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Behind the Headlines: APA News Blog

Academic Version: Applying my personal experiences and academic research as a professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies to provide a more complete understanding of political, economic, and cultural issues and current events related to American race relations, and Asia/Asian America in particular.

Plain English: Trying to put my Ph.D. to good use.

March 10, 2011

Written by C.N.

Links, Jobs, & Announcements #39

Here are some more announcements, links, and job postings about academic-related jobs, fellowships, and other related opportunities for those interested in racial/ethnic/diversity issues. As always, the announcements and links are provided for informational purposes and do not necessarily imply an endorsement of the organization or college involved.

Pre-Doctoral Diversity Fellowship, Ithaca College

The School of Humanities and Sciences at Ithaca College announces a Pre-Doctoral Diversity Fellowship for 2011-12. The fellowship supports promising scholars who are committed to diversity in the academy in order to better prepare them for tenure track appointments within liberal arts or comprehensive colleges/universities.

Applications are welcome in the following areas: Anthropology, Communication Studies, Education, English, History, Religion, and Sociology. The school also houses a number of interdisciplinary minors that may be of interest to candidates: African Diaspora Studies, Jewish Studies, Latino/a Studies, Latin American Studies, Muslim Cultures, Native American Studies, and Women’s Studies. Fellows who successfully obtain the Ph.D. and show an exemplary record of teaching and scholarship and engagement in academic service throughout their fellowship, may be considered as candidates for tenure-eligible appointments anticipated to begin in the fall of 2012.

Terms of fellowship: Fellowship is anticipated for the academic year (August 16, 2011 to May 31, 2012) and is non-renewable. The fellow will receive a $30,000 stipend, $3,000 in travel/professional development support, office space, health benefits, and access to Ithaca College and Cornell University libraries. The fellow will teach one course in the fall semester and one course in the spring semester and be invited to speak about her/his dissertation research in relevant classes and at special events at Ithaca College.

Enrollment in an accredited program leading to a Ph.D. degree at a U.S. educational institution, evidence of superior academic achievement, and commitment to a career in teaching at the college or university level required. Candidates must also be authorized to work in the United States.

Prior to August 15, 2011, the fellow must be advanced to candidacy at his or her home institution with an approved dissertation proposal. Preference will be given to those candidates in the final writing stages of their dissertation. Candidates from underrepresented groups whose exclusion from membership in the American professoriate has been longstanding are strongly encouraged to apply.

Successful candidates will show evidence of superior academic achievement, a high degree of promise of continuing achievement as scholars and teachers, a capacity to respond in pedagogically productive ways to the learning needs of students from diverse backgrounds, sustained personal engagement with communities that are underrepresented in the academy and an ability to bring this asset to learning, teaching, and scholarship at the college and university level, and a likelihood of using the diversity of human experience as an educational resource in teaching and scholarship.

Ithaca College is located in Ithaca, New York, a city of about 30,000 people in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. Ithaca is rated by Kiplinger’s as one of the top 10 places to live in the U.S. Ithaca is approximately a 1.5 hour drive from Syracuse, a 2 hour drive from Rochester, a 4 hour drive from Buffalo and a 5 hour drive from New York City.

Interested individuals should apply online at www.icjobs.org, and submit a C.V./Resume, a cover letter, a list of references and a transcript. Questions about the online application should be directed to the Office of Human Resources at (607)274-8000. Screening of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Assistant Director, Asian American Cultural Center, Univ. of IL

Assistant Director, Asian American Cultural Center
Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The Asian American Cultural Center (AACC) promotes cross-cultural understanding of Asian American and Asian international experiences, and provides educational and cultural support for Asians and Asian Americans in our university community. The campus has a vibrant Asian community with approximately 5000 Asian American students, 5000 Asian international students, and 1000 Asian American faculty/staff. The campus recently was named one of the top ten universities for Asian American college students.

