Asian American Insight

January 6, 2004

 

I.                   Updates and Announcements

1.       New to Asian American Institute—Choua Vue, Program Coordinator

2.       Exit Poll & Poll Monitoring for Primary Elections—March 16th

3.       Asian American Government Liaison Trainings

4.       Save the Dates

 

II.                Actions Alerts

1.       Volunteer opportunities at AAI

2.       Internships at AAI

III.             News

1.       Tom Ridge supports legalizing undocumented Immigrants  

2.       U.S. State Department Grants Thai Hmong Resettlement

3.       CLEAR Act proposal to require state/local police officials to enforce immigration laws

4.       Glenn Yamahiro—First Asian American to be Appointed Judge in Wisconsin

 

 

I.   AAI Update and Announcements

1.       Choua Vue recently joined the Asian American Institute as the Program Coordinator.  She recently graduated from Carleton College with a B.A. in American Studies.  AAI is excited to have her on staff!

 

2.       AAI is currently coordinating the Exit Poll surveys and Poll Monitoring for the upcoming Primary Elections on March 16th, 2004.  The surveys will allow AAI to continue to monitor Asian American and Pacific Islanders’ voting patterns and the poll monitoring will allow the Institute to ensure AAPI voting rights are protected.  For more information, visit our website: www.aaichicago.org    

 

3.       AAI held a series of workshops titled, Asian Americans: History, Racial Inequality and Policy, this past December for Asian American Government Liaisons from national, state and local levels of the Illinois government sector.  The trainings covered Asian American demographics, challenges of the model minority myth, and policy issues in the Asian American community.  MEET the Asian American Liaisons of Illinois on our website:  www.aaichicago.org

 

4.       SAVE THE DATE!

         January 23-24th, 2004—AAI is cosponsoring Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee

            Rights’ Policy Summit:  From Newcomers to New Americans: Building Immigrant

            Power in Illinois.  For more information:  www.icirr.org

            Workshop highlights:

à        Building Asian American Political Power

à        Getting the Message Across:  Interview and Spokesperson Training

à        Voter Registration & Mobilization:  How to Make Sure Your Voice is Heard

             Youth Strategies for Political Power

        June 10, 2004—Asian American Institute’s Milestone Dinner

 

II.  Action Alerts

1.       Serve the Community—Volunteer!

a.         Volunteer to conduct exit poll interviews on March 16th, 2004—Primary Elections

b.         Volunteer to monitor polls on March 16th, 2004

c.         Volunteer to input data from the polls on March 16th, 2004

d.         Volunteer to coordinate the press release conference for the Primary Election

 

2.       AAI is currently seeking interns to assist on current community projects and provide technical assistance.  If you have computer skills, interest in learning about non-profits, and/or the passion to promote social and political change in the Asian American community, this internship is for you!  Resumes are reviewed on a rolling basis.  Download an application from our website:  www.aaichicago.org 

 

***For more information about volunteering and internship opportunities: Contact Choua Vue at (773) 271-0899 or Choua@aaichicago.org

 

III.  News

  1.  Tom Ridge, Homeland Security Secretary announced that he supports legalizing undocumented immigrants stating that it is time the United States comes to “grips” with the 8 to 12 million undocumented immigrants.  However, legalizing undocumented immigrants should not to be mistaken as granting them citizenship status.  To learn more:  www.aaichicago.org/tomridge.htm
  2. “U.S. Reverses, Lets Hmong Exiles Resettle\ 15,000 War Refugees Allowed To Apply to Leave Thai Camp”  In December of this year, the U.S. State Department granted 15,000 Thai Hmong refugees an opportunity to resettle in the U.S.  During a time in which the U.S. has been allowing only fewer than 30,000 refugees to enter the U.S. since Sept. 11, 200, this decision comes at a surprise and provides hope of opening up more doors for refugees. For more information, read in the Washington Post

             http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20102-2003Dec21.html

  1. CLEAR Act to require local law enforcements to do immigrations checks

The proposal, titled the Clear Law Enforcement for Criminal Alien Removal (CLEAR) Act, was introduced on Oct. 16, 2003, by Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA).  If approved, the law would require state and local police to enforce civil immigration law or risk the loss of federal funds. To learn more:  “Clear Act Obscures Justice:” http://www.amnestyusa.org/waronterror/clearact.html

  1. In November 2003, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle appointed Glenn Yamahiro to

       replace Jacqueline Schellinger’s seat in Milwaukee County. Yamahiro is the first Asian

       American judge to be appointed in Wisconsin.  To keep this seat, Yamahiro needs to be

       elected in April.  For more information, please read: 

             http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/local_13904170.shtml