July, 2011 Issue Subscribe: www.capa-mi.org Editor: Tony Antonio [email protected]

Calendar of Events Message from Public Relation Chair – Angela Wang: http://capami.org/main.php?p=calendar1105 As a Michigan resident for fourteen years, I joined CAPA in 2005. I was born and raised in China and currently hold the chairmanship of Public Relations. My goal is to utilize my Articles Inside: ( Updates ) knowledge, experience and passion to make a positive impact to people’s life by building communication channels in merging culture, to foster global innovative collaborations and to  DINGELL – MAPAAC HONORED AT spread the vision of harmony within the community. I would like to encourage all marketing APIA experts and anyone who believes in uniting not only Asia Pacific Americans but the community at large through culture, education and community service. Please join CAPA and help us reach  APACC – PARTNERSHIP WITH out to more people to better serve our community. REHMANN ROBSON (MBT)

 APIA VOTE DINNER As part of our CAPA family, please come to our July event “ Taste of Asia ” and enjoy the cuisine, culture, and diversity of Asia through an exotic dining experience! The evening will feature  LISTEN , LEARN & LIVE (S UMMER surprise performances and networking. You can tour to each station to taste fine foods from CAMP FOR TEENAGERS ) various Asian countries: Korea ● China ● Philippines ● Japan ● and More! Admission is

 OCA RECEIVES $25,000 GRANT FREE for all CAPA members and $25 for new members. Another upcoming event is CAPA 2011 Statewide Leadership Conference on October 15, 2001 focusing on building bridges and  OBAMA PUSH ON fostering growth between the Asian Pacific American community and other organizations with the goal of bringing about positive social change. We look forward to your attendance and SAVE THE DATE (S) connect with new members. **JULY 16 – TASTE OF ASIA (PACCM) CAPA’s annual ‘Taste of Asia’ set on July 16 at PACCM **A THEMATIC DANCE PRODUCTION CREATED &

CHOREOGRAPHED BY CHAULA THACKER The Council of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA) will hold a cultural event called “Taste of Asia” RENAISSANCE MAN – JULY 30, 2011 @ 7PM (F ORD COMMUNITY PERFORMING CENTER – DEARBORN ) on July 16, 2011 in the PhilippineAmerican Community Center of Michigan (PACCM) at 17356 Northland Park Court, Southfield. ** CHINA CORPS SUMMER CAMP FREE OF CHARGE THIS YEAR FOR CAPA President Arcie Gemino said that “Taste of Asia” is an annual festival that features diverse Asian cuisines and cultures. CAPA members and their guests will be treated to “an MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS afternoon of exotic dining experience” by partaking, among others, favorite dishes that AUGUST 119 , MF, FROM 9 AM TO 3 PM http://www.clas.wayne.edu/unitinner.asp?WebPageID=2277 originated from Korea, China, Philippines and Japan, she said.

**AUGUST 20 – MRS . PHILIPPINES PAGEANT “Taste of Asia” will start at 3 p.m. and will end at 6 p.m. Aside from the food sampling, a special cultural program will be presented, Gemino said. **AAJA NATIONAL CONVENTION TIME TO ENGAGE AUGUST 1013, 2011 Amy Khoeler, chairperson of CAPA’s membership committee, said nonCAPA members are DETROIT MARRIOTT AT RENAISSANCE CENTER & welcomed to join the festive event but they would be asked to pay each $25, which would be COBO CENTER , DETROIT , MI applied as payment of the fee for lifetime membership of CAPA.

**DETROIT CONCERT OF COLORS Membership privileges include participation in future CAPA taste fests and other important GREAT LAKES TAIKO CENTER - RAION TAIKO (SOE PERFORMER ) events, Khoeler said. SATURDAY , JULY 16 — 4:30 PM 6:00 PM ORCHESTRA HALL , DETROIT Those intending to join the event are asked to make reservations on or before July 11. 3711 WOODWARD AVE . For further information, interested individuals or groups may call Arcie Gemino at tel. 586 DETROIT , MICHIGAN 9549711 or email Amy Khoeler at amykhoeler@capami.org.

