Due to pervasive discrimination and barriers in accessing government services, a group of local Asian American and Pacific Islander community activists met with the Governor in 1971 to examine a broad range of issues facing the AAPI population in the areas of employment, education, social services, community development, immigration, and civil rights.
In January 1972, Governor Dan Evans created The Governor’s Asian Advisory Council by executive order. On February 26, 1974, the 43rd Washington State Legislature formally created The Washington State Commission on Asian American Affairs as a state agency. On April 17, 1995, Governor Mike Lowry signed a bill to change the Commission’s name to The State of Washington Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs to include Pacific Islanders.
Milestone Events (sorted by most recent):
50th Anniversary Golden Celebration
45thAnniversary Photographs by Sam Le
45th Anniversary Event Program Booklet (PDF)
45th Anniversary News Stories:
- “CAPAA Sapphire Celebration” by North American Post (April, 2019)
- “Reynaldo Pascua to receive CAPAA Vanguard Award” by NW Asian Weekly (March 18, 2019)
- “CAPAA observes 45 years of Service” by Seattle Globalist (March 28, 2019)
- “华州亚太美国人事务委员会蓝宝石庆祝活动/WA CAPAA Sapphire Celebration” by YouTube (April, 2019)
- “华州亚太美国人事务委员会举行蓝宝石庆祝活动，田乐乐主持，来辉武发言” by Chinese Radio Seattle (April, 2019)
- “华州亚太美国人事务委员会蓝宝石庆祝活动/WA CAPAA Sapphire Celebration” by BR Plus (April, 2019)
- “CAPAA Sapphire Anniversary Celebration” by NW Asian Weekly (April 22, 2019)
40th Anniversary Event Program Booklet (PDF)
- Greeting messages from President Obama and Governor Jay Inslee
- History of the Commission
- List of Directors, staff, and Commissioners