APAICS | Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies

   
Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and U.S. Rep. Judy Chu speaking

CAPAC Chair U.S. Rep. Judy Chu noted the role of APAICS in developing AAPI leadership on Capitol Hill. Describing the young staffers she had addressed at an event hosted by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association (CAPASA), she noted, “[t]hey were bright, articulate, and impressive-with so much potential. And nearly every single one of them said that she had been an intern for APAICS. And there you have it: the meaning of APAICS!”  U.S. Rep. Chu also highlighted the strong partnership between the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and APAICS to raise the profile of the AAPI community on the national stage. 

 
The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta with U.S. Rep. Judy Chu and U.S. Rep. Mike Honda

U.S. Reps. Chu and Honda then presented the Honorable Norman Y. Mineta with a congressional resolution honoring his life’s work as an AAPI trailblazer. Norm Mineta, APAICS’s founder, noted, “We all have responsibilities as citizens to look out for each other, because when something bad happens to any of us, it happens to all of us.” 

   
SAALT Exec. Dir. Deepa Iyer receiving award from Sikh Coalition co-founder Amardeep Singh
& APAICS Chairman Jim Park and Comcast Exec. VP David Cohen 

The remainder of the evening was dedicated to the awardees of the evening. U.S. Rep. Hondareceived the APAICS Lifetime Achievement Award for his life-long service as an educator, Peace Corp volunteer, elected official, and his unprecedented 7-year CAPAC chairmanship. SAALT Exec. Dir. Deepa Iyer was honored with the APAICS Community Leadership Award for her civil rights advocacy work on behalf of South Asian American communities post-9/11, and for helping to form an advocacy coalition of over 40 South Asian organizations across the country. Finally, APAICS presented its Corporate Achievement Award to Comcast for its commitment to and investments in the AAPI community, highlighting its recent launch of Cinema Asian America On Demand.. 

Rep. Honda shared his award with everyone: “It has always been our effort [together] to make this country as it is phrased in the Constitution: ‘a more perfect union.’ And tonight, we come closer to perfection.”

The audience witnessed powerful performances by Jazz Violinist Meg Okura, who performed thenational anthem and “Kojo No Tsuki,” a famous Japanese song in remembrance of the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan, and 10-year old YouTube Artist Maria Aragon, who performed Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful.” 

   
Meg Okura and Maria Aragon performing 

 
At the end of the night, APAICS President and CEO Gloria Chan sighed with relief and remarked, “Tonight’s event was inspiring for me. Now, we must roll up our sleeves and build off this energy and excitement. I’m looking forward to working with talented leaders in our community to strengthen our political pipeline throughout the country.”

Gold sponsors of the evening were Comcast and Southwest Airlines; the Silver sponsors were Anheuser-Busch Companies, Walmart, and State Farm Insurance; and the Bronze sponsors were McDonald’s, AT&T, Amgen, Raytheon, and Toyota.

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The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) is a national non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting Asian Pacific American participation and representation at all levels of the political process, from community service to elected office. Founded in 1994 by former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, APAICS serves as a resource to Congress and the general public on issues related to the political advancement of Asian Pacific Americans.

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