National CAPACD

12/12/2022

12/08/2022

This week, National CAPACD was in Houston, TX, for our annual Housing Counseling Convening. Participants heard from housing counselors from the Chinese Community Center of Houston (CCC) and the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, who presented on their programs and discussed the Houston housing market. Attendees also participated in a training provided by NCRC on how to successfully manage a housing counseling program.

Thank you to CCC for hosting this year's convening in one of their senior centers and for organizing a Chinese cultural tour for attendees, where housing counselors and program staff participated in a tea ceremony at Chung Mei Temple (佛光山中美寺) in Houston.

12/01/2022

On December 8, join us for the first webinar in our two-part holiday webinar series about how our members are supporting and entrepreneurs in our neighborhoods. We'll be joined by the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, who will discuss how their initiative, The Community Cloth, encourages entrepreneurship for refugee and immigrant women through cultural expression. Register here: http://ow.ly/efiB50LROEK

To learn about the webinar series, and to register for the second webinar in our series on December 15, click here: http://ow.ly/4bOz50LROH6

11/29/2022

Your donation on for National CAPACD's Community Resilience Fund supports the anti-racism and racial healing work being done by community-based organizations like Asian Health Services.

Asian Health Services and West Oakland Health Council have together embarked on a racial trauma community-focused research project to understand perceptions and attitudes around violence in both the Asian and Black communities in Oakland. Through this project, the two health centers seek to develop strategies to promote racial healing and solidarity between the Asian and Black communities.

You can support the Community Resilience Fund here: http://ow.ly/M0QW50LQrJs

Learn more about the Community Resilience Fund and the work being done by organizations who have benefited from the fund here: http://ow.ly/QkhI50LQrJr

11/29/2022

This , National CAPACD is raising $25,000 for the Community Resilience Fund. The Community Resilience Fund provides flexible funds and other resources to community-based organizations engaged in racial healing, anti-racism, and multi-racial coalition-building work. To date, we have provided $500,000 dollars to 21 organizations across the country.

Join a community of individuals and foundations who are committed to racial justice and make possible the work that supports AA and NHPI communities and neighborhoods as spaces of healing and resilience, refuge and support, and restoration and inspiration. Donate today: http://ow.ly/vp8V50LQkkQ

11/25/2022

The White House Fellowship Program is a non-partisan program for those who have a passion for leadership and public service. On November 30, join White House Fellowship alumni for an introductory webinar where they'll discuss how to apply to the 2023-2024 Fellowship Program, explore selection criteria, and share their own experience as fellows. RSVP here: http://ow.ly/Wfrr50LMiVA

11/23/2022

AA and NHPIs have long pursued self-employment and ownership as a pathway to greater economic security. On December 8, join us and the Alliance for Multicultural Community Services for a discussion about how their initiative, The Community Cloth, encourages entrepreneurship for refugee and immigrant women through cultural expression. To learn about the intersection between culture-keeping and entrepreneurship, and how you can support entrepreneurs, register for the webinar here: http://ow.ly/8YHS50LMipC

11/17/2022

There's still time to submit your response to the Federal Reserve's 2022 Small Business Credit Survey! Small businesses are critical to the US economy, but data on small businesses is limited. By taking the survey, owners contribute to the data that directly informs the Fed, service providers, policymakers, and others. Take the survey here: https://bit.ly/3TU7Ryg

11/16/2022

At day 2 of our Empowerment Economics Summit, participants discussed how their organizations are implementing the six core elements of Empowerment Economics. Danielle Chun from the Leah Zallman Center at the Institute for Community Health gave a presentation to our participants on how narrative change translates into policy change for low-income communities. Participants also heard from Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community- CBCAC's Coral Wu about her journey implementing Empowerment Economics in CBCAC's advocacy and financial capability programming.

Thank you to Taelani Camacho from Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, Jacquelyn Lekraj, and Jeff Gilbreath from Hawai'i Community Lending for facilitating this year's summit!

