APACEvotes

Asian and Pacific Islander Americans for Civic Empowerment

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Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan 2018-2020

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Introduction

Since 2005, APACE (Asian Pacific Islander Americans for Civic Empowerment) has been actively organizing Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to make our communities’ voices heard. Despite the progress we have made, more work needs to be done to strengthen our political power. Effective advocacy for our communities’ needs requires a seat at the table, but AAPIs are under-represented in all levels of government. We are the fastest growing group of people of color in Washington State and we represent 6.5% of all eligible voters. Yet only seven – less than 1% – of all 147 state legislators are AAPIs. This strategic plan lays out our next steps for empowering AAPIs to participate in the political process.

Increasing our organizational capacity is a prerequisite for advancing our mission. We will hire our first executive director, and subsequently add more staff positions, to build on the achievements of our dedicated volunteers. To address the inadequate representation of AAPIs in government, we will develop a pipeline of candidates through culturally competent training programs. Electing candidates who are well-positioned to effect change requires data to inform decisions about the best use of our resources. The 2020 census can provide that data, but its accuracy is contingent on AAPIs’ willingness to be counted. Therefore, we will conduct outreach encouraging AAPIs to participate in the census. We also support national AAPI organizations’ calls for a more precise breakdown of ethnic and racial census data.

Although APACE works directly with AAPI communities, we share a commitment to racial, political, and economic equity with other communities that face injustice. This strategic plan will guide us toward our vision of a more just, inclusive, and progressive society that benefits all of Washington State.

 

Theory of Change

 

The Problem

Although AAPIs are among the fastest growing populations in our state, our economic and political power has not kept up with our numbers. AAPIs are disproportionately hurt by racial inequality, poverty, and job insecurity. Our health outcomes are poor and our education outcomes are inadequate. Yet our communities’ low level of political engagement prevents us from effectively advocating for policies that address our problems.

The Solution

AAPI communities must actively participate in the political process, become decision-makers in government, and champion progressive policies that raise the quality of life for all of us.

APACE increases civic engagement in the AAPI community

APACE works with AAPIs to conduct inclusive, culturally competent voter outreach and education. Through voter education, door-to-door canvassing, phone banking, and independent expenditures, we galvanize our communities and elect progressive decision-makers.

This results in AAPI political empowerment through:

Participation

AAPIs turn out for elections and vote in support of policies and candidates that help their communities.

Education

AAPIs understand current issues that affect them. They know how the electoral process shapes government responses to their communities’ needs.

Representation

AAPIs are elected to office and use their knowledge and lived experience to champion progressive policies.

Positive changes occur:

Economic Justice

All AAPIs have economic security and opportunities for success.

As our communities thrive economically, we invest our wealth in our culture and values.

Political Equity

AAPI candidates win elections and become effective champions of progressive policies.

Our communities get the political investment they need to participate fully in the democratic process.

Racial Equity

AAPIs confront the racial inequities that undermine the democratic process. We identify the root causes of racism and work to eliminate its power within our institutions, our systems, and ourselves.

These changes advance our vision:

A JUST, INCLUSIVE, AND PROGRESSIVE WASHINGTON STATE
WITH RACIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC EQUITY FOR ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING AAPIS.

 

Vision, Mission, and Values

 

Vision

We envision a just, inclusive, and progressive Washington State with racial, political, and economic equity for all people, including AAPIs.

Mission

We expand democracy by identifying and removing barriers that prevent AAPIs from full civic engagement. We create pathways that educate and mobilize our diverse communities to take civic action across Washington State.

Values

Political Action: We mobilize AAPI voices and votes to be a powerful, unified force in electoral and civic affairs.

Transformation: We recognize that electoral processes alone are not enough to create widespread systems change. We believe that true social change requires a commitment to personal, institutional, and structural transformation.

Accountability: We prioritize transparency and modeling a culture of learning that embraces resilience, reflection, and reparation.

Community: We are committed to building partnerships, strengthening local networks, practicing shared decision making, and regularly seeking input to better understand the needs of our diverse community.

Self-Determination: We value the wisdom and experience of every voice in our community and are committed to empowering all AAPIs to participate in determining our future.

Equity: We acknowledge that systems of oppression impact individuals differently based on the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, religion, immigration status, English-language proficiency, ability, age, and class. We are committed to building political power that is centered on the voices of those most vulnerable to injustice.

History

 

APACE’s roots lie in the Asian American movement of the 1960s, when AAPI activists founded our predecessor, the Asian Coalition for Equality (ACE). ACE was created to fight for equal opportunity programs that included AAPIs.

In 1997, ACE was reborn as APACE (Asian Pacific American Coalition for Equality). Its resurgence was driven by the threat posed by Initiative 200 (I-200), which called for an end to affirmative action in Washington State. In just seventeen months, APACE built relationships with national political organizations and partnered with nineteen other groups in the fight against I-200. I-200 passed, despite forceful opposition by organizations representing people of color, women, and progressives.

From 1998 to 2005, AAPI political organizing continued, but only during the campaign season. In 2005, APACE was relaunched to build our communities’ capacity for effective year-round civic engagement. To emphasize this commitment, we updated our name to Asian Pacific Islander Americans for Civic Empowerment. APACE was also restructured as three entities: APACE, a 501(c)(4); APACEvotes, a 501(c)(3); and APACE PAC. Since its creation in 2010, APACEvotes has organized voter registration drives and nonpartisan get-out-the-vote campaigns. Beginning in 2012, our 501(c)(4) has coordinated independent expenditures for races for governor and the state legislature, as well as for selected ballot initiatives. From the 22,000-name database APACE created in 1997, we have expanded our outreach to over 150,000 AAPI voters.

