiliated educational institution. Proposals are reviewed from January 1-October 15 in Louisville, KY and until November 15 in other geographic areas.

(http://www.humanafoundation.org)

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GREEN COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE – HEALTHIER HOUSING GRANTS

Green Communities is a five-year, $550 million initiative developed through a partnership between the Enterprise Foundation/Enterprise Social Investment Corporation and the Natural Resources Defense Council to ensure smarter, healthier homes for Americans with limited incomes. The goal of the Initiative is to transform the way communities think about, design, and build affordable homes. The Initiative will provide financing, grants, and technical assistance to developers to build more than 8,500 rental and for-sale homes that promote health, conserve energy and natural resources, and enhance access to jobs, schools and services. The Initiative offers grants to help cover the costs of planning and implementing green components of affordable housing projects, as well as tracking their costs and benefits. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

(http://www.greencommunitiesonline.org/about-essentials-grants.asp)

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NEA FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF EDUCATION

Created by the National Education Association, the NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education supports a variety of efforts by teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to improve student learning in the nation's public schools, colleges, and universities. The Foundation’s Learning & Leadership Grants and Innovation Grants provide support for applicants to engage in high-quality professional development or implement project-based learning and innovations that raise student achievement. The Read Across America Library Books Awards help public schools serving economically disadvantaged students purchase books for school libraries. The next deadline for all three of these grant programs is September 15, 2005.

(http://www.neafoundation.org/grants.htm)

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COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN ANNOUNCES $14.5 MILLION INITIATIVE TO INCREASE PHILANTHROPY

The Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan announced a $14.5 million initiative to strengthen philanthropy in the seven-county region it serves. The initiative, called "Increasing Regional Philanthropy: Everyone Can Be a Philanthropist," is aimed at improving the quality of life in southeast Michigan by significantly increasing the financial resources available for the region's charitable sector.

(http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-08-2005/0004084543&EDATE=)

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ADOBE ACTION GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE NEARS

The Adobe Action Grant program provides one-time cash only grants for general operating and program support through a competitive, quarterly online application process. Grant amounts range from $5,000-$20,000 and are for one year only. The next application deadline is September 30, 2005.

(http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/philanthropy/commgivingprgrm.html#Community%20giving%20programs)

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JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

The Mayor's Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OAPIA), located Washington, DC, is seeking a bilingual Community Services Representative (CSR).

Job Title: COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR

Salary Range: DS-12, $48,352- $62,356
Work location: 441 4th Street NW, #805 South, Washington DC 20001
Hour of duty: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Closing Date:  Opened Until Filled

Some of the responsibilities of the CSR include but are not limited to:  1) assists in assessing the needs of the API community, 2) provides advocacy assistance for the District of Columbia's API community members, 3) advises the API community on programs and services, 4) plans, promotes, and coordinates multi-cultural education programs, 5) responds to unplanned crisis situation affecting the Asian and Pacific Islander community, and 6) prepares reports and statistical studies.

The ideal candidate will be a team player, have at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and be familiar with the community based agencies and organizations servicing the Asian and non-Asian communities.  Experience in statistical and report preparation is necessary.  Excellent oral and written communication skills in both, English and Chinese, Korean, or Vietnamese is preferred.

OAPIA advises the Mayor, the D.C. Council, and the District government on the views, needs and concerns of Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) in the District of Columbia.

If you are interested, please send your resume and cover letter to:

Contact person: Soohyun Koo
441 4th Street NW, #805 South
Washington DC 20001
(Fax) 202-727-9655
Email: Soohyun.koo@dc.gov

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JOB OPENINGS AT THE INNOVATION CENTER

The Innovation Center is looking to fill two positions in the Takoma Park, MD office – a full time Project Assistant and a half-time Project Coordinator. These positions will be crucial in supporting the mission to unleash the potential of youth, adults, organizations, and communities to engage together in creating a just and equitable society. Full job descriptions and qualifications for each position can be found at: http://www.theinnovationcenter.org/events.shtml. Resumes and cover letters for both positions should be emailed to: Trenny Jefferson at: tjefferson@theinnovationcenter.org or faxed to 301-270-5900.

