APACEvotes

Asian and Pacific Islander Americans for Civic Empowerment

  • Home
  • About
    • Mission and Goals
    • Strategic Plan
    • History
    • APACEvotes Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Apace Washington
  • What We Do
    • Collaborations
    • Podcasts
    • Democracy Vouchers
    • 2020 Census
    • Get Out The Vote
  • Get Involved
    • Summer Fundraiser
    • Register To Vote
    • Volunteer
    • Jobs & Opportunities
    • Internships
  • Contact
  • Donate

October 2, 2018

APACE is working to reverse the prohibition of Washington state’s Affirmative Action programs

by Akemi Matsumoto

Next year, APACE will participate in a coordinated, legislative effort to reverse Initiative 200, the prohibition of WA State Affirmative Action programs. This fight is essential to preserving our civil rights legacy and our democracy. Democracy in the U.S. only really began to function after the civil rights movement of the 60’s, and our democracy has been systematically eroded since with voter suppression laws, gerrymandering and the disproportionate disenfranchisement of people of color.

APACE was developed out of the fight to save WA State Affirmative Action in 1997. At that time, APACE’s name was the “Asian Pacific American Coalition for Equality.” JACL Seattle and JACL National seeded this organization with money and an office on Jackson Street. Manny Lee, Doug Chin and I were co-chairs with the help of Karen Yoshitomi, Jeffrey Hattori, Wang Yung, Connie So, Sharon Tomiko Santos, Brian Surratt, Raul Gupta and dozens of other community activists. We hired Xuan Trang Tran Thien as a community organizer to work in coalition with other communities of color and women’s groups to fight against Initiative 200. People slept on the floor of the office and worked 24/7.

At the end of the 10-month long campaign, our state-wide coalition included 20,000 AAPIs and 19 AAPI organizations. In King County where we concentrated our work, the “no” vote for the Initiative was 78 percent, a victory for our work. Statewide, however, was a different story. The Initiative passed, and WA State Affirmative Action Programs ended with white women being the decisive vote. Ironically, white women benefited the most from Affirmative Action since the late 60’s, but they voted to end affirmative action, sacrificing their own best interests for their sons and husbands.

Affirmative Action programs came out of the civil rights movement to combat systemic discrimination against people of color. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy issued an Executive Order to ensure employment opportunities to people without regard to their race, creed, color or national origin. “The intent of this executive order was to affirm the government’s commitment to equal opportunity for all qualified persons and to take positive action to strengthen efforts to realize true equal opportunity for all.”

Later President Johnson expanded the order to other areas and groups of people. Networks of deeply ingrained old boy’s clubs advantaged those already in power in employment, government contracting and higher education admissions.

Affirmative action opened these systems of opportunity to everyone. There was recognition that the status quo was deeply biased and that “affirmative action, positive action, actions fundamentally different, had to replace the old boy’s clubs.

In employment, Affirmative Action meant job openings had to be publicly posted, and the application process had to be uniform for all applicants. Job requirements had to relate to actual job tasks. For example, why did you have to be a male to be a firefighter or a mail carrier? Why did you have to be 6’2 to be a police officer?

In government contracting, Affirmative Action required advertising opportunities and open bidding processes and replaced secret nepotism where contracts went to friends and relatives of government officials. Bids had to be sealed and awards were based on cost, efficiency, and comprehensiveness, not who you knew.

In higher education, admissions were based on grades and test scores, not legacies of alumni nor how much your family could donate to the university. In the past, admission officers would assess “fit” – theoretically helping applicants to feel “comfortable,” by turning down an applicant. Currently, higher education admissions not only looks at academic merit, but the whole student – race being just one of many factors including economic background, work history, leadership experience. “Merit” never was a rational, neutral criterion; “merit” was defined by white culture only.

One of the measures of progress of equal opportunities was to look at the percentage of a particular historically disadvantaged group in the general population and compare it to the percentage of people, for example, employed by a government agency. If the percentage of AAPI’s employed at King County was 10 percent and the percentage of AAPIs in the general population was 30 percent, and then there are still systemic barriers to full opportunity. Equity as a means of measuring progress was misunderstood and used to attack Affirmative Action as a quota system. The goal is not “equality,” but “equity.”

People don’t want to be treated the same, but differently according to their specific situations. For example, when you have two children, one 10 years old and the other two years old, do you give them the same amount of milk to drink?

