Asian American Justice Center

Community Partners

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:39:28 GMT

In any community work, leadership capacity is essential. We have demonstrated this at AAJC via our Community Partners Network, which has expanded to include nearly 100 community partners in 49 cities across 23 states, and Washington, D.C. Created to build the capacity of Asian American communities, we work hand-in-hand with community-based organizations, conducting workshops and trainings on various issues of importance to local communities. The network provides a critical link allowing AAJC to target underserved populations, such as recent South Asian and Southeast Asian immigrants. Community Partners Benefits Members of the Community Partners Network receive a variety of benefits: Newsletters, reports, actions alerts, fact sheets (including translations into Asian and Pacific Islander languages, when available); Technical assistance and information on programs and issues of concern, as well as invitations to conference calls on current policy issues; Invitation...

Language Access

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:33:58 GMT

In our work to prevent discrimination against language minorities, access to vital government services and programs - from legal services to health care - is an urgent priority. We have been at the forefront of the field of language rights for the past decade. AAJC, with other national partners, advocated for the issuance of Executive Order 13166 in 2000, which mandated that federal agencies must provide meaningful access to Limited English Proficient individuals through their federally funded programs. AAJC has been a primary stakeholder and commentator on federal agencies’ issuance of LEP guidances. In 2002, AAJC was one of the primary partners involved in a national convening on language access, funded by the California Endowment. AAJC is also a co-chair of the Language Access committee of the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights (LCCR). Click here for publications and materials. Visit our Media Center for recent news releases. Program Contacts Language Voting...

Immigration and Immigrant Rights

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:26:32 GMT

In recent years, anti-immigrant voices and legislation have fueled a heated national immigration debate, while disproportionately ignoring Asian Americans.
Three statistics underlie this fact: that nearly 40 percent of all immigrants to the U.S. come from Asia, that 1.5 million of them are undocumented and that more than 60 percent of Asian Americans are foreign-born.

As the nation's premiere authority on immigration policy as it affects the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, we have long led the struggle to educate the public, lawmakers and the media on the pressing need to overhaul our nation's badly broken immigration system.

We also provide the Asian American community with essential information, insight and analysis on newly enacted and proposed immigration policies. We have also successfully helped initiate bipartisan reform in the House and Senate that addresses many of the pressing needs of the community.

Click here for publications and materials. Visit our Media Center for recent news releases.

Program Contact
Tuyet G. Duong
Senior Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program

Phone: 202-296-2300, x124
Fax: 202-296-2300

Emergency Preparedness

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:23:20 GMT

AAJC was one of the foremost Asian American organizations addressing recovery issues for Asian American communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina. We continue to focus on helping people overcome language barriers to access disaster benefits and programs during the recovery process, and strategizing with government agencies on the emergency needs of Asian American communities. AAJC's work with the American Red Cross has already led to improvements in its disaster relief services, preparedness planning and outreach to Asian American and limited English proficient communities.

Click here for publications and materials. Visit our Media Center for recent news releases.

Program Contact
Tuyet G. Duong
Senior Staff Attorney
Phone: 202-296-2300, x124
Fax: 202-296-2318

Affirmative Action

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:22:21 GMT

At AAJC, we generate opportunities for minorities and women by supporting affirmative action across the board. Our Asian American Contractor Empowerment Project defends and promotes minority contracting in the public and private sectors, and enables the Asian American community to address this critical issue locally and nationally. In the courts, our attorneys have filed briefs in significant cases - including many before the Supreme Court - on arguments surrounding public contracting, undergraduate admissions, law school admissions and the very issue of affirmative action itself. AAJC is also affiliated with Americans for a Fair Chance, a project of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, that is a consortium of six of Americas leading civil rights organizations: AAJC, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., the National Womens Law Center, and...

Annual Reports

Mon, 05 May 2008 03:24:52 GMT

2006 marked the 15th year of operation for the Asian American Justice Center. Over the years, AAJC has successfully helped to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans through advocacy, public policy, public education and litigation. As a nation, we faced the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, which greatly impacted tens of thousands of Asian Americans, especially limited English proficient (LEP) and low-income families. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, AAJC took the lead in organizing culturally and linguistically adapted relief efforts for the Asian American community in the Gulf region. AAJC also released its national demographic report, A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, which is still widely used today by policymakers, media and community representatives.

To learn more about our program highlights, view the full 2005-2006 Annual Report.

