Here is a comprehensive report of CAPAA Commissioners’ activities between the months of September through November 2015:

Commissioner Cabusao
Date of Activity: October 7, 2015
Activity: Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC)-Yakima Civic Engagement Leadership Orientation
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? No.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? APIs in the Yakima Valley are “A Minority Within A Minority” and yet APIs have the second largest immigration statistics in the State of Washington.   Out of 354,000 API eligible voters, only 60,000 are registered and actually vote.  Getting our API’s registered to vote and then actually voting was discussed by the group.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Participated in a group discussion on how we can be leaders in engaging our API community to become registered voters and the significance of voting as a right so their voices can be heard and also exercise their civic duty.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: October 10, 2015
Activity: Filipino American History Month Celebration by the Filipino Community Alliance
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Read a signed copy by Gov. Inslee designating October as Filipino American History Month before the audience and later handed said copy to Tacoma mayor, Marilyn Strickland.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? The Filipino Community Alliance along with other Filipino American organizations would like to get more involved and increase their participation in multi-cultural activities around the state.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? No.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: October 17, 2015
Activity: Washington State Coalition for Language Access (WASCLA)
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? No.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Improving language access, compassion fatigue that exists among interpreters that may affect their health and ability to serve their clients.  Therefore, interpreters need to also focus on caring for themselves to heal from compassion fatigue or avoid it altogether.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? A brief overview of CAPAA was presented to the coalition.  Information presented to the group will help them better understand who we are, what we do and how we can work together to ensure access to the numerous services that are available in the state with a diverse culture.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: October 29, 2015
Activity: APIC Yakima Evening Ballot Party
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? No.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Transportation issues, downtown development, city labor issues, parks and recreation/quality of life and community integration were discussed.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Election initiatives were explained to the group to increase their awareness on issues and initiatives that are included in November election, therefore helping to them to become informed voters.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.

Other activities:

  • October 25: Filipino American Community of Yakima Valley Annual Harvest Dinner
  • November 7: Filipino American Community of Seattle 80th Anniversary Gala
Commissioner Dickinson
Date of Activity: See below.
Activity:
  • Ongoing: Assisting API group in Spokane with the planning and formation of an API business group in Spokane.
  • September 25: Attended GP Solo Difference Makers Award Luncheon in Boston as part of the Awards Committee.  We awarded Paul W. Lee one of the Difference Maker Awards – he has been a leader in NAPABA (National Asian Pacific American Bar Association), formed Asian American Lawyers of Massachusetts (AALAM) and has served countless other public service organizations.
  • September 26: Attended GP Solo Diversity Committee Meeting in Boston, mentored new GP Solo Diversity Fellow and new Law Student in the Section.
  • October 3: Attended Legal Voice Gala in Seattle.  Legal Voice is an organization that advocates for legal rights of women, including a mission of eradicating discrimination and ending gender-based violence that can disparately impact immigrant women.
  • October 5: Attended Judges of Color reception in Seattle at the American Judges’ Association Annual Conference and Washington State Judges’ Conference.  Honored Judges and Justices of Color nationwide.
  • October 9: Attended Minority and Justice Commission Meeting in Seattle.  The Minority and Justice Commission works to identify and eradicate the effects of racial, ethnic, and cultural bias in our state court system.
  • October 16: Attended Ethics and Professionalism Meeting in Scottsdale as Chair Elect and the Diversity Reception for American Bar Association TIPS (Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section) during its Fall Leadership Meeting.
  • October 23: Asian Bar Association of Washington annual Gala and Scholarship Awards – Gave speech as President of the Association, we awarded five scholarships totaling $14,000.00 to API law students. Attended and presided over monthly board meetings.
  • October 27: DNC AAPI Training – Attended training to encourage minority representatives to participate in the delegate process in their states.
  • October 5-8: Attended NAPABA (National Asian Pacific American Bar Association) Annual Meeting in New Orleans as Affiliate President.
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? No.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? N/A
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? N/A
Were you representing CAPAA? Did not attend events on behalf of CAPAA, but represented CAPAA while there.
Commissioner Dinh
Date of Activity: October 10, 2015
Activity: Attend Candidates Roundtable with Coalition of  Vietnamese Americans for Civic Engagement
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Handed out CAPAA businesses cards.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Overall, attendees and some community leaders were not familiar with CAPAA.  Some of the community leaders were eager to connect but were unsure of how to collaborate with CAPAA.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Individually talked with some of the attendees and informed them about CAPAA.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: October 12, 2015
Activity: Meeting with Linh Thai (lead organizer of CVACE, legislative aid for Congressman Adam Smith)
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Handed out CAPAA businesses cards.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Discussed ways that CAPAA could better outreach to AAPI communities, issues and challenges that the Vietnamese community faces and ways CAPAA can collaborate with existing community work and initiatives.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? No.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: October 24, 2015
Activity: Attend the University of Washington Vietnamese Student Association Banh Mi Fund Run
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Handed out CAPAA businesses cards.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Young people do not know how to get involve with community.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Introduce self to the community and them of the purpose of CAPAA.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: November 13, 2015
Activity: Mental Health Workshop at South Seattle College
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Handed out CAPAA business cards.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Provided a workshop for faculty and staff to demystify mental health among students in higher education.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Led a presentation called “Mental Health 101: Myths and Stereotypes”
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.

