Strengthening and Advocating for Asian American Native Hawai‘ian/ Pacific Islander Communities CALIFORNIA COMMissiON ON ASIAN AND PaciFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN AFFAIRS 2012 ANNUAL REPORT Message from the Chair: BLONG XIONG GOVERNOR EDMUND G. BROWN, JR., MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT STATE OF CALIFORNIA: On behalf of the dedicated citizens who serve on the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs, I am honored to present to you this report of the Commission’s 2012 activities. Since our establishment in 2002, our goal has been to give voice to California’s vibrant, highly diverse, and continually-growing Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) communities. We bring public officials together with community-based and civic organizations that devote their mission and programs to the needs of their APIA constituents. The highlights in this report provide a summary of the breadth of the Commission’s activities. This year’s report also includes an historical review of the issues that the Commission has focused on over the years, since our inception a decade ago. We also pay tribute to the past appointed commissioners who served during the years since operations began in 2004. Last year was a period of change as we acknowledged the great public service of Assemblymember Warren Furutani, who retired from office. During his tenure as a state legislator, he was a moving force for the Commission and our goal to strengthen APIA communities. There was a change in Commission membership as well, with Tami Bui, Courtni Pugh, Alice Wong, and Bill Wong stepping down. We welcomed three vital new members: Judi Ki, Steven Ma, and Chiem-Seng Yaangh. The distinguished members of the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus have been essential to our work. We are extremely grateful to Assemblymembers Paul Fong and Das Williams, Caucus chair and vice chair, respectively; Assemblymembers Mike Eng, Paul Fong, Warren Furutani, Mary Hayashi, Ted Lieu, Fiona Ma, Alberto Torrico, and Mariko Yamada; Senators Leland Yee and Carol Liu; and honorary members Controller John Chiang and Board of Equalization member Betty Yee. In 2012, we welcomed new APIA legislators in the State Assembly: Rob Bonta, Al Muratsuchi, Ed Chau, and Phil Ting. Andrew Medina provided support for the Commission in 2012, and Diane Ujiiye, past founding commissioner and executive director of APIsCAN, continues to guide us with her expertise, resources, and insight. Special Services for Groups serves as our fiscal sponsor. We are grateful for the stability and continuity they bring to the Commission. And importantly, we thank former Assemblymember George Nakano, who authored Assembly Bill 116, the legislation that created our Commission in 2002. His vision a decade ago enabled APIA affairs to be heard on a statewide policy level. Commissioner Blong Xiong, Chair Mission The mission of the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs is to elevate the political, economic, and social issues of Asians and Pacific Islanders by contributing to and strengthening how state government addresses the needs, issues, and concerns of the diverse and complex Asian and Pacific Islander American communities in California. ROLE OF THE COMMission The role of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs is to: • Advise the Governor and Legislature on how to respond most effectively to the views, needs, and concerns of the state’s Asian and Pacific Islander American communities. • Serve as an effective liaison for Asian and Pacific Islander American communities with the Governor’s Office and the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus. • Examine issues of access and cultural language sensitivity by state agencies, departments, and commissions. • Provide assistance to policy makers and state agencies in identifying Asian and Pacific Islander American communities’ needs and issues and develop appropriate responses and programs. • Educate the public about hate crimes against Asian and Pacific Islander American communities. Cover photos (l-r): Iu Mien New Year celebration in Sacramento (Immien.com), Vincent Chin 30th Anniversary event in Los Angeles, Hmong immersion program in the Sacramento City Unified School District. 2012 Activities: HIGHLIGHTS n 2012 IU-MIEN NEW YEAR Celebration national political campaign committees and members of There are approximately 50,000 Mien in the U.S., with Congress. Since its inception in 1999, more than 90 APIA 15,000 Mien living in Sacramento, making this city home elected officials have participated in the academy. to the largest population of Mien refugees in the U.S. It is n no wonder that PRESIDENT’S ADvisory COMMission ON ASIAN AMERICANS AND Pacific ISLANDERS the Iu Mien New At the invitation of Daphne Year event in Kwok, chair of the national Sacramento President’s Advisory Commission hosted by the on AAPIs, Commissioners Tana United Iu-Mien Lepule and Dianne Yamashiro-Omi Community, Inc. attended the first convening of drew a crowd of state and more than 800 Commissioner Dianne Yamashiro-Omi in local APIA celebrants on