Pakistan Aid

WASHINGTON, D.C.–As the flood crisis in Pakistan worsens, with about 8 million affected and 4 million rendered homeless, South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) has urged the community to “please consider donating to help provide food, aid, and shelter to those affected.” A list of organizations, both international and Pakistani and also their contact information, can be found in its website, www.saalt.org.

Internships

WASHINGTON, D.C.–The Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (OAPIA) is seeking individuals interested in public service and the Asian American community. Applicants for the Language Access and Outreach internship programs should email Elliot.Lee@dc.gov with a resume, cover letter detailing suitability for the position, and contact information. Contact Elliot Lee, Outreach Specialist, Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs/441 4th Street, NW, 721 North, Washington, DC 20001. Or Fax (202) 727-9655.

Goyle Wins Primary

WICHITA, Kansas–Before an overflow crowd in Wichita, flanked by his wife Monica and seven-month-old daughter, Ana, State Rep. Raj Goyle declared victory in this state’s primary for the race for the 4th Congressional District. “I am very humbled and proud to stand before you tonight as the Democratic Party’s nominee for the United States Congress,” he said. With 75% of precincts reporting, Goyle held a commanding lead over his opponent.

Intergenerational Summit

New York–New America Media, in cooperation with The Atlantic Philanthropies, will host a national youth and elders advocacy summit, “A Common Agenda for Intergenerational Policy Change,” in this city on September 10. This summit is a first step in finding common ground between those speaking for (and reporting on) the young and the old. Confirmed panelists include Jeanette Takamura, former head of the U.S Administration on Aging and dean of Columbia University’s School of Social Work; Lateefah Simon, MacArthur “Genius” Fellow and executive director of San Francisco Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights. For details, contact Paul Kleyman, pkleyman@newamericamedia.org, 415-503-4170 ext. 133.

Candidates’ Forum

ARLINGTON, Virginia–The Northern Virginia Asian American Candidates Forum committee held its meeting last August 24 at the Fortune Restaurant in Seven Corners in this state. Questions for candidates from community organizations were sent to advocate and author Jackie Bong-Wright.

AAPI Forum

CUPERTINO, California–Rep. Mike Honda (D, CA) Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), recently hosted a forum here, “Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices in Government.” The town hall was held on August 13 at the Cupertino Community Hall. The goal of the forum was to highlight common issues affecting the diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and the legislative and other work being done to address them in Congress, and at other levels of government. Some of these issues included immigration reform, economic recovery and jobs, education reform and health care.

Mentorship Program

ATLANTA, Georgia–“The mentorship program has proven to be successful and has allowed many Asian American professionals to develop their skills, advance in their careers, and stay connected with their communities.” said Norman Chu, who serves as both a facilitator and a mentor for MAAP-Atlanta. Vu Pham of Spectrum Knowledge was the keynote presenter. Thirty individuals attended the event held at UPS headquarters. The program was led by OCA-Georgia Vice President of Education Affairs and Kevin Hamada, past MAAP participant, with OCA National President Ken Lee, Norman Chu, President of OCA-Georgia, and Sarah Hawk and Fabian De Rozario of NAAAP-Atlanta.

OCA looks forward to continuing the program in Washington, D.C. and launching the MAAP program in Chicago, New Jersey, and Orange County.

HIV Prevention

SAN FRANCISCO, California–The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Asian Americans for Community Involvement and Asian Health Services $1.9 million over 5 years to fund a collaborative HIV prevention project. CDC is funding HIV prevention programs implemented by community-based organizations and collaborations that “reflect local prevention priorities and serve persons at high risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV.” In San Francisco, HIV rates among Asian Americans increased almost six-fold (487%) from 1990 to 2000.

Kurosawa Tribute

SILVER SPRING, Maryland–You have until September 8 to catch American Film Institute’s presentation of a retrospective of the films of Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998). Venue is the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Rd. Silver Spring, MD 20910. For info, call (301) 495-6720; fax (301) 495-6777, or email: silverinfo@afi.com. The presentation is a centennial celebration of one of the most influential filmmakers in world cinema. Kurosawa enjoyed a nearly 50-year career in movies “that remains unsurpassed in its sustained quality and achievement.”

‘Rent’ Star

HERNDON, Virginia–Mickey Daguiso, the son of local indie film auteur June Daguiso, has received raves for his acting in the stage production here of “Rent,” which won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize. Entertainment columnist Dino de la Rosa said Daguiso turned in a “brilliant performance” in the demanding role of Angel. Rent is “the timeless story of a group of eclectic friends living in the Lower East Village of New York City in the mid-90s, who deal with the struggles of their daily lives, loves, loss, homelessness and the meaning of friendship.”