(http://www.theinnovationcenter.org/events.shtml)

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NAPAWF UNDERGRADUATE AND LAW SCHOOL INTERNS

The NAPAWF National Office is seeking undergraduate and law school interns. You will find the position listings below.  If you have any questions, please contact Tracy Ng at 202.293.2688 or tng@napawf.org.  Interested applicants should submit brief cover letter and resume to Tracy Ng at tng@napawf.org or fax to 202.293.4507.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Volunteer Undergraduate Intern Positions:
The National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) is seeking college interns to work part-time during the fall and/or spring semesters. The student should have an interest in women's rights, immigrant rights, Asian Pacific American or economic justice issues.  Applicant should be able to work well both independently and on a team, and have excellent oral communication skills.  The intern(s) will assist the program associate on a number of projects, including but not limited to, supporting our chapters and individual members across the country, assisting with website and newsletter development, devising legislative alerts, and assisting staff with policy/legislative development on key platform issues.  This position will provide abundant opportunity for a student looking to become more knowledgeable about current issues facing Asian Pacific American women and girls.

Volunteer Law/Grad Clerk Position:
The National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) is seeking a first, second or third year law student or graduate student to work part-time/full-time during the fall and/or spring semesters.  NAPAWF would prefer a law/graduate student with experience working on issues involving women's rights, immigrant rights, Asian Pacific American or economic justice issues but not required.  Applicant should exhibit strong research and writing skills, be able to work well both independently and on a team, have excellent oral communication skills, and be enthusiastic about social justice issues.  This position will provide abundant opportunity for a student looking to become more knowledgeable about current policy issues facing Asian Pacific American communities, while strengthening research and writing.  Because the organization has a small staff, clerks are given substantive responsibilities over issues and programs and will represent NAPAWF in meetings

Interested applicants should submit brief cover letter and resume to Tracy Ng at tng@napawf.org or fax to 202.293.4507.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

(http://www.napawf.org)

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TIPS/RESOURCES

ONLINE ADVOCACY: LIFTING RESPONSE RATES VIA THE INTERNET

The three myths of online fundraising are:

* donors are old and are not online;
* the young people who are online won't give; and,
* when those young people get to be 55 years old, they are going to be direct mail responsive.

In fact, the opposite is true: 59 percent of households headed by a person 55 years old or older are online and are regular Internet users. That's compared to 72 percent of those who are 19 years old and in their early 20s, the highest ranking group. In addition, other research has shown that the older generation is not just using their children's or grandchildren's hand-me-down computers: They're buying new computers and using high-speed connections.

"(Young people) are online, and you can reach them," said Rick Christ, president of npadvisors.com, a Warrenton, Va., company that does Internet marketing for nonprofits.

"The truth is there are at least tens of thousands of seniors giving, but why are you relying on seniors? Because they're the one who have always given to you, yes, but there are millions of other people out there who want to give to you, but they don't know about you, because they're not on any of the lists that you mail to," said Christ. "Even if it's a seniors-related issue, you've got a lot of baby boomers and younger who care about mom and dad and grandma and grandpa who can do something -- advocate, volunteer, take action or give -- for your cause."

Speaking at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) 2005 International Conference on Fundraising, held recently in Baltimore, Christ discussed how to use online advocacy to further the development potential of nonprofit organizations. Tapping into the younger market is one strategy, but requires a shift in an organization's marketing approach.

"Draw your circle bigger and include young people," Christ said. "That probably means changes in graphics, changes in language, but that's a market out there."

According to Christ, an organization's marketing goals for online advocacy should include increasing an organization's email, direct mail and telephone file; generating publicity; and raising money. In addition, an organization should try to convert postal recipients to the Internet. That said, however, an organization doesn't have to limit itself to just online marketing.

"You want to be consistent with your offline efforts," Christ said. "It doesn't mean you can't do this if you couldn't also do it in the mail; it just means that in your messaging and your theme and your branding, you want to be consistent with what you're doing online and off. This is very much about going to your base and inspiring your base to take action."