Nature of Position:
The Assistant Director is a full-time academic professional staff member in the Asian American Cultural Center, a unit of the Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations, a department of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Primary responsibilities include developing and coordinating programs and activities of the center, advising student organizations, and assisting in supervising student employees and volunteers. Programs of the center are primarily oriented toward college students, but also serve faculty-staff, alumni, and community members.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Develop and coordinate programming of the center
  • Collaborate with campus units and student organizations on programming
  • Provide advising and leadership development to student organizations
  • Coordinate alumni network and faculty-staff network
  • Coordinate resource collection, artist showcase
  • Evening and weekend hours as needed
  • Assist in the supervision of student staff
  • Perform other duties and additional responsibilities as assigned
  • The assistant director reports to the director of the center

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Experience with coordinating cultural, social, and/or educational programs
  • Two years experience, as a professional or as a student, with Asian American organizations
  • Strong interpersonal and organizational skills

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree, preferably in higher education administration, student affairs administration, or counseling
  • Professional experience advising students and/or student organizations
  • Experience in student affairs or in Asian American community development
  • Coursework in Asian and/or Asian American studies

Appointment Type:
Permanent full time, twelve month, 100% academic professional appointment. Salary commensurate with experience.

For full consideration, please create your candidate profile at http://jobs.illinois.edu and upload a letter of application, resume, and three references by March 25, 2011. All requested information must be submitted online for your application to be considered. For further information, please contact Misty Oakley, moakley@illinois.edu or 217-333-1300.

Summer Internship, Organization of Chinese Americans

The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) is currently seeking full-time undergraduates and recent graduates for the 2011 Summer Internship Program in Washington DC. Online Applications are due by Monday, April 4th at 11:30pm EST.

OCA Summer Internship Program
Purpose: To cultivate future leadership for the Asian Pacific American (APA) community by providing opportunities to work in the public sector and learn about issues affecting the APAs. Based in the nation’s capital, interns will build relationships, engage in weekly discussions on APA issues, go on legislative visits and participate in OCA’s National Convention in New York on Aug. 4-7. All are welcome to apply. Students of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, South Asian, and Southeast Asian descent are highly encouraged to apply.

Deadline: All materials must be received by Monday, April 4th at 11:30 pm EST.
Stipend: $2,500 for 10 weeks of full time work

Requirements:

  • Full-time undergraduate student (Minimum age of 18. Seniors are eligible)
  • U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Demonstrated interest in APA issues
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Commitment to work 10 weeks in Washington DC within the period of June 6 – August 19

Completed Application Package includes:

  • Completed Application Form
  • Résumé
  • Unofficial academic transcript
  • Exactly two letters of reference
  • One-page essay (12 pt, single-spaced, 500 words maximum) addressing the following: How will OCA’s summer internship benefit you and your community?

Procedure:

  1. Submit entire application package by deadline
  2. Applications will be reviewed by a committee
  3. Personal or telephone interview will be scheduled
  4. Accepted interns will be notified by April 29th. A firm commitment will be required at that time to secure placement

Online, early and complete application submission is highly encouraged. For more information, please refer to our Internship FAQ page or email internship@ocanational.org. Please no phone calls.

Modern Asian Studies Journal: Indian and Pakistan

We are delighted to announce the publication of the latest special issue of Modern Asian Studies, “From Subjects to Citizens: Society and the Everyday State in India and Pakistan, 1947-1970.” The special issue explores the shift from colonial rule to independence in India and Pakistan, with the aim of unravelling the explicit meanings and relevance of “independence” for the new citizens of India and Pakistan during the two decades after 1947.

To access this special issue free of charge simply register online and enter the offer code: MAS211. If you are already registered with Cambridge Journals online please click here to activate this offer.

Congressional Scholarship: Japanese American Citizens League

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is now accepting applications for the 2011 JACL Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship. The 2010 Masaoka Fellow is Mike Misha Tsukerman, who is serving in the office of Senator Daniel K. Inouye. National JACL President, David Kawamoto, said: “We encourage young members of the JACL who are college graduates to apply for this Fellowship which offers a unique experience in the nation’s capital.”

The Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship Fund was established in 1988 to honor Mike M. Masaoka for a lifetime of public service to the JACL and the nation. Masaoka was the JACL’s national secretary, field executive, national legislative director of the JACL’s Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the JACL Washington, D.C. Representative. He worked tirelessly to advance the cause of Japanese Americans during difficult times.

The Fund was set up by good friends of Mike Masaoka. Dr. H. Tom Tamaki of Philadelphia administered the program for the JACL for twenty years since its inception. The JACL Washington, D.C. office now administers the program. JACL Masaoka Fellows are placed in the Washington D.C. Congressional offices of members of the United States Senate or the House of Representatives for a period of six to eight months. The major purpose of the Masaoka Fellowship is to develop leaders for public service. They are expected to be future leaders of the JACL.

Floyd Mori, National Executive Director of the JACL, stated: “The Mike M. Masaoka Fellowship is a flagship program of the JACL. We are grateful to those who had the foresight to set up such a fund and program to develop young leaders. This is a great opportunity to work in the office of a member of Congress.”

Information and application materials are on the website. Applications should be submitted to the JACL Washington, D.C. office via email to: policy@jacl.org. The deadline has been extended to May 2, 2011. The announcement of the selected Fellow is expected to be made by June 15.

April 22, 2010

Written by C.N.

Links & Announcements #25

Here are some more announcements and links out that have come my way relating to Asians or Asian Americans. As always, links to other sites are provided for informational purposes and do not necessarily imply an endorsement of their contents.

APIAVote Event: New Faces of Leadership

To celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, APIAVote is kicking off the Norman Y. Mineta Leadership Institute (NYMLI) Speaker Series in Washington, D.C. This Speaker Series will bolster our NYM Leadership Institute, by bringing the dialogue about AAPI political involvement and political participation to a national stage. Chaired by the Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, NYMLI’s mission is to increase the leadership and organizing capacity of AAPI communities by training and equipping leaders with the skills to successfully engage AAPIs in electoral campaigns.

Join APIAVote on Monday, May 3, 2010, from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the National Education Association, as we kick off the Norman Y. Mineta Leadership Institute Speaker Series.

The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, Chair of APIAVote’s Norman Y. Mineta Leadership Institute, will host a conversation with The New Faces of Leadership from our AAPI communities, Secretary Gary Locke, Department of Commerce (confirmed), Secretary Steven Chu, Department of Energy (invited), Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth, Department of Veterans Affairs (confirmed), and other policy leaders as they will discuss opportunities and challenges they encounter in their work in the Administration and with AAPI communities.

A prominent broadcast correspondent has been invited to moderate. Please visit apiavote.org/newfaces to register today.

2010 Asian American and Pacific Islander Summit

Congressional Democratic Leadership & the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) cordially invite you to attend the 2010 Asian American and Pacific Islander Summit — Strengthening Our Economy: Job Creation in AAPI Communities.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010
8:00 AM-12:30 PM
Congressional Visitors Center, HVC-215

To register, please visit www.honda.house.gov/capacsummit.shtml

Invitation Program for Japanese American Students

This is a national program for Japanese Americans of high school or college age who have a strong interest in Japan and would like to participate in a 12-day expenses-paid trip to the country of their origin. The purpose of the trip is to give 8 Americans of Japanese heritage (including those of a multiracial background) the opportunity to learn about modern Japan and thereby promote mutual understanding and friendship between Japanese and Japanese Americans of the younger generation. The requirements are as follows:

  1. Must be of high school or college age (with preference given to high school students)
  2. Must hold U.S. citizenship, and must not have dual Japanese citizenship
  3. Must attend the full program from July 2 –July 13, including a pre-departure orientation

Please note that Japanese language proficiency will not influence the selection process. The travel period is July 2-13, 2010 and includes a pre-departure orientation in San Francisco. Please note that the application must be submitted to the Consulate General of Japan in Boston by May 7, 2010. The application form is available on our website.
For further information please contact Ms. Mika Iga (617-972-9772 x141 mika.iga@mofa.go.jp; or Richard Winslow (617-973-9772 x137, r.winslow@cgjbos.org).