SOE 2012 Connections – What is next? On behalf of the Board, CAPA Preside nt & the Cultural Production we are excited to release … Staying In-Touch 2012 Splendor of the East Theme *2012 Theme Release* "TRIBUTE TO MOTHER EARTH"

A Three Part Sequel (PART I OF THE SEQUEL )

CASTING CALL IN OCTOBER Next year's theme is the start of a three part sequel for 2012 - 2014 Casting Call is scheduled in October (date - tbd) 2011 VIDEO IS AVAILABLE ($10) Contact Bob Riparip: [email protected] Presentations must fit into the SOE 2012 theme. We look forward to your participation. WE ARE LOOKING TO CAST NEW TALENTS! Shared 2011 SOE Photos Follow the Link Qualified and Committed Singer, Dancer, Instrumental Player & Actor come to the casting call

Cultural http://capami.blogs.com/photos/soe2011/ We promote diversity and encourage cross-training between cultural groups & individual VIP Reception http://capami.blogs.com/photos/soe2011vip/ After glow http://capami.blogs.com/photos/soe2011afterglow/ performers. Choreographers & Performers who are interested, contact SOE Production Chair troy@capami.org http://www.flickr.com/photos/jawa_photo/collections /72157626670497226/ Theme synopsis see the last page of Enews

Dingell, MAPAAC honored at She said there are 293,766 Asian 9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Q & A and APIA Vote-Michigan’s dinner Americans and Native Hawaiians and Networking event Pacific Islanders in Michigan. “The rapid Complimentary Admission Advance growth of the APIA community presents a Reservation Required Due to Limited Seating US Congressman John Dingell unique opportunity to all of us,” she also Registration please call 248-844-4100 (Michigan), an outstanding young man said. and the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC) were She reported that this month, “we are APIA Vote dinner honored last June 24 at the First APIA launching a groundbreaking community VoteMichigan Annual Dinner held in the Asian-Americans’ role in national needs assessment project for the Asian Troy Marriott Hotel in Troy. US politics is minimal, says NALP American community in Southeast founder Michigan. APIA Vote Michigan President Stephanie Chang said Congressman Dingell was APIA Vote speaker seeks a more honored with the Legislative Champion This is being done in collaboration with Award, while Mohammed Ashraf, a Wayne State University’s Center for representative Congress young man, received the Rising Star Urban Studies. Sayu Bhojwani, founding executive Award. director of the New American Leaders “Our hope is to learn about the Project (NALP), said there is pride and MAPAAC headed by Commissioner Sook education, employment, great feeling of acceptance in knowing Wilkinson was be presented the that Asian and Pacific Islander Advocacy Award. immigration/citizenship and civic Americans (APIAs) are being participation needs of our community "Building Community: Empowering APIA and use this information to not only acknowledged as integral members of the Voices" was the theme of the fund develop a policy guide but also to inform mainstream American society. raising event whose proceeds are to be the future work of our organization,” used to fund APIA VoteMichigan’s Chang said. Delivering the keynote speech at APIA advocacy programs. VoteMichigan’s first annual dinner held She expressed enthusiasm over “our new on June 24, 2011 at the Troy Marriott Sayu Bhojwani, founding executive partnership with the New American Hotel in Troy, Bhojwani said that she felt director of the New American Leaders pride and joy when she attended, Project (NALP), was the keynote speaker. Leaders Project (NALP).” together with few other AsianAmerican Ms. Bhojwani served as the New York ______leaders, a recent event in the White City's first commissioner of Immigrant House that marked the observance of Affairs under Mayor Bloomberg. She APACC in partnership with AsianAmerican Heritage Month. formed the South Asian Youth Action Rehmann Robson present (SAYA), which is tasked to develop the The event means that APIAs are being leadership potentials of immigrant youth Michigan's New Corporate Income Tax welcomed and embraced as citizens of in , New York. Seminar America, she said.

