In the News

"'Vehicle for Change': Fil-Am voters drive to polls in jeepney"

“It was a drive around the block for a good cause.

The Pilipino Workers Center the and Center for Asian United for Self Empowerment or CAUSE were both on board in bringing voters to a polling center in LA's Eagle Rock neighborhood this past weekend via jeepney.”

"拍照、美食、串手鍊…亞美政聯投票動員會趣味多"

記者劉子為╱聖蓋博市報導 2024-11-05 01:00 ET


11月3日,亞美政聯(CAUSE)在聖蓋博市Blossom Market Hall舉辦了亞太裔投票動員會(TOGETHER WE VOTE: AN API GET OUT THE VOTE FEST),希望透過社區活動提升亞太裔的投票意願。現場提供拍照、集郵、串手鏈等有趣的方式,讓亞太裔社區成員能了解投票的重要性,並互相交流和聯結。現場還設有選票投遞站,以便民眾投票。

CAUSE執行長Nancy Yap表示,此次活動除提供選票投遞外,還包括適合家庭參與的教育活動,CAUSE一直致力成為亞太裔選民的資源中心。「我們希望民眾看到,投票和參與公共事務可以是一項家庭共享的活動。」Yap提到聖蓋博市擁有大量亞太裔居民,選在這裡舉辦活動意在提醒社區成員選舉的重要性,並提供語言資源,幫助有需要的亞裔選民獲取相關資訊。

在談到亞裔社區面臨的挑戰時,Yap指出,語言障礙和資訊獲取困難使亞裔選民難以參與政治。她說,「投票方式已經改變了,現在不僅可以郵寄投票,還可以在投票中心直接投票,而且所有機器都支持多語言翻譯。但我們發現社區成員對這些變化了解不夠。」Yap希望透過活動加強宣傳,讓選民能夠接觸更多資訊。

CAUSE的高級傳播經理蘇法恭(Farrah Su)介紹了本次活動的創意設計,希望以趣味形式讓選民感受到投票與日常生活息息相關。活動設置了拍照站、繪畫及手鏈製作站等互動區域,完成所有活動即「集郵成功」。她還提到,即便郵寄投票方式已經普及,亞太裔選民通常偏好親自投票。CAUSE希望透過這樣的活動在選舉日前持續推廣,提升亞裔選民的參與率。

"Culver City’s Night Market Reminds us that the Complexity of Asian Representation is Worth Understanding" (Westside Voice)

Westside Voices coverage of the Culver City Asian American and Pacific Islander Night Market, speaking with CAUSE Executive Director Nancy Yap.

"亞美政聯實習計畫畢業典禮 14大學生收穫滿滿" (World Journal)

亞美政聯(CAUSE)2023大學生暑期領導力實習計畫(Leadership Academy)畢業典禮18日在聖蓋博舉行。今年共有14名實習生從該項目畢業,他們在畢業典禮上分享了參與該項目的經歷,表示受益匪淺。

今年實習計畫已是第30屆,亞美政聯創始人創辦人兼主席胡澤群(Charlie Woo)指出,今年有100多位申請人,其中14人憑藉各自特長入選。暑期實習共有九周,學生們每周全職工作五天,約40小時,其中兩天在亞美政聯洛杉磯辦公室,另外三天在加州、聯邦民選官員辦公室或亞裔權益非營利組織實習。因為這些大學生來自美國各州,為讓他們後顧無憂地在加州實習,亞美政聯提供每位實習生4000元生活補助。

洛杉磯加大學生Meghna Nair,三歲從印度移民至美國。她說,參加該項目是想更深入了解亞裔社區的文化。她表示,通過該項目認識了很多傑出的人物,從他們身上學會了很多。她說,「亞美政聯拓寬了我的視野,讓我的世界更寬廣。」Meghna Nair在加州眾議員Al Muratsuch辦公室實習。

就讀於洛杉磯加大的Emma Chen,生長於聖蓋博谷。在參加此夏令營之前,就在亞美政聯實習。她了解到該夏令營廣受好評之後,決定也來參加。她得以在國會眾議員劉雲平(Ted W. Lieu)辦公室實習。她說,參加該項目讓她看到更多可能性,很多前輩給了她未來在該領域繼續發展的啟發。

