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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.


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NCVA eREPORTER - September 6, 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

DISASTER RELIEF

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

JOBS/INTERNSHIPS

TIPS/RESOURCES

NEWS

******************
 EVENTS

FUNDRAISING EVENT TO SUPPORT HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF WORK

Viet Heritage Society (VHS,) United Vietnamese Americans (UVA,) and Beyond Fun

Location:  Capital Club Athletic
196 North 3rd Street (and St. John),San Jose, CA

When:  Friday, September 9, 7:00pm - Saturday, September 10, 1:00am
Phone:  408-888-7483

"I am only one, but still I am one; I cannot do everything; but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do." - Edward Everett Hale

By now, all of us have come to know the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The magnitude of the loss and damage is unfathomable.

* 90,000+ square miles (nearly 55% of the size of California) are damaged;
* Regional damages estimated at $50 billion; and
* Hundreds of thousands of people have lost everything.

In joining the national effort to assist the victims of Katrina, The Viet Heritage Society (VHS,) United Vietnamese Americans (UVA,) Dana Hanh Contey, Silicon Valley Businesses, and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) are hosting a fundraising event at the Capital Club Athletic on Friday, September 9, 2005.

PLEASE BRING YOUR FAMILIES & FRIENDS TO COME OUT AND SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF THIS DISASTER!

AGENDA:
      7:00 PM - 7:45 PM Hors D'oeuvres/Reception
      7:45 PM - 9:00 PM American Red Cross Benefit Program
      9:00 PM - 1:00 AM Silent Auction, Fashion Show, Dancing

SPEAKERS: Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez, Dang Pham & Dr. Sherman Tran from the American Red Cross, Santa Clara Chapter, and Thuy Vu, former Anchor ABC.

DONATIONS: All donations accepted. Please make checks out to: “American Red Cross,” Memo: “Hurricane Katrina” Tax ID#: 53-0196605 - Major Credit Cards Accepted.

CONTACTS: Ryan Nguyen Hubris (408) 505-7388, Debbie Nghiem (408) 888-7483, Dana Contey (408) 206-5203

SPONSORS: VHS, UVA, Beyond Fun, Capital Club Athletic, VAREPA, Viet-ACF, BAVS, UVSA, ICAN, VietET, Think Viet, Miss VN of No. CA & Court, Miss VN of So. CA, San Jose Heart Institute, Innovia Estates & Mortgage, Network PCB, Lido, American City Loan, Thao Dang Real Estate Group, Frontline Sound Systems, Shannon Drake, Aidan West Financial, Andy Le, Catrina Phan, Jennette Bui, Madison Nguyen, and many other friends…(WE WOULD LOVE TO ADD YOUR NAME HERE.)

LIST OF DONORS (TO DATE)
      San Jose Heart Institute - $5,000.00
      Innovia Estates & Mortgage - $3,000.00
      Network PCB-$2,000.00
      Suzanne from Lido-$1,000.00
      Mona from American City Loan-$1,000.00
      Law offices of Dan Do and Jenny Do-$300.00
      Andy Le -$500.00 (for food at the event)
      Anonymous-$150.00
      Cung Thi Dang-$100.00
      Ai Minh and Rick To-$100.00
      Holly Hue Chau-$100.00
      Trina Vu-$100.00
      (WE WOULD LOVE TO ADD YOUR NAME HERE.)

PLEASE REPLY WITH YOUR PLEDGE! WE’D LIKE TO RAISE $100,000 FOR THE VICTIMS. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

PLEASE FORWARD THIS EVITE TO AS MANY FRIENDS AS POSSIBLE. TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

******************

2005 VIRGINIA ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN CANDIDATES’ FORUM

Come meet candidates running for office this fall, and listen to them address issues affecting our community!

Reception to follow!  Come mingle with the candidates and sample delicious Asian foods!

It’s free, and all are welcome to attend!

3:00 – 5:00pm, Saturday, September 10
Korean Central Presbyterian Church
8526 Amanda Place, Vienna, VA 22180

directions at http://www.kcpc.org/churchinfo/map.asp

* SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS *
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Greater Washington, DC Area (APABA-DC) * Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia (CAPAVA) * Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) * Indian American Forum for Political Education – VA * Korean American Association of Northern Virginia (KAANV) * Korean American Association of the Washington Metropolitan Area (KAAW) * Korean American Chamber of Commerce Greater Washington * Korean American Coalition-DC Area Chapter (KAC-DC) * Korean Central Senior Center * League of Korean Americans (LOKA-USA) * National Association of Korean Americans (NAKA-Washington) * National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA) * Organization of Chinese Americans Northern Virginia Chapter (OCA-NOVA) * Organization of Korean American Women (OKAW) * Sikh American Chamber of Commerce * Vietnamese American Voters Association (VAVA)

* WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF *
AM 1310 * Asian Fortune * Ben Bahn * Han Sung Oak Resturant * Internal Medicine Center of VA * Jackie Bong-Wright * K & K Sign * KBN TV * Korea Daily News * Korean Central Presbyterian Church * Korea Times * Korean Weekly * New Star Realty * OKAW * Sorak Garden Restaurant * Sports Seoul * TIYM Publishing * Vietnamese American TV * Washington Media

rides to the forum may be available

for more information go to www.kacdc.org or call Julie Park at (703) 725-7773

(http://www.ncvaonline.org/archive/prj_CandidatesForum_091005.htm)

******************

ON-GOING FUNDRAISING IN SUPPORT OF HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF WORK – 30 DAYS, $30,000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Thomas Tran, 301-588-6862

Date: September 6, 2005

Many of you have seen and heard about the devastation and destruction caused by hurricane Katrina in the past few days. Many victims in the Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi region are without food, clean water, shelter, and medical supplies. The Army Corp of Engineers estimates that it will take about 3-6 months for all of the water to be pumped out of the city of New Orleans alone. Many victims will also run out of money because they will have no job to return to when they return home.

Those of us living in the Washington Metropolitan Area have been very fortunate to have avoided such tragedy and disruption to our lives. To help with the disaster relief effort, the following community organizations have joined together to form the Katrina Disaster Relief Campaign to help the victims of hurricane Katrina:

Han Bai Kung Fu (HBKF)
Ket Doan Association (KDA)
Lien Doan Potomac (LDP)
Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association (MVMA)
National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies (NAVASA)
National Congress of Vietnamese Americans (NCVA)
Vietnamese American Television (VATV)
Vietnamese Seniors Association of Maryland (VSAM)

Our goal is to collect $30,000 from the community in the Washington Metropolitan Area over the next 30 days and send the money to organizations that are providing direct relief to the thousands of victims who have been evacuated to Houston, Texas.