Whats New Section

Mon, 05 May 2008 02:33:11 GMT

Watch Karen Narasaki's YouTube Video Celebrating APA Heritage Month

Karen Narasaki's 50th Birthday Celebrations

Summer Development Internship

AAJC News (Spring Newsletter)

LCCR’s Hubert H. Humphrey Award Dinner

Immigration Publications & Materials

Thu, 01 May 2008 04:01:09 GMT

To order hard copies of any of our publications, please e-mail or call Pang Houa Moua at 202-296-2300, x122. Immigrant Rights FAQ -- USCIS Repatriation Agreement with Vietnam (Provided by SEARAC) Immigration Reform SAVE Act Fact Sheet: Impact of the SAVE Act on APA Communities Background Summary: Concerns about the SAVE Act’s Impact on Asian Americans AAJC Letter to Members of Congress Opposing the SAVE Act SAVE Act Summary (Provided by IPC) Testimony of Karen K. Narasaki on Asian American Perspective on Comprehensive Immigration Reform Family-based Immigration AAJC Fact Sheet on Asian Americans and Family-sponsored Immigration AAJC Vote Analysis of Family Amendments to 2007 Senate Bill Testimony Before House Immigration Subcommittee on Family-based Immigration Karen K. Narasaki Harriet Duleep Bill Ong Hing Stuart Anderson Phil Gingrey Low-Wage Workers ...

Voting Rights Publications & Materials

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:06:53 GMT

To order hardcopies of any of our publications, please e-mail or call Pang Houa Moua at 202-296-2300, x122. Election Reform and Other Related Issues FACTSHEET: INDIANA VOTER PHOTO ID CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT – Gives an overview of AAJC’s amicus brief in the Indiana Voter ID case. FACTSHEET: THE THREAT OF VOTER PHOTO ID REQUIREMENTS – Provides an overview of why voter IDs are harmful and why arguments in support of voter IDs do not hold up. HAVA 2008 Check-In: Is HAVA Working For or Against You? – This handbook provides background information, concerns and issues with implementation, and some recommendations for a number of the most relevant provisions. Community leaders and advocates can assess their state’s approach to these particular topics and work with their election officials, as necessary, to augment upon what procedures are in place to improve the election process for Asian American and all American voters. FACTSHEET: My Right To The Assistance Of My Choice While...

Opportunities

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:09:00 GMT

AAJC offers a wide range of opportunities.

Including:

Full-Time and Part-Time Employment

Legal Fellowships

Summer Law and Undergraduate Clerkship Program

Summer Development Internship

Fall and Spring Internships

Pro Bono Opportunities

Also check the opportunities at affiliates the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, the Asian American Institute in Chicago and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles.

Summer Development Internship

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:08:13 GMT

The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) is accepting applications for a paid development internship for graduate and undergraduate students. The intern will work in the development office, assisting staff with the organization’s many fundraising activities. Responsibilities include some prospect research, writing and editing, assisting with special events and general administrative duties. This position requires strong writing and organizational skills, ability to juggle multiple tasks and attention to detail.

The internship pays $11 per hour and requires 14 to 21 hours per week (preferably 2 or 3 seven-hour days). Start and end dates are flexible, but a commitment to the position for the summer is essential. Pending the intern’s interest, there may be an opportunity to extend the internship into the fall semester.

Please send resume and a cover letter to:

Lisa Campbell-Thornton

Office Manager

Asian American Justice Center

1140 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.

Suite 1200

Washington, D.C. 20036

Program Areas

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 20:54:38 GMT

Adult English as a Second Language Affirmative Action Anti-Asian Violence & Race Relations Census Community Partners Emergency Preparedness Immigration Language Access Rights Working Group Supreme Court Nominations TV Diversity Voting Rights

Summer Clerkship

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:47:22 GMT

Important Dates Applications: Rolling (recommended by January 14, 2008) First Round Offers: Sent by February 1, 2008 First Round Acceptance Deadline: By February 15, 2008 Second Round Offers: Sent by March 14, 2008 Second Round Acceptance Deadline: By March 28, 2008 Eligibility Law Students Graduate Students Undergraduate Students Recent Graduates About The Program The AAJC summer clerkship program is a highly competitive program that recruits approximately eight law and undergraduate students from an applicant pool of over 300 applications for the summer clerkship program. Decisions are often based on the written applications and interviews are not necessarily given. Unfortunately the position is an unpaid/uncompensated position. We can, however, assist you in finding funding resources and housing. Our program is designed to compete with the large law firm summer associate programs, with respect to program design, quality of supervision and feedback, and activities. In...

Fall & Spring Internships

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:44:58 GMT

The Asian American Justice Center is accepting applications for unpaid internships for undergraduate and law students interested in practical field work experience on civil rights issues. Interns will be responsible for assisting staff with the following:

• Conducting research projects on issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community;
• Writing legislative alerts, press releases, and newsletter articles;
• Performing some administrative work;
• Attending Congressional hearings and representing AAJC at coalition meetings;
• Assisting in program development; and
• Other tasks as defined.

AAJC encourages all interested candidates to apply. Candidates should send a resume and a cover letter explaining interest in the internship program and dates of availability to the attention of:

Aimee J. Baldillo
Director of Programs
Asian American Justice Center
1140 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 1200
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 296-2318 (Fax)

Phone calls will not be accepted.

AAJC is an equal opportunity employer

Full & Part-Time Employment

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:43:35 GMT

There are no vacancies at this time. Please check back again later.