Sincerely,
Masaru Tsuji
Consul General

Call for Papers: 2011 Assn. for Asian American Studies Conference

“Consuming Asian America”: 2011 Association for Asian American Studies Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 18-21, 2011. Submissions due by Monday, November 1, 2010.

The theme for the 2011 AAAS conference “Consuming Asian America” is inspired, in part, by the site of the conference itself—New Orleans, the city that measures the success of its Mardi Gras celebration by weighing the garbage collected the morning after and whose shopping and nightclub district for locals is called “Fat City.” We invite proposals to engage with all aspects of consumption, such as excess (after all, New Orlean’s tradition of Mardi Gras suggests an excess of consumption), labor material culture, technology, marketing, identity, assimilation, gender, popular culture, religion, music, or tourism.

The title “Consuming Asian America” has a double sense, referring both to the consumption performed by Asian Americans and the consumption of objects, people, and practices that are marked as Asian American. We are interested in the material practices, actions, and cultures of different versions of the consumer, such as eating, buying, viewing, as well as the larger metaphor of consumption.

For example, proposals might examine the material reality of food and its cultivation, production, labor, and marketing: agribusiness, the restaurant industry, our current fascination with television food shows or “authentic” ethnic eating. Others might examine consumption, purchasing, and power by examining chains of production, from the unseen labor of overseas and domestic Asian workers to how the advertising of various products specifically employs or ignores Asian and Asian American bodies.

This topic also encompasses the widespread consumption of goods and services identified as Asian or Asian American. These might include religious iconography, such as Mehndi and the Buddha, artistic traditions such as haiku, martial arts, or manga), or language and writing, such as Chinese writing in keychains, home decor, and body art. Consumption also can be thought of as a means of absorbing, reformulating, or challenging culture through various technologies: how images of Asians, from the yellow peril to the model minority have been circulated and consumed by a multi-racial America, and how one might control or resist the consumption of Asian America.

This is the first time AAAS will meet in New Orleans. Accordingly, we are interested in the ways in which New Orleans (and the Gulf Coast more broadly) has been the object of consumption post-Katrina, as well as the relative invisibility of Asian Americans in the public attention following the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. How might this conference steer us away from being unthinking consumers of New Orleans culture and instead engage us with the possibilities of critical

All paper and panel applicants must be members of AAAS in order to submit conference proposals. AAAS membership
number or confirmation of membership from JHUP will be required with all proposals. AV equipment will be available on request but on a limited, first-come-first-served basis due to budget restrictions. Please make your requests when sending in your proposals.

Call for Papers: 2010 Union Summer Internship

The AFL-CIO is very excited to announce that Union Summer will return for 2010! Since 1996, Union Summer has graduated over 3000 activists, many of whom continue to work in the labor movement. Union Summer will be looking to recruit and place student activists from colleges and universities across the country to take the fight for justice into the streets in support of our campaign to win good jobs!

Union Summer is a ten week educational internship in which participants are introduced to the labor movement. The Union Summer Internship will run from June 7th through August 13th. It will begin with a weeklong orientation and training, which will be held in Washington, D.C. June 7-June 13. After the training, interns will work in teams in support of the AFL-CIO’s Jobs Campaign in various parts of the country; there will also be classroom instruction on matters related to their activities.

Their activities could include assisting in organizing direct actions such as marches and rallies, talking with workers impacted by the jobs crisis, as well as assisting in building community, labor and religious support for the Campaign. Interns will play an important role in helping to build support for our top priority – making sure that everyone that wants a job can get one. Participation in Union Summer is also an ideal way for people to learn about unions and our work in the community.

