Vital Fact-Gathering and Community Strategy Policy Forum for Asian Pacific Americans Announced

 

The alliance of over 20 Asian Pacific American community groups announces the 5^th annual “Asian Pacific American Policy & Resource Forum” in Richmond on January 15^th.

 

Eric Liang Jensen, Chairman of the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPAVA) announced “This year’s forum will make a major impact on the future of policy for Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) in Virginia.  We will hold a statutory public forum to assess the concerns and issues of APAs in Virginia and also strategize with all the grassroots groups on how to solve these issues.”

 

Rumy Mohta, President of the coalition group Asian American Society of Central Virginia (AASoCV) said: “Resources and policies of the Commonwealth have not kept pace with the needs of our APA communities.  This is why this broad alliance of Asian Pacific American organizations is hosting this ‘APA Policy & Resources Forum’ to bring focus on issues confronting our communities, and work to bring all the groups together to help build solutions. 

 

Vickie Mirandah, Chairwoman of the statutory body Virginia Asian Advisory Board (VAAB), said: “the Board is launching a series of four regional public forums to assess the state of APAs in Virginia. The Richmond Public Forum will be held as part of the annual APA Policy & Resource Forum.  We will bring witnesses from Central Virginia to highlight the barriers to resources and the needs of our APA communities.”  The other hearings will be held in tidewater in March, Roanoke in April, and Northern Virginia in May.  Chairwoman Mirandah said: ” We hope to elicit a comprehensive body of information that will help the elected officials understand the needs of our communities better and to direct policy solutions to meet those needs.”

 

Eric Jensen, CAPAVA Chairman said: “the Asian Pacific American community in Virginia has doubled in the last 15 years.  We are becoming a vital part of Virginia’s political landscape, particularly in elections that will affect the future of  Virginia and the Nation.”

 

The January 15^th Policy & Resource Forum will be held from 12:00-5:30 at the Bank of America Building, 1111 E. Main Street, 18^th floor.   Additional information will be presented on:

 

• how to preserve financial assets and prepare for the tough times ahead;
• how the State’s legislative and budget process works;
• what the Republican and Democratic caucuses’ legislative priorities are;
• how to access critical State programs & services; and
• how to do business with the State.

 

The APA community will engage in a community strategic session on building network partnerships and developing policy solutions to meet the needs of APA communities. 

 

In the evening, 6:00-8:30 p.m., the APA Policy & Resource Forum will host a reception at the Suntrust Bank Building, 919 E. Main Street, 24^th floor, where the Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Cabinet Members, State legislators and APA community groups will join in the celebration of the Lunar New Year. (All events are free.)

 

For more information, contact: Eric Jensen, Chairman, Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia;  (703) 868-8325, eljensen@comcast.net,  Rumy Mohta, President, Asian American Society of Central Virginia, (804) 290-0869, richtrvl@aol.com; or Vickie Mirandah, Chair, Virginia Asian Advisory Board, (804) 363-5415, Vickie.mirandah@capitalone.com.

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