AAJC Staff

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:32:19 GMT

Karen K. Narasaki: President and Executive Director Vincent A. Eng: Deputy Director Operations Lucy M. Lee: Director of Operations Lisa Campbell-Thornton: Office Manager June A. Jimenez: Director of Development Hannah Stone: Development Associate Vacant: Development Associate Programs Aimee J. Baldillo: Director of Programs Terry M. Ao: Director of Census and Voting Programs Tuyet G. Duong: Senior Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program Ronald H. Lee: Staff Attorney, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program Aarathi Deshmukh: Staff Attorney, Affirmative Action James Y. Chiu: NAPABA Partners and In-House Counsel Community Law Fellow, Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program Pang Houa Moua: Director of Community Education and Outreach Joshua Packman: Community Education Program Assistant Communications Leonie Campbell-Williams: Director of Communications Jerry Johnson: Web Content Editor The Rights Working Group Margaret Huang: Executive Director ...

Tuyet G. Duong

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 19:30:18 GMT

Tuyet G. Duong is a Senior Staff Attorney for the Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program with the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), where she advocates for Asian American immigrant families and individuals. Previously, Ms. Duong led AAJC’s language access and emergency preparedness program, advocating for Asian Americans impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

For two years, Ms. Duong was also an immigration staff attorney for Boat People SOS, Inc. (BPSOS) in Houston. Ms. Duong provided immigration legal assistance in citizenship cases, family-based sponsorship cases, and helped individuals attain legal permanent residence. She also conducted many workshops on assisting torture and human trafficking survivors for the Vietnamese community in Texas. Ms. Duong assisted in re-establishing the Houston Coalition Against Human Trafficking, and has expertise in domestic violence and human trafficking issues.

While in law school, she clerked at the Department of Justice Executive Office of Immigration Review in Los Angeles, California and at the Texas Civil Rights Project. She is a frequent speaker and trainer on immigration and language issues.

Ms. Duong is the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of BPSOS, Inc., a national Vietnamese organization. Ms. Duong is a founding board member of the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington, D.C.

Ms. Duong holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas Law School at Austin, Texas and Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She was admitted to the Texas Bar in May 2005.

Joshua Packman

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:10:21 GMT

Joshua Packman joined the Asian American Justice Center in October 2007 as the Community Education Program Assistant. He primarily works with AAJC’s Community Partners Network, a group of more than 100 community-based organizations in 49 cities in 24 states and the District of Columbia, as well as other community outreach projects organized by AAJC and its affiliates. Previously, Mr. Packman worked for AAJC as an intern during the summer of 2005. He holds an A.B. in Religion and a certificate in Judaic Studies from Princeton University.

Michael I. Begert

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:54:10 GMT

Michael Isaku Begert has been a commercial litigation partner with Bingham McCutchen, LLP in San Francisco since 1996. He has lead teams in significant jury trials, arbitrations and class action lawsuits. Michael has experience in product liability class actions, consumer class actions, complex construction disputes and international copyright and trademark anti-piracy litigation. His recent representative experience includes: o National coordinating counsel: overseeing strategy on a multiple class action complaints relating to a building product in the Southeast. Ongoing. o National product class action: lead counsel on a complaint for damages in excess of $100 million by more than 5,000 class members resulted in a defense victory on all claims after a two month jury trial in 2006. Argued the appeal on April 15, 2008. o National product class action: lead counsel on a complaint for damages in excess of $500 million by more than 30,000 class members resulted in a...

Board of Directors

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:20:22 GMT

Mark Aoki-Fordham: Member
Starbucks Coffee Company

Michael Isaku Begert: Chair
Bingham McCutchen Murase

Sumi Cho: Member
DePaul University Law School

Ankur J. Goel: Member
McDermott, Will & Emery

Julia Huang: Member
interTREND

Lois Ingram: Member
Ingram & Company

Stewart Kwoh: Vice Chair
Asian Pacific American Legal Center

Tuyet Le: Member
Asian American Institute

Paul W. Lee: Member
Goodwin Procter, LLP

Harsha Murthy: Secretary
Konando Pharma Partners

Daranee Petsod: Member
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees

Frank J. Quevedo: Member
Southern California Edison

Wayne Winborne: Treasurer
The Prudential Insurance Company of America

John C. Yang: Member
Wiley Rein LLP

Ronald H. Lee

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:46:05 GMT

Ronald H. Lee is a staff attorney working in the Asian American Justice Center’s immigration and immigrant rights program.

Previously, Mr. Lee was a litigation associate at the law firm of Latham & Watkins, where he worked on a range of securities enforcement and white collar defense matters involving extensive litigation against federal and state government. In addition, he worked on asylum, disability benefits, and prisoner’s rights pro bono cases, and has successfully represented clients in removal proceedings before the Executive Office of Immigration Review.

Mr. Lee graduated from Georgetown University Law Center with honors in 2005. At Georgetown, he promoted discussion and debate on a range of legal issues important to the progressive legal community as President of the American Constitution Society (ACS), the largest student organization on campus and the founding chapter of the national organization. In addition, Mr. Lee represented clients as a clinical student in the Center for Applied Legal Studies and worked as an extern at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights. From 2004-2005, he was the Symposium Editor of the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy.