Washington, DC, for commission- Commissioner Chiem-Seng Yaangh (l) and February 25. the convening of ers from Mayor Kevin Johnson at the Iu-Mien New Year Commissioner state and local APIA Celebration in Sacramento. (photo: immien.com) commissioners. throughout Chiem-Seng the country at the White House on May 9. Kiran Ahuja, Yaangh was an honored guest, representing both the executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Commission and his position as United Iu-Mien Communi- Americans and Pacific Islanders, orchestrated a full day of ty’s board president. In attendance were APIA leaders and briefings and updates on key policy issues towards the public officials, including Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. goal of coordinating federal efforts with state and local Dr. Yaangh welcomed the attendees and spoke about the work. Commissioners took the opportunity to share their importance of a united Mien community as acculturation histories and current challenges, discussing grassroots in American society takes place at a rapid rate. efforts to serve APIA communities. Commissioner Lepule n 20TH Anniversary OF THE L.A. Riots was instrumental in organizing representatives from the Events were held on Sunday, April 29, throughout the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community. At the Los Angeles region to remember the 1992 riots that convening, he engulfed Los Angeles after four police officers were and Richard acquitted of the beating of Rodney King, a black motorist, Calvin Chang, at the end of a car chase. A nearby resident captured the board member 1991 beating on video and when it aired on the nightly of Empowering news, the footage transfixed a nation. Nearly 13 months Pacific Islander later, on April 29, 1992, rioters took over the streets for Communities, three days, with more than 50 people dead, scores offered the hospitalized, and hundreds of businesses and homes “Policy Plat- destroyed. Commissioner Mimi Song attended the com- form Blueprint for Native NHPI leaders presented the “Policy Platform memoration sponsored by Korean Churches for Communi- Blueprint for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Hawaiians and ty Development. Speakers included Mayor Antonio Islanders in the U.S.” at the convening. Villaraigosa, Controller John Chiang, environmental Pacific Island- Commissioner Tana Lepule is in the lower right. activist Van Jones, and actor Edward James Olmos. ers in the United States” to set the foundation for a national advocacy effort for NHPIs in the U.S. n ASIAN Pacific AMERICAN InstitUTE FOR Congressional STUDIES (APAICS) National n API SUMMIT, SacraMento (DIANE Ujiiye) LEADERSHIP ACADEMY Text forthcoming for 2012 API Summit in Sacramento In conjunction with the National Asian Pacific Ameri- on Apirl 30 and May 1. can Caucus of State Legislators and the Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials, the APAICS National Leader- ship Academy was held May 6-7 in Washington, DC. Commissioner Chiem-Yeng Yaangh became the first Iu-Mien American participant, attending as an APIA commissioner. The two-day academy provides APIA elected and appointed officials with intensive nonpartisan training to excel in their field, both in their current office and in preparation for opportunities to advance into higher office. The program includes specialized training sessions, networking opportunities, and meetings with 2012 Activities: HIGHLIGHTS n 30TH Anniversary OF VINCENT CHIN Hate n 2012 CANDIDates FORUM, SAN DIEGO CRIME INCIDENT Commissioner Judy Ki With the advent of the 30th anniversary of Vincent moderated the 2012 Chin’s murder, the Commission voted unanimously to Candidates Forum spon- support the events commemorating a dark passage in sored by Asian Pacific Asian American history. Islander American Public Affairs Association’s San Vincent Chin 30: Standing Up Then and Now Diego Chapter (APA- Commissioner Noel Alumit represented the Commis- PA-CDC) and Civic Educa- sion at the June 23 viewing of “Vincent Chin 30: Standing tion and Policy Advocacy Up Then and Network (CEPA NET). CEPA Commissioner Judy Ki moderating a candidates forum in San Diego. Now” at the NET is a project spearhead- National Center ed by the Council of Philippine American Organizations for the Preser- (COPAO) and the Southwest Center of Asian Pacific vation of American Law (SCAPAL) built on the success in redistrict- Democracy ing at the state level. At the On September 8 event, (Japanese Congressional, state, and San Diego mayoral candidates American Na- discussed the issues and their positions to a crowd of tional Museum) interested citizens. in Los Angeles. n Among the NINTH ANNUAL ASIAN Heritage AWARDS Vincent Chin 30 panelists for the afternoon were Community, business, and government leaders from coordinator Curtis throughout Southern California celebrated APIA achieve- Chin (no relation) Congressmember Judy Chu, chair of with Commissioner the Congressional Asian Pacific Ameri- ments at the 9th annual Asian Heritage Awards on Noel Alumit. can Caucus; Council on American-Is- September 15 in lamic Relations-SF executive director Zahra Billoo; OCA San Diego.