The following seven (7) individuals are running for seven (7) seats on the 2013 Board of Directors:

Christina Chang (Current Director)
Steven Choi (Current Director)
Jennifer Kim (Current Director)
Bright Limm (Current Director & Board President)
David Ng (Current Director & Board Secretary)
Christopher Pak
John Park (Current Director)

All members in good standing are entitled to vote in the Board of Directors election, either by online absentee ballot or by paper ballot at the Annual Membership Meeting on Wednesday, December 05, 2012.

Dear Friends,

Today, Korean Americans for Political Advancement (KAPA) is pleased to announce its endorsement of Grace Meng in the Democratic Primary for New York’s 6th Congressional District.  If elected, Ms. Meng would be the first Asian-American member of New York’s Congressional delegation.

ABOUT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6

Contained wholly within Queens County – and including the neighborhoods of Flushing, Elmhurst, Queensboro Hill, Murray Hill, Fresh Meadows, and Bayside, among others – CD-6 is home to one of the largest Korean American communities on the East Coast.  With Asian Americans comprising 38% of its total population, this newly drawn district is New York’s first high-influence district for Asian American communities.  Longtime Congressman Gary Ackerman, who currently represents much of the area covering the new district, is not seeking re-election, leaving the field wide open.  Given the area’s large Korean and immigrant populations, the substantive impact KAPA could have on this hotly contested, early primary race, and the need to ensure that a progressive candidate wins this seat, KAPA’s Steering Committee determined in May to make a candidate endorsement in this election.

KAPA ENDORSEMENT PROCESS

Our endorsement is the result of a rigorous two-month process, beginning with the compilation of in-depth candidate profiles and voting/legislative records, a comparison of candidates’ responses to a KAPA questionnaire; a recommendation to the Membership issued by the Steering Committee, and finally, an endorsement vote by the dues-paying members of KAPA.  That vote concluded on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, with KAPA members voting in favor of endorsing Ms. Meng’s candidacy.

ENDORSEMENT OF GRACE MENG

While all of the candidates have unique strengths, particularly Mr. Lancman, we believe that Ms. Meng is the candidate most deserving of our endorsement in this race.  Her overall federal policy views, especially on the federal government’s overall budget priorities, are more consistent with KAPA’s policy positions and objectives.  As Ms. Meng is relatively young, we hope that as she gains experience, she will exhibit greater leadership on progressive legislation, even when controversial.  We urge and expect Ms. Meng to evolve into a more outspoken – and indeed leading – advocate for progressive policies, particularly in the area of immigration.

HELP US GET OUT THE VOTE FOR MENG

With the June 26, 2012 Primary Election just two weeks away, we need your help to get out the vote. We are reaching out individually to members and allies to join us in phone-banking, door-knocking, and other GOTV activities through both the Primary Election and the General Election.  Please contact us at info@kapany.org with any questions and to get involved.

We look forward to working with you in the weeks and months ahead to help elect Grace Meng to Congress!

Sincerely,

The KAPA Steering Committee

Bright Limm, Chair
Nicholas Alt
Jennifer Kim
Sue Mi Ko
David Ng
Christopher Pak
Heekyong Yoon

On Tuesday, April 10, KAPA will host a speaker series event featuring:

- Chung-Wha Hong: Executive Director of the NY Immigration Coalition;
- Emily Park: Queens College student & DREAM Fellow; and
- David Kallick, Senior Fellow at Fiscal Policy Institute (FPI) & Director of FPI’s Immigration Research Initiative (confirmed); &

This event is for everyone who wants to learn more about the NY DREAM Act, its potential impact on ALL New Yorkers, including undocumented students, its costs/benefits, and the campaign to get it passed this year.

Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Venue: The Murphy Institute at CUNY, 25 West 43rd Street (18th Floor)

Co-Sponsors (in formation): Asian American/Asian Research Institute at CUNY (AAARI), Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), MinKwon Center for Community Action, New York Immigrant Action Fund (NYSIAF), New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), Korean American Community Foundation (KACF), United We Dream (UWD), and YWCA-Queens

We’ve all been caught up in Linsanity these past two months, watching the exploits of the first Asian American marquee player in NBA history! Even as we’ve reveled in Jeremy Lin’s story and success, we’ve cringed too at the subtle and overt racism and stereotyping that has accompanied his meteoric rise.

