FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Justine Ventura Mejia

Programs Manager

Phone: (213) 269-4639

Email: justine@causeusa.org

Los Angeles, CA – The Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) will host a virtual press conference featuring California Secretary of State, Alex Padilla, and leaders of community organizations representing the Asian Pacific American community via Zoom on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 02:00 PM PST.

Entitled “Make us Count,” this event is a follow up to the February press conference about the availability of in-language ballots to encourage an increase in voter participation from the Asian Pacific American (APA) community. With unprecedented events impacting this year’s election, the Honorable Alex Padilla will join the APA community again to provide important updates about the upcoming election, including mail-in voting details and in-person voting safety. This event will also cover ways to improve voter participation and ensure voter confidence, along with approaches on how the public and non-profit sectors can work together to increase voter turnout.

“The diversity of the Asian Pacific American community comes with a diversity of considerations to ensure that our votes are counted and our voices are heard,” states Nancy Yap, the Executive Director of CAUSE. “To make that happen, it is imperative that we know the Secretary of State’s plan and have an opportunity to learn about the changes in the voting process.”

Charlie Woo, Board Chair of CAUSE, also commented on Secretary Padilla's participation in this follow-up event. "Secretary Padilla continues to prove his commitment to Asian Pacific American voters and understanding the value of in-language resources. In February, he shared the translated resources for the March election and is joining us again to share what is available for our communities this November. This partnership and accountability will help us reach more voters and continue to improve voter participation for the future. We have no doubt that he will continue to be an ally to our community moving forward."

Following the Secretary of State’s remarks, APA nonprofit organizations will share the resources that they are also providing to increase voter turnout, including events and in-language materials.

About CAUSE

Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan, community-based organization with a mission to advance the political empowerment of the Asian Pacific American community through nonpartisan voter outreach, training, and education as well as leadership development.

Since its founding 1993, CAUSE has led efforts to drive APA civic engagement, from facilitating in-language Get Out The Vote workshops in the Greater Los Angeles Area to hosting the first-ever APA-facing gubernatorial debate in California history in 2018. CAUSE plans to continue efforts in 2020 to mobilize the community by providing the knowledge, access, and network to inspire APAs of all ages to voice their vote.

For any further inquiries, please contact CAUSE via phone at (213) 269-4639 or email at info@causeusa.org. General information can be obtained from our website at www.causeusa.org. Our office is located at 1605 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite #1027, Los Angeles, CA 90015.

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