Union Summer is looking to recruit students with a strong commitment to social and economic justice as and openness to working with people of various races, ethnicities, sexual and religious orientations. Participants should be enthusiastic, energetic and flexible to working long and irregular hours. We are accepting applications from rising juniors and seniors as well as graduating seniors. Women and People of Color are strongly encouraged to apply.

Participants will receive a stipend of $300 per week (minus taxes) to cover meals and other incidental expenses. Each intern will be responsible to getting to and from their orientation training. After the weeklong orientation, Union Summer will cover the costs of transportation to their internship site. Housing and local transportation costs will be provided by the host site.
Union Summer is a competitive internship and will have a limited number of available positions this year. Please encourage all interested students to apply soon.

Interested students should view and download the application on our website and return it to unionsummer@aflcio.org. The application deadline is May 7, 2010. For more information, students should contact us at 1.888.835.8557.

In Solidarity,

Fred Azcarate
Director, Voice@Work Campaign
AFL-CIO

Fred Azcarate, Director
Voice@Work Campaign
AFL-CIO
815 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
202-639-6229
202-508-6939 fax
fazcarat@aflcio.org
www.aflcio.org

JACL Collegiate Leadership Program

The JACL is now accepting applications for its second annual JACL Collegiate Washington, D.C. Leadership Conference to be held on June 10-13, 2010. The program, which is patterned after the JACL/OCA Washington, DC Leadership Conference, is limited to Asian American college students who are in their freshman, sophomore or junior year in school.

The three-day program is designed to give Asian American student leaders an inside glimpse of national policy-making arena in Washington, DC. The conference is structured to provide a broad overview of the decision-making process at the federal level, including meetings with key policy-makers, agency officials and advocacy organizations. The conference will also offer leadership training and issues workshops.

“The intent of the program is to provide student leaders with information, training and networking opportunities,” said Bill Yoshino, JACL’s Midwest Director who is coordinating the program. “We hope this program provides the participants with additional motivation to be active and involved at their campus and in their communities,” Yoshino added.

The conference is being funded through a grant from the UPS Foundation, which will cover airfare, lodging and meals for 12 participants who will be selected through an application process. Applicants must be full-time Asian Pacific American undergraduate freshman, sophomore or junior class students attending an accredited college or university.

Download an application or view the conference description. The deadline for applications is May 7, 2010. For information, contact Bill Yoshino at 773.728.7170 or Midwest@jacl.org.

December 4, 2009

Written by C.N.

Links & Announcements #18

Here are some more announcements and links out that have come my way relating to Asians or Asian Americans. As always, links to other sites are provided for informational purposes and do not necessarily imply an endorsement of their contents. (Previous similar posts were titled “Miscellaneous Links”).

Women’s Center Uses Music Video to Combat Domestic Violence

The New York Asian Women’s Center (NYAWC) has taken an improbable yet powerful new tack in their efforts to combat domestic violence: music videos. Recently, NYAWC lent its resources and non-profit status to the production of ‘Someday,’ a song by artist May Ling about a woman’s experience in an abusive home. The video, directed by award-winning video producer Scott Gabriel, will be used to raise awareness of domestic violence and promote the initiatives of the NYAWC.

“Domestic violence is often hidden behind the closed doors of perfectly ordinary, middle-class American homes,” says Gabriel. “We want to bring the issue into the public forum and make sure that people are aware that resources exist to help. We were ecstatic that the NYAWC were willing to be the first organization to help us reach the broad internet audience.”

“Music has the special ability to communicate issues that people normally do not want to discuss,” said singer/songwriter May Ling. “In the 70’s, many popular songs were about changing the world for the better. . . . My hope is that Someday will inspire social dialogue and positive change.” . . . Other songs, in May Ling’s collaboration with Bennett Media Studios, deal with child trafficking, the Khmer Rouge, and victims of the Sichuan Earthquake.

The music and clips from ‘Someday’ will be featured in a new public service announcement for NYAWC on NY 1. The group has also completed a Chinese PSA and is currently working to find a station interested in donating air time. They also hope to translate the PSA into other languages and make it available in other regions to help spread the word.

