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

Commissioner Cabusao

  • Helped organize a Filipino Golf Classic Tournament to raise scholarship funds for Filipino American students.  The event happened on August 29, 2015 and was a huge success with the support of golfers from the Seattle-Tacoma area as well as the Tri-Cities area.
  • Helped coordinate activities for the Filipino Youth Activities (FYA) Drill Team for Labor Day in the Yakima Valley, which they participate in yearly.
  • Currently working with the Fil-Am Community of the Yakima Valley Board and Officers on the upcoming annual Harvest Dinner hosted by the organization.
  • Currently working with a community organizer on Washington Charter Schools in the Yakima and Tri-Cities area.
  • Helped a constituent access free legal service through Northwest Justice.

Commissioner Dickinson

  • Attended Asian Bar Association of Washington’s (ABAW) monthly meetings as President for 2015.
  • Attended Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) Walk for Rice Fundraiser at Seward Park.
  • Attended ACRS Luncheon and won first MBA (Minority Bar Association) Award to ABAW for participation and fundraising.
  • Attended Seattle Bon Odori Festival.
  • Attended ABAW Quarterly Event and CLE training on Professionalism at Ellis, Li & McKinstry, LLP.
  • Attended American Bar Association (ABA) Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL. Introduced two new minority mentees to GP Solo Small firm Section and Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section. Received the Wyndall Ivey TIPS Business Litigation Committee Award for Fellowship.
  • Attended last meeting (term ended) on ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism.
  • Appointed Tort Trial Insurance Practice Section’s Ethics and Professionalism Chair-Elect for 2015.
  • Appointed as a WSBA (Washington State Bar Association) Hearing Officer.
  • Met with Washington State Bar Diversity Coordinator to discuss how our entities can best work together.
  • Met with other Minority Bar Association Presidents to discuss relations with our Board of Governors and State Bar.
  • Please come to the ABAW (Asian Bar Association of Washington) Annual Gala on October 23 at the Renaissance Hotel. Sign up at abaw.org.

Commissioner Dinh

  • Meeting with the community to inform them of my new role as a CAPAA Commissioner.
  • Conducting research and compiling a list of all Southeast Asian (starting with Vietnamese) communities, leadership, and social service organizations.
  • Attended the board meetings for Friends of Little Saigon and Xin Chao Magazine (of which I’m a member of).

Commissioner Finau

  • June 12: Attended White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) Roundtable in Tacoma, where AAPI community leaders came together to conduct outreach programs and to increase leadership development opportunities.
  • June 20: Interviewed by a Pacific Islander Eagle scout candidate. The Eagle is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program for the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
  • July 1: Meeting with Tukwila School District Superintendent Dr. Nancy Coogan to follow up conversations on how to better serve AAPI students in the district.
  • July 2: Meeting with Matt Vaeena (Pacific Islander potential teacher: Highline School District) to continue building the AAPI pipeline of teachers. Matt will be entering the Teacher’s Prep Master’s program to be an English teacher.
  • July 8: Attended WA State Board of Education Community Forum at Rainier Community Center.
  • July 13: Meeting with former House Rep. Larry Seaquist to discuss plans for cohort pilot program in high schools for students of color aspiring to be teachers.
  • July 21: Attended EOGOAC Community Forum at Highline Community College. Engaged with community AAPI leaders about closing the opportunity gap for WA State students. There were discussions on what are some of the existing or emerging issues in education, ideas and recommendations for strengthening the education system, what is working, what is happening in the community that we’re excited about and what are we willing to do to close the opportunity gap.
  • July 21: Attended 2015 Diversity Employment Day in King County at the ShoWare Center. The event provided recruiters access to the Unites State’s largest pool of diverse, multicultural, and qualified professionals. It is the only career fair that targets and delivers candidates from ALL classes covered under the Title VII Civil Rights Act of 1964.
  • July 30: Meeting with Amy Ruble, Senior Advisor & Operations Director, House Democratic Caucus to discuss internships for AAPI students to understand the legislative process.
  • August 14: Day of Service at Rainier Prep Charter School. Foster High School performing group volunteered to perform for the event launching the new Charter.
  • August 15: Attended the Rainier Valley Parade & Heritage Festival, which is an inclusive cultural extravaganza celebrating one of the most diverse communities in WA by the Rainier (Valley) Chamber of Commerce. Recognizing that “Seattle Starts Here,” it showed the journeys of many cultural groups that have helped build the city.
  • August 16: Attended the Othello Music & Arts Festival in Rainier Valley. The theme was “Come Play with Us” and featured a world of ethnic variety convening with music, dancing, food, art and activities of Rainier Valley’s colorful diversity of businesses and organizations.