Affirmative Action has been opposed with attacks of “reverse discrimination,” It is not racist to be race conscious. Race still matters in the America of 2018. Trump’s “Make America Great Again” is thinly veiled white supremacy – so deeply embedded in our society and history.

Affirmative Action is still necessary to address systemic, deeply embedded discrimination against people of color, women, LBGTQ, the economically disadvantaged and the disabled.

Affirmative Action is still needed for AAPI’s. We are still under-represented in higher levels of government, occupations and higher education. Affirmative Action tools help AAPI’s participate fully in our society.

APACE (currently “Asian Pacific Islander Americans for Civic Empowerment”) is our Affirmative Action Program for political equity. Join us this year in repealing I-200 and re-establishing WA State Affirmative Action Programs.

Article by Apace Votes / News

Want to help us register voters? Want to have us c Want to help us register voters? Want to have us come and register voters at one of your community events? Message us if this sounds like you 😊 #representationmatters #civicengagement
The mask mandate is ending next month, but Covid w The mask mandate is ending next month, but Covid will likely still be with us. Be conscientious of case numbers in your area and those you share space with 🏠 Get vaccinated and schedule booster shots before the mandate lifts. If you're having trouble finding vaccines in your area, dm us. We may be able to connect you to community groups running their own vaccine sites.
As normal life resumes amidst soaring case numbers As normal life resumes amidst soaring case numbers it's more important than ever to get tested. You never know when you'll need to test. Make sure that pesky cold is really 'just a cold' and help keep your community safe. Tests can be ordered directly from the federal government and from Washington state (when supplies are restocked). Swipe to learn more. 

Alt text: Light cream backgrounds with green clouds and words saying: Stop the Spread! Get tested. Knowledge is power.

Covid tests can be ordered directly from the federal government and shipped through USPS at: covidtests.gov. Limit 4 tests per household.

Washington state has also lauched a portal you can check to order 5 free tests. Currently the state is out, but check back to see when they are restocked. Washington portal: www.sayyescovidhometest.org. Limit 5 tests per household.
We are diverting from our usual voter education co We are diverting from our usual voter education content to take a moment to talk about Covid-19. Two years later and the Pandemic has yet to end. The Asian community has become a target for blame and our Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander siblings are dying at rates three times higher than the average population. If we've learned anything by now it's that we keep each other safe. Mask-up, get vaccinated, follow with boosters, and get tested if you feel sick! More content to come.

Alt text: A soft pastel pink and peach background with 16 masked individuals surronds the words 'we keep each other safe.'
Happy Lunar New Year! 🧧🐅🎇 Happy Lunar New Year! 🧧🐅🎇
Today is the last day to register to register to v Today is the last day to register to register to vote! Swipe for more info. Make your voice heard and exercise your power to vote.
Have you made a plan to vote? Ballots are here and Have you made a plan to vote? Ballots are here and there’s only 2 weeks left to Election Day! Not registered to vote? It’s not too late! Register at www.apacevotes.org/register-to-vote/.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#apacevotes #representationmatters #vote
Hey Seattle residents! Be sure to use your Democra Hey Seattle residents! Be sure to use your Democracy Vouchers. Some candidates are close to maxing out. Make your vouchers count and get them in as soon as possible if you haven’t already. For more information, or to request vouchers visit www.Seattle.gov/democracyvouchers.
Want to learn more about redistricting? Join us th Want to learn more about redistricting? Join us this Saturday at a training hosted by @apiavote @acrsnews @redistrictingjusticewa and @lcfwa! Learn how to map your community and also why it matters. 

RSVP: apia.vote/2021RedistrictingWA

Sign up soon! This event is Saturday.
The 9th annual A&PI community candidate forum is c The 9th annual A&PI community candidate forum is coming up next week! Hear from candidates running for Seattle Mayor as well as City Council seats 6&9. This forum is a chance for community members to hear about how candidates platforms and values will impact A&PI communities 🌺

Wednesday, July 21st from 5:30 - 7:30pm

Register at: bit.ly/primaryapiforum

You will be sent a link after you register!
APACEvotes condemns the racist and misogynistic ki APACEvotes condemns the racist and misogynistic killings of eight massage parlor workers and customers in Atlanta, Georgia that occurred on March 16, 2021.