If you would like to make a donation to the Katrina Disaster Relief Campaign, please make checks payable to either “MVMA”, “KET DOAN”, “NAVASA”, or “NCVA” (indicate “Katrina Disaster” in Memo section) and mail it to any of the following addresses (please do not mail cash):

MVMA, 8121 Georgia Avenue, Suite 503, Silver Spring, MD 20910, www.mdvietmutual.org

Ket Doan Association, P.O. Box 2452, Rockville, MD 20857, www.ketdoan.org

NAVASA, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 310, Silver Spring, MD 20910, www.navasa.org

NCVA, 6433 Northanna Drive, Springfield, VA 22150, www.ncvaonline.org

All donations are tax-deductible.  For more information, please contact any of the following individuals:

Mr. Thomas Tran, 301-588-6862
Ms. Hongly La, 301-518-0410
Mr. Bang Viet Nguyen, 301-963-6977
Ms. An T Vo, 301-587-2781
Mr. Bich Ngoc Nguyen, 1-877-592-4140 (toll free)

On behalf of all the participating organizations in the Katrina Disaster Relief Campaign, thank you in advance for your generous donation. 

(http://www.ncvaonline.org)

******************
 DISASTER RELIEF

DISASTER UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

Purpose
Disaster Unemployment Assistance provides financial assistance to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster declared by the President of the United states. Before an individual can be determined eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance, it must be established that the individual is not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits (under any state or federal law). The program is administered by states as agents of the federal government.

Eligibility
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to unemployed U.S. nationals and qualified aliens who worked or were self-employed if they:

* worked or were self-employed in or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in an area declared as a federal disaster area.

* can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of a disaster.

* establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income.

* * do not qualify for regular unemployment insurance benefits from any state.

* can not perform work or self-employment because of an injury or because they were incapacitated as a direct result of the disaster.

* became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of the household.

* can not work or perform self-employment due to closure of a facility by the federal government.

* lose a majority of income or revenue because the employer or self-employed business was damaged, destroyed, or closed by the federal government.

Suffering a monetary loss due to damage of property or crops does not automatically entitle an individual to Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

Benefits
Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to individuals for weeks of unemployment beginning after the date the major disaster began and for up to 26 weeks after the major disaster was declared by the President, as long as their unemployment continues to be a result of the major disaster.

The maximum weekly benefit amount is determined under the provisions of the state law for unemployment insurance in the state where the disaster occurred.

Filing a Claim
Claims should be filed in accordance with the state's instructions published in announcements about the availability of Disaster Unemployment Assistance, or contact the State Unemployment Insurance agency.

(http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/disaster.asp)

******************

LOUISIANA RESIDENTS

The best way for Louisiana residents to apply is online at www.LaWorks.net.  The application procedures are greatly simplified. For instance, they do not need to know the exact address of their last employer, just city and state will do.  They will need to specify the address where checks can be mailed. Louisiana has committed to begin mailing checks immediately.

QUESTIONS? Call 1-866-783-5567 for more information about Unemployment Insurance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance.

(http://www.LaWorks.net)

******************

EVACUEES IN TEXAS
2-1-1 Texas System Dedicated to Serving Katrina Evacuees in Need

Evacuees and their families may dial 2-1-1 for around-the-clock information about shelters and health and human services available to them. Due to the uncertainty of cell phone access from providers outside of Texas, the 2-1-1 Texas system implemented a toll-free number, 1-888-312-4567, for Louisiana residents affected by Hurricane Katrina.

People without online access can call the Texas Workforce Commission Call Center (call the local number listed below or 800 # if they are not in any of the listed local areas) to apply. A Customer Service Rep. will take their application over the phone.

The numbers to call are:

Austin........................512-340-4300
Dallas........................214-252-1200
El Paso..................... 915-832-6400
Fort Worth..................817-420-1600
Houston.....................281-983-1100
McAllen.....................956-984-4700
San Antonio...............210-258-6600

All other areas in Texas ....................800-939-6631

The Call Centers will be open extended hours taking calls from Louisiana evacuees as follows:
Friday   9-2-05  until 7pm
Saturday  9-3-05 8am to 2pm
Sunday  9-4-05 1pm to 5pm
Monday  9-5-05 8am to 12noon

 FOOD STAMPS & MEDICAID
* Texas Health (http://www.hhs.state.tx.us/) & Human Services Commission Phone: 1-888-312-4567

* Women, Infants, (http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/news/releases/20050901.shtm) & Children (WIC Program) Recipients Phone: 1-800-942-3678

******************
 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Attention Minority Business Enterprises!

MBDA is now accepting applications for the operation of MINORITY BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY CENTERS (MBOC).

Funding Opportunity Description:

In accordance with Executive Order 11625 and 15 U.S.C. Section 1512, the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is soliciting competitive applications from organizations to operate Minority Business Opportunity Centers (MBOC) (formerly Minority Business Opportunity Committees). The Minority Business Opportunity Centers through their staff will provide brokering services and assistance to minority business enterprises (MBEs) that (a) generate $500,000 or more in annual gross revenues or (b) are capable of creating significant employment and long-term economic impact (commonly referred to as “rapid growth-potential MBEs). In addition, MBOCs provide access to buyers of goods and services and procurement and financing opportunities within the public and private sectors. MBOC operators and executive directors should have experience in and knowledge of the local minority business sector and established working relationships with buying organizations. MBOCs are supported by a volunteer advisory committee that assists the MBOC in implementing program requirements and providing contract and financing opportunities to MBEs. The program is primarily evaluated by MBDA based on the number and dollar value of contracts and financial transactions awarded to minority business enterprises. MBOCs will be required to engage in the activities delineated in this Announcement.

(http://www.mbda.gov/?section_id=1&bucket_id=101&content_id=3480)

(http://www.mbda.gov/documents/MBOC_Annoucement_2005.pdf)

******************

YOUTH VISIONS FOR STRONGER NEIGHBORHOODS GRANTS

CTCNet will award Youth Visions grants to eight community technology programs throughout the U.S. Each grantee will receive $20,000 and must contribute at least $8,000 in non-federal matching funds. Orientation and preparation for selected programs will begin in December 2005. Program operations will begin in January 2006 and the program must be completed by July 30, 2006.