In his seminar, titled "Online Advocacy as a Marketing Tool," Christ emphasized the importance of picking an issue to advocate for that fits with the nonprofit's mission and supports the nonprofit's overall organization guidelines. It's also important to respect the issue life cycle or, in other words, to know when to stop advocating for an issue. On the other hand, nonprofits should not be afraid to email prospective donors as frequently as they can -- as long as they have something important to say.

"Don't just do one shot; don't just tell them 'we need you to make your voice heard'," Christ said. "Tell them later what their voice accomplished. The Internet is great for that, because you can communicate with them very, very frequently. People's attention span, particularly online, is short, and it's shorter online than it is offline, even though it's the same people. Hopefully, you have something really important to say to them monthly; probably, you've got something really important to say to them weekly. But, if you've got something to say to them three times a day, say it. Your question is, is it important to them, not to you, but to them. When news is hopping, get it out."

According to Christ, "content is king" is an old Internet saying that today is being replaced by "content and data" are kings. Once you have information about people, you can customize your marketing messages to generate even greater response. Although customizing messages isn't unique to email, it is much less costly to do it via the Internet than it is through direct mail. The cost for email is up-front versus having to pay for the cost of different envelopes or packages, for example, with direct mail.

"(With content) you've brought people in, but then you want to broaden and deepen that relationship online," Christ said. "When you know what people have done, you know where they've done it, and you know what some of their tastes are, (you can) create a customized message with information that they've already given you, or that you've been able to extrapolate from what pages they've viewed on your site, what action they've taken. Then you're going to get a much higher response rate from those emails. The more you can personalize it and customize it, the more you can add meat to it, the more you can show here's a picture of what people in Dubuque are doing, then you can really lift response. That's a very powerful use of data and software."

Copyright © 2005 The NonProfit Times.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/Aug05/news/news-0805_3.html)

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ONLINE – VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT IN CYBERSPACE

In addition to its other advantages, the online environment provides many possibilities for volunteer recruitment and management. In her chapter "Volunteer Recruitment and Management" in the book Nonprofit Internet Strategies, Alison Li presents some of the online options that have become available to nonprofits regarding their volunteers:

* Online volunteer matching. Online volunteer matching services allow organizations to reach new prospective supporters beyond geographic borders. Would-be volunteers can search for opportunities by name of organization, location, mission or other criteria that matter to them. Volunteers can learn more about organizations with they are familiar and discover new organizations they were not aware of.

* Expanding the boundaries of volunteering. Internet resources can help managers rethink the way volunteers are recruited and managed, primarily by reaching those who do not fit traditional molds by virtue of age, disability, race, ethnicity or availability.

* Virtual volunteering. Opportunities are now open to people who find it difficult to volunteer in person because of disabilities or work or family responsibilities that prevent them from coming to an office during regular working hours.

* Managing and retaining volunteers. Online tools can allow volunteers to schedule their work and log their hours via email or an online scheduling system.

* Recognizing volunteer efforts. The Web is an excellent place to recognize the accomplishments of volunteers.

* Corporate linkup. Many corporations are searching for ways to help their employees volunteer and to serve their communities, and the Net helps them do this.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/volunteerman.html)

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MANAGEMENT – BUILDING A CAPACITY FRAMEWORK

Many nonprofit managers have come to recognize the need for increased capacity in their organizations, but many lack a clear understanding of just what is involved.

In his book Managing at the Leading Edge, Mike Hudson offers the Capacity Framework, a breakdown of seven essential components of nonprofit capacity that was developed by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company after conducting case studies of 13 nonprofits that engaged in capacity building during a 10-year period.

The elements of the Capacity Framework are:

* Aspirations. An organization's mission, vision and overarching goals, which collectively articulate its common sense of purpose and direction.

* Strategies. The coherent set of actions and programs aimed at fulfilling the organization's overarching goals.

* Organizational skills. The sum of the organization's capabilities, including such things as performance measurement, planning, resource management and external relationship building.

* Human resources. The collective capabilities, experiences, potential and commitment of the organization's board, management team, staff and volunteers.

