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Washington–U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, former U.S. congresswoman from California, won crucial elections partly through successful coalition-building of Asian Pacific Americans, Hispanics, African Americans and workers’ groups.

She received a champion’s welcome–“well-deserved,” as many coalition-building leaders noted–as keynote speaker on June 20 of the 12th Convention of the National CAPACD (Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development), held here.

She acknowledged President Obama for appointing her, with the mandate to “treat every worker fairly.” She touted administration and minority community achievements, but stressed, “We still have a lot more work to do.”

She related stories of DOL investigating violations of the Labor Standards Act. Recently, 35 restaurant employees working 12-hour days “for tiny sums of money” received $162,000 in back wages from their L.A. employer.

“Workers like them do not have to keep silent anymore, they can call our Wage and Hour Division and know that we will work with them,” she said, noting such violations are unacceptable in the 21st century.

On immigration reform, she said, “This is something that has to happen.” She also discussed workers’ rights, affordable housing, and collaborative relationships with business and other sectors.

Secretary Solis “has always been a champion for working families,” said Kerry N. Doi, president & CEO of Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE, in introducing her.

“I don’t create jobs–I bring partnerships together,” Secretary Solis said, citing business, community-based organizations and others. She underscored U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) partnerships with CAPACD and others and getting information out there “on-line.” She urged the leaders to visit www.grant.gov. Among these grants: $240 million technical skills and trading grant and $33 million Job Allocation Challenge.

She introduced Director Patricia A. Shiu of the U.S. DOL Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, saying, “I’m very proud of the work she’s doing, and the talent that APIs bring in my staff.”

Some 250 leaders from 60 organizations nationwide were present. Venue was the National Housing Center here. Invited reception guests were Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; Asim Mishra, Deputy Chief of Staff, Corporation for National and Community Service; Dean Matsubayashi, Director of Community Economic Development, Little Tokyo Service Community Development Corporation; and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

Among the speakers and panelists were: National CAPACD Executive Director Lisa Hasegawa; Lynette Jung Lee, National CAPACD Board; U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; Sefa Aina of the President's Commission on Asian American Pacific Islanders; Assistant Secretary Mercedes Márquez, U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development; Noel Poyo, executive director of the National Association for Latino Builders; Deepak Bhargava from the Center for Community Change; Jan Masaoka of Blue Avocado; Gordon Chin of the Chinatown Community Development Center; Jane Duong, National CAPACD and Faaluaina Pritchard of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center.