So let’s talk LINSANITY — the good, the bad and the ugly! Or we can put all the deep thoughts aside and just talk about how this kid can ball!

KAPA is hosting a viewing party right after the Social Soju – let’s watch Jeremy Lin and the Knicks take down the Chicago Bulls!

Date: Monday, March 12
Where: Tammany Hall Tavern
218 East 53rd St (btwn 2nd & 3rd Aves)
When: 6:30 – 8:00 pm (Social Soju) 
8:00 – 10 pm (Knicks Game Viewing Party) 

Happy Hour Specials!

On Wednesday, February 15, KAPA will host a speaker series event featuring OCA-NY President Liz OuYang and Board member Esther Choi.  They will speak about the history of this case, the likelihood that those responsible for Pvt. Chen’s death will be brought to justice, civil rights issues and lessons learned for the Asian American community, and next steps.

Date: Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Venue: Arnold & Porter LLP, 399 Park Avenue (btw 53rd & 54th Streets)

SEATING IS LIMITED.  RSVP BY FEBRUARY 13 as we must provide building security with attendee names in advance.  RSVP via Facebook here or email KAPA Steering Committee member Jennifer Kim at jen.kim@kapany.org.

Co-Sponsors (list in formation): Cardozo Law School APALSA, Chinatown Youth Initiatives (CYI), OCA-NY, NYU Asia Law Society…

We’re excited to invite you all to KAPA’s first planning meeting of 2012 on Thursday, January 26, at 6 pm!
 
Whether you’re new to politics and just curious about the issues affecting the Korean and Asian American communities, or you’re a veteran of policy and legislation, this meeting will provide a great introduction to what’s happening and what is to come in 2012. 

It’s also a great way to meet the members of the KAPA Steering Committee and others who care about what’s happening in the world.

• An overview of highlights and challenges of 2011;
• Identifying and discussing advocacy priorities for 2012;
• Identifying and discussing ways to increase community engagement; and
• Planning for Election Year 2012 and beyond.

• Help determine which political candidates KAPA will endorse;
• Participate in the shaping of the year’s agenda; and
• Educate and mobilize the Korean American community to maximize our political influence in support of candidates who share our progressive agenda.

If you’d like to become a member, or you want to renew your membership for 2012, you can do so by donating $30 to KAPA’s PayPal account here. 

Date:   Wednesday, January 11
Time:   6:30 – 9:00 pm
Venue: PS 450, 450 Park Avenue South (btw 30th & 31st)
Drink Specials: $7 vodkas, $6 wine/specialty cocktails, $4 PS 450 ale (’til 8 pm)

For more info and to RSVP, go to https://www.facebook.com/kapany.org#!/events/163955997042869/.

Meet the Co-Director of 9500 Liberty and the Founder of the Coffee Party USA, Annabel Park

About 9500 Liberty: Prince William County, Virginia becomes ground zero in America’s explosive battle over immigration policy when elected officials adopt a law requiring police officers to question anyone they have “probable cause” to suspect is an undocumented immigrant. What ensues is a ferocious fight to adopt and then reverse this policy. Given the battles currently raging over similar anti-immigrant legislation in states across America, like Arizona, Alabama and Georgia, this is a must-see film.

About the Coffee Party: Tired of all the Tea Party talk, Annabel Park decided to throw a Coffee Party, and 200,000 people showed up! It’s a people-powered grassroots democracy movement whose goal is to reform campaign finance laws, Wall Street regulations and the tax code, as well as to address issues of political disengagement, polarization and widespread misinformation.

We’ll be talking about immigration, politics, grassroots activism and a whole lot more!

When: Friday, November 18 at 7:30 pm

Where: Brecht Forum, 451 West Street (btw Bank & Bethune Streets)

Subways: A, C, E, L, 1, 2, 3 or 9 to 14th Street

For more information on KAPA, find us on Facebook and at www.kapany.org.