Mr. Lee received his undergraduate degree from Yale University with honors, where he majored in political science and international studies. He is admitted to practice in California and the District of Columbia.

Aarathi Deshmukh

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:21:45 GMT

Aarathi Deshmukh is a Staff Attorney for the Affirmative Action Program with the Asian American Justice Center.

Most recently, Ms. Deshmukh practiced international arbitration in the Paris, France office of Freshfields, Bruckhaus, Deringer. Working in international arbitration exposed Ms. Deshmukh to a multitude of issues public and private companies face in contracting with both domestic and international governments. During her first month at Freshfields, Ms. Deshmukh co-authored the article “Fair Trade” which appeared in the March 5, 2007 issue of Legal Week, the most widely-read legal publication in Europe.

Ms. Deshmukh has volunteered extensively for several public interest organizations in the Philadelphia area, including Homeless Advocacy Project, Philadelphia Volunteers for the Indigent Program and Legal Clinic for the Disabled. This culminated in her recipience of the Dorothy Day Award for Exceptional Public Service, awarded at her commencement from Villanova University School of Law. As a law student, Ms. Deshmukh was also actively involved in the Asian and Pacific American Law Students’ Association (APALSA), serving as the treasurer and community service coordinator.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. Deshmukh worked in public relations for four years in New York City. This gave her extensive national media relations skills, consumer outreach experience, comprehensive marketing knowledge and the ability to liaise effectively with Fortune 500 clients.

Ms. Deshmukh holds a Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College. She is admitted to the practice of law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She is multi-lingual, maintaining proficiency in French, Spanish and Marathi.

TV Diversity Publications & Materials

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:33:10 GMT

Asian Pacific Americans in Prime Time: Setting the Stage As a follow up to our 2004 study, this new report investigates the portrayal of prime time APIA regular characterson the six national television broadcast networks for Fall 2005. The appearance of Asian Pacific American regular characters on network prime time television has not significantly increased over the last two years. The percentage of regular Asian Pacific American characters on prime time television comprises only 2.6 percent of all prime time television regulars despite Asian Pacific Americans making up 5 percent of the U.S. population. Of the 102 prime time programs, only 14 feature at least one Asian Pacific American. Asian Pacific Americans in Prime Time: Lights, Camera and Little Action This pioneer study on the representation of Asian Pacific Americans on television reveals a dearth of quality roles for APAs in prime time programming. Published by the Asian American Justice Center, together with the Asian...

TV Diversity

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:28:22 GMT

How Asian Americans are perceived is very often tied to how they are portrayed in the mass media. No one knows this better than AAJC.

As chair of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, we at AAJC work closely with the major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX - to ensure diversity both on and off camera.

We produce a nationally recognized annual report card grading the networks on their diversity efforts. These efforts have yielded initiatives by the networks to heighten opportunities for Asian Americans, leading to more than a 20 percent increase for both regular and recurring roles for Asian Pacific Americans on prime-time television shows.

Click here for publications and materials. Visit our Media Center for recent news releases.

Program Contact
Leonie Campbell-Williams
Director of Communications
Phone: 202-296-2300, x135
Fax: 202-296-2318

Rights Working Group

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:28:01 GMT

Keeping America true to its founding principles requires the protection of the basic human rights and liberties for all who live here.

America relies on these rights and liberties to keep us free, and make us the country that we are. Failure to preserve these constitutional rights and freedoms leads to abuses that weaken our country.

As chair of the Rights Working Group, a national coalition of more than 250 community-based grassroots organizations and national advocacy groups, AAJC is dedicated to ensuring that

U.S.

policies in the post-9/11 era honor America’s fundamental values of liberty and justice for all.

James Y. Chiu

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:10:35 GMT

James Y. Chiu is the 2008-2010 NAPABA Partners and In-House Counsel Community Law Fellow. He is a staff attorney working in the Asian American Justice Center's Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program.

Mr. Chiu graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 2007, where he sat on the Board of Georgetown's Asian Pacific American Law Students (APALSA) chapter and assisted with many issues affecting Asian Americans and allied communities. While at Georgetown, he represented clients as a civil rights clinical student in Georgetown Law Center's Institute for Public Representation.

During law school, Mr. Chiu spent his summers at the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Voting Rights Section, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, National Security Section, and the United States Commission on Civil Rights.

Mr. Chiu obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he was active in campus organizing and educational outreach on a wide variety of issues including affirmative action, ethnic studies, hate crimes, sexual assault, and coalition-building.

Mr. Chiu is admitted to practice in the state of Colorado.