* Systems and infrastructure. The organization's planning, decision-making, knowledge management and administrative systems, as well as the physical and technological assets that support the organization.

* Organizational structure. The combination of governance, organization design, inter-functional coordination and individual job descriptions that shapes the organization's legal and management structure.

* Culture. The connective tissue that binds the organization together, including shared values and practices, behavioral norms and the organization's orientation toward performance.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/management.html)

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FINANCE – CASH AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

Cash seems like a fairly easy concept to understand. We all know something about how much cash we have, or don't have, as individuals, and that type of knowledge takes on added significance for the managers of organizations.

In his book Governmental Accounting Made Easy, Warren Ruppel offers the reminder that government regulations for nonprofits are intricate and demanding, requiring a great deal of care with accounting. For example, the presentation of cash represents the book balances of bank accounts, not the amounts reported on bank statements.

In addition, Ruppel offers advice on what should and should not be reported on an organization's statement of financial position, according to the way the government keeps accounts.

What should be reported:

* All demand bank accounts that the government has, including those for general disbursements, payroll imprest accounts, separate accounts for wire transfers and so forth. One cash balance is reported on the financial statements representing the aggregation of all of these accounts.

* All petty cash accounts that are maintained by the government.

What should not be reported:

* Cash that is restricted by some legally enforceable instrument. Generally, this would include cash maintained in debt service reserve accounts required to be maintained by the related debt instruments.

* Cash that is received and held as a security deposit that will be returned to the provider at the end of some agreement.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/tips/finance.html)

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NEWS

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release: Thursday, August 11, 2005
For more information, contact: Tushar J. Sheth, Staff Attorney
212.966.5932 x220 tsheth@aaldef.org

AALDEF LAUNCHES NEW INITIATIVE TO CHALLENGE STATE AND LOCAL ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION LAWS

New York City- The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a 31-year old civil rights organization, announced today a new initiative to defend against local and state enforcement of immigration laws and released a new legal rights pamphlet for immigrants and their families, which will be available on the organization’s website at www.aaldef.org.

After September 11th and especially in recent months, many state and local entities in New York City and around the country have been drawn into the enforcement of immigration laws, departing from longstanding policies of deferring to the federal government on such issues. Recent examples include the passage of the Real ID Act by Congress, which requires states to take immigration laws into account as they issue driver’s licenses; Mayor Bloomberg’s acknowledgment that New York City police officers erred by disclosing the immigration status of a crime victim, in violation of the privacy requirements of Executive Order 41; and testimony by NYPD officials before the New York City Council, admitting that officers routinely question noncitizens about their immigration status when they are arrested and disclose that information to federal immigration officials.

Local enforcement has been implemented in various ways, including direct cooperation between local government agencies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, questioning of immigrants regarding their status by state and local agencies in the provision of services and, in many instances, barring immigrants from accessing these services, and increased questioning of immigration status by police departments and other law enforcement authorities.

As a result of these policies, immigrants are deterred from accessing city and state services and cooperating with government agencies, such as police and fire departments, for fear of immigration consequences. Over the long term, such a lack of trust will inevitably lead to unsafe communities that are unable to participate effectively in civic life.

AALDEF will defend the rights of immigrants against local and state enforcement of immigration laws by doing community education and outreach, conducting advocacy at the federal, state and local level, and offering legal representation to individuals whose rights have been violated. Organizations that would like to schedule a “know your rights” training, conduct outreach on this issue, or refer individuals in need of legal representation should contact AALDEF at 212.966.5932 for assistance.

This new initiative is supported by the Open Society Institute and is part of AALDEF’s Immigrant Access to Justice Project, which does organizing and outreach in partnership with community organizations and provides legal services to community residents affected by 9.11 in such areas as special interest detention, special registration, voluntary interviews by the government, the 9.11 absconder initiative, and post 9.11 detention and deportation.