 

Strategies

 

1. Hire an executive director

To elevate APACE’s performance as a high-functioning organization, we will hire an executive director who will take the lead in putting together a team of professional staff. Our vision is too ambitious, and our mission too important, to be realized by our existing team of volunteers and board members. In the hiring process, we will seek a candidate with political experience, leadership skills, and a profound understanding of AAPI communities. With a dynamic executive director, APACE will become a potent force in Washington politics.

Goal: Hire six staff members supported by a stable budget

Tactics/Activities:

 Raise funds to ensure a consistent cash flow for salaries
Develop HR procedures, including guidelines for the hiring process
Use board members’ social networks to recruit high-quality candidates

Measurable Outcomes: Annual hiring and retention goals met

 

2. Develop a pipeline of AAPI candidates

For the AAPI community to become politically empowered, more AAPIs must hold political office. That means our communities need a pipeline of candidates. To succeed, however, novice candidate training about campaign strategy, fundraising, and communications is needed. Although training opportunities for prospective candidates exist, Washington State’s AAPIs need a culturally competent approach that addresses our unique needs and strengths. We will build on our robust civic engagement program to develop a pipeline of candidates who are politically savvy and supported by their community.

Goal: Establish a training and leadership pipeline to increase representation of progressive AAPI champions in municipal, county and state government

Tactics/Activities:

 Send AAPIs to local and national candidate trainings for people of color

Measurable Outcomes: Five new AAPI candidates elected or appointed to state and/or local government office

 

3. Ensure the availability of accurate data about our communities

We need reliable, detailed data about our communities to be effective advocates. The 2020 census presents an opportunity to ensure that government data accurately reflects our population. Currently, however, census standards for collecting and reporting on race and ethnicity fail to capture the complexity of AAPI communities. Nationally, AAPI organizations are mobilizing to improve those standards through responses to the White House Office of Management and the Budget’s request for comments. Locally, we will conduct robust census outreach to educate AAPIs about the importance of participation and counteract national anti-immigrant propaganda. With accurate census data, we can target our work to generate maximum impact from our political activities.

Goals:

Increase overall AAPI participation in the 2020 census
Ensure that census data collection replaces current “Asian” self-identification category with broader range of choices reflecting diverse AAPI identities

Tactics/Activities:

Update database to include email addresses and phone numbers of current AAPI members
Track action alerts
Get a seat at the table where census decisions are made

Measurable Outcomes: Higher rate of AAPI participation than in 2010 census

 

Areas of focus

 

Economic Justice

Economic justice is vital to ensuring that AAPIs are full participants in the democratic process. When AAPIs lack economic security, the pressure of immediate needs can make it difficult for them to be civically engaged. We believe that all AAPIs should have fulfilling jobs that pay a living wage and should live in safe, affordable homes. Vulnerable members of our communities need the protection of a strong government safety net. Yet our communities face institutional barriers to economic success. The myth of Asian Americans as a model minority perpetuates the stereotype of our communities as affluent and ethnically homogenous. In actuality, racism and anti-immigrant prejudice undermine our opportunities for employment. Our communities are not alone in facing economic injustice. By working to remedy it, we contribute to the efforts of other marginalized communities to achieve economic security and enjoy the opportunities that all people in Washington State deserve.

Political Equity

To achieve political equity, AAPIs must be active participants in the electoral process and become effective advocates. Because we are currently under-represented in government, we have not had a say in how our communities are governed. The absence of AAPIs who hold office creates a vicious cycle: potential candidates do not have models or mentors who can help them succeed, thereby perpetuating our under-representation. Because census data collectors do not reach enough AAPIs and census categories do not adequately reflect our diverse identities, the extent of our under-representation is poorly understood. By advocating for AAPI representation in government, we contribute to the broader progressive movement seeking to ensure that all people of color achieve political equity at polling places and in all branches of government.

Racial Equity

Racial justice is a core tenet of our philosophy and the foundation of our work. Communities of color face structural, institutional, and internalized barriers to participation in the democratic process. We are committed to overcoming those barriers so that our communities are civically engaged and politically empowered. Without a seat at the table, our communities’ needs go unmet and racial inequality deepens. AAPI representation in government is essential to our communities’ ability to exercise their right to self-determination.

 

We acknowledge that racial oppression takes different forms in different communities of color. At the same time that we work in solidarity with broader communities of color on racial justice issues, we also focus on confronting racism within AAPI communities. Through a power analysis of AAPI positionality within America’s racial constructs, we examine the forces perpetuating anti-blackness in our communities. We also examine internalized racism, a subtle form of oppression that affects AAPIs as well as other people of color. By deconstructing the model minority myth, assumptions about assimilation, and other stereotypes specific to the AAPI experience, we will strengthen our resistance to racial oppression.

We are committed to an intersectional approach to racial justice. We understand that our community is made up of individuals who face injustice on multiple fronts. Classism, sexism, religious oppression, and anti-immigrant prejudice all have an impact on the diverse groups that make up the AAPI community. By building a racial justice framework within our community, we will strengthen our alliances and actively support all who are impacted by oppression.

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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/.
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#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.
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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
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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.

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