Youth Visions grants are designed to give youth and community technology programs the opportunity to use multimedia tools and training to engage in community decision-making to strengthen their neighborhoods. Organizations that serve at-risk youth (ages 14-18), are engaged in community partnerships, and have experience providing video and other multimedia training are eligible. CTCNet will provide a flexible curriculum and evaluation support for a 5-6 month program integrating community-based activities and multimedia training. Additionally, each grantee organization will be required to host a capacity-building workshop to help other youth-serving organizations learn to use multimedia tools to promote youth engagement in their communities.

To learn more about the grant, including eligibility requirements, how to apply, and to register for the application assistance calls, visit http://www.ctcnet.org/youthvisions.

(http://www.ctcnet.org/youthvisions)

******************

NICKELODEON LET’S JUST PLAY GIVEAWAY PROGRAM

The Nickelodeon Lets Just Play Giveaway Program provides support to create or expand opportunities for physical play in K-9 schools and after-school community-based organizations. Children 6 to 15 years of age as of May 31, 2006 can enter their schools or community-based programs. Each month during the giveaway, starting in September 2005 and ending June 2006, $5,000 will be distributed to a minimum of 20 randomly selected winners from four different regions nationwide. The program is committed to reaching the broadest and most diverse entrants possible. Entries are encouraged from urban, rural, and suburban areas, and from small and large community-based organizations serving all ethnicities.

(http://www.nick.com/all_nick/everything_nick/ljp_grants.jhtml)

******************

 NEW VOICES COMMUNITY NEWS VENTURES FUNDED

New Voices, administered by J-Lab at the University of Maryland and supported by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is a pioneering program to seed innovative community news ventures in the United States. Through 2006, New Voices will help fund the start-up of ten micro-local, news projects with $12,000 grants. The program will also support grantees with an educational website, and help foster their sustainability through $5,000 second-year, matching grants. Successful applicants will: benefit a defined geographic or special-interest community; and foster an open exchange of journalistically sound ideas, information, news and opinion in those communities. Funding is available for print or electronic news initiatives, including online, cable, broadcast, narrowcast, satellite and mobile efforts. Eligible to apply for funding are nonprofit organizations and education institutions, including civic groups, community organizations, middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities.

(http://www.j-newvoices.org/)

******************

 KEY FOUNDATION GRANTS ENCOURAGE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY

The Key Foundation's objective is to improve the quality of life and economic vibrancy of the places where KeyCorp customers, employees, and shareholders live and work in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. Support is provided to organizations and institutions that promote economic self-sufficiency through financial education and workforce initiatives in locations where the company operates. In addition to these primary areas of interest, the Foundation provides support, to a lesser degree, to organizations that enhance the quality of life in Key communities. Applications are accepted at any time.

(http://www.key.com/html/A-12.3.html)

******************

DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CHARITABLE SERVICE TRUST FUNDS VETERANS PROGRAMS

The Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust is dedicated to one purpose: building better lives for our nation's disabled veterans and their families. To carry out this responsibility, the Trust supports physical and psychological rehabilitation programs, meets the special needs of veterans with specific disabilities such as amputation and blindness, and aids and shelters homeless veterans. The Trust provides grants to nonprofit organizations located in the United States, with a focus on long-term service projects providing direct assistance to disabled veterans and their families. Applications are reviewed four times per year. The next application deadline is November 1, 2005.

(http://www.dav.org/cst/index.html)

******************
 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

******************

COORDINATOR – OPERATION RICE BOWL

Job Summary:
Operation Rice Bowl is Catholic Relief Services' Lenten program that generates more than $8 million to assist the poor, and involves more than 15,000 parishes and schools across the U.S. in prayer and action. Food Fast is Catholic Relief Services' hunger awareness program for youth. For Operation Rice Bowl (75% of time), the Program Coordinator will assist the ORB Program Officers with the materials development process; track revenue and expenses for the program; and provide day-to-day customer service and fulfillment through Our Sunday Visitor.

The Program Coordinator will also coordinate with staff in CRSD to provide program-specific support to the regional offices and DDs. For Food Fast (25% of time), the Program Coordinator manages the primary contact with the fulfillment house vendor; oversees Food Fast ordering process; works with the Youth Programs Officer on the development of Food Fast materials and mailings each year and acts as the liaison with Creative Services and assist the Youth Program Officer with website content; and processes acknowledgments and maintains correspondence with Parish Food Fast Coordinators.

Job Responsibilities:

Customer Service
1.Respond promptly to phone calls and website inquiries for Food Fast and Operation Rice Bowl.

2.Promote Food Fast and Operation Rice Bowl to interested prospects through phone or written communication to diocesan directors, parish leaders, teachers, and others when they make general information request for resource materials.

Fulfillment
1.Manages the day-to-day relationship with fulfillment house vendor for Operation Rice Bowl and Food Fast.

2.Directs and monitors materials ordering, fulfillment process, and inventory balances. Serves as primary contact for monthly invoices for ORB and Food Fast fulfillment.

3.Provides analysis to ORB Program Officer and Youth Programs Officer regarding the ORB and Food Fast programs each year which includes final order totals, order processing, response types, order placements, materials used, shipping costs, printing costs and other important information regarding the ordering process for Operation Rice Bowl and Food Fast.

4.Researches options for list rental and/or purchase and works with vendors to secure mailing lists for ORB and Food Fast direct mail campaigns.

Programmatic
1.Assist in development and writing of ORB program materials.

2.Acts as primary contact with Creative Services (and Purchasing Dept. on some occasions) for developing Food Fast materials/mailings each year, including developing production schedule, determining quantities, and meeting with designer and vendors and reviewing specifications and bids.

3. Work with Youth Programs Officer in development process of Food Fast materials including writing and editing, and assistance with website development.

4.Coordinates development of Food Fast written materials with Spanish Translator.

5.Provides analysis to Youth Programs Officer regarding Food Fast each year which includes final order totals, order processing, response types, order placements, materials used, shipping costs, printing costs and other important information regarding the ordering process for Food Fast.

Budget and Revenue
1.Track ORB unit expenses as required. Resolve differences with Finance Department.

2.Work with CRSD Communications Coordinator to develop and maintain reports relevant to diocesan revenue, particularly for general mail and emergency responses. Report monthly on all ORB and Food Fast revenue.

3.Enter ORB revenue data into the departmental database.

4.Work with ORB team to obtain revenue estimates from Diocesan Directors for ORB.