Tushar J. Sheth
Staff Attorney/Open Society Institute New York Community Fellow 
Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund
Defending the civil rights of Asian Americans since 1974
99 Hudson St, 12th Floor
New York, New York 10013
(w) 212.966.5932 x220
(f) 212.966.4303
tsheth@aaldef.org
www.aaldef.org

(http://www.aaldef.org)

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AUGUST 11, 2005

Robert Bernstein
CB05-118, Public Information Office
(301) 763-3030/457-3670 (fax)
Detailed tables
(301) 457-1037 (TDD)
State contacts: pio@census.gov

TEXAS BECOMES NATION’S NEWEST “MAJORITY-MINORITY” STATE, CENSUS BUREAU ANNOUNCES

Texas has now joined Hawaii, New Mexico and California as a majority-minority state, along with the District of Columbia, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. Five states — Maryland, Mississippi, Georgia, New York and Arizona — are next in line with minority populations of about 40 percent. (The minority population includes all people except non-Hispanic single-race whites.)

According to July 1, 2004, population estimates, Texas had a minority population of 11.3 million, comprising 50.2 percent of its total population of 22.5 million. In comparison, 77 percent of Hawaii’s population was minority. In New Mexico and California, the proportions were 57 percent and 56 percent, respectively, while the District of Columbia was 70 percent minority.

The following race data are for people reporting their specified race, whether or not they reported any other races, and for Hispanics (who may be of any race). Table 1 [Excel] presents data for states. Table 2 [Excel] presents data for counties with total populations of 1 million or more.

State and County Highlights
•         Hispanics (may be of any race) — California had the largest Hispanic population in July 2004 (12.4 million) and the largest numerical increase (351,000) since July 2003; New Mexico was the state where Hispanics comprised the highest proportion of the total population (43 percent).

Los Angeles County, Calif., had the largest Hispanic population (4.6 million) in 2004 and the biggest numerical increase (76,400) since July 2003.

•         Blacks — New York had the largest black population in July 2004 (3.5 million); Florida had the largest numerical increase (85,900) since July 2003. The District of Columbia was where blacks comprised the highest proportion of the total population (59 percent).

Cook County, Ill., had the largest black population (1.4 million); and Broward County, Fla., had the largest numerical increase (17,900) between 2003 and 2004.

•         Asians — California had both the largest Asian population (4.8 million) in July 2004 and the largest numerical increase (123,000) since July 2003; Hawaii was the state where Asians made up the highest proportion of the total population (58 percent).

Los Angeles County, Calif., had the largest Asian population (1.4 million) and the largest numerical increase (25,200) from 2003 to 2004.

•         American Indians and Alaska natives (AIAN) — California had the largest population of AIAN (687,400) in July 2004; Arizona had the largest numerical increase (6,400) since July 2003; Alaska was the state where AIAN made up the highest proportion (19 percent) of the total.

Los Angeles County had the largest population of AIAN in 2004 (153,500); Maricopa County, Ariz., had the largest numerical increase between 2003 and 2004 (3,000).

•         Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders (NHPI) — Hawaii had the largest population of NHPI (279,700); California, the largest numerical increase (3,400) since July 2003; Hawaii also was where NHPI made up the largest proportion (22 percent) of the total population.

Honolulu County, Hawaii, had the largest population of NHPI (183,200); and Clark County, Nev., registered the largest numerical increase (1,100) between 2003 and 2004.

The federal government treats Hispanic origin and race as distinct concepts. Therefore, separate questions are asked about them. For further details, see U.S. Census Bureau Guidance on the Presentation and Comparison of Race and Hispanic-Origin Data (June 12, 2003), available at http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/compraceho.html.

The estimates for each race and Hispanic group are cross-tabulated by single year of age and selected age groups for each state and by five-year age groups for counties.

(http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/005514.html)

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August 14, 2005

REACHING ACROSS A DOUBLE DIVIDE
VIETNAMESE-AMERICANS GATHER

By Larry Slonaker
Mercury News

Faced in America with the prospect of twin gaps -- cultural and generational -- between parents and children, about 600 members of the Vietnamese-American community came together Saturday in Santa Clara to try to bridge those divides.