Six of the victims were Asian women. As a community, we grieve this tragedy and wish unconditional love and healing for the victims and their families. The intersections of race, class and gender cannot be ignored in this incident. We recognize the event to be part of the deeper issue of colonial white supremacy.

We call to action our local, state and national elected officials to openly condemn and recognize the Atlanta murders as anti-Asian hate violence, a byproduct of systemic racism. Sidestepping the issue will only encourage more violence against our Asian communities. 

Additionally, we reject all calls to action that suggest increasing police power, presence, and surveillance. Such actions have historically acted as agents of harm toward Black communities, unhoused people, immigrants, and low-income families - the communities that were promised to be protected.

The oppression of Asians who face misogyny is the result of a legacy of orientalism, in which people from Asia (inappropriately named “the Orient”) are viewed as submissive and subservient. Feminine presenting Asians are often hypersexualized in the media, being represented as promiscuous and sexually submissive. This creates harmful narratives with dangerous consequences, ranging from catcalling and online harassment to sexual assault and death.

Many massage parlor workers across the United States are Asian immigrants, who work long hours with low pay to support their children and families. Low-income Asian community members are vulnerable to violence and abuse, but are often unable to seek assistance due to lack of available culturally competent in-language support and safety resources. Society’s devaluation of feminized care work, such as massage work and sex work, exacerbate this struggle. We urge everyone to extend their support to the Asian community, especially massage parlor workers during this time.
🌟 FEATURING performance by poet Hira Singh! @sh 🌟 FEATURING performance by poet Hira Singh! @shinebrightlikeaheera 🎙

APACE is hosting a text bank! Together we will text Asian and Pacific Islanders of Seattle to encourage them to use their democracy vouchers.

Sign up at bit.ly/apacetexts

Time/Date: March 11 @ 5:30pm-6:30pm PST
Location: Zoom

Image Description

SLIDE 1:
Event info appears as a pink color event notification.
In blue text: Important Reminder.
In bold black text: democracy voucher text bank.
Below in black text: Thursday March 11 5:30pm-6:30pm pacific standard time.
Below in italic black text: sign up at bit.ly/apacetexts

SLIDE 2:
In bold black font: What are democracy vouchers?
In black font: Democracy Vouchers are publicly funded vouchers that can be used to support candidates in the upcoming Seattle Elections.

Seattle residents no longer have to donate directly out of their pockets. They can financially support candidates with City funding!

SLIDE 3:
In bold black font: Why text about the vouchers?
in black font: We want to remind the ANHPI community in Seattle to use their Democracy Vouchers as soon as possible.

Textbanking is a form of outreach that accommodates busy individuals & politically neglected communities. We make civic engagement easier by providing real-time education & direct digital communication.
The 9th annual Seattle Asian American Film Festiva The 9th annual Seattle Asian American Film Festival (SAAFF) presents our biggest film festival online from March 4-14, 2021. Most programs are available on-demand for the entire festival, but selected programmings are only available for a limited time. All films are only available to viewers in United States, while some films are geo-blocked to the US West Coast or Pacific Northwest regions. Please check each film program for viewing windows and geographic restrictions. To learn more about the festival schedule and live events, please visit www.seattleaaff.org. Purchase a Festival Pass or Ticket Package at bit.ly/saaffpass.

FROM HERE is a hopeful story of artists and activists based in Berlin and New York whose lives hang in the balance of immigration and integration debates. The protagonists move from their 20s into their 30s as they fight for citizenship, start families, and find room for creative expression. This sensitive and nuanced documentary captures their journeys to define what it means to “belong” in societies that are increasingly hostile to their existence. Filmed over a decade in two of the world’s largest immigration countries–the U.S. and Germany–their individual stories echo the millions of young people from immigrant families coming of age during this era of rising nationalism. FROM HERE showcases not only their struggles, but enormous power.
Apply to become a member of the APACE board before Apply to become a member of the APACE board before February 27th! Apply at bit.ly/applyapace 💻🗒
WE ARE RECRUITING!! 👀 Join us Feb. 18 from 7-8: WE ARE RECRUITING!! 👀 Join us Feb. 18 from 7-8:30pm on zoom for an info session & social on how you can become an APACE board member (this is a volunteer position, join our info session to learn all about commitment required, flexibility, duties, and the current board). 

Register at bit.ly/joinapace. 