Other activities:

  • Review AAPI community surveys
  • Scheduling in-person meetings with various ethnic leaders
Commissioner Finau
To be announced.
Commissioner Gaur
Date of Activity: September 24, 2015
Activity: IAWW community lunch (at North Bellevue Community Center)
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Distributed materials from CAPAA to IAWW seniors, IAWW community Center Committee and shared the meeting information.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Community center committee was very interested in talking to the Korean Women’s Association.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Yes, I provided a summary of the CAPAA board meeting There is a great interest in connecting with CAPAA to collaborate with various community activities and having mental health conversations at IAWW regularly.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: October 4, 2015
Activity: IAWW board meeting
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Yes, gave a brief overview of the CAPAA board meeting.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Board requested that I communicate with KWA to repeat the presentation given to CAPAA.  Board also expressed interest to work with CAPAA and asked me how and on what issues we can collaborate.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Yes.
Were you representing CAPAA? Both IAWW and CAPAA.

Other activities:

  • October 15, 2015: Dasara (Indian festival) Celebration by IAWW
  • November 1, 2015: IAWW board meeting – IAWW board encouraged collaboration opportunities with CAPAA.
  • November 5, 2015: Diwali Lunch at NBCC organized by IAWW—attended as IAWW board member.
Commissioner Gurung
Date of Activity: November 1, 2015
Activity: Nepal Seattle Society meeting—transitioned the previous committee with the incoming committee leaders.
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? No.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Fundraised for Nepal earthquake victims and discussed ongoing community responsibilities for the Society.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? N/A
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.

Other activities:

  • October 25, 2015: Represented CAPAA at the Nepali Dashai Festival in Shoreline, which is the biggest festival of Nepal and features Nepali artists.
  • November 7, 2015: Attended Hmong New Year Celebration and represented CAPAA.
  • November 7, 2015: Attended the music album release from a popular singer in the Nepalese and Bhutanese communities in Seattle.
  • Ongoing discussion with family, friends, community, and parents about the responsibilities and guidelines of raising our children.
Commissioner Khamshitsang
Date of Activity: October 3, 2015
Activity: Monthly Tibetan Community Meeting
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Yes, distributed marijuana education and preventing underage use materials.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? The community felt that they should be better educated on edibles and the different forms that marijuana comes in.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? It is my ongoing process to ask community members to participate more actively.
Were you representing CAPAA? No.
Date of Activity: November 9, 2015
Activity: Informed community members about the Governor’s stance on WA sick leave
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Forwarded the email received from the Governor with my message of support.

 
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? N/A
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? No.
Were you representing CAPAA? Mentioned being a Commissioner and expressed my support.

Other activities:

  • October 24, 2015: Annual Tibetan Language and Cultural Class Dinner
Commissioner Pen
Date of Activity: See below.
Activity: Provided presentations on “Residential Burglary Prevention Tips & Strategies.”

  • October 9: Presented to 20 Samoan seniors
  • October 12: Presented to 82 Vietnamese seniors (with Vietnamese interpreter)
  • October 13: Presented to 107 Cambodian seniors
  • October 14: Presented to 153 Korean seniors (with Korean interpreter)
  • October 15: Presented to 65 Filipino, Chinese, and Japanese seniors
  • October 16: Presented to 20 Samoan seniors
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Handed out detailed information about “Residential Burglary Prevention Tips & Strategies” which included images.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Residents were thankful that I share important information and useful tips with them each month.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Explained about the most common ways a burglar can enter a home and handed out the information on “Residential Burglary Prevention Tips & Strategies.”
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: See below.
Activity: Provided presentations about “If you suspect a gas leak” & “Call before you dig.”