5.Develop ORB receivables report and maintain contact with Finance regarding ORB receipts from dioceses.

Constituency Support
1.Collaborate with the Constituency Relations and Support Department to enter and maintain comprehensive database of contacts, and update diocesan records with annual ORB revenue and participation numbers.

2.Coordinates system for distribution of action date and participation and order reports for Diocesan Directors for Food Fast.

3.Serve as backup in absence of Program Officers.

4.Handle other duties as needed to maintain the effective and efficient operation of the ORB and Food Fast programs.

Key Working Relationships:
Internal - Domestic Programs Department, Constituency Relations and Support Department, Finance, Purchasing, Creative Services, Donor Services

External - Fulfillment vendor, Diocesan Directors, Catholic schools and parishes, teachers, catechists, youth ministers, students, and others as necessary

Personal Skills:
1.Strong written and oral communication skills

2.Ability to work independently on multiple tasks at once

Qualifications:
1. Bachelors of Science/Bachelors of Arts required

2. Minimum of one year of relevant experience

3.Advanced computer skills for Microsoft Office, Word, Access, Excel, Outlook and Power Point

4.Strong customer service skills with an emphasis on marketing

Foreign Language Required: None

Major Responsibilities of Position: Administration, Finance and Report Writing

NOTE: All interested applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of application.

Additional Qualifications:

How to Apply:
To apply for this position please go to our website at www.catholicrelief.org In your cover letter please include requisition number D 05 044 and salary requirements.

NO EMAILS PLEASE!

Preferred method of submitting your resume is through:

(http://www.catholicrelief.org/about_us/careers/current_openings/index.cfm)

******************

NATIONAL NONPROFIT VOTER ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE PROJECT COORDINATOR

Overview
The National Nonprofit Voter Engagement Initiative is a new and ambitious effort to dramatically expand the role of America’s nonprofits in voting and elections.  A program of the Center for Civic Participation, it builds on the success of organizations such as MassVOTE, National Voice and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits in mobilizing the broad nonprofit community and their civic allies.  The initiative seeks to leverage the enormous and untapped potential of nonprofit organizations to reach traditionally underrepresented voters in key states with high densities of underrepresented voters.

This new initiative is dedicated to expanding the role of nonprofits that have little or no history of doing voting work.  The impact of these nonprofits on voting and democracy can, and will, be transformative when brought to scale.  This effort intends to do that by building fully staffed, state-based voter engagement initiatives to help identify, train and support the voting related work of individual nonprofit organizations.

Responsibilities
•        Oversee all aspects of national voter engagement initiative with responsibility for implementing national initiative business plan and ensure high quality service delivery to individual state initiatives.

•        Supervise all national initiative staff and vendors.  Directly supervise organizing and voting rights staff and administrative support staff  – jointly supervise development and communications specialists along with appropriate CCP department heads.  Assist with integrating initiative and CCP’s other activities.

•        Conduct state assessments to determine readiness for state-based voter engagement initiatives.

•        Develop state initiative plans with selected states, working with other CCP staff as necessary to ensure coordination and integration of all activities.

•        Assist state initiatives as they begin plan implementation.  Provides support to state initiatives, including assistance with planning, training, outreach, fundraising, materials and communications.

•        Oversee dissemination of all materials, whether created in-house or contracted from vendors and coordinate delivery of technical assistance to the state initiatives.

•        Manage National Initiative Advisory Council.

•        Assist with fundraising for national and state initiatives.  Provide guidance and training for state initiatives as they establish their own fundraising models.

Qualifications
•        Minimum three to five years of grassroots organizing experience
•        Project management experience
•        Experience supervising staff
•        Experience work with nonprofit organizations required
•        Experience with electoral or civic engagement work strongly preferred
•        Demonstrated ability to prioritize and handle a variety of projects simultaneously
•        Strong interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills
•        Ability to create and experiment with new organizing models and systems
•        Willingness to engage in direct “hands-on” organizing as well as more strategic visioning and supervisory functions
•        Demonstrated ability to work with diverse organizations as well as a range of organizing philosophies and styles
•        Comfort with public speaking
•        Second language skills preferred
•        Ability to travel
•        Willing to be based in Minnesota

TO APPLY:
Please send your résumé, cover letter and salary requirements to
Suzanne Stenson O’Brien, Executive Director, Center for Civic Participation, 2105 First Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55404, 612-870-3423, or by email to suzanne@centerforcivicparticipation.org.

The position will be filled as soon as possible.

(http://www.ccp.org)

******************

ASIAN AMERICAN LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND FALL INTERNSHIPS 2005

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is the first organization on the East Coast to protect and promote the legal rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy and community education. Current program priorities include economic justice for workers, immigrants’ rights, voting rights and civic participation, language rights, affirmative action, the elimination of anti-Asian violence and police brutality, youth rights and educational equity, and the assistance of low-income Chinatown residents and workers affected by 9.11. For more information about AALDEF, visit our website at www.aaldef.org.

FALL LEGAL INTERNSHIPS 2005

Legal internships are available in the following program areas:

Economic Justice for Workers, primarily working on litigation on behalf of garment, restaurant, and other low wage workers; Immigrant Access to Justice, litigation, legal services, and organizing/outreach with communities impacted by 9-11, including special interest detainees, special registration, voluntary interviews by the government, the 9-11 absconder initiative, and local and state enforcement of immigration laws; Voting Rights, legal research and fact development under the Voting Rights Act challenging anti-Asian voter discrimination, expanding bilingual ballots, and counting votes cast by Asian Americans; advocacy on state and local election reform; produce reports and organize forums on the Asian American vote;  Educational Equity and Youth Rights Project, legal services, policy work, community education, research and litigation concerning educational equity, juvenile justice, and post 9-11 hate violence and racial targeting;  Korean Workers Project, direct legal services on employment-related claims to Korean immigrant workers, as well as community education and advocacy in collaboration with YKASEC - Empowering the Korean American Community;  South Asian Workers Project, direct legal services on employment-related claims to South Asian immigrant workers, as well as community education and advocacy; and Language Rights, including access to health care and other social services.

Description of Internships.
Interns are supervised by attorneys in specific program areas. Legal interns will work on litigation, particularly legal research and writing, legal and policy advocacy, client intakes, and some community outreach and education. Each program area differs in emphasis.

These internships are not paid positions, but academic credit can be arranged. Interns work anywhere between 8 to 25 hours per week. The internship usually commences with the start of classes or at late August/early September through early December.