11/15/2022

National CAPACD is in LA for our Empowerment Economics Summit! At this three-day summit, we're sharing with our members how our work is culturally connected, community-led, multigenerational, and building power for the community. Thank you to Thai Community Development Center for hosting us and to their Executive Director Chancee Martorell who gave a presentation on the history of Thai Town and took our participants on a tour of Thai Town and the East Hollywood Farmers Market.

11/09/2022

11/08/2022

How does National CAPACD team build? Our DC and Oakland teams spent yesterday painting pottery, bowling, and phone banking with New Virginia Majority and CA Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, where we made 1100 calls to voters in Virginia and California to get them for 💪

11/08/2022

Remaking the Economy: Redefining Leadership

11/04/2022

AA and NHPIs have the highest and the fastest-growing population of people in poverty of any racial or ethnic group. Policymakers need to better understand the full range of experiences and Federal programs need to be more accessible to a broader range of low-income AAPIs.

These programs must take into account that AA and NHPI communities include over 100 languages/dialects spoken and over 50 ethnic groups. To support individuals with limited English proficiency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Counseling Program must increase compensation for groups providing language access services. These added responsibilities include oral and written translation, as well as culturally-sensitive 1:1 counseling.

Expanded access to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs is another important policy goal to support AA and NHPI entrepreneurs and . SBA must offer more linguistically and culturally competent services, as well as expand grants and subsidized lending for AA and NHPI .

Before , learn about other policies that serve low-income AA and NHPIs by checking out our 2022 Advocacy Action Plan.

The Consolidated Advocacy Action Plan provides key areas of focus for the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) through the end of 2022. It integrates policy engagement and presence-building opportunities in Washington with a focus on issues that are b...

11/03/2022

What work needs to be done to open career pathways and develop the next generation of leadership? On November 10, National CAPACD's Executive Director, Seema Agnani, will participate in The Nonprofit Quarterly's latest webinar in their Remaking the Economy series to discuss what an inclusive model of leadership looks like. Seema will be joined by Dr. Akilah Watkins from the Center for Community Progress and Tony Pickett of Grounded Solutions Network with Nonprofit Quarterly's Steve Dubb moderating the discussion. Register here: http://ow.ly/fvZ450LsxLR

11/02/2022

Before casting your ballot on , learn about the policies that will address economic inequality by supporting communities of color to have accessible opportunities to build wealth. One policy goal is to make sure that AA and NHPIs living in the continental US are defined by the Community Development Financial Institutions Funds as underserved so that communities are intentionally served by CDFIs.

Another federal policy important to achieving economic opportunity is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)'s pending regulations to implement Dodd Frank 1071, which will require lenders that provide loans to report the race and ethnicity of who they lend to. We’re working with the Center for Responsible Lending and National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) to call for lenders to disaggregate the data that they do share. We’re also calling for data collected and disseminated by agencies to be disaggregated whenever possible. Disaggregated data makes it easier to understand where the need exists for our communities.

Read about other policies important to ensuring economic opportunity for our communities, as well as housing and healthy, thriving communities, in our 2022 Advocacy Action Plan.

The Consolidated Advocacy Action Plan provides key areas of focus for the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) through the end of 2022. It integrates policy engagement and presence-building opportunities in Washington with a focus on issues that are b...

10/31/2022

Happy Halloween! The National CAPACD team celebrated by getting spooky in our DC office 🎃

10/28/2022

To prevent the displacement of AA and NHPIs in hot market neighborhoods, development must comply with community plans. This means that community engagement must be required in the planning and implementation process of transit developments. This community engagement must include outreach to a diverse group of organizations and providing the public with culturally and linguistically relevant materials on funding and the community engagement process.

Get yourself before by reviewing National CAPACD's 2022 Advocacy Action Plan and learn what other policies are important for supporting healthy, thriving communities.

