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In honor of Women’s History Month, The Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of the California Democratic Party is excited to a panel discussion of API Women Mayor’s moderated by our own Northern Outreach Chair Harris Mojadedi.This event will be taking place on Thursday, March 18th.
We are honored to have the following Mayors as our panelists:

Daly City Mayor Juslyn Manalo 
Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan 
Mountain View Mayor Ellen Kamei  
Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen 

The panel discussion will take place from 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM. Join us this Thursday. You can also see details updated on our Facebook Event Page.

The direct registration link is still open, so please feel free to register here.

Register today for the CADEM Fall Virtual Executive Meeting of the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus:  http://bit.ly/APICaucusFall2020

California Democratic Party 2020 Summer Executive Board Meeting

Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Meeting Agenda

Friday, November 13, 2020 | 7:30pm -9:30pm

via online: bit.ly/APICaucusFall2020

http://www.apicaucus.com | https://cadem.org/our-party/executive-board/

1. Call to Order | Welcome
2. Approval of Agenda
3. Approval of Minutes                             
4. Elected Officer Reports
   1. State Chair’s Report
   2. State Treasurer’s Report
      1. Caucus Membership
      2. Dues Update and Membership Renewal
   3. State Secretary’s Report
   4. Northern California Report
   5. Southern California Report
5. Committee Reports
   1. Adoption of By-Law Amendements
6. Election 2020 Re-cap and Discussion
   2020 API Endorsed Candidates List
7. Speakers and Announcements
8. Adjournment

* Note: Speaking Requests If you wish to address the Caucus, please email our State Chair, Melissa Ramoso at mramoso.cdp@gmail.com. Speaking is not guaranteed.

The Asian Pacific Islanders Caucus of the California Democratic Party will be holding its first virtual Executive Board Meeting tonight. After brief opening reports the API Caucus is excited to hold its panel discussion “Looking Within: Addressing anti-blackness in the API Community,” moderated by our own Northern Outreach Chair Harris Mojadedi.

The meeting will officially begin at 7:45 PM. The panel discussion will take place from 8:00 PM – 9:15 PM. Join us tonight! The full agenda can be found here. You can also see details and updated on our Facebook Event Page.

If you missed the registration deadline, but still want to attend visit the direct registration page and attempt to register. https://cadem-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkc-mhqzIsE9zF-YiwvMsNe4ocI53qnzWa

California Democratic Party 2020 Summer Executive Board Meeting

Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Meeting Agenda

Friday, July 24, 2020 | 7:45pm -9:45pm

via online (registration link TBD)

http://www.apicaucus.com | https://cadem.org/our-party/executive-board/

1) Call to Order | Welcome

2) Approval of Agenda

3) Approval of Minutes                             

4) Elected Officer Reports

1. State Chair Report
2. State Treasurer Report
3. Caucus Membership
4. Dues Update and Membership Renewal
5. State Secretary’s Report
6. Northern California Report
7. Southern California Report

5) Committee Reports

a) By-Law Amendments

7) Adjournment

6) Speakers and Announcements

The California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus urges legislators to take action to restore affirmative action in California. Allowing race and gender to be considered in college admissions, hiring, and government contracting levels the playing field for those who lack personal connections or face discrimination, including API students, employees, and businesses.

After Prop 209 banned affirmative action in 1996, Asian American and Pacific Islander admission rates to the University of California, including Berkeley and UCLA, went down. While the total number of API students has increased, it is at a slower rate than the increase in California’s API population. Other states that continue to use affirmative action have seen faster increases.

We understand that college admissions is a sensitive issue for many immigrant communities. Being new to the country, without the connections to grow businesses, education is seen as the primary path to success. Affirmative action – especially if using disaggregated data (the API population is made up of many ethnicities and communities with very different incomes, histories, and challenges) – gives these communities a boost. It also opens additional doors through government contracting and hiring.

For these reasons, the California Democratic Party’s current platform calls for the following:

• Support the re-establishment and implementation of equitable affirmative action in admissions processes at California’s public universities and colleges
• Encourage, support, and defend voluntary and mandatory affirmative action measures aimed at enhancing equality in employment, education, and business opportunities
• Support review of affirmative action programs and goals that ensures the implementation and results are carefully nuanced and uses disaggregated data, particularly for the large category of Asian American and Pacific Islander (“API”)
• Support affirmative action, the rights accorded to women in Title IX, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution

Thank You,

California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus

Deepa Sharma Alfred Twu

State Treasurer Northern Secretary

The Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Democratic Caucus, the Filipino American Caucus, the California Young Democrats Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus, and California Democratic Party Secretary Jenny Bach are launching a statewide Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month campaign that is reflective of our stories and values to feature API activists and leaders throughout the state.