To Apply: Any bilingual ability should be stated in the resume. Bilingual ability is helpful but not required. Applications should also state the number of hours the intern is able to work per week. Send a resume and cover letter to:

Legal Intern Search
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor New York, New York 10013-2815
Fax: 212-966-4303 Email: info@aaldef.org

***

DEFENDING ASIAN AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Law Students

In prior elections, Asian Americans faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote; for example, ballots have been mistranslated listing Democratic candidates as Republicans and vice versa, lack of interpreters, denial of language assistance, rude and hostile poll workers. Then, when the news media reported on election returns and the vote by specific groups, Asian Americans were overlooked. AALDEF?s Voting Rights Program aims to enhance the political participation of Asian Americans and guard against anti-Asian voter discrimination.

Voting Rights Interns work on the following:
*Election monitoring to ensure Asian Americans are treated fairly at the polls and to document violations of the Voting Right Act and federal Constitution. The Voting Rights Act mandates the availability of Chinese and Korean language assistance and forbids anti-Asian voter discrimination.

*Coordinate a survey of Asian American voters to document the use of bilingual ballots and report on Asian American voting patterns. The survey will be taken at poll sites in New York City and New Jersey. Interns will recruit, train, and supervise volunteers, as well as coordinate logistics at three dozen polling sites.

*Register new voters after citizenship swearing-in ceremonies.

*Conduct research and advocacy on local, state and federal election reform proposals.

Description of Internships.
Supervision: Interns are supervised by attorneys through regular meetings and trainings.

Compensation: These internships are not paid positions, but academic credit can be arranged.

Hours: Interns work anywhere between 12 to 25 hours per week in the office.

Duration: The internship usually follows the semester, commencing with the start of classes or (end of August/ beginning of September) and goes to the first or second week of December.

To Apply: Bilingual ability is helpful but not required. Students with language ability in Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin), Korean, Bengali, Urdu, or Punjabi are especially welcome to apply and languages (if any) should be stated in the resume Applicants should also state the number of hours they can work per week and a possible schedule. Send a resume and cover letter to:

Voting Rights Fall Intern Search
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor New York, New York 10013-2815
fax: 212-966-4303 Email: info@aaldef.org

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FEDERAL WORK STUDY POSITION - OFFICE ASSISTANT

Responsibilities include data entry, organizing press clippings, answering phones, doing mailings, and performing general clerical duties. Other responsibilities include providing support for fundraising events, and community education and outreach projects. Computer experience with databases, graphics and web programs helpful.

You must have a federal work study grant.

To Apply: Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter by September 19, 2005:

Fall Work Study Application
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor New York, New York 10013
fax: 212.966.4303 email: info@aaldef.org

For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932, ext. 212 or jweng@aaldef.org.

(http://www.aaldef.org)

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ABC’S “EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION”

*We are currently casting families in the Southeast / South and Southwest for Winter shoots. All others are still welcome to apply, however if they're on the East coast we can't consider them until Spring of 2006.

* Families must OWN their home. The home should not be larger than 2,000 Sq. Feet and MUST be a single family residence (no townhomes, condos or apartments)
* Families must have a clean criminal history and pass an extensive background check
* Families should have children (School age) still living at home
* Families should be outgoing, emotional and yet humble and extremely likeable
* Families should speak Fluent English
* They should be in a situation where, by changing their house in some way, we can help that situation. Their story should be compelling & moving.

* Currently we ARE NOT looking for the following stories relating to: Adoption, Wheelchair accessibility, Cancer, death of or dying parent, Armed Services, hearing impaired or visually impaired
* They should be "deserving" - i.e. help out the community, their neighbors or hold jobs such as police, fire, teachers, nurses, medics, do volunteer work, non-profit, etc. (not all members but one at least!)
* Families houses should LOOK like they need repair!
* And, finally families should live on an accessible street, no hills, no cul-de-sacs

To download an application for the show, go to this link: http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/casting.html

Applications should be sent DIRECTLY to me at the below address, NOT the PO Box on the application. This way I can personally review each application. If the family is in the Southeast or Texas, we will need applications in no later than Sept. 15th!  If they're in California, October 1st.  But, the sooner the better!

Charisse Simonian
Family Casting Director
ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
1149 N. Gower St. Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90038

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CORO FELLOWS PROGRAM IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The Fellows Program in Public Affairs is a nine-month, full-time, post-graduate experiential leadership training program which introduces diverse, intelligent and driven young public servants to all aspects of the public affairs arena. Field assignments, site visits, interviews and special individual and group projects and consultancies prepare Coro Fellows to translate their ideals into action for improving their own communities.

Sixty-four Fellows are chosen annually each year through a highly competitive selection process. They represent a broad range of cultural, racial and economic backgrounds, ages, interests, and academic and work experience, but all are committed to excellence in public affairs. The Fellows Program in Public Affairs is conducted in San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, New York and Pittsburgh.

(http://www.coro.org/programs/fellows_program/fellows_program.html)

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 TIPS/RESOURCES

FUNDRAISING – DEALING WITH NON-CASH GIFTS

Although money stands out as the item being sought in nonprofit fundraising, non-cash gifts can be a great help to many organizations.

Gifts of something other than cash may look very attractive, but there can be times when these gifts may be more trouble than they are worth, or they can work to an organization's detriment. In fact, many nonprofits prefer not to deal with non-cash gifts at all. These items can include stocks, bonds, real estate, artwork, antiques, business and intellectual property, cars, boats, race horses, jewelry and wine cellars.

When considering whether to accept non-cash gifts, organizations would do well to keep a few things in mind, problems that could occur with such contributions:

* The difficulty of managing or trying to get rid of a non-cash gift.

* The organization's inexperience in handling such items.

* Ownership headaches, including ensuring the safety and security of the items such as a rare work of art and environmental risks. Environmental risks may include taking control of a polluted property that must be cleaned up.

* Assumption of liabilities. If a building is donated, it is up to the organization to maintain the building and pay any back taxes.

* Potential of being stuck with the property. There is a possibility that the item (any kind) will be a white elephant that cannot be sold.

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

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PLANNED GIVING – A “TO-DO” CHECKLIST

Despite the importance of planned giving for nonprofit organizations, not every nonprofit manager has a clear understanding of how to get the best use out of it to achieve maximum results.

Part of the answer to getting optimum return lies in what a planned giving officer should do, even on what such an officer should be.