Anne H. Chow

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:17:37 GMT

As Senior Vice President – Select Accounts and Indirect Channels, Anne Chow leads national sales and support organization responsible for delivering the full range of communications solutions across wireless and wired services to Mid Sized business customers throughout the United States. Anne has direct sales channel responsibility in this market and indirect sales channel responsibility across all of AT&T’s enterprise markets. Her ownership of the Indirect Channels includes AT&T’s Alliance Program consisting of hundreds of agents who sell AT&T services to business customers throughout the U.S. These partners are an integral part of AT&T’s customer sales and support strategy, complimenting AT&T’s capabilities with specialized skills and coverage. Throughout her 20+ years in the telecommunications industry, Anne has held leadership positions in hardware and systems engineering, sales, customer care, international operations, and product management, as well as strategic planning. Her...

Staff Attorney, Affirmative Action

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:54:53 GMT

Position Title: Staff Attorney Status: Full-time; Exempt – does not qualify for overtime Founded in 1991, the Asian American Justice Center (formerly the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium) works to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans through advocacy, public policy, public education, and litigation. In accomplishing its mission, AAJC focuses its work to Promote Civic Engagement, to Forge Strong and Safe Communities, and to Create an Inclusive Society in communities on a local, regional, and national level. AAJC is one of the nations leading experts on issues of importance to the Asian American community including: affirmative action, anti-Asian violence prevention/race relations, census, immigrant rights, immigration, language access, and voting rights. AAJC affiliated with the Asian American Institute (AAI) of Chicago, Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California in Los Angeles (APALC) and the Asian Law Caucus (ALC) in San...

Staff Attorney, Affirmative Action

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:54:18 GMT

James Y. Chiu

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:31:27 GMT

James Y. Chiu is NAPABA's 2008-2010 Partners Community Law Fellow. He is a staff attorney working in the Asian American Justice Center's Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program.

Mr. Chiu is admitted to practice in the state of Colorado.

June A. Jimenez

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 15:05:21 GMT

June A. Jimenez is the Director of Development for the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans through advocacy, public policy, public education and litigation. Ms. Jimenez joined AAJC from the Washington, D.C. office of Teach For America, where she served as the Development Manager and was instrumental in increasing the officer’s operating budget by 56 percent over the previous year. Ms. Jimenez has built her career through her experiences in political and educational fundraising having worked on city and state campaigns, as well as in independent schools in New York City. A graduate of Cornell University, Ms. Jimenez currently serves on the Board of Directors for Voto Latino, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting an enfranchised America and the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), an umbrella organization for 23 of the nation’s Latino-based fraternities and sororities.

Publications and Materials

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:07:42 GMT

Publication and dissemination of public policy research are essential parts of AAJC’s work. AAJC is the leading publisher of public policy information and analysis serving the Asian American community. To order hardcopies of any of our publications, please e-mail or call Pang Houa Moua at 202-296-2300, x122.

Adult English as a Second Language Publications and Materials

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:05:59 GMT

To order hardcopies of any of our publications, please e-mail or call Pang Houa Moua at 202-296-2300, x122.

Language Rights: An Integration Agenda for Immigrant Communities
This briefing book intends to educate staff on (1) the demographics of the LEP community; (2) the law supporting the rights of this minority community; (3) the sectors where language access most impacts language minorities; (4) recent English Only legislation in Congress; and (5) a proactive approach to ensuring the civil rights of the LEP community, while enhancing their language acquisition.

Adult Literacy Education in Immigrant Communities: Identifying Policy and Program Priorities for Helping Newcomers Learn English
This groundbreaking report offers an in-depth exploration of the pressing language barriers facing the estimated 2.23 million adults in this country who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) – and how best to solve them. English language skills are a must when it comes to increasing immigrants’ ability to participate in the economic and civic life of their communities. But long waiting lists, overcrowded classrooms, programs of uneven quality and a lack of a national strategy to address these issues currently characterize immigrants’ access to high-quality adult literacy programs, even though English programs are available in most localities. This report provides an overview of issues discussed at the Adult Literacy Education in Immigrant Communities summit held in Washington, D.C. Led by AAJC and held in partnership with the National Immigration Forum and the National Council of La Raza, along with more than 50 stakeholders, the meeting and this study have brought to the fore new, innovative ways to best help this underserved population.

National Advisory Council

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:04:42 GMT

Anne H. Chow: Chair AT&T Bill Ong Hing: Member UC Davis School of Law Neil Horikoshi: Member IBM Bill Imada: Member IW Group, Inc. Douglas Jackson: Member Magnus, LLC June Jee: Member Verizon John T. Komeiji: Member Watanabe Ing & Komeiji, LLP Bill Lann Lee: Member Lewis, Feinberg, Lee, Renaker & Jackson, P.C. Deanna Lee: Member Asia Society Mari Matsuda: Member Georgetown University Law Center Sylvester Mendoza Jr.: Member Northrop Grumman Dale Minami: Member Minami Tamaki LLP Leslie Moe-Kaiser: Member State Farm Insurance Companies Don T. Nakanishi: Member University of California Los Angeles Angela E. Oh: Member Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert, Nessim, Drooks & Lincenberg Henry Ramos: Member Mauer Kunst Consulting Skip Rhodes: Member Skip Rhodes & Associates, LLC Robert S. Sheen: Member First Capitol Consulting, Inc. Linda Mar Weidman: Member Marriott International, Inc. George R. Willy: Member George Willy, PC Frank...

