AANHPI Heritage Month is an opportunity to reflect on our history, our heritage, and our future. The last year has been especially difficult for our communities, with the pandemic worsening existing racist disparities in our health care systems, especially for our NHPI and COFA families. The pandemic also brought medical scapegoating, with Asians and Asian Americans facing increased hate incidents as politicians sought to place blame for an uncontrollable virus.
All of this pain is a part of our history, but we’re also more than just this pain. We are more than media narratives, we are more than the barriers we face, we are more than history that can be encompassed in just a month–we are an integral part of the history of our state, and everywhere we set our path. This month and every month, we tell our stories and celebrate.
Happy AANHPI Heritage Month, everyone!
Throughout AANHPI Heritage Month, join us for another series of Conversations with CAPAA! We’ll be hosting conversations with leaders throughout the state through the month of May to discuss history, heritage, and more.
To kick things off, we had Jiji Jally of the Marshallese Women’s Association and FSM Consul General Joe Enlet! We discussed COFA history, with a focus on COFA activism right here in Washington state. If you missed the live video, you can still watch the video here.
Our other talks this month include:
May 12, 1:30 PM: Mary Yu, Washington Supreme Court Justice
May 19, 1:30 PM: Fa’amomoi Masaniai, King County District Court Judge
May 24, 2 PM: Beyond Atlanta: Panel Discussion on the Rise in Hate Crimes Against Asians and Asian Americans
Tune in live each week at facebook.com/wacapaa
| If you or a loved one have not yet been vaccinated, there’s an easy way to find vaccinations near you! The Washington State Department of Health has a Vaccine Locator page available, or you can call 1-800-525-0127. Language assistance is available. |
If you or someone you know is homebound and not able to leave the house to get the COVID-19 vaccine, homebound vaccination services are available.
For people experiencing barriers to getting their vaccine, use the survey link below to complete a registration form to link you to available County and/or State Mobile Vaccine Teams who can provide or arrange for homebound vaccination services.
Survey Link: https://redcap.link/WA_HomeBasedVax. You can fill out the survey for yourself or someone else.
The COFA Alliance National Network of Washington (CANN) is conducting a COVID-19 Vaccination Survey. This questionnaire is meant for communities from Yap, Kosrae, Marshall Islands, Chuuk, and other community members who live and work in Washington under the Compact of Free Association (COFA). The goal of this survey is to understand the communities’ needs around vaccination and to inform outreach efforts. All information provided will never be shared publicly. Any questions can be directed to CANN-WA at info@cann-wa.us.
CHUUKESE
Direct link to Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CANNWACOVID1VaxChuuk
Ach angang fáán iten ewe opposun COVID-19 + Chóóchóón iká Aramasen COFA
KOSRAEAN
Direct link to Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CANNWACOVID1VaxKosrae
Fasrehang ke Kosrkosr Mas ke COVID-19 + Mwet Lasr ac Wiyacsr ke COFA
MARSHALLESE
Direct link to Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CANNWACOVID1VaxRMI
Jerbal ko kin Wā in COVID-19 + Jukjuk in bed ko jen COFA
YAPESE
Direct link to Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CANNWACOVID1VaxYap
Murwel nib sor fan ko Vaccine nge COFA ulung
Kinisou Chapur, Kamangar, Kalahngan, Kommol tata, Kulu Mu Lap, Sulang, and Thank you!
Students benefit when family members are supportive of their goals and informed about education options. Below are some resources that are available in multiple languages to help students and families navigate college and career planning and financial aid:
- The College Knowledge Book is a comprehensive college and career planning resource developed with student input. Topics include college applications, financial aid, apprenticeship opportunities, and more. All handouts are available in English, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
- GEAR UP’s family newsletters include college readiness and financial aid information for students in 7th through 12th grade. While the newsletters are designed to be distributed by schools, families can access them directly on GEAR UP’s website. Each edition is offered in Arabic, Chuukese, English, Marshallese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
- The new Washington State Student Loan Education Site provides learning modules to help families better understand education costs and considerations. The site can be displayed in more than 20 languages.
- With the new Washington College Grant (WCG), more students are eligible for financial aid than ever before. It’s not too late to apply for fall 2021! Learn more in the WCG Overview flyer: (English | Spanish | Somali |Russian | Vietnamese)
- Debunk common financial aid myths with the Financial Aid Myths & Facts flyer: (English | Spanish)
Learn more and plan for the future on the Washington Student Achievement Council website.
The Washington State Microenterprise Association (WSMA) has opened a short term grant opportunity to help Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs), Business Technical Assistance Providers, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) serving organizations, and others that provide businesses with technical assistance, training, and/or microloans to businesses with 5 or fewer employees in urban and rural parts of Washington State!
