Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The State of Oregon is Did you know... to improve APA health outcomes in Oregon. We have
creating a marketplace for done this through workshops, community forums, film
individuals, employers • More than 18% of Asians and 22% of Native discussions and public testimonies.
Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are uninsured, For 2011, HEART identified the Oregon Health
and families to purchase
compared to 12% of Whites Insurance Exchange as a top legislative priority issue.
private health insurance. By federal law, everyone in the US is required to buy
Oregon’s Health • Preventable death and disease rates, including breast health insurance by 2014 or they will be penalized. The
Insurance Exchange will cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and State of Oregon is moving quickly to create an insur-
make it easier to get hepatitis B, continue to disproportionately impact APA ance exchange to provide for the uninsured. APANO’s
insurance, reduce health Campaign for Health Equity aims for an insurance
• Asians are 3 to 13 times more likely to die from exchange that is accessible, affordable and culturally/
insurance costs, and set
hepatitis B (Chinese 6x, Korean 8x, Vietnamese 13x) linguistically appropriate for APA families, communities
consumer standards for and all Oregonians. How can we eliminate barriers,
health plans. It has been a powerful year for APANO’s Health Equity strengthen our families, and increase accountability?
and Reform Team (HEART). HEART is made up of APA Look for updates and ways to get involved in 2011.
(Asian Pacific American) community members who have
actively educated and advocated for our communities
Organizing and Advocating for the Interests of the Pan-Asian and Pan-Pacific Islander Communities of Oregon
Advocacy for Bilingual/Bicultural Education
English as a Second As our communities grow, particularly across the gap for immigrant students, and making school districts
Language programs (ESL) Metro Portland region, with an influx of Asian refugees more welcoming and accountable for APA students and
face issues with parent from Burma, Bhutan and Iraq, APANO has prioritized families.
educational equity and empowerment for students and In 2010 we had a significant accomplishment in
leadership, transpar-
parents. Members like you have helped us understand uniting to support Portland Public Schools bilingual/
ency and accountability the opportunities and challenges facing our young bicultural educational assistants who are key individuals
in student performance, people. Increasing parent leadership and the ability supporting our children’s academic success. We won
and services for refugee for parents and community to speak with one voice a victory through testimony and a community rally to
students. to school authorities is critical to our success. Our prevent a 33% cut, or over 23 positions.
goals are to address the inadequate radio of bilingual/
bicultural staff to students, shrinking the achievement
2 DID YOU KNOW More than four-in-five (84%) children in Oregon immigrant families are US citizens?
Urban Ecology Project
Environmental Justice is The Urban Ecology (UE) project, a collaborative from 17 different APA communities across all ages
the right to a clean and including the Oregon Universal Zulu Nation Hmong highlighted the need for further community organizing
safe place for all people American Community of Oregon, Center for Diversity and advocacy work in the areas including food access
and the Environmental, and OPAL Environmental Justice policies, human health and pollution, and the need for
where we live, work, play,
Oregon, was formed by APANO out of a concern for long-term leadership development to empower the fast
study, and pray. the growing environmental justice, sustainability and growing APA community to engage in the environmental
green economy issues in Portland. “APA communities and economic benefits of our region.
contribute rich cultural traditions, and experience in both In the coming year, the Urban Ecology Project is
trades and diverse professions,” but as the UE annual linking environmental justice with APANO’s health equity
report highlights, “APA voices are often ignored.” efforts, following up on the lead recommendations and
This year’s project consisted of three phases: further developing youth and young adults leadership.
organizing focus groups, hosting 16 educational
workshops, and delivering an annual report to the City
of Portland. Over 500 surveys of community members
(Chinese)
(Japanese)
New Staff
(Lao)
(Korean)
(Fillipino)
From January to June 2011, Oregon’s legislature The 2010 mid-term election cycle was APANO’s • APA Voter participation
will meet in Salem to pass laws and set new budgets. 3rd consecutive Get-Out-The-Vote GOTV campaign - those eligible to cast
Through a community-driven process of engagement to increase voter participation in the Asian and Pacific votes - was as low as
with you our members and partners, the APANO Board Islander community. We canvassed over 250 45% in the last decade
approved a Legislative Agenda. Thank you to all who doors including Trick or Vote, called 10,000 APA in
participated in APANO’s Policy Advocacy/Civic 5 languages; distributed 23,500 APA Voter Guides • Voter registration of
Engagement Work Group which guided the process. distributed through the Asian Reporter (translated Asians and Pacific
We hope each of you will become a Legislative Captain into Cambodian, Chinese, Samoan, Korean, and Islanders continues to
in 2011. We will monitor, study, analyze and develop Vietnamese); and held 4 APA Voter Education Summits lag behind Whites in
position statements related to these priorities. in Multnomah, Marion, Lane and Washington counties Oregon
engaging 100 community members. While we were
disappointed the mandatory minimum sentence • APANO’s 1st
Legislative Agenda Measure 73 passed statewide, and Portland’s Voter Legislative Day in
Owned Elections 26-108 failed by only 1500 votes, we 2009 mobilized
made a significant impact by achieving our goals of over 80 community
1. Data Collection. Appropriating funds for increasing voter education and turnout in the pan-Asian members to meet with
disaggregation of racial/ethnic identities, maintaining pan-Pacific Islander communities. We have great 30 legislators in Salem
standards and improved health outcomes. momentum going into the 2011 Legislative Session!