  • November 9: Presented to 93 Vietnamese seniors (with Vietnamese interpreter)
  • November 10: Presented to 110 Cambodian seniors
  • November 12: Presented to 78 Filipino, Chinese, and Japanese seniors
  • November 13: Presented to 24 Samoan seniors
  • November 18: Presented to 168 Korean seniors (with Korean interpreter)
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Handed out detailed information in their own languages which included pictures.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Residents were thankful that I share important information and useful tips with them each month.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Explained why it is so importance that residents call 811 before digging and what to do when resident suspects a gas leak.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: November 12, 2015
Activity: The WA State Liquor and Cannabis Board public meeting on new marijuana legislation
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? No.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? The prevention and public health stakeholders expressed their concern that they don’t have funding that could help them on expanding their community mobilization and outreach to Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities in their areas. They recommended that WSLCB’s media campaign be redone with more pictures for those who can’t read and to shorten the wording in API languages.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? I will continue working with them when their next gathering is scheduled.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.

Other activities:

  • October 7, 2015: Attended CAPAA Health and Human Services Committee meeting
Commissioner Sinclair
Date of Activity: See below.
Activity:
  • Pacific Islander Health Board: As co-chair, helped host a community meeting on October 7, 2015.
  • Asia Pacific Cultural Center:
    • Helping to plan the APCC 20th Anniversary event to be held on November 3, 2016
    • Assisting APCC with a Wahine Fitness program
  • Grants:
    • Writing a grant to the National Institutes of Health to develop an intervention for hypertension management among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Western Washington.
    • Received a $10,000 grant to conduct focus groups/interviews with Pacific Islander men regarding facilitators and barriers to healthy eating, exercise, and weight loss.
    • 2015-2020: Will be conducting a research study to evaluate the effects of hula on blood pressure among Native Hawaiians with physician-diagnosed hypertension that is uncontrolled.
    • Preparing a grant to develop, implement and evaluate a culturally tailored diabetes self-management intervention with Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the Puget Sound region.
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? No.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? N/A
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? N/A
Were you representing CAPAA? N/A
Commissioner Tufono
Date of Activity: See below.
Activity:
  • September 21-22: CHOICES middle school mentoring workshop with 8th grade students at Tyee Jr. High
  • September 25: Meeting with Commissioner Finau to discuss immigration assistance with a member of the Tongan community
  • September 28: Participated with conference call for the Commerce Roundtable with Michael Itti and Frank Lemos
  • October 1: Conference call with Lua Pritchard of APCC to discuss API inmates programs
  • October 1-2: CHOICES middle school mentoring program at Odle Middle School
  • October 6: Emcee for the “Growing Visibility of APIs: The Legacy of the AANAPISI” Art Exhibit reception at South Seattle College
  • October 7: Attended the PI Health Board meeting to present CAPAA’s strategic plan and focus for Health and Human Services
  • October 10: Guest speaker for the Native Circle Pow Wow at the Monroe Correctional Facility representing on behalf of the API offenders
  • October 10: Attended UTOPIA 2015 educational scholarship pageant, granting higher education scholarships to participating API-LGBTQ community members pursuing a college degree
  • October 13: Attended City of Lynnwood Diversity Commission meeting
  • October 14: Attended the Communities in Contrast report launch at ACRS
  • October 17: Hosted the international music group, Te Vaka
  • October 22: Conducted CHOICES training seminar to train new mentors to teach the program to middle school kids
  • November 8: Hosted Da Coconut Wireless radio show
  • November 9: Meeting with the City of Lynnwood Mayor Nicola Smith to discuss Diversity Commission and Veterans Affairs planning
  • November 10: Attended City of Lynnwood Diversity Commission meeting
  • November 13: Attended the WA Arts Commission Awards Banquet
  • November 16: CHOICES mentoring program at Cascade Middle School
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? No.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? N/A
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? N/A
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Commissioner Vue
Date of Activity: September – October (Sundays)
Activity: Hmong Association Planning for New Year
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Yes.  iCount reports, marijuana prevention materials, CAPAA brochure, and upcoming meetings.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Health concerns: diabetes and over eating for youth; mental health, physical health for youth and elders