These grants are intended to provide immediate funds for past expenses to stabilize these nonprofit organizations. Read more about these grants here. Grants are due on May 12th so review grant guidelines as soon as possible to prepare your application.
If you are an incoming 9th-grade student and interested in learning more about careers in the maritime industry, Maritime High School is now accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year!
Maritime High School is a new small high school opening in September 2021 with its first 9th-grade class. Maritime is a collaborative project of Highline Public Schools, Northwest Maritime Center, Port of Seattle, and the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, with many community and industry partners engaged to support our students.
In 2019 the Seattle Southside Chamber began work, in collaboration with Burien residents and members, to establish a WA State designated Creative District in the City of Burien.
What is a Creative District? A Creative District is an exciting place to live, work and visit. A geographically defined area of cultural and economic activity. It’s the heart of a community. It is a place for people to gather and enjoy their community’s arts and culture.
The Chamber is actively seeking people who are interested in working on establishing a Creative District for the Burien community to join their volunteer Steering Committee to help guide and lead the project. The committee meets for an hour every other month. The next meeting is June 16th at noon and all meetings are virtual conducted over ZOOM at this time.
For more information about the Burien Creative District or joining the Steering Committee please contact the Pres/CEO at the Chamber Andrea@SeattleSouthsideChamber.com
Washington State’s new Office of Equity is conducting a survey to inform their five-year equity strategic plan that helps Washington to bridge opportunity gaps and reduce disparities in the state.
Please take a moment to answer these survey questions by Friday, June 25, 2021.
If you have questions or concerns about this survey, please contact: equityinfo@wa.gov
DES is developing a supplier diversity policy that will affect master contracts and how agencies do their own contracts. The policy will seek encourage and facilitate the purchase of goods and services from Washington’s veteran-owned as well as small businesses, many of which are women- and minority-owned.
DES will release an initial discussion draft of the policy, procedure and FAQ for feedback in mid-May. Feedback will be taken through July 1, including at a virtual workshop on June 3, 2021.
The Washington Immigrant Relief Fund has reopened applications! If you didn’t receive unemployment benefits or federal stimulus relief due to your immigration status, you can apply to by May 15 to get up to $1000 in COVID-19 relief.
For more information, in-language materials, and assistance from community organizations in your applications, go to https://www.immigrantreliefwa.org/
The FCC announced that eligible households can begin applying for the Emergency Broadband Benefit on May 12, 2021.
The Emergency Broadband Program will provide a monthly discount toward broadband service for eligible households and one-time discounts for the purchase of certain devices from participating providers.
Households can apply in three ways:
- Contact your preferred participating broadband provider directly to learn about their application process.
- Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to apply online and to find participating providers near you.
- Call 833-511-0311 for a mail-in application, and return it along with proof of eligibility to: Emergency Broadband Support Center / P.O. Box 7081 / London, KY 40742
If you would like more information about the Emergency Broadband Program, you can contact the FCC at broadbandbenefit@fcc.gov or visit fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.
The Small Business Administration will soon be launching applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF)! This program will provide restaurants with funding equal to their pandemic-related revenue loss up to $10 million per business and no more than $5 million per physical location. Recipients are not required to repay the funding as long as funds are used for eligible uses no later than March 11, 2023.
For assistance preparing your application, you can access the following:
- Call center support: 1-844-279-8898 (Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-8pm ET)
- Your local SBA District Office
Information on the RRF is available in the following languages:
Join Densho on May 11 for the official book launch of Facing the Mountain, a new book about WWII Japanese American incarceration and the 442nd RCT by Daniel James Brown, NY Times bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat. The virtual event will feature a conversation between Brown and Densho Executive Director Tom Ikeda, who has conducted oral histories with many of the men highlighted in the book.
Register today for this free event: https://densho.org/mountain/
Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1107930106352305/
Washington is home to vibrant communities and diverse citizens who all have unique talents, skills and experiences. Governor Inslee places a high priority on boards, commissions, and agencies that are reflective of the diverse make-up of Washington and that utilize the impressive talent of our citizens. We are always seeking skilled and experienced individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds to participate in boards and commissions ensuring an effective and representative government.
We are excited to share the highlighted Current and Upcoming Gubernatorial Appointment Opportunities.
As someone with deep roots in your respective communities and organizations, we hope that you will share these opportunities. Anyone interested in being appointed will need to fill out this Application. Please explore the Boards and Commissions Profiles if you are interested in learning more about the many opportunities to get involved!
| Drawing Verification for Washington State’s Lottery | Washington State Office of Financial Management | May 31, 2021 |