Why join the board? You can help advise staff and provide resources when needed. 

Our board makes sure we stay true to our values and mission. Folks with disabilities, LGBTQ+ folks, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, South Asian and West Asian folks are strongly encouraged to apply. We hope you will join APACE in our continued work toward equity and an accessible democracy. 🌟
✨APACE Presents: Democracy Voucher Text Bank✨ ✨APACE Presents: Democracy Voucher Text Bank✨
APACE is hosting a text bank! Together we will text Asian and Pacific Islanders of Seattle to apply for and use their democracy vouchers. We will have featured poet, Azura Tyabji @azura.tyabji! 💕Please sign up at http://bit.ly/apacetext
📖Learn more about Democracy Vouchers at www.sea 📖Learn more about Democracy Vouchers at www.seattle.gov/democracyvoucher. ➡️Further accessibility and in-language information available at that link.
.
SLIDE 1: Text on search bar image reads: Democracy Vouchers, why should I care?

SLIDE 2: The democracy voucher program was created in an effort to make City of Seattle elections more equitable and to reduce the influence of large donors in politics by giving small donors more access & leverage. People who cannot afford to donate to campaigns can now give a publicly funded contribution to the candidates of their choice.

SLIDE 3: In 2021, the positions for mayor, city attorney, and two city council at large city wide positions will be on the ballot. These people can determine the city budget, public funding, and future legislation and statutes. The decisions made in these positions matter to the API community, as well as communities we are in solidarity with.

SLIDE 4: Money is a significant factor in campaign success. When a campaign receives more funding, it can spend more money on outreach, resources and staff time. Candidates with more engagement are more successful than those with fewer donations and less engagement.

SLIDE 5: You’re going to receive them anyway, so use them! If you’re registered to vote and your address is in the city of Seattle, you will automatically be mailed 4 twenty-five dollar democracy vouchers in february 9th. Support the candidates who you want to represent you with no extra cost on your part.

SLIDE 6: The democracy voucher program is publicly funded via taxes. Properties affected include commercial, businesses and residential properties. The democracy voucher program costs the average homeowner about 8 dollars per year.

#seattle #wa #aapi #vote #washington
This Saturday, December 19th from 11AM-1:30PM PT, This Saturday, December 19th from 11AM-1:30PM PT, APACE Fellow Organizers are collaborating with MFV & OCA Texas youth during a workshop open to youth called Destress + Decompress & most importantly: self care & reflect.

This is a wonderful opportunity to both decompress and connect with youth activist / artists / awesome people in Texas! 

Please sign-up and share widely 💐✨

Sign-up link: https://bit.ly/DecYELS2020 or Swipe ⬅️ to view the link and sign up!
2021 is an election year for Seattle! 🗳 The pos 2021 is an election year for Seattle! 🗳 The positions for mayor, city attorney, and two city council positions will be on the ballot. We’ll do our best to share more info as we get into 2021. ✨
#apinh #api #aapi #democracyvouchers #seattle #election
😎 What’s cooler than being cool?? Staying at 😎 What’s cooler than being cool?? Staying at home and keeping everyone safe while doing so! 🏡💖 But we also gotta make sure we relax and take care of ourselves. APACE is holding a virtual game night for folks to join in & make new friends while playing some games! All game options will be accessible via mobile device or computer, & will be free to play. See bit.ly/apacegames for more details. Link in bio! 🧩

Image Description: Slide 1: Thursday, December 10. 5:30pm-6:30pm: APINH Game Night. Join us on zoom!

Slide 2: We will be playing games that are accessible via mobile device or computer & free to play! Join us on zoom! Register via bit.ly/apacegames to receive an email with the zoom link. See you there!

#aapi #api #apinh #wa #washington #seattle #pnw #gamenight #virtualevent #zoom
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Subscribe

Help us register, educate and encourage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to vote by donating to the APACEvotes.

Donate Now

Our Vision

We envision active and powerful APIA Communities who are well-educated on the issues, informed of the political process and fully participate in our democracy.

Our Mission

APACEvotes strives to increase access and participation in electoral and civic affairs by registering, educating and protecting APIA voters.

Register To Vote

Your vote will make a difference.

Register to vote now.

Register Now

Donate

Help us educate people and spread the word by donating to APACEvotes.

Donate Now

Contact Us

info@apace-votes.org

Copyright © 2023 APACEvotes