Sylvester Mendoza Jr.

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:57:22 GMT

Sylvester Mendoza Jr. is currently the Senior Director for Global Diversity Strategies at Schering-Plough in New Jersey, leading the pharmaceutical company’s diversity and inclusion strategy and implementation worldwide. Prior to joining Schering, Sylvester was Senior Director, Human Resources & Talent Acquisition at Day & Zimmermann, a diversified business company in Philadelphia. Sylvester’s extensive experience included a role as Director of Diversity & Talent Acquisition for Quest Diagnostics, Inc., the country’s largest medical laboratory, headquartered in New Jersey. Before joining Quest Diagnostics, Sylvester held a similar corporate position at Merrill Lynch, Inc. in New York, where he had additional responsibility for equal opportunity and affirmative action programs. Previously, Mr. Mendoza worked at Hughes Electronics in Los Angeles and with General Telephone of California in a senior Human Resources management capacity. Sylvester has been an active board member with a...

Jeff Yang

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:40:24 GMT

Jeff Yang (currently CEO of Factor Inc.) is founder of aMagazine: Inside Asian America, the nation’s leading Asian American periodical, with a bimonthly circulation of over 250,000 throughout North America.

For 12 years, he developed advertising and sales strategies that put aMagazine on the forefront of the diversity-marketing phenomenon, and established Asian America as a critical target audience for the new millennium.

He created Asian America’s two most prominent annual events—the New York-based “Bridge Builder” Asian American Leadership Awards and the Los Angeles–based Ammy Awards for Asian American Entertainment—and developed them into premium sponsorship opportunities for brands including Ford Motors, GE, Avon, The Prudential, AT&T, State Farm Insurance, Anheuser Busch, and Merrill Lynch.

In 1997, Yang edited aMagazine's first book, Eastern Standard Time: A Guide to Asian Influence in American Culture, from Astro Boy to Zen Buddhism (Houghton Mifflin, May 1997); in 1998, he co-wrote I Am Jackie Chan, the international action hero’s autobiography (Ballantine Books, 1998). His next book, Once Upon a Time in China: An Enthusiast’s Guide to Chinese, Taiwanese and Hong Kong Cinema, will be published next year by Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster.

Yang is board member of the Asian American Journalists Association’s New York chapter, a member of the advisory board of the China Institute in America, and a board member of the Second Generation Theater Company. He graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in Psychology.

Mari Matsuda

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:39:02 GMT

Mari Matsuda is a writer and law professor. Her books include Where is Your Body and Other Essays on Race, Gender, and the Law, Words That Wound: Critical Race Theory, Assaultive Speech and the First Amendment,and We Won’t Go Back: Making the Case For Affirmative Action.

Professor Matsuda grew up in Los Angeles and Hawaii, and her writings reflect her experience in multicultural settings. Her many law review articles are among the most widely read and cited in the legal academy, and she is known both for the originality of her analysis and her unique narrative voice. She is an activist, as well as a scholar, a volunteer attorney in civil rights cases and a board member in public interest and social change organizations. Her parents, who took her to demonstrations before she could walk, initiated her into the civil rights movement, and she is a lifetime participant in non-violent protest in support of labor rights, peace and equality.

She has worked as a hotel maid, legal messenger, law clerk to a judge of the Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals, labor lawyer, and as a professor at the University of Hawaii, at UCLA, and now at Georgetown Law Center.

Bill Lann Lee

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:38:21 GMT

Bill Lann Lee is a partner at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP in San Francisco. Mr. Lee began his career as a lawyer at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in 1974. He has since served as counsel for the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund in New York and as supervising attorney for civil rights litigation at the Center for Law in the Public Interest in Los Angeles. In 1997, President Clinton appointed him to the office of assistant attorney general for civil rights, making Mr. Lee the highest-ranking Asian Pacific American civil rights enforcer in the nation.

John T. Komeiji

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:37:16 GMT

John T. Komeiji is a graduate of the University of Hawaii (B. Ed.) and Hastings College of Law. He is a senior partner with the law firm of Watanabe Ing Kawashima & Kawashim, LLP, and has served on its Executive Committee since 1991.

His practice has focused primarily in the litigation of commercial, personal injury and professional liability matters. Mr. Komeiji also practices in the area of telecommunications law. He is a member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocate as a Bencher and on the Executive Committee of the American Inns of Court, Aloha Chapter.

Mr. Komeiji is the past president of the Hawaii State Bar Association. He has also served on the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Lawyer Competence.

Mr. Komeiji has served as a representative to the United State District Court Conference, the State of Hawaii Judiciary Conference, and a member of the Committee of Pattern Civil Instructions, Judiciary, State of Hawaii. The Judiciary, State of Hawaii, has also appointed him as an arbitrator and master mediator. He has been an adjunct professor of law at the Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii; faculty member for the training of arbitrators with the State of Hawaii Court Annexed Arbitration Program; speaker and faculty member for many litigation seminars; and served, on several occasions, as a panel member for State of Hawaii judicial training.