``A lot of people in the community constantly see friction between parents and children,'' said Quyen Vuong, director of International Children Assistance Network, which co-sponsored the event. ``I feel like we need to have this community-building and family-strengthening effort, to bring families together.''

Saturday's second annual event, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, featured music, talks and a ceremony in which children presented roses to their parents. ``Kind of like Mother's Day and Father's Day on one day,'' Vuong said.

Communication between generations of Vietnamese-Americans is afflicted with innate handicaps, said Son Dao of Cupertino, one of the scheduled speakers. ``We don't come from a culture where people express themselves, especially in difficult times. The tendency not to communicate creates tension.''

Vuong and others worry that American-born Vietnamese who are immersing themselves in American culture are giving up on communication and turning away. But, ``They need parents' support and guidance in finding themselves in this melting pot,'' she said. ``Who are they? In what way are they Vietnamese, and in what way are they American?''

Jasmine Ta, 16, of Milpitas, volunteered at an information booth Saturday. The issue is important to her, she said, because she wants to know more about her heritage. ``I don't want to lose it. And when I have children, I can pass it on to them.''

Her friend, Alfie Ngo, also 16, volunteered, too. ``I want to help spread information about what we do,'' she said. ``And help people find their cultural identification.''

Lieu Quan Buddhist Cultural Center in San Jose also sponsored the event.

Contact Larry Slonaker at lslonaker@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5809.

(http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/education/12381385.htm)

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PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

August 15, 2005

For More Information Contact Jenny Yang (202) 296-9200

THE NATIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN POLITICAL ALMANAC 2005-2006, 12^TH EDITION
A Joint Publication from APAICS and the UCLA Asian American Studies Center

Published since 1976, the National Asian Pacific American Political Almanac has received rave reviews from elected officials, community leaders, social services providers, librarians, journalists, researchers, students, and others interested in the growing political participation of the nation's 12 million Asian Pacific Americans. The almanac has over 200 pages of:

* Political directory of over 2000 Asian American and Pacific Islander elected and major appointed officials in 37 states, District of Columbia , America Samoa, Guam, and the Mariana Islands
* Exit Poll data and analysis of how Asian Pacific Americans voted in the 2004 presidential election
* Latest census information on the Asian Pacific American population
* Listing of Major national and local Asian Pacific American political and civil rights groups APIAVote!
* Executive Summary and Findings of Asian American political mobilization in key states during the 2004 Elections
* Special tribute to the late Congressman Robert T. Matsui

Ordering Information:
The 12th edition of the National Asian Pacific American Political Almanac (ISBN: 0-934052-40-9) can be purchased for $20 (plus $4 shipping/handling) from:

Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, 1001 Connecticut Ave, NW, Suite 835, Washington , DC 20036

Make checks payable to "APAICS". Orders and communications can be addressed to apaics@apaics.org or (202) 296-9200. Bulk rates also available.

The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational organization based in Washington, D.C., that seeks to build a politically empowered APA community, to fill the political pipeline for Asian Pacific Americans to enter and advance into elected office, and to be a resource to Congress about the APA community.

(http://www.apaics.org)

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August 15, 2005

STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT PLIGHT OF IMMIGRANTS

By Lauren Klein
The Advocate, Special Correspondent

STAMFORD -- Narayan Krishnan thought the question, "Who becomes president of the United States if the president and the vice president should die?" was simple.

But Narayan, 15, didn't know the answer -- the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Out of a 10 sample questions given as a mock immigration test, Narayan answered seven correctly. His classmates averaged a score of 6 out of 10. They said they were amazed they lacked knowledge the Immigration and Naturalization Service deems important to know as Americans.

"A lot of us got the questions wrong," said Priyanka Bajaj, 14. "We were surprised by how much we got wrong and that immigrants know a lot about our country that most citizens don't."

Priyanka, an incoming freshman at New Canaan Country School, and Narayan, an incoming sophomore at Stamford High School, were two of 11 Fairfield County students who took the test during the final weekly session of the Student Ambassador program designed to open their minds about American immigrants and how they affect American culture.

For five weeks this summer, the adolescents, ages 11 to 15, role-played, gave presentations and wrote narratives about their families' immigration experiences.