就讀於波莫那學院(Pomona College)的Angel Yuan是加拿大人,在加拿大高中畢業後來美國讀大學。她說,通過該夏令營,認識了很多人,讓她了解政治是

芝加哥大學華裔生Liam Chia對公共政策非常感興趣,他說,自己來自於亞裔社區,弟弟有唐氏症,在照顧他的責任中,慢慢體會到社會政策和政治影響的重要性。亞美政聯的暑期項目讓他有機會更深入地了解政治,建立相關領域的人脈。他在國會眾議員趙美心辦公室實習。

胡澤群在當天的畢業典禮上祝賀14位政治實習生畢業,他強調了傳承的重要性。他說,畢業生應不忘如今所得到的實習機會,在未來應回饋給下一代亞裔,如此傳承才可以讓亞裔社區更加壯大。

4 in 10 California residents are considering packing up and leaving, new poll finds (LA Times)

The LA Times Benjamin Oreskes coverage on CAUSE’s recently released California Community Poll findings. The poll is the 7th in a series conducted in a historic partnership between CAUSE, HOPE, and LA Urban League.

"East West Bank Commits $6 Million to AAPI Organizations and Initiatives" (Businesswire)

PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM), East West Bank today reaffirmed its continued commitment to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. As part of its second-year pledge to the AAPI Giving Challenge, East West will donate upwards of $6 million to key nonprofits and initiatives supporting the AAPI movement for inclusion, equality, and justice.

"Are four-year colleges worth the cost? More Californians question the value of a degree" (The Tribune)

"Are four-year colleges worth the cost? More Californians question the value of a degree" (The Tribune)

The Tribune journalist Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks coverage on CAUSE’s recently released California Community Poll findings. The poll is the 5th in a series conducted in a historic partnership between CAUSE, HOPE, and LA Urban League.

"Are four-year colleges worth the cost? More Californians question the value of a degree" (The Sacramento Bee)

"Are four-year colleges worth the cost? More Californians question the value of a degree" (The Sacramento Bee)

The Sacramento Bee reporter Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks coverage on CAUSE’s recently released California Community Poll. The poll is the 5th in a series conducted in a historic partnership between CAUSE, HOPE, and LA Urban League.

"UC and CSU are unaffordable, and a 4-year degree isn’t the only way to succeed, Californians say in poll" (LA Times)

Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, Teresa Watanabe covers the recent findings in the April 2022 California Statewide Community Poll made in collaboration with CAUSE, HOPE, and LA Urban League.

"Will California’s Central Valley send a Latino to Congress in 2022?" (The Sacramento Bee)

"Will California’s Central Valley send a Latino to Congress in 2022?" (The Sacramento Bee)

The Sacramento Bee reporters Gillian Brassil, Jeong Park, Andrea Briseño coverage on the new Congressional redistricting maps and their impact on Latino, Asian, and Black communities. This article features an interview with Nancy Yap, CAUSE’s Executive Director.

"Latinos and Democrats benefit from new California congressional map" (The Washington Post)

"Latinos and Democrats benefit from new California congressional map" (The Washington Post)

The Washington Post reporter Colby Itkowitz coverage on the newly approved Congressional redistricting maps. Coverage includes quotes from an interview with Nancy Yap, Executive Director of CAUSE.

Protecting the Voting Rights of the San Gabriel Valley’s Asian American Community

Researchers from USC and UCLA, Dr. Christian Grose and Dr. Natalie Masouka, respectively, share evidence and findings supporting the San Gabriel Valley Asian American community will vote together for shared interests, based off of 2018 and 2019 voting patterns. Read more to learn about the impact the 2021 CA Redistricting draft maps will impact the Asian American SGV communities.

"The San Gabriel Valley's Asian-Majority Cities Would Be Split Up Under This Redistricting Plan" (LAist)

LAist’s Josie Huang talks with Nancy Yap, CAUSE Executive Director, and other local leaders about the CA 20221 Redistricting efforts and its impact on the SGV AAPI community.