Based on interviews with 29 senior-level planned giving professionals, Cynthia W. Krause, president of Wilson & Krause and trust counsel of the Methodist Health System, and Betsy A. Mangione, vice president of The Denver Foundation, developed a checklist for planned giving officers.

* Focus on becoming more of an educator and less of a technician.

* Focus on individuals who are truly motivated by charitable intent, not just tax considerations.

* Strengthen donor-recognition programs to keep current donors.

* Utilize market strategies that incorporate your mission.

* Strengthen your focus on philanthropy and caring about future generations.

* Create a strategy or process for educating your board and senior leadership about the benefits of planned giving.

* Determine what type of planned giving program best suits your organization and adjust your strategic plan accordingly.

* Look for ways to retain staff and lower the turnover in your organization.

Krause and Mangione also believe that giving at the nation's nonprofits is likely to shift from technically focused programs to a back-to-basics movement based on bequests and charitable gift annuities.

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

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MANAGEMENT – DEVELOPING CAPACITY STRATEGIES

Despite their noble intentions and feisty attitude, many nonprofits are small local organizations that are underfunded and understaffed. Even if they want to make a dramatic improvement in their impact, they often have no idea of how to go about doing it.

In his book Managing at the Leading Edge, Mike Hudson offers four possible strategies that nonprofits can employ in order to become more effective.

The four approaches are:

* Diversification strategy. Most nonprofits diversity even if they do not plan to do so. They may begin by providing services and then campaigning for their cause, or they may expand the range of services they provide. Diversification may draw new resources and does not usually threaten the coalition of stakeholders that has been established. One drawback is that an organization may diversify and then find it does not have the capacity for everything it wants to do.

* Specialization strategy. The flip side of diversification, this is an intensified focus on what the organization already does. This could mean enhancing existing services or improving service quality.

* Scaling-up strategy. It is a strategy for replicating successful approaches so they can benefit more people. Organizations that have scaled up successfully include the Red Cross, Volunteers of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Critics charge that this is a business perspective that is concerned only with efficiency and impact.

* Scaling-deep strategy. Organizations that employ this strategy focus deeply on a limited geographic area and on a well-defined user group.

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

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ONLINE – WHAT YOUR WEB SITE MUST HAVE

Virtually all nonprofit organizations are seeing the value of maintaining a Web site as a means of increasing visibility and bringing in added revenue. Web sites can offer immediate benefits to organizations by giving interested people quick access.

In his book The Public Relations Handbook for Nonprofits, Art Feinglass points out the benefits of keeping a site. Further, he provides a list of elements that should be on every nonprofit organization's site.

Of course, they must be visually attractive and easy to navigate, with opportunities for visitors to make donations online.

The essential components of the site, according to Feinglass:

* Information about the organization's history.

* The organization's mission statement.

* Biographies of officers and key staff members.

* Information on funding sources and current projects.

* Policy statements.

* Reports on the organization's activities and achievements.

* Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the organization, along with the answers.

* An archive of news stories that have appeared about the organization.

* The current issue of the organization's newsletter and archived issues of previous newsletters.

* The organization's current annual report.

* An online brochure.

* An outline of planned giving opportunities for supporters.

* A regularly updated calendar of upcoming events sponsored by or related to the organization.

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

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FUNDRAISING – BIG GIFTS FOR SMALL GROUPS

The process of soliciting the big gift usually involves three steps: a letter, a telephone call and a visit. In his book Big Gifts for Small Groups, Andy Robinson wrote that, although those are the steps, there are also three points that are vitally important in the solicitation of big gifts.

The key points are:

* Honesty and transparency generate the best results. At each stage - letter, phone call, visit - you must be completely clear about your purpose, which is to raise money for the organization. If you ambush people - go see them on other pretenses and then spring the fundraising question like a loaded trap - you will annoy them and consequently not raise as much money. Transparency means naming numbers right from the start.

* Don't start what you can't finish. Once you begin, you must follow through. The worst thing you can do is mail a letter that promises a follow-up phone call and then not make the call. The credibility of the organization depends on honoring commitments.

* Begin with reasonable expectations. The beauty of a straightforward approach is that it screens out those who are less likely to give. True, you will lose some candidates at each stage, but the ones who remain will be strong prospects.

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

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YOUR FORM 990: HOW DO YOU REPORT CONTRIBUTIONS?

By Harvey Berger, CPA, and D. Greg Goller, CPA

Do you engage in fundraising programs to derive contributions?
Do you receive in-kind contributions of personal property, securities or other assets? Do you engage in auctions or other special events to raise funds?

If you do any of these, you might not be filing a properly completed Form 990. This observation is based on the number of inquiries and discussions on this subject and on recent reviews of many returns. Since the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Congress, and the public are demanding that Form 990 disclosure become more complete, more accurate, and more timely, you are under more pressure to report activities correctly.

(http://www.nptimes.com/enews/Sep05/news/news-0905_1.html)

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 NEWS

September 1, 2005

GOLDENBERG, NGUYEN LAM NAMED AT CLMER CENTER

Teacher Education’s Claude Goldenberg was named executive director of CSULB’s Center for Language Minority Education and Research (CLMER) while the center’s interim director Kim-Oanh Nguyen-Lam was named associate director.

College of Education Dean Jean Houck praised the selection. “Clearly, the new leadership in the Center for Language Minority Education and Research is an exciting, dynamic one,” she said.

“I feel happy to be named executive director of CLMER,” said Goldenberg, a Seal Beach resident who joined the university in 1994. “I’m pleased about the prospect of getting involved with aspects of work that have implications for educational opportunities for language minority students. In addition, I also think I can bring more of the research focus to CLMER than it has had over the past few years.”

Nguyen-Lam, a member of the university since 1993, also was pleased at her appointment. “It gives me the opportunity to continue to do the community advocacy work that I care deeply about while expanding the research focus of the center,” said the Fountain Valley resident. “The center was established in 1993 as the only center created from the top down with the very clear primary charge of building partnerships with the community in terms of local school districts, community-based organizations, and diverse language, ethnic and racial groups that form the larger part of the university community. We took that charge very seriously.”

CLMER is a university-wide appointed entity affiliated with the College of Education that engages in a wide range of services, projects and research initiatives aimed at the promotion of equity, excellence and justice in schools and society with a focus on traditionally underserved and underrepresented children, families and communities. CLMER services have included professional development and program development for K-12 Two-Way Bilingual Immersion Programs; assessment and assistance for high-priority, low-performing schools; program development and evaluation services for 21st Century Community Learning Centers and Community Technology Centers; alternative certification for pre-service and in-service educators; and professional development, coaching and mentoring in standards- and research-based English Language Development instructional services.

