Featured | Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs

August Newsletter: Grants, Jobs, Rent Assistance, and More!

The Employment Security Department is seeking full time, non-permanent staff to assist unemployed workers with their benefits claims. If you can speak, read and write fluently in any of these languages, we strongly encourage you to apply:

Marshallese • Chuukese • Korean • Vietnamese • Spanish • Russian • Ukrainian • Somali

Applications Open for Kip Tokuda Memorial Washington Civil Liberties Public Education Program Competitive Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

OLYMPIA – The Kip Tokuda Memorial Washington Civil Liberties Public Education Program (WACLPEP) has reopened for applications.
The Kip Tokuda Memorial program is created to do one or both of the following:

Amid stories of hate, CAPAA urges victims to report

News Release
Contact: Toshiko Hasegawa, Executive Director, Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs | 206-377-9583 | toshiko.hasegawa@capaa.wa.gov

For Immediate Release
March 30, 2020

OLYMPIA – Community members have relayed to the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) incidents of hate targeting people of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) ancestry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legislative Priorities

CAPAA’s 2025 Policy Agenda

In dedication to advancing the interests of Asian/Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA-NH/PI) communities in Washington State, the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) is proud to present our 2025 policy agenda. This agenda reflects our commitment to addressing crucial issues within AA-NH/PI communities, promoting equitable economic development, safeguarding civil rights and immigration, enhancing education, and ensuring access to quality health and human services. Farther down, you can see bills that we are tracking.

1. Economic Development:

Promoting A-NH/PI Entrepreneurship

Advocating for initiatives that support A-NH/PI-owned businesses.

Fostering economic growth and sustainability within A-NH/PI communities.

2. Civil Rights & Immigration:

Advancing Civil Rights Protections

Working to strengthen legal protections against discrimination for A-NH/PI individuals.

Advocating for just and humane immigration policies that consider the unique needs of A-NH/PI immigrants.

3. Education

Enhancing Educational Opportunities

Addressing disparities in K-12 education, ensuring equitable access to quality resources.

Advocating for policies that support A-NH/PI students in colleges and universities, including scholarships and mentorship programs.

4. Health and Human Services

Improving Healthcare Access:

Advocating for culturally sensitive health services tailored to A-NH/PI communities.

Addressing health disparities and ensuring mental health services meet the unique needs of the A-NH/PI population.

Bills we are supporting:

HB 1262: Updating the governor's interagency coordinating council on health disparities.

HB 1217: Improving housing stability for tenants subject to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act by limiting rent and fee increases, requiring notice of rent and fee increases, limiting fees and deposits, establishing a landlord resource center and associated services, authorizing tenant lease termination, creating parity between lease types, and providing for attorney general enforcement.

SB 5101: Expanding access to leave and safety accommodations to include workers who are victims of hate crimes or bias incidents.

SB 5574: Providing instruction on Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander history in public schools.

HB 1052: Concerning people who have been targeted or affected by hate crimes and bias incidents.

HB 1491: Promoting transit-oriented housing development.

HB 1404: Increasing student access to free meals served at public schools.