The main activity each week was discussing books about immigration, which helped them understand European, Hispanic, Middle Eastern and Asian cultures and assimilation.

Rachel Winsor, 11, plans on a career in politics and expects the ideas she discovered in the books will be important resources for her job.

"When you read these books, you feel like you know immigrants," Rachel said. "I know I want to be president, so when I'm running, I'll think about these books, and it'll give me more of an idea of what to say because when you become president you have to take care of immigration laws, and you have to know everything about the country and that includes immigrants."

Through discussions, the students, most of whom are first-generation Americans from India, Pakistan and Poland, found commonality in their differences.

"Everyone opened and shared their ethnicity," said Amina Toor, whose parents come from Pakistan. "I always felt isolated and thought that I was the only one who was kind of different. This opened my eyes. People here are from different cultures and they're stereotyped a lot."

Erin Franklin's family has been in the United States for multiple generations.

"I don't really connect as an immigrant," said Erin, 15, of Milford. "So it was nice to meet people who went through that process."

They finished the course Friday by giving presentations on an immigrant of their choice.

Bharat Arora, 15, chose Arnold Schwarzennegger "because he's a popular guy, or unpopular, depending on your view. He pretty much is living the American dream. I want to know how he did it."

The Student Ambassador program is the youth program of the Connecticut Chapter of American Jewish Committee's community outreach program, The American Connection. The goal is to have the student ambassadors share their information with peers during the school year.

They brain-stormed about organizing a film festival showcasing movies on immigrants.

The students suggested creating an immigration simulation so American students can better understand how hard it is to move to a different country.

"Kids don't understand how mean they can be," Amina said. "This can flip it around. It can open their eyes."

(http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-nor.ambassador6aug15,0,3461096.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines)

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August 15, 2005

TURNING IMMIGRANTS INTO VIRGINIANS
Their presence benefits the economy. Their assimilation would benefit the republic.

The Roanoke Times

Virginia is still far from the "majority minority" demographics created in California by the flood of Mexican immigrants. But with 8 percent of the commonwealth now foreign-born, and 2 million members of minority groups among its 7.5 million residents, it has plenty of reason to respond to an important problem associated with immigration.

Politicians exploiting an easy target for votes suggest the key issue is parasitism: Foreigners supposedly take jobs from natives and raise social service costs. For Virginia, however, the key issue is that immigrants become Virginians -- assimilated into the broader community, fluent in English, respectful of their new society's institutions and committed participants in the political system.

The General Assembly's Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission reported in 2004 that foreign immigrants were an economic boon that more than offset their costs. Hispanic workers are crucial to tourism and other service industries and to agriculture. Foreigners in general provide a key source of high-tech talent.

Economists also typically agree on the net benefit, citing the boost immigrants give the aging U.S. labor force, the taxes they funnel into Social Security and Medicare, their purchasing power and the revitalization that often accompanies their move into declining urban areas.

Oh, and then there's the 3.5 million U.S. jobs created by Asian- and Hispanic-owned businesses.

Virginia and the United States need immigrants. But for the sake of national unity, a healthy democracy and community harmony, the nation also needs to draw them into the mainstream. Previous waves of Italian, German, Irish and other newcomers emerged, with official encouragement, to become full-blown Americans. This wave should, too -- also with official encouragement.

JLARC offered practical recommendations: better outreach to immigrants, language services (for 11 percent of Virginians, English is not their primary language), better access to necessities such as health care. These are important, but they should accompany a broader educational effort to transform Mexicans, Haitians, Indians, Pakistanis and Salvadorans into self-identified, participating Americans whose stake in the nation reaches into their hearts as well as their wallets.

(http://www.roanoke.com/editorials%5C29690.html)

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About NCVA
Founded in 1986, the National Congress of Vietnamese Americans is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community advocacy organization working to advance the cause of Vietnamese Americans in a plural but united America – e pluribus unum – by participating actively and fully as civic minded citizens engaged in the areas of education, culture and civil liberties.

Copyright material is distributed without profit or payment for research and educational purposes only, in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107