Goldenberg has done research on literacy development among Latino students, home-school connections and educational reform. He is the author of Successful School Change: Creating Settings to Improve Teaching and Learning which was published by Teachers College Press in 2004, the same year he received a Distinguished Faculty Scholarly and Creative Achievement Award. He served for several years as the College of Education’s associate dean. Teacher Education’s Leslie Reese and he recently received a four-year, $2 million award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a project titled “Language and Literacy Development in Mexican Children.” He appears on the PBS program “Becoming Bilingual” currently airing around the country and available on the Web site www.readingrockets.org/tv/bilingual.php. He has an A.B. (Magna Cum Laude in History) from Princeton University and an M.A. in 1982 and a Ph.D. in Early Childhood and Development Studies from UCLA in 1984.

Nguyen-Lam currently directs two federally funded projects working with in-serve teachers of language minority students and preparing highly qualified teachers for high needs urban schools. She also oversees professional development contracts with local school districts working to improve secondary education for the underserved populations including recent contracts with the Inglewood Unified School District to work with Morningside High School for one year. She is a member of the Garden Grove School Board and was appointed recently to the statewide P-16 Council formed by Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. She earned her B.A. in psychology from CSULB in 1980, her M.A. in educational psychology from United States International University in 1983, a second M.A. in Educational Administration from Pepperdine in 1989 and her doctorate from California Institute of Intergrated Studies in San Francisco in 2002.

Nguyen-Lam led the effort in the establishment of the CSU Asian BCLAD Consortium in 1998, a collaborative endeavor among six CSU campuses in the L.A. basin area to prepare bilingual teachers in a number of Asian languages including Mandarin, Korean, Khmer and Vietnamese. She was the president of the National Association for the Education and Advancement of Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese Americans and served on its Board of Directors from 1996-2004.

One of Goldenberg’s goals as executive director is gauging the impact of the center’s projects. “Education has a habit of moving from enthusiasm to enthusiasm,” he said. “We mustn’t confuse activity with effect. Are the people we are trying to serve better off as a result of what we do? I want to answer that question.”

As associate director, Nguyen-Lam wants to strengthen the center’s partnerships with local school districts and community groups. “I want to bring to this campus their voices and perspectives to the many levels of decision making,” she said. “I also want to document the good practices happening in area schools and to share those practices with other schools through research and dissemination.”

(http://www.csulb.edu/misc/inside/archives/vol_57_no_16/e3.htm)

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August 30, 2005

ASIAN AMERICANS FAULT REPORT ON WSU PLAYERS

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Asian American students and community leaders are criticizing a state Human Rights Commission task force report on Washington State University's handling of a student complaint about behavior by two school basketball players.

"I was very disappointed," said Doug Chin, president of the Seattle chapter of the Organization of Chinese Americans.

The report looked at the way the university responded to a complaint in February by WSU student Nina Kim, who worked in the school's Multicultural Center.

She complained that two white male students, part of a group that frequently would pass by her office window, making animal noises and dancing in what she referred to as a monkeylike style.

On one occasion, she said, one of the young men pulled up his eyes in a slant and motioned, "I heart you."

Kim's complaint prompted a Feb. 23 campus march by about 100 students calling for expulsions and better minority recruiting at the university.

A WSU student conduct board found that although the two young men might have engaged in adolescent behavior, there was insufficient evidence to call it harassment under the university's code of conduct. The board also decided the behavior was not racially motivated.

When informed of the complaint, the students apologized, stopped the behavior and expressed surprise that it had been perceived as harassment, the school said.

The rights commission task force report -- released last month -- found that the process the university used to address the conduct was sound but that issues such as communication between students and the university should be addressed.

The report was produced at the request of WSU and was neither an official commission document nor the product of an investigation.

Yvonne Kinoshita Ward, chairwoman of the Washington Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, said she was stunned by the report, adding it made judgments and comments on the people involved.

"It makes comments about the victim supposedly not cooperating," she said. "They're blaming her."

Ward said she's considering scheduling a public hearing or making a recommendation to the governor's office or Legislature for a new outside investigation of the university's handling of the complaint.

Kim said she felt the report unfairly "points a lot of the blame back at me rather than really looking at the larger issues that occur on the campus."

But she added her main issue is with WSU, rather than the two students or the task force report. WSU could have handled the situation more fairly, she said.

Marc Brenman, executive director of the state Human Rights Commission, said the task force report didn't pass judgment, but simply noted facts and made recommendations.

Nadine Shiroma, chairwoman of the Eastside Asian Pacific Islanders, said in a statement that her organization supported the rights commission task force's recommendations, such as diversity training in freshman orientation, although it, too, was concerned that not everyone involved was interviewed.

Sally Savage, the university's vice president for university relations, said the report was helpful for WSU and the school would make changes that would touch on the recommendations, which included a suggestion that harassment and discrimination complaints be handled by the university's Center for Human Rights.

(http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/238568_humanrights30.html)

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August 30, 2005

NAPALC STRESSES NEED FOR CLOSER SCRUTINY OF JOHN ROBERTS’ RECORD ON MINORITIES’ RIGHTS

To: National Desk

Contact: Adlai J. Amor of the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium, 202-296-2300 ext. 135 or aamor@napalc.org

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 /U.S. Newswire/ -- As the Senate begins its confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts on Sept. 6, the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium (NAPALC) calls for the close examination of Roberts' record and rulings on civil rights and liberties.

"The Supreme Court has played a crucial role in upholding the civil rights and liberties of Asian Americans," said Vincent A. Eng, deputy director of NAPALC. "As the community faces new challenges due to 9/11, it is important that we have Supreme Court justices who are committed to upholding the civil rights and liberties of all Americans"

NAPALC's research and reports related to the nomination of justices to the Supreme Court can be found at http://www.napalc.org/SCourt. Included are the "Supreme Court: Frequently Asked Questions" and the recent report, "The Supreme Court Vacancy: What's at Stake for Asian Pacific Americans".

In examining American jurisprudence, NAPALC's report cites how Supreme Court decisions have affected Asian Americans. In 1922, the Supreme Court ruled that Asians could not be U.S. citizens; in 1923, it ruled that Asians could not own land; in 1944, it upheld the internment of Japanese Americans; and in 1974, it ruled that Chinese American students were entitled to bilingual education.

