• APA commission celebrates 40 years – NW Asian Weekly

    04/25/2014
    The Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) will bring together youth, community leaders, elected officials, and commissioners to celebrate its 40th anniversary on May 15, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in SeaTac (formerly the Holiday Inn), at 17338 International Blvd. The anniversary event will honor the commission’s legacy, accomplishments, and vision for the future through performances, storytelling, and youth voices. Lori Matsukawa of King 5 News will emcee the event, which will feature Gov. Jay Inslee and performances by the Filipino Youth Activities Drill Team… Read more

  • 40 years with CAPAA: APIs flex political muscle for change – International Examiner

    04/08/2014
    By Amy Van and Jintana LityouvongIE Guest Columnists David Della was a teenager when he began working summers in Alaska at a fishing cannery. The canneries were a livelihood for many Filipino American families at the time, as well as other Asian American families. For Della, it was not only a summer job, but became the place where Della developed his passion for social justice. Della noticed blatant practices of discrimination at the canneries. “There was segregation in the bunks as well as the cafeteria,” he said of the unfair treatment. “We had separate food, they [white workers] had… Read more

  • Lori Wada appointed to the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs

    04/02/2014
    Governor Jay Inslee recently announced Lori Wada as commissioner to the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA). Wada has more than two decades of public service experience in support of affordable housing and health care equity initiatives. She currently serves as an Operations Supervisor for the Office of Insurance Commissioner. Wada provides consultation and training on the most up to date health insurance benefits, options, enrollments, and eligibility requirements. Previously, she worked at the Department of Commerce and the State Lottery Commission. Wada… Read more

  • 40 Years With CAPAA: First API state commission gets to work – International Examiner

    03/19/2014
    By Amy Van and Jintana LityouvongIE Guest Columnists There was an “Asian Pacific American mentality” that Pio DeCano had grown up with, and it shows in his junior high school picture. “If you just look at my junior high school picture, there were [Japanese American] kids that had grown up in the concentration camps. There were Chinese Americans,” he said. “We all had different ethnic groups. There was the same kind of discrimination in the 40s, the 50s, and 60s the earlier generations have suffered through so there was a kind of common bond between us.” Martin (Mitch) Matsudaira similarly… Read more