Frank Witzil emceed the event. He works Wednesday, July 13, 2011 for the Detroit Free Press’s web desk and Bhojwani, who was ’s first 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. immigrant affairs commissioner under is a member of the governing board of Rehmann Robson Troy Office Mayor Michael Bloomberg, recalled past the AsianAmerican Journalists 5750 New King Street, Suite 200, Troy, Association. MI incidents in which she felt that mainstream American society does not APIA VoteMichigan is a nonpartisan, The repeal of the Michigan Business Tax welcome and accept immigrants from nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that (MBT) includes many changes that affect Asia. serves the Asian Pacific Islander both businesses and individuals. Join us American community through for a discussion on the new Michigan C participation, advocacy and education. It One such incident happened to her a few corporation income tax (MCIT), changes days after she was appointed as New aims to empower Asian and Pacific being made to the Michigan individual York City’s immigrant affairs Islander American people to become fully income tax (including the tax on pension engaged in addressing community issues. income and elimination of certain commissioner, said Bhojwani, who is of individual income credits), as well as Indian descent and who grew up in In her message, APIA VoteMichigan flowthrough reporting. , Central America. President Chang said that the APIA community grew faster in population 7:30 a.m. 8:00 a.m. Checkin, She recalled that on her way to City Hall than any other group in Michigan from Continental Breakfast, Networking aboard a subway train, another 2000 to 2010, noting that the increase 8:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Presentation by passenger accosted her and asked if she was 34.9 percent. Rehmann Robson's Principals could speak English. The euphoric sense in the registration of almost 1,000 APIA presentation (dance, etc.) to enhance of accomplishments and acceptance she voters in 2008; sending through the mail verbal presentation. had been feeling as a result of her City of 10,000 “Get Out and Vote” letters in Hall appointment vanished when she 2008; holding of four voters education Rev. Michail T. Curro, Executive Director Interfaith Center for Racial Justice (ICRJ) realized the implication of the incident, events; mobilization of 1,000 electionday (586) 5300501 (cell) she said. volunteers; and participation in the * [email protected] conduct of the decennial census in 2010. It implied that because she belongs to a ______minority ethnic group, she was not fully She likewise thanked the event’s major accepted as an American, she said. “This sponsors which included Comcast, Miller OCA receives $25,000 grant feeling of not being accepted and Canfield, DTE Energy and Michigan from Comcast Foundation welcomed sometimes interferes in our Roundtable. ability to participate in public affairs,” WASHINGTON, D.C. OCA, a national organization dedicated to advancing the she also said. State Senator HoonYung Hopgood, who social, political and economic wellbeing also spoke at the event, lauded APIA of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs), Bhojwani said that the participation of VoteMichigan for its accomplishments announced it received a $25,000 grant in the political process since it was formed in 2007. He said that from the Comcast Foundation. is still minimal, noting that there are the first APIA VoteMichigan annual only 10 Asian Americans who are dinner is significant as it came in the The grant will be utilized in 2011 to incumbent members of the US House of heels of a Census Bureau report that the support OCA's goals of education and Representatives. This is a very small population of APIAs in Michigan has leadership by funding OCA's Internship Program. number compared to the total number of increased to 230,000.

Asian Americans all over the US, she “With the generous support given by the said. “In California alone, there are Willie Dechavez and Ahmar Iqbal, co Comcast Foundation for the 2011 almost one million AsianAmerican chairpersons of the event, expressed Internship Program, OCA will be able to voters,” she said. their gratitude to those who in one way expand its ongoing programs and or another helped in the planning and continue to educate, organize, and serve She encouraged the members of the preparations of APIA Vote Michigan’s its constituency comprised of APAs, audience to go out and vote when there first annual dinner. youth, and the communities that need the most assistance,” said Ken Lee, OCA is election. The goal, she said, is to national president. ______establish a more responsive and representative government. Established in 1989, the OCA Internship

Program has grown into a yearround Listen, Learn, & Live (LLL) Bhojwani said the NALP, which she had program benefiting over 20 founded, conducts training on leadership Summer Camp for Teenagers undergraduates each year. OCA has for secondgeneration AsianAmericans, provided internship opportunities to over We are looking for five primary things to noting that it is the only national 400 APA college students to learn about partner with the communities to help our public policy issues that are affecting the organization of its kind. LLL Summer Camp succeed, they are: APA community as well as leadership development tools, including networking She was introduced by Hamtramck City1. four (4) to five (5) Filipino and workforce development. Councilman Kazi Miah, who said he is teenagers (ages 1215) who will one of the beneficiaries of NALP’s participate in the camp; leadershiptraining program. With NALP,2. OCA interns are placed in congressional offices, federal agencies, the OCA Miah said, “you (Bhojwani) will make a3. sponsorship of participating teens (either just communication with National Center and other prominent lot of difference in the lives of young those participating to insure that they nonprofit organizations for 10 weeks. people.” participate daily and/or financial assistance with their camp fees); In 2010, OCA placed 26 interns at In her speech, APIA VoteMichigan4. positions that included the Speaker of President Stephanie Chang also praised5. a college aged person (or young the House, the Minority Business Bhojwani for her achievements. She leader) from the Filipino who will provide Development Agency, and the White announced that NALP and APIA Vote a 90 minuteto 2 hour lecture on House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islander. This year, OCA will be Michigan have forged a partnership that Filipino History, Immigration to America, and Culture; welcoming 24 students to the summer will implement a joint project. ; internship class. 6. lunch for 35 to 50 people Chang also reported APIA Vote providing participants a "taste of the “Comcast’s commitment to diversity and Michigan’s various accomplishments Philippines"; and perhaps a cultural to the communities we serve is an which included a campaign that resulted important part of our dayto day culture.