More recent immigration-related cases such as Kim Ho Ma v. Ashcroft (2001) and INS v. St. Cyr (2001) have had a profound impact on the community, as roughly 60 percent of the Asian American population of 14.5 million is foreign-born.

The report also expresses concern about the possible constitutional challenge to the Voting Rights Act if it is re-authorized by 2007. Since its last reauthorization in 1982, certain decisions by the Supreme Court have weakened the landmark act.

"Our democratic constitution ensures that the majority is well protected in the electoral system, but often the only resort for minorities' rights is the Supreme Court," said Aimee J. Baldillo, NAPALC staff attorney and author of the report. "That is why it is critical that any candidate who replaces Justice O'Connor must be committed to respecting minorities' rights and freedoms."

---
The National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium -- http://www.napalc.org -- is a national civil rights organization dedicated to advancing and defending the civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans.

-0-

(http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=52267)

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August 31, 2005

PROPOSED REFUGEE ADMISSIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006 REPORT TO THE CONGRESS

The President of the United States to the Commitees on the Judiciary, United States Senate and United States House of Represenatives in in fulfillment of the requirements of section 207( e) (1)-(7) of the Immigration and Nationality Act

Introduction
This Proposed Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2006: Report to the Congress is submitted in compliance with Section 207(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The Act requires that before the start of the fiscal year and, to the extent possible, at least two weeks prior to consultations on refugee admissions, members of the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives be provided with the following information:

1. A description of the nature of the refugee situation;
2. A description of the number and allocation of the refugees to be admitted and an analysis of conditions within the countries from which they came;
3. A description of the plans for their movement and resettlement and the estimated cost of their movement and resettlement;
4. An analysis of the anticipated social, economic, and demographic impact of their admission to the United States;
5. A description of the extent to which other countries will admit and assist in the resettlement of such refugees;
6. An analysis of the impact of the participation of the United States in the resettlement of such refugees on the foreign policy interests of the United States; and
7. Such additional information as may be appropriate or requested by such members.

In addition, specific reporting required by section 602(d) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-292, Oct. 27, 1998, 112 Stat. 2787) (IRFA) on information about religious persecution of refugee populations eligible for consideration for admission to the United States and section 305(b) of the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-333, Oct. 18, 2004, 118 Stat. 1287) on information about specific measures taken to facilitate access to the United States refugee program for individuals who have fled countries of particular concern for violations of religious freedoms, identified pursuant to section 402(b) of the IRFA, is included in this report.

(http://www.state.gov/g/prm/refadm/rls/rpts/52366.htm)

PDF Report (http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/52475.pdf)

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For Immediate Release
September 1, 2005

Contact: Douglas Lee - Program Manager
dlee@ocanatl.org
202-223-5500

 OCA ANNOUNCES 2005 UPS FOUNDATION GOLD MOUNTAIN SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Washington, DC – OCA, a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States with over 80 chapters and affiliates nationwide, has selected twelve winners to receive the OCA-UPS Foundation Gold Mountain Scholarship.  This scholarship awards AAPI high school students who are the first in their families to attend an institution of higher education.  The scholarship provides $2,000 to each recipient to be used for college expenses.  Select scholarship winners also received an all-expenses paid trip to the OCA National Convention, held this year in Las Vegas, Nevada from July 28-31, paid for by the UPS Foundation.  The scholars who attended the convention were presented with their awards at the Gala Awards Banquet on Saturday, July 30.

The theme of Gold Mountain is based on the hopes and dreams of Asian immigrants to find the mountain of golden opportunity in America.  Seeking to improve the lives of their families, Chinese immigrants left their homeland in search of Gold Mountain.  The twelve OCA-UPS Foundation Gold Mountain Scholars have carried on these hopes by being pioneers in their families to first reach the Gold Mountain of higher education.

“OCA is pleased to work with the UPS Foundation to recognize these students who have taken such a large step towards achieving the American dream,” stated Ginny Gong, OCA National President.  “These students have demonstrated hard work, community involvement, and academic excellence.”

"UPS is proud of its role in building stronger communities by providing opportunities for our youth," says Evern Epps, president of The UPS Foundation and vice president of UPS corporate relations. "Through organizations like OCA, UPS helps qualified students pursue their dreams of a better life through education."

“We congratulate the scholarship recipients on their dedication and perseverance in pursuing a higher education,” stated Sharon Wong, OCA Vice President for Education and Culture.  “OCA, in cooperation with the UPS Foundation, is proud to afford these deserving students a chance to attain a higher education.”

OCA is proud to announce the twelve winners of this year’s OCA-UPS Foundation Gold Mountain Scholarship:

Paul Boupha
Paul Boupha of Las Vegas, NV attended Ed. W Clark High School, where he was enrolled in the Academy of Finance and took classes in business, marketing accounting, and economics. At school, Paul was the president of the Japanese Club, bulletin editor of Key Club, and a member of Future Business Leaders of America as well as other organizations. Paul will be majoring in business management at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Ai-Nhan L. Do
Ai-Nhan  Do attended Pike High School, an International Baccalaureate School in Indianapolis, Indiana. During her high school career, Ai-Nhan was involved in many extracurricular activities including Business Professionals of America, Model United Nations, and the Pre-Med Club. Ai-Nhan was also a Student Ambassador, National Honor Society student, and a hospital volunteer. She plans to study pre-pharmacy at Purdue University this fall.

Nancy Tran Huynh
Nancy Huynh hails from Palacios, Texas, where she was an honors student at Palacios High School. She contributed to the community through volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, Palacios Nursing Home, Relay for Life, and the Palacios Public Library. Nancy was also a member of the Texas Association of Future Educators, Spanish Club, Academic Decathlon, and the Student Council. This fall, Baylor University welcomes Nancy to the class of 2009.

Danica Iglopas
Danica Iglopas is from Tamuning, Guam, where she attended John F. Kennedy High School. Throughout high school, Danica immersed herself in many extracurricular activities, and became the freshman class president, J.F.K. Health Certificate Coordinator, and Senior Class Public Relations Officer. Danica also has an avid interest in the U.S. Peace Corps, and will be studying at Seattle University in Seattle, Washington.

Duc Ngoc Le
Duc Le is from Panama City, Florida, where he was an International Baccalaureate student at Rutherford High School. In his spare time, he was involved in my extracurricular activities including Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish Club, and Student Government Association. Duc also volunteered at St. Dominic Catholic Church