As hate crimes against the API community are on the rise, exacerbated by racist language issued by the federal administration, we must continue to support our community and elevate our collective API voices.

Throughout this month, we will be highlighting individuals to hear an account of their journeys from overcoming barriers to their personal achievements. We hope that these stories serve to inspire and encourage our Democratic communities to join us in celebrating API Heritage Month and to take a stand against hate and backlash toward California’s API communities. 

In Solidarity,

Melissa Ramoso, CDP API Caucus Chair

Nicole Villaruz, CDP Filipino Caucus Chair

Faith Lee, CYD API Caucus Chair

Jenny Bach, CDP Secretary

#CDPAPI #APAHM

Fellow Democrats:

“The California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander (API) Caucus is proud to join all Americans in celebrating API Heritage Month and embracing the diversity of our communities. However, we note that this year’s Heritage Month observances come at a time where the fastest growing immigrant population in America is facing the grim reality of increased incidences of hate crimes. We all must work to combat xenophobia in our communities.”

“API Heritage Month typically marks the celebration of the critical contributions APIs have made in weaving the fabric of modern America for more than a century and a half. The rich and complex history of the Asian Pacific Islander community is the story of America.”

“This API Heritage month we call on all people of all backgrounds to stand up against all forms of hate, prejudice, and racism.”

“In celebration of our rich history, we are highlighting the trailblazing leaders in the nation, California, and the Democratic Party that are fighting every day against hate and intolerance. The strength of this community lies in its unique and vibrant diversity. As we continue our achievements and progress, we must embrace our legacy, cherish our diversity, and continue to fight together as we work to strengthen our nation.”

The California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Executive Board has continued to meet by phone every month to discuss these issues of importance. We praise the work of Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Center for their tremendous work with their STOP AAPI HATE national campaign. We also recognize the tremendous contributions of HollaBack! and Asian Americans Advancing Justice in providing tremendous amounts of bystander intervention training and resources. 

If you or anyone you know has experienced a hate crime because of the crisis, please report it at the link above. From this data, we can formulate a plan of action on how to address these crimes and future policies to help us.

In Solidarity,

California Democratic Party 

Asian Pacific Islander Caucus

Message from the State Chair
Dear Fellow Democrats:

I truly hope you are doing well including your loved ones. It is such an unprecedented time and on a daily basis we are saturated with COVID-19 information, hearing of xenophobic crimes affecting our community, and having to deal with the blatant ignorance and stupidity of our President that is directly affecting immigrants and our community. Having to balance the health of ourselves and our loved ones should be our first concern, but this Administration only creates a space filled with anger and the desire to fight back at the polls in November.
The CA Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Executive Board has continued to meet by phone every month to discuss issues of importance. We praise the work of Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Center for their tremendous work with their STOP AAPI HATE national campaign. If you or anyone you know has experienced a hate crime because of the crisis, please report it at the link above. From this data, we can formulate a plan of action how to address these crimes and future policies to help us. 
Furthermore with our deep roots as Democrats to activate, again we will not tolerate the hate our community is experiencing. We don’t assimilate, WE RISE UP! Call out discrimination when we see it! Asian Americans for Advancing Justice and Hollaback! have joined forces to conduct bystander intervention training when we see these crimes occur. The CDP API Caucus, CDP Secretary Jenny Bach and the CYD API Caucus are all encouraging you to join us for their May 2nd training to learn the correct tools on how to address discrimination and to kick-off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Register below and also join us on several virtual meet-ups as we regroup, reflect, and take action for the months ahead.
Lastly, California is only slightly ahead of the national average in our US Census response rates at almost 54%. Please take the time to take the US Census Survey, inform others and especially those in college. If not listed, write-in your API ethnic group so that you can be accounted for. Our federal programs, funding for our communities and congressional districts depend on the outcome of this survey.
Thank you all and be well.
Democratically yours,

Melissa Ramoso
State Chair, Asian Pacific Islander Caucus
California Democratic Party
and the Executive Board

Together with the CYD API Caucus, we had successful canvassing days for the Honorable Henry Lo for Monterey Park City Council and Dr. Suely Saro for Long Beach City Council where we were joined by Sentor Lena Gonzalez. The fight is not over, so consider helping them and all our API Democratic candidates out today!