Education: educating parents on the system and navigating the system to support our children

Economics: building more businesses in WA, protocol for how to get started, loans
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Shared CAPAA objectives and next steps for the Hmong community. Discussed next steps on outreach, data, and plans for gathering data and sharing CARE data with our communities.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: October 10, 2015
Activity: Vietnamese Americans for Civic Engagement
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Yes. Shared Information regarding iCount, SEAeD Fellowship, and data for Vietnamese Americans.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Informed voters about the importance of higher education in the Vietnamese community (1in 4 Vietnamese Americans are English Language Learners).
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Yes, discussed ideas in small groups and with Llyod Hara, Vietnamese leaders and families. Followed up with Lloyd Hara on how to collect data from communities, build civic engagement, and empower our communities to take on leadership positions.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: October 13, 2015
Activity: ACRS Data Forum
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? No.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Share the data with other leaders and community members.  Disseminate the information and use it to further our work.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Yes. Shared information regarding iCount and connected it with ACRS counselors, other advocates, and partners.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: October 20, 2015
Activity: Collaboration and discussion
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? Yes. Shared resources and data from ACRS data meeting.  Discussed ways to support the SEA community in Tacoma/South King county. Distributed SEAeD Fellowship information and discussed educational advancement for youth and how to outreach to the Cambodian population. Connected Hieu to resources and people.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? Education and gang prevention for youth in the Cambodian/Khmer community.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? Yes. Shared iCount data and UW data to focus on needs of particular SEA communities. Discussed how to best connect with community leaders in the temples and churches and how to move forward based on the needs of the community.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Date of Activity: November 7, 2015
Activity: Hmong New Year: 40 years in America
Did you provide information or distribute any materials? Yes, Commission staff provided copies of the iCount report and information on how to prevent underage marijuana use in Khmer.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community? The community is concerned about students not getting equitable support with CCS, CCS assessments, school navigation support for parents and students, loans, not being aware of rights.

Health concerns: over eating, diabetes, sudden deaths without a certain cause, and mental health, alcohol and marijuana use which leads to other types of abuse, parenting classes, promoting health for elders.

Economic: Interest in opening businesses in WA: knowledge, and support in learning how and what to do.
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan? I connected with community leaders and will follow up regarding opportunities to work together on education and health issues.

A few leaders would like to help promote registering voters in the Hmong community and set up a location where we can meet to do this work. Others were interested in participating in civic engagement and work on particular areas of health, economic development relating to opening businesses, and education.

Increased awareness of CAPAA, commissioner roles, which support our strategic plan efforts in the Hmong community. Invited community members to join in our work and focus on issues that directly interest them. Email sent out and invited community members to our Nov. meeting and will follow up for our Jan. Forum.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.
Commissioner Wada
Date of Activity: See below.
Activity:
  • October 8: Attended the Annual Korean-American Hotel Association conference
  • October 10, 23 & 31: Coordinated flu shot sessions with Walgreen for API communities
  • October 14: Attended the UW Engaging Diversity gathering
  • October 17& 29: Attended the ICHS staff meeting in preparation for the Annual Open Enrollment for the Exchange program
  • October 22: Attended the Interagency LEP workgroup meeting
  • October 23: Made a presentation re: state board and Commission opportunities at the Home Front Rising annual meeting, which is a group of JDs who are military spouses looking civic engagement opportunities
  • October 27: Distributed the Exchange Enrollment Guide to the Korean media to distribute to their readers/viewers
Did you distribute any materials or handouts? No.
What issues or recommendations did you hear from the community?
  • The need for equal access for social and health services for LEP populations is greater
  • More resources in serving the LEP communities are needed
  • Improve the awareness of state/federal government programs, i.e., LEP policy that’s been promoted by the Interagency LEP workgroup, Health Literacy program at the HBE, and CLAS program in federal government
Did you educate the community or participate in an activity that furthers the Strategic Plan?
  • I’ve educated stakeholders, community partners and members of grass root organizations the role of CAPAA and ways to improve the disparities of API communities in health, education and economic development opportunities.
  • As I am newly assigned to the Economic Development committee, I need to learn the current strategic plans to implement them timely and identify resources to facilitate the deliverables/outcome.
Were you representing CAPAA? Yes.