As many of y’all know, May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. While a significant part of this month is celebrating the history, culture, and contributions of the Asian Pacific American community, it’s also an important opportunity for our community to continue contributing to our communities all over the country. To that end, a group fo AAPI organizers including Brian Wang, Lisa Hasegawa of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, and Parag Mehta, recent member of the Presidential Transition Team, have started a special project - a National AAPI Week of Service from May 24 - 31st. This is a terrific opportunity to demonstrate our community’s contributions. As a central online space to post and organize events, they’ve created www.AAPImomentum.org. Go below the fold for more info from Brian.

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Elena Ong, the National Coordinator of “The Gift of Hope,” brings us this message, urging everyone to conduct a bone marrow donation drive at your next APA community event. If you register your “1,000 Cranes for Hope” drive at www.usaservice.org by March 1, 2009, your group might even get a chance to get a phone call from Yul Kwon, Cook Islands Survivor. Please read on for more details.

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Did you participate in the National Day of Service this past Martin Luther King, Jr. Day? Kayomi Wada, Service Learning Coordinator at the University of Washington Tacoma, shares her experience organizing a service project for MLK Day. Kayomi was one of the first to respond to our call for AAPIs to participate in the National Day of Service, and her project, The Giving Garden, was a tremendous success.

“As a fourth-generation Japanese American, whose family made their living in the New World farming, I have held onto the belief that some sort of agricultural acumen would transfer down the decades if I were to sow some seeds. After the death of innocent houseplants and various herbs hanging perilously out my apartment windowsill, I decided it was time to actually put some research into the endeavor. Of course, this remained on my to-do list, as I recalled how easily I thought gardening should have come. Perhaps my strongest push toward creating the garden had less to do with my farming heritage, and more to do with the patriotic line in my family, my grandfather served in the WWII even though his family was interned, how could I not answer President Obama’s call to service? I never was into the war thing, but community service? Sign me up!

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HOPE Comes to Asian Pacific America:  Join “A Thousand Cranes for Hope” this APA Heritage Month

Dear Friends,

A huge, huge mahalo to everyone for being part of the National Day of Service Project, “The Gift of HOPE!”   

The Gift of Hope’s Washington, D.C. event, and national tie-in, would not have been possible without the leadership of Vida Benevides, ED of APIAVote and President Obama’s AAPI team!

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THE GIFT OF HOPE: 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee’s National Day of Service

January 19, 2009 was the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s National Day of Service, and on this day, Americans, throughout America, and Americans who came to Washington D.C. for the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, heeded President Barack Obama’s call for national public service.

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SAALT and Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP) for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Volunteer with SAALT and Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP) for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January 19)

As part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, come out and help educate the South Asian community in Washington, DC about important issues such as domestic violence. Volunteers will reach out and visit local South Asian businesses to inform them about domestic violence and available resources such as DVRP.

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MLK Service Day with GO/LA

Please join GO/LA and bring your friends to these MLK Service Day Projects in your corner of Los Angeles. Sign up now - space is limited! Projects below can be completed from home, work, over the weekend and on MLK Day! Be the change.

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Warm Your Hearts at the Pearl Presidential Gala

Mandarin Oriental Hotel - 1330 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024

AAPI community members attending the Pearl Presidential Gala are encouraged to donate 400 warm-up kits (hat, gloves, and socks), toiletry kits (toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant) and snack packs to the homeless in Washington, D.C. Organizers are also asking the Gala attendees to donate $3 per kit at the Gala with the goal of collecting enough funds to distribute 1000 kits total. “Warm Your Hearts” distribution to the homeless will be done around Valentine’s Day. For more info, visit www.pearlgala.com

Join Asian Americans for Obama/Latinos for Obama and South Asians for Obama to deliver food to the Homebound Elderly

Please join NY Asian Americans for Obama, Latinos for Obama and South Asians for Obama for a special community service event.

We will be working with City Meals on Wheels to deliver food to homebound elderly residents in Queens.

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AAPI Inaugural Itinerary

*Additional events- http://tinyurl.com/6kcadm

Saturday, January 17

PM - TBD
Asia Society Reception
Location TBD
Metro Stop-
RSVP¬- Alka Khanna (202) 414-2808
Invitation only.

7:00pm-9:00pm
Filipinos for Obama Welcome Celebration
Cafe Asia-DC - 1720 I St NW
Metro Stop- Farragut North (Red Line) -or- Farragut West (Blue/Orange Lines)
Tickets- $30/person
Attire- Smart casual
RSVP- http://www.tinyurl.com/ffoinauguration
http://www.filipinosforobama.org 

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