Commissioner Gaur

  • July-August: Worked with various Indian communities to coordinate India Day celebrations at the University of Washington Kane Hall (August 29, Saturday). The event was coordinated by the Indian Association of Western Washington (IAWW) in association with Indian Americans for Freedom (IAFF), University of Washington South Asia Studies division and the Federation of Indian American Associations (FIAWA).
  • August 14-16: Volunteered at Camp Bharat, organized by IAWW at Fort Worden. 210 kids annually attend the camp as the culmination of youth program for 30 youth counselors (ages 15-17). I was the past youth program director and a current volunteer.
  • August: Worked with a constituent who needed counseling support for family law and immigration through Social Programs at IAWW.
  • Attended Youth Career and College Day on August 23, which was organized by the IAWW Community Program (https://www.iaww.org/event-1985798). The event was attended by over 100 high school students and their parents.
  • Main coordinator for IAWW’s India Day celebrations at Kane Hall on August 29. August 15 this year India celebrated 69th Independence Day. Consulate General Hon Venkatesan Ashok was invited from San Francisco. Congressmen Jim McDermott and Adam Smith, and State Senator Pramila Jayapal were in the audience. The program attracted 150 participants in over 25 program items. We had collaborated with various Indian organizations to bring diverse groups.
  • Attended Pratham fundraiser on August 29. Pratham is an innovative learning organization created to improve the quality of education in India. As one of the largest non-governmental organizations in the country, Pratham focuses on high-quality, low-cost, and replicable interventions to address gaps in the education system. Established in 1995 to provide education to children in the slums of Mumbai, Pratham has grown both in scope and geographical coverage.

Commissioner Gurung

  • July 2, 2015: Attended a fundraiser event for earthquake victims in Nepal, which was organized by KKV Law Office. The event raised more than $13,000.
  • July 7, 2015: Attended a Nepalese community leaders meeting at Asian Counseling and Referral Services (ACRS) about mental health, labor rights, and immigration.  The meeting was organized by Diane Narasaki, the Executive Director of ACRS.
  • August 29, 2015: The Nepal Seattle Society had a special General Assembly meeting for the new Executive body at Shoreline Library.
  • September 6, 2015: Attended a North West Nepali community gathering. There were over 100 people from Oregon State, 60 people from Vancouver BC, and 200 people from the Seattle area. This gathering took place at Lyndale Park in Lynnwood from 9:00 AM to 9:00 pm and featured Nepalese sports, games, culture, and a meet and greet. As the President of the Nepal Seattle Society and host, I organized the day program, including food and games, welcomed guests, and distributed trophies at the end.

Commissioner Khamshitsang

  • Continuing to travel to meet the larger Tibetan community members.
  • As co-chair, organized the largest gathering to celebrate the 80th birthday of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama on July 9 and 10. There were over 15,000 Tibetan Americans, Tibetan Canadians in attendance.
  • Attended the 25th Founding Day of the Tibetan Association in Northern California on July 18, 2015.
  • Guest of Honor for the opening of the 20th annual TibetFest at the Seattle Center on August 22 and 23. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and US Congressman Jim McDermott were also in attendance.

Commissioner Pen

  • July: Provided three presentations on marijuana and handed out information in Cambodian and Vietnamese languages about marijuana facts and methods for prevention.
    • July 13: 80 Vietnamese seniors
    • July 14: 110 Cambodian seniors
    • July 16: 20 Samoan seniors
  • August: Provided two presentations on marijuana and handed out information in Korean, Chinese, and English languages about marijuana facts and methods for prevention.
    • August 12: 145 Korean seniors
    • August 13: 68 seniors including Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino people
  • August 22: Invited to speak at 8th Annual Cambodian Cultural Celebration at Saltwater State Park with over 100 attendees from all over the state. Handed out information on marijuana in Cambodian and English languages to the people there.
  • September 3: Attended Washington State Department of Health community meeting on the marijuana and tobacco funds at the Tacoma Convention Center. Spoke about CAPAA and shared concerns/issues that has been voiced in the community on the increasing use of marijuana among underage teens at school playfields. There were also representatives from county health organizations and community-based organizations.
  • Provided four presentations on Project PEACE (Partnering for Equity and Community Engagement) to engage in dialogue with the Tacoma Police Department (TPD), City Manager, and community members about empowering the community and creating safe communities through positive relationships with Handed out information in Cambodian, Vietnamese, Samoan, and English languages on Project PEACE meeting information.
    • September 8: 68 Vietnamese seniors
    • September 11: 35 Samoan seniors
    • September 14: 104 Cambodian seniors
    • September 17: 75 seniors including Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino people