While we lost at the ballot box with Voter-Owned • There are no elected
2. Culturally specific chronic disease prevention. Elections failing 51%-49% and criminal injustice officials of Asian
illness prevention and wellness prevention programs and Measure 73 passing 57%-43%, we know we made a or Pacific Islander
funding. Hep B, Tobacco, HIV/AIDS, Obesity, Cancer difference. Through our bilingual and bicultural direct descent in Oregon’s
screening, budget allocations, accountability for private outreach we reached over 2,000 Asian and Pacific legislature
insurers. Islander voters. American elections are new to many
3. State Health Insurance Exchange. Ensure in our community, and the voting process can be
language access, immigrant/refugee inclusion, confusing. Many of these voters remarked at how
affordability, comparability and accessibility. valuable our outreach was, and how meaningful it is to
be supported in making sure we are educated on the
4. Funding for Refugee Services. During this
issues and mobilized by election day.
extensive cut year, ensuring refugees are not
disproportionately impacted.
5. Opposing Xenophobic and Anti-Immigrant
Policies. Respond to potential legislation denying equal Youth Advocacy Institute
rights to immigrants and refugees, racial profiling, unfair Asians and Pacific Islanders are breaking out of
business requirements. the passive, invisible stereotype and speaking up and
speaking out for equal rights. APANO’s new summer
institute for emerging leaders is an intensive two-day
Statewide 2011 community building and leadership training program for
Oregon young Asian and Pacific Islanders. We seek
In addition, we have endorsed legislative measures to bridge the gap between the younger and older
advancing equity through the State Earned Income Tax generations, deepen our understanding of a Pan-Asian/
Credit, Paid Family Leave, Racial Impact Statements, Pacific Islander culture, and learn new skills to help unify
Voter Modernization, Immigrant Inclusion in Healthy and advocate for our community needs.
Kids, and Cultural Competency for Health APANO organized its first Youth Advocacy Institute
Professionals. 2010 bringing together 15 youth and 15 young mentors
...continued on page 6
6 DID YOU KNOW Burmese and Bhutanese are the largest refugee communities immigrating to Oregon.
APANO Is Granted 501c3 Status
In October 2010, APANO received its 501c3 tax-exempt status as a nonprofit corporation. We extend our
appreciation to Co-Chair June Schumann and Treasurer Thomas Ngo for facilitating the process, the Willamette
University College of Law for their legal services, and to the Rural Organizing Project for serving as our
fiscal sponsor.
www.apano.org
www.apano.org | Asian
| Asian Pacific
Pacific American
American Network
Network of Oregon
of Oregon | December
| December 7
2010 5
2010
APANO With Support From APANO Board of Directors
PO Box 6552 Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance Co-Chair June Arima Schumann
Portland, OR 97208 Asian Pacific Islander American Health Forum Co-Chair Pamela Phan
503-512-0274 Asian Pacific Islander American Vote Secretary Channbunmorl Sou
info@apano.org Asian Reporter Treasurer Thomas Ngo
www.apano.org Asian Reporter Foundation Policy Advocacy/Civic Engagement Co-Chair
Community Health Priorities Huy Ong & Kathy Wai
APANONews TWITTER Kaiser Permanente Community Fund Health Equity & Reform Chair Carmen Madrid
On FACEBOOK McKenzie River Gathering Foundation Educational Equity Committee Co-Chair
Northwest Health Foundation Thach Nguyen & Ann Ishimaru
Office of Multicultural Health and Services
Oregon Voice At-Large
Rural Organizing Project Emily S. Ryan
The Lim Family (Jaime, Jody, Jennifer, Jason, Justin) Lee Po Cha
United Way of Columbia-Willamette Mardine Mao
Western States Center Mary Li
And individual members like you Phyllis Lee
Ronault Catalani
Staff
Coordinator Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons
APANO’s Board of Directors are intentionally drawn
Field Organizer John Joo
from diverse racial/cultural, generational and geographic
Field Organizer Colin Kiley
communities of Oregon.
Membership Justin Takaha White
Research Analyst Rinna Rem
Research Analyst Jessica Lee
Designer Phamala Luangphasy
Bookkeeper Rebecca Luxenberg
APANO, the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, unites and advances the interests of the pan-Asian, pan-Pacific Islander communities of
Oregon through community building, civic engagement and policy advocacy. We are a 501(c)(3) organization.
APAN
Asian
PO BOXPacific American
6552 Portland, Network| www.apano.org
OR 97208-6552 of Oregon