ALBANY, NY - On February 13, 2012, over 70 policy advocates, social service providers, community health workers, researchers, and community members joined Assemblywoman Grace Meng for New York State’s Third Annual Asian Pacific American Legislative Advocacy Day in order to ensure that the needs of the diverse Asian Pacific American (APA) community are understood and met by New York State policymakers.
Asian Pacific American Legislative State Advocacy Day was sponsored by Assemblywoman Grace Meng and AT&T. Advocacy Day included a policy briefing to state legislators on demographic changes and education challenges. Presentations were made by the Coalition for Asian American Children & Families and Asian Americans for Equality and remarks were shared by Assemblywoman Grace Meng and Senator Toby Ann Stavisky.
Assemblywoman Grace Meng said, “For the well-being of all New Yorkers, legislators must prioritize the integration and the preservation of programs that support the Asian Pacific American community. Together we must raise awareness on issues of importance to the Asian American community including: anti-Asian violence prevention/race relations, census, immigrant rights, immigration, language access, television diversity and voting rights.”
Asian Pacific Americans are by percentage the fastest growing group in New York State, doubling every decade since 1970 and comprising of over 40 ethnicities and over 100 languages/dialects. In New York, 42% of Asian Pacific Americans are limited English proficient, 15% are living in poverty, and 20% do not have a high school diploma. Given these needs, on February 13, 2012, Asian Pacific American organizations met with over 35 members of the Governor’s Office, State Senate, and State Assembly to make the following recommendations: 1) Establish a Health Benefit Exchange, 2) Restore Child Welfare Financing, 3) Restore funding for summer youth employment, workforce development, and senior programs, 4) Monitor NYC’s Corrective Action Plan on English Language Learners, 5) Monitor Implementation of Executive Order 26: Statewide Language Access Policy, 6) Propose Legislation on Data Collection, Disaggregation, and Reporting, and7) Implement Fair Tax Reform.
Asian Pacific Americans are an essential part of New York’s workforce and economic growth,” said Wayne Ho, Executive Director of the Coalition for Asian American Children & Families. “The success of New York State and our community are inextricably linked. Today, over 40 Asian-led and serving organizations advocated for key policy and budget priorities and demonstrated the vital role that Asian Pacific Americans play in contributing to a brighter future for all New Yorkers.”
“AT&T applauds the coalition for bringing together the top Asian American organizations in New York,” said Marissa Shorenstein, president of AT&T New York. “The good work of the coalition -- and of Assemblywoman Grace Meng -- has been essential to building awareness of the needs of the Asian Pacific community throughout the state.”
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