We are very pleased to be able to partner It was noted, however, that the members He said the President has an “immense with OCA to help deliver its mission and of the House of Representatives, who and broad power” to issue an executive goals that impact the community in a overwhelmingly passed the DREAM Act order. He said 22 senators, including positive and real way. We look forward to last December, are no longer there to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Sen. a year of growth for OCA and our support it. Durbin and Sen. Patrick Leahy, partnership in 2011 and beyond,” said chairman of the Senate judiciary Johnnie Giles, executive director of The proposed legislation, S. 952, would committee , had written President Obama, external affairs of Comcast Corporation grant conditional. permanent resident telling him that he can stop deportation and vice president of external affairs for status to children of illegal aliens who of “dreamers,” by using his "prosecutorial Comcast Cable. came to the under 15 discretion and granting them deferred years old, had been in the US in the last action with work permits until US The Comcast Foundation was founded by five years, have not committed any Congress settles the immigration issue." Comcast Corp. in June 1999 to provide offense under Federal or State Law charitable support to qualified nonprofit punishable by maximum of more than Last June 22, Senator Leahy joined organizations. one year or three offenses on different Senators Robert Menendez (DNJ), Reid, dates and imprisonment of 90 days or Durbin, Chuck Schumer (DNY), John more and completed high school Kerry (DMass.) and Kirsten Gillibrand The Foundation primarily invests in education or GED or joined the military (DNY) in reintroducing a comprehensive programs intended to have a positive, for two years and honorably discharged. immigration reform bill aimed at sustainable impact on the Douglas G. Rivlin, press secretary of addressing the broken immigration communities. It has three community Congressman Gutierrez (Dem.IL4th ), system with “tough, smart, and fair investment priorities — promoting told this reporter in an interview that of measures.” community service, expanding digital the 208 Democrats in the House who literacy and building tomorrow’s voted for the DREAM Act last December, These are expected to strengthen border leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast only 198 remain. Of the eight security, enhance worksite enforcement Foundation has donated more than $90 Republicans, who favored the bill, only of immigration laws and require that the million to organizations in the four remain. It needs 218 votes to get a estimated 11 million undocumented communities nationwide that Comcast simple majority for a legislation to pass immigrants present in the US register serves. in the House. with the government, pay their taxes, ______learn English, pay a fine, pass a In the Senate, of 58 Democrats, who background check and wait in line for Obama asked to use his executive voted last December, 52 remain but five permanent resident status. of them were against the DREAM Act. power to push immigration Supermajority votes of 60 are needed to But Gutierrez reported that Rep. Lamar reforms pass a bill in the Senate without debate. Smith (Rep.TX21st), House judiciary committee chair, is introducing a CHICAGO – From “Yes, We Can” to “Yes, In effect, the DREAM Act that was re “legislation that would take away You Can.” introduced in the US Senate by Assistant executive prerogative from President Majority Leader Dick Durbin (Dem.IL) Obama on matters of immigration This slogan resonated at the “Unity last May 11 with 34 cosponsors is now legislation while President Obama is in Rally” held last June 30 at Chicago’s dead in the water. office.” Gutierrez said (it) is the same near southwest side as advocates had (bromide) that he (President Obama) grown frustrated over the failure of the Mr. Gutierrez presented two families can’t be president, can’t be trusted, not a US Congress to pass the DREAM Act. during the rally, whose members were Christian and not qualified.” deported. Because he was able to make a The snailpace action on the proposed case to the Department of Homeland ______legislation prompted Jose Antonio Vargas, Security (DHS) that the families be re a Filipino Pulitzer Prize winner, to come united, the DHS used its discretion to let out in the open and confess he is an the family members return to the United undocumented immigrant. States without waiting for 10 years.

It was the culmination of Gutierrez’s 23 In an interview, Congressman Luis V. city tour during which he appealed to th Gutierrez (Dem.IL4 ) told this reporter President Obama to “stop deporting that Vargas is “very courageous, brave, DREAMqualified students, stop and his story is compelling. I thank him separation of families, and reform Secure for coming forward. He showed that in Communities" procedures. America, wherever you look, there could be a likelihood that you care for someone “If the US government allowed these two or worked with illegal immigrants, who families to be reunited, President Barack are not criminals but Pulitzer Prize Obama can do these to the millions winners. I’m thankful for him and we similarly situated,” Gutierrez said. owe him a great deal of gratitude.”

Do not forget to check out the 2011 SOE photos! Stay connected – subscribe to En ews

Please visit the website: www.capa-mi.org for more information Public Relations/Media Contact, Angela Wang at [email protected]

Join CAPA sponsorship Phil Chan (Fund(Fund----RaisingRaising Chairman) Email: phil@[email protected]

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan*Chrysan Industries, Inc.*Comcast*DMC - Huron Valley Sinai Hospital* Michigan School of Professional Psychology*Oakland University*State Farm Insurance Friends of CAPA: Ernestina Mac, M.D., Jessica Fitzgerald, Lake Shore Engineering, Logic Solutions Please send us articles and/or events you would like to share. Send email to: troy@capami.org