Download a PDF version of the 2022 Advocacy Action Plan

10/28/2022

True social and economic justice means that our communities must have the resources and opportunities needed to thrive. Before , learn about National CAPACD's policy goals around healthy, thriving communities in our 2022 Advocacy Action Plan. http://ow.ly/BlYJ50Lnx7R

We support development that enables all people to experience the benefits of development near transit hubs so that they can pursue economic opportunities. Federally funded transit developments must establish an inclusionary zone where a baseline affordable housing is included.

Download a PDF version of the 2022 Advocacy Action Plan

10/26/2022

With around the corner, this is a good time to remind ourselves of the policies that are important to our communities. One policy area that National CAPACD is focused on is housing. Policies around anti-displacement and tenants' rights are key to achieving housing justice. These policies are generally locally defined and enforced, leading to a patchwork of protections that are inconsistent and insufficient.

To protect low-income tenants from being arbitrarily displaced, often to make way for new, luxury development, we recommend that the federal government lead and establish a national floor for tenants’ rights and equitable development policies. Before making your voice heard at the ballot box, check out our 2022 Advocacy Action Plan to learn more about policies that advance access to affordable, physically accessible, and stable housing. http://ow.ly/8y3650Lm1TU

Download a PDF version of the 2022 Advocacy Action Plan

10/24/2022

Last week, an appeals court ruled that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)'s funding is unconstitutional. This ruling jeopardizes more than a decade of progress to protect consumers from predatory financial products and services.

"As advocates who serve the communities most vulnerable to predatory financial practices, we must work together to preserve and strengthen the CFPB,” said National CAPACD's Executive Director, Seema Agnani, in a statement denouncing the ruling. Read our full statement.

National CAPACD Denounces Ruling That Would Undermine Consumer Protections This week, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled that the funding mechanism for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is unconstitutional. This jeopardizes more than a decade of....

10/24/2022

Happy ! For all of those celebrating, National CAPACD wishes you a happy festival of lights.

10/19/2022

Small organizations create big change, yet they’re often overlooked. Make your voice heard by completing NACEDA and the Urban Institute's survey. The survey closes on October 21. Learn more:

NACEDA and the Urban Institute have embarked on a 3-year research study on the financial health, programs, housing production, and services of community-based development organizations throughout the United States.

09/23/2022

This week, our Empowerment Economics team were in Atlanta for Prosperity Now's . They were able to attend a session led by our research partners from the Leah Zallman Center for Immigrant Health Research and the Native American Youth and Family Center.

During this session, they discussed the Balance and Belonging case study, produced in partnership with National CAPACD, the NAYA Family Center, and the Institute for Economics and Racial Equity at Brandeis University. This case study demonstrates the importance of Empowerment Economics in the Native community and other communities of color. You can read the case study here: http://ow.ly/72Qo50KRL8g

Thank you to Wells Fargo, who provided a scholarship to CAPI USA's Patricia Aguilar to be able to attend the summit.

09/23/2022

CRL is joining with National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) & National CAPACD to call for greater access to safe and affordable credit for minority-owned businesses. Modernizing the Community Reinvestment Act is essential for the prosperity of entrepreneurs of color.https://www.responsiblelending.org/sites/default/files/nodes/files/research-publication/crl-capacd-nalcab-eoc-cra-comment-5aug2022.pdf

09/22/2022

Join Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) in LA on October 15 for their 50th anniversary! Tickets are available now.

ROW DTLA • 10.15.2022 @ 6:00 PM (PDT)
—
Celebrate SIPA’s 50th anniversary, honoring all those Barangay Captains of HiFi that came before us, and the legacy they left for us as we look forward to the next 50 years!

Tickets are on sale now - see our link in the comments to get yours today!

09/21/2022

Entrepreneurs of color are essential to creating generational wealth and providing valuable resources to our communities. We’re working to remove the barriers that minority-owned businesses face in accessing credit safely and fairly. It starts with reforming the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), a landmark piece of legislation aimed at combatting discrimination in the lending industry. Read how National CAPACD, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB), and the Center for Responsible Lending are working together as part of the Build Back Better for Entrepreneurs of Color partnership to call for a stronger CRA: http://ow.ly/HI9w50KPgy9

09/20/2022

09/20/2022

🗳 Today is ! Celebrate by checking your voter registration status and making sure that you're .