Commissioner Sinclair

  • Pacific Islander Health Board of Puget Sound: As Co-Chair of the Pacific Islander Health Board of Puget Sound, I am helping to plan a community informational meeting on October 7, 2015 at the White Center Community Development Association.
  • Asia Pacific Cultural Center:
    • As a board member and chair of the fundraising committee of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center, I planned and attended the 18th Annual Luau.
    • Planning the Asia Pacific Cultural Center’s 20th Anniversary to be held in November 2016. Attended the Asia Pacific Cultural Center’s annual Samoan Cultural dinner on July 9th.
    • Assisted with activities of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center’s annual Move It event on July 10 to inspire Pacific Islander youth to be physically active.
    • Assisting APCC with a Wahine Fitness program.
  • 2015 Pacific Islander Studies Institute training, September 11: Attended the 2015 Pacific Islander Studies Institute training at Green River College that included the September meeting for the Northwest Association of Pacific Americans Board of Directors, orientation for new PI leaders, strategic planning for the 2015-16 year, and sharing best practices from each of the partner colleges who are entering their 5th year of cross campus coalitions between the four year universities, community colleges, high schools and community based organizations.
  • Grants:
    • Received $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.

Commissioner Tufono

June

  • Attended the graduation of Dr. Rochelle Fonoti, who received her Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology. She became the first Samoan woman ever to receive a Ph.D. from a mainland university.
  • Attended and delivered the keynote speech on API Heritage Celebration at the Monroe Correctional Facility for the Twin Rivers Unit.
  • Attended the Evergreen High School All Pacific Islander Dance Competition
  • Attended the City of Lynnwood Diversity Commission Meeting
  • Hosted Da Coconut Wireless Radio Show
  • Attended CAPAA Board Meeting on June 20 in Lynnwood, WA

July

  • July 9: Attended the opening dinner for Samoa Cultural Day
  • July 10: Attended the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Move It Day
  • July 11: Attended Samoa Cultural Day
  • Attended City of Lynnwood Diversity Meeting
  • Hosted Da Coconut Wireless Radio Show
  • Attended Poly Fest 2015 in San Francisco, CA

August

  • Hosted the Pacific Islands Community Luau at St John Viceroy in Kirkland, WA
  • Hosted Da Coconut Wireless Radio Show
  • Met with Island Block Radio Network, the first PI Radio Network broadcasting out of Los Angeles, CA

September

  • Facilitated CHOICES training for ongoing 8th grade youth mentorship program

Commissioner Vue

  • June 18: Represented CAPAA at the Southeast Asian American Access in Education (SEAeD) Coalition meeting. Shared the SEAeD Fellowship and next steps for the 2016 Summit.
  • June 25: Represented CAPAA at the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Roundtable.
  • June 27: Asian Counseling and Referral Services Walk for Rice Fundraiser at Seward Park.
  • July 21: Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC) community forum at Highline College. Updates on the legislation and decisions.
  • July 23: Attended SEAeD meeting. Represented CAPAA and shared updates and discussed how CAPAA can help SEAeD with its next steps.
  • August 3: CAPAA Education Committee meeting. Discussed next steps on outreach, plans for gathering data, and sharing National Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islander Research in Education (CARE) data with our communities.
  • August 9: Attended Hmong Association of Washington (HAW) meeting. Represented CAPAA and shared CAPAA objectives and next steps for the Hmong community.
  • August 20: SEAeD Meeting. Represented CAPAA and assisted in planning for the educational summit.
  • August 23: Attended HAW meeting. Represented CAPAA and shared next steps at the Hmong New Year for community engagement and involvement.

Commissioner Wada

  • Attended meeting to discuss data collection efforts for the Healthy Youth Survey at the Department of Health.
  • Attended an Interagency LEP Workgroup meeting.
  • Attended the Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities meeting.
  • Attended the Korean Counseling Services Center annual community forum.
  • Provided information to Korean media on marijuana/tobacco education and a development plan to share with Korean community.
  • Had interviews with KOAM-TV and Radio Hankook in July to spread awareness on Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
  • Conducted an outreach event at a low income senior apartment for Chinese and Vietnamese residents on healthcare issues and options.