Mr. Komeiji is the President of the Hawaii Prince Hotel and Golf Course. He has also served as the President of the Board of Governors for the Windward YMCA; Chairperson of the Board of the Motor Vehicle Industry Repair Board; and currently serves on the Board of the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii. Mr. Komeiji is married to Kalowena C. Komeiji and has two daughters.

June Jee

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:36:20 GMT

June Jee is currently a Director in the Verizon Communications Community Affairs’ group. She is responsible for Verizon’s involvement in the community. She serves as liaison between the corporation and community organizations locally, and at times, with Asian-American organizations at the national level. Ms. Jee is also responsible for managing a component of the Verizon Foundation’s philanthropic programs.

Ms. Jee joined Verizon in 1980 as a Business Service Representative. In 1990, she became a Manager in the Customer Outreach and Education group responsible for disseminating consumer information to Verizon's diverse customer base including seniors, low-income, differently-abled and language dependent communities.

Prior to her current position, Ms. Jee was a staff director of the Ethnic & Premium Markets group responsible for the planning, development and implementation of the first Verizon Asian Marketing Unit, as well as events planning in the ethnic market.

As an active member in the community, Ms. Jee currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors at the Museum of Chinese in the Americas, Second Generation Productions, United East Athletic Association, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies in Washington, DC. Ms. Jee is also National President of the Asian Pacific Employees for excellence (APEX) of Verizon, an employee resource organization addressing the professional needs of Asian-American employees in Verizon. Ms. Jee received her BA in Art from City University of the New York and received a certificate in Corporate Community Relations from Boston College.

Paul W. Lee

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:34:45 GMT

Paul W. Lee is a partner at the Boston law firm of Goodwin Procter LLP where he is currently Chairman of the Corporate Department managing approximately 140 attorneys engaged in a broad range of corporate, securities, business and financing work.

Mr. Lee practices corporate, business and securities law, and represents public and privately held high technology, industrial, retail, service and bank holding companies on corporate matters. He has worked with both national and multinational corporations, as well as with foreign clients and represented many start-up companies in technology-related businesses. Mr. Lee’s venture capital practice includes the formation of venture funds in the United States as well as international funds in Europe, the Pacific Rim and other off-shore jurisdictions.

Mr. Lee is active in community affairs, both locally and nationally. From 1995-96, he was President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the national bar association representing Asian Pacific American lawyers throughout the United States. He was a founder and the first President of the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts, and is currently a member of the American Bar Association Commission on Opportunities for the Minorities in the Profession. In 1996, he was appointed by Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld to the Governor’s Asian American Commission.

Mr. Lee is a graduate of Columbia University (B.S. 1972, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) and Cornell Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1976, specialization in International Legal Affairs).

Support AAJC

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:32:30 GMT

The Asian American Justice Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, so your contributions are tax deductible. Your support is critical to ensure the future success of our programs. There are many ways you can contribute to AAJC. For questions or more information, contact June Jimenez or call 202-296-2300, x138. Contribute Directly Make checks payable to AAJC and send to: AAJC 1140 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 1200 Washington, D.C. 20036 Contribute Stocks and Securities You can donate stocks and other publicly traded securities to AAJC. If you have owned the stock for at least one year and it has increased in value, a donation may be tax-wise. By making a gift of stock to AAJC, you can avoid capital gains tax. You are also eligible to receive a charitable contribution deduction equal to the full fair market value of the stock. Contribute to a Scholarship The Joyce Chiang Memorial Scholarship was established by the Asian American Justice Center, with the support of...

Frank H. Wu

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:31:15 GMT

In 2004, Frank H. Wu became the ninth Dean of Wayne State University Law School in his hometown of Detroit. From 1995 to 2004, he served on the law faculty of Howard University, including two years as Clinic Director. He has been an adjunct professor at Columbia University, a visiting professor at University of Michigan, and a teaching fellow at Stanford University. Dean Wu is the author of Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White and co-author of Race, Rights and Reparation: Law and the Japanese American Internment. His writing has appeared on a professional basis in the Washington Post, Detroit Free Press, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Chronicle of Higher Education, Legal Times, and Asian Week. Dean Wu serves as a Trustee of Gallaudet University, the only university in the nation primarily for deaf and hard of hearing. He has taught at Deep Springs College, a highly-selective full-scholarship all-male school enrolling twenty-six on a student-run cattle ranch near Death...

Bill Imada

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:51:56 GMT

Bill Imada is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the IW Group (formerly Imada Wong Communications Group), a full-service communications firm that specializes in the growing multicultural markets here in the U.S. The IW Group was ranked the seventh fastest growing public relations agency in the U.S. by PR Week (2002) and is among the top Asian American advertising firms in this country according to Advertising Age (2005). With more than a decade of experience in marketing, public relations, advertising and training, Mr. Imada and his company have and continue to represent some of the top global brands, including Farmers Group, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Nike, McDonald’s Corporation, Merrill Lynch, Washington Mutual, GlaxoSmithKline, Blue Cross, Wal-Mart Stores and UPS. The IW Group also represents a number of prominent government agencies, including the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. ...