09/19/2022

On September 21 at 3 pm ET, join National Council of Asian Pacific Americans - NCAPA's Communications Committee, APIA Scholars, National CAPACD, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates for the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions ( ) Trivia Hour! RSVP here: https://bit.ly/AANAPISITriviaEvent

09/19/2022

The Federal Reserve's 2022 Small Business Credit Survey is open for responses! Small businesses are critical to the US economy, but data on small businesses is limited. By taking the survey, owners contribute to the data that directly informs the Fed, service providers, policymakers, and others. Take the survey here: http://ow.ly/gaB050KN3Fr

The ten-minute survey is open to businesses currently in operation, those recently closed, and those about to launch, and will close on November 4.

09/15/2022

On September 20, join Southeast Asian Freedom Network - SEAFN, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), and Representative Alan Lowenthal to support the introduction of the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act. This historic federal bill would limit Southeast Asian deportations and provide further protections for the more than 15,000 Southeast Asian refugees who face deportation and are subject to ongoing trauma. You can watch the event live on SEAFN’s FB page starting at 9:30 am ET: http://ow.ly/MT5H50KKQSV

09/01/2022

We hosted leaders from Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon - APANO, Aypal: Building API Community Power, and PrYSM in Oakland this week for our pilot Stepping Up, Stepping In program! This year-long program provides participants with the opportunity to grow their leadership skills through workshops, peer guidance, and one-on-one coaching.

AYPAL provided a tour through Oakland neighborhoods and talked about the issues affecting their communities and empowering young voices in the Bay Area youth movement. Kultivate Labs also took participants through Kapwa Gardens and Balay Kreative while discussing the work they're doing for Filipino artists, small businesses, and the community in the SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Heritage District.

Thank you to JPMorgan Chase & Co., the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation, and the Target Foundation for their generous support of the Stepping Up, Stepping In program.

08/24/2022

Today's announcement from President Joe Biden that the Administration will forgive $10,000 in student loan debt for those making under $125,000 is a welcome relief for borrowers, especially for low-income students and students of color who overwhelmingly bear the brunt of the student debt crisis.

A three-part plan delivers on President Biden’s promise to cancel $10,000 of student debt for low- to middle-income borrowers President Biden believes

08/22/2022

08/18/2022

With the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act into law, President Joe Biden has taken the most significant action to respond to the climate crisis in U.S. history. The Administration will invest in clean energy solutions that reduce pollution and advance environmental justice, while bringing down energy costs for families and creating thousands of well-paid union jobs. These measures, as well as lower healthcare costs and a fairer tax code, demonstrate the Administration’s commitment to our cost-burdened communities. Read our statement on this historic legislation.

National CAPACD Applauds the Signing of the Inflation Reduction Act Yesterday, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the most significant action taken to respond to the climate crisis in U.S. history. The Administration will invest in clean energy solutions that reduce pollutio...

08/15/2022

The aims to combat discrimination in the lending industry. Despite this, many needs of low- and middle-income communities of color remain unmet. We recently submitted a comment letter with recommendations on how to strengthen the CRA, which was signed onto by 29 National CAPACD members and 3 of our national allies, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans - NCAPA, National Fair Housing Alliance, and Prosperity Now. You can read our letter and see our recommendations here: http://ow.ly/waf550Kkb96

08/08/2022

Are you attending the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Housing Counseling 2022 Community Conference this week? Then be sure not to miss tomorrow's "Trends and Data Impacting Housing Counseling" session, where National CAPACD's Housing Program Manager, Brian Kim, will join other panelists as they discuss foreclosure rates, rising rents, and eviction prevention. Learn more about the session and conference here:

HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling (OHC) is sponsoring a virtual conference for all of HUD’s participating housing counseling agencies (HCAs) and their counselors. Participants will interact with housing counseling leaders from Federal and State agencies, Local Housing Counseling Agencies (LHCAs...

08/08/2022