Filipino American Leaders Gather in Washington D.C.

This is a historic time for Filipino Americans across our country. Swing states like Nevada are engaging the Filipino vote to secure elected positions. Filipino American leaders are holding influential roles at local governments, community based organizations, national nonprofit advocacy groups, political parties and yet we are still underrepresented at national and local policy and political tables. Our community is naturally drawn to organizing in our different pockets of the country, but now is the time to amplify our national voice. With this we are able to build off of the foundation of our heritage and highlight issues that affect us today and generations to come.

This week, Filipino American leaders from across the country will travel to our nation’s capital to engage in a critical conversation of infrastructures that we can tap into and to address new data issues. Combined with the briefings with the Administration, community political briefings, and the brainpower of Filipino American community leaders in policy and politics, we will begin to address ways to leverage local and national assets to create a collaborative agenda as our community grows to new political heights.

Event 1:

WHAT: From Data to Engagement: Panels on ways Filipino American leaders can take stock of their community’s capacity to engage in policy, advocacy and political campaigns.

WHO: Hosted by KAYA; Panel presentations by KAYA, NAFVE, NaFFAA Fil Vote, APALA, DNC,

Panels and presenters:

Welcome and introductions — Hyacinth Alvaran, Diversity Program Associate, Human Rights Campaign; Marita Etcubanez, Washington DC Chapter Co-Chair, KAYA:Filipino Americans for Progress and Melvin Tabilas, Washington DC Chapter Co-Chair, KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress

Panels moderated by Vida Benavides, Principal; Dewey Square Group (Leadership Adviser & Strategist)

Data – Gem Daus, Adjunct Faculty, Asian American Studies at the University of Maryland and Erwin De Leon, Research Associate, Urban Institute

Engagement – National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE): Ben de Guzman, Co-Director, National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance; KAYA: Genevieve V. Jopanda, National Co-Chair KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress and Jason Lagria, National Co-Chair, KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress; The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA \Fil Vote: Bing Branigin, Chair, NaFFAA;

Campaign – Naomi Tacuyan Underwood, Asian American andPacific Islander Outreach Director, Democratic National Committee, GregCendana, Executive Director, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO,and Mario Salazar, Nevada Operation Vote Director, Obama for America

Next steps — Gem Daus, Adjunct Faculty, Asian American Studies at the University of Maryland

Wrap-up – KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress

WHEN: Thursday, June 21, 2012, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. EST

WHERE: Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036

RSVP: https://bit.ly/FilAmPoliticalBriefing

Event 2:

WHAT: Reception Honoring Senator Daniel K. Akaka for his distinguished leadership, service, and contributions to the Filipino American community.

WHO: Honoring Senator Daniel K. Akaka (HI); Filipino American community leaders from across the country; Dante Basco is featured emcee.

Reception Host Committee:

Loida Lewis, Gloria T. Caoile, Tony Taguba, Tessie Guillermo, Lourdes Tancinco, Rosie Abriam, Sonia Aranza, Irene Bueno, Vida Benavides, Melissa Hampe, Gem Daus, Paulo Pontemayor, Erwin de Leon, Naomi Tacuyan Underwood, Jason Lagria, Melvin Tabillas, Jian Zapata, Daphne Domingo, Terrina Gogue, APALA Ed Fund, Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, KAYA: Filipino Americans for Progress

WHEN: Thursday, June 21, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. EST

WHERE: Human Rights Campaign, 1640 Rhode Island Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036

RSVP: https://bit.ly/SenAkakaReceptionRSVP

Event 3:

WHAT: Thinking Forward: Open discussion and political issue debrief from Filipino American leaders addressing how to leverage local and national assets to create a collaborative agenda for shared action.

WHO: Hosted by KAYA DC

WHEN: Friday, June 22, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon EST

WHERE: National Education Association, 1201 16th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036

RSVP: https://bit.ly/FilAmPoliticalBriefing