Anti-Asian Violence & Race Relations Publications & Materials

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:48:06 GMT

To order hardcopies of any of our publications, please e-mail or call Pang Houa Moua at 202-296-2300, x122. Audit of Violence Against Asian Pacific Americans AAJCs audit is the only comprehensive, nationwide, non-governmental compilation and analysis of anti-Asian violence in the United States. The electronic versions were made possible by Verizon and are available free of charge. Hardcopy versions are available for $5.00. 2002 Audit 2001 Audit 2000 Audit 1999 Audit 1998 Audit 1997 Audit 1996 Audit 1995 Audit Hate Crimes Community Toolkit Hate Crimes FAQ - Addresses some of the most common questions and concerns surrounding hate crimes. An excellent source for hate crime talking points. In English In Chinese In Vietnamese In Urdu Responding to Hate Crimes: A Checklist for Community Based Organizations - Gives detailed instructions and advice on community organizations can report hate crimes and assist victims. ...

Development Associate

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 23:39:47 GMT

AAJC Position Description Position Title: Development Associate Reports to: Director of Development Summary: The Development Associate will assist the Development Director in securing funds from individual donors and special events to carry out the organization’s mission and vision. Requirements include: good management, planning and coordinating skills; excellent attention to detail and follow-through; experience in using and managing a database. AAJC is committed to strengthening its racially and culturally diverse staff. Send resume and salary requirements to Director of Development at jjimenez@advancingequality.org or Director of Development, AAJC, 1140 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20036. Education: Undergraduate degree. Job duties and responsibilities: Ensure the success of the organization’s primary special event fundraiser, the annual American Courage Awards. Serve as the primary manager for the organization’s direct mail campaign,...

Community Partners Roster

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:25:01 GMT

Alabama There are no current Community Partners in this state. Please e-mail Pang Houa Moua or call 202-296-2300, x122 for assistance. Alaska There are no current Community Partners in this state. Please e-mail Pang Houa Moua or call 202-296-2300, x122 for assistance. Arizona Arizona International Refugee Consortium, Inc. Contact: Mr. Pedro Denga Address: 2811 North 39th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009 Phone: (602) 277-5957 Fax: (602) 277-5333 E-mail: betaniacc2001@hotmail.com AIRC is a...

Programs

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:51:49 GMT

A nationally recognized voice on behalf of Asian Americans, AAJC focuses its expertise on: Affirmative Action: A member of Americans For A Fair Chance, a project of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Education Fund, AAJC has been at the forefront advocating the benefits of affirmative action in education, employment, and in public contracting. In the University of Michigan affirmative action cases, AAJC filed amicus curiae briefs in the U.S. Court of Appeals and in the Supreme Court of the United States of America arguing the benefits of diversity for all Americans, including Asian Americans. Anti-Asian Violence & Race Relations: Having produced the Audit of Violence Against Asian Pacific Americans for the past ten years, AAJC is a leading voice on the prevention of Anti-Asian Violence. AAJC continues to educate all Americans with its recent publication Responding to Hate Crimes: with a digitally interactive CD-Rom and continues to work with in coalition with the Leadership...

Supreme Court Nominations

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:45:18 GMT

AAJC is a member of The Coalition for a Fair & Independent Judiciary, a broad-reaching network of nearly 100 leading national and state organizations that are committed to making sure our next Supreme Court Justice cares more about how the law affects ordinary Americans than partisan ideology. With the recent nomination of Judge John Roberts to the Supreme Court, and the possibility of near-future nominations to the Court, it is important to understand how it operates. Below are AAJC Supreme Court Vacancy: What’s at Stake for Asian Pacific Americans? - The Supreme Court has a unique and powerful role as interpreters of the rights and liberties enjoyed by all Americans, including Asian Pacific Americans. Supreme Court FAQ - Answers some of the basic questions about the Supreme Court and the nomination process. Press Release: AAJC Urges Senate to Closely Examine John Roberts’ Record and Rulings Letter to Senate - AAJC and the Coalition for a Fair & Independent Judiciary...

Litigation Briefs

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:32:28 GMT

Below is a partial listing of our litigation briefs. For briefs not listed, please e-mail Vincent A. Eng. Coral Construction, Inc. and Schram Construction, Inc. v. City & County of San Francisco and John L. Martin The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), a national human and civil rights organization, and its affiliate –the Asian Law Caucus (ALC) – along with four other advocacy groups, filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of the state of California in support of defendents and appellants City & County of San Francisco, et al. to increase participation by Asian American businesses in public and private sectors. William Crawford et al. v. Marion County Election Board, et al The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), a national human and civil rights organization, and its affiliates – Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), Asian Law Caucus (ALC) and Asian American Institute (AAI) – along with 22 other national and local Asian American advocacy groups, filed an amicus...