During their life time one hundred thousand Asian women in New York City will be abused by their partner – emotionally, financially, physically, or sexually. NYAWC helps victims overcome violence and govern their own lives, free of abuse. . . . The group’s 24 hour, multi-lingual help line provides assistance in 11 different languages and can be reached at 1-888-888-7702. Songs with a Voice is a collaboration of artists, who combine the mediums of film and music to reach those in need and inspire activism.

JACL Accepting Applications for “Active Choice” Intern

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is seeking to innovate and progress to keep up with the needs of the community. In order to do this, there must be an upsurge of young members to reinvigorate and redirect the organization on the local level. The JACL views the new reduced-rate Active Choice health insurance plan as a viable stimulus in the JACL’s efforts to develop its membership.

Furthermore, the JACL hopes to insure as many young members of the greater community as possible by providing an affordable health insurance option. By introducing the Active Choice Plan, the JACL hopes to mitigate the negative consequences of the uninsured lifestyle among this high-risk demographic and encourage social responsibility.

The Active Choice Intern will assist the JACL in the efforts outlined above. The position will be part-time with a negotiable time frame beginning the week of January 4, 2010; receive a stipend of $1,000 per month; and will report to the JACL National Membership Coordinator at the National JACL Headquarters in San Francisco.

Intern Tasks:

  • Create a database documenting all UC and CSU SHIP costs, contrasting them to comparable plans in the market and the JACL Active Choice Plan
  • Coordinate with JACL Membership Coordinator and JACL Health Benefits Trust Blue Shield Office to create a comprehensive marketing plan
  • Engage potential student subscribers in on-campus meetings
  • Work with Consul General’s office in reaching out to exchange students, and the Shin-Issei community
  • Pursue an aggressive social media campaign utilizing online networking sites
  • Develop language-specific advertising in coordination with the JACL Health Benefits Trust office
  • Some travel will be required

Outcomes/Goals:

  • Recruit 1,000 new JACL members through an appeal to the Active Choice PPO Plans
  • Promote social responsibility and wellness among the 18-39 year old demographic

Skills Required:

  • Good written and oral communication skills
  • Experience with spreadsheets and database management
  • Familiarity and comfort with public speaking and good one on one interactive skill
  • Some creative design experience

Click here for the application and please send all materials by December 23, 2009 to:

JACL National Headquarters
Attn: Active Choice Internship
1765 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
mbr@jacl.org
415.921.5225

Funding Opportunities for Grad Students and Others

Peace Scholar Dissertation Fellowship: The Jennings Randolph (JR) Program for International Peace awards approximately ten Peace Scholar Dissertation Fellowships each year to support the research and writing of doctoral dissertations addressing the sources and nature of international conflict and strategies to prevent or end conflict and to sustain peace.

The Peace Scholar Fellowship is meant to assist emerging scholars at one of the most crucial points in their career. Awards may be used to support writing and research at their home institution or for field-work abroad. USIP welcomes proposals from all disciplines, however, they should be consistent with the Institute’s mandate and present a research agenda with clear relevance to policy issues. Peace Scholars receive $20,000 for 10 months.

Deadline is January 5, 2010.

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships for Advanced Asian Language Study: Blakemore Freeman grants are awarded to individuals pursuing professional, academic, or business careers that involve the regular use of an East or Southeast Asian language. The grants fund a year of advanced language study at an institution in Asia such as the Inter-University Center for Japanese Studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the International Chinese Language Program at National Taiwan University in Taipei, or similar structured programs in Asia. Deadline is December 30, 2009.

Registration Open for East Coast Asian American Students Union (ECAASU) Conference

Registration for the ECAASU National Conference 2010 at the University of Pennsylvania is up! Register now until December 15th for the best rate. Get your friends to join you and the rest of your school at the largest intercollegiate Asian American conference in the country.

When? March 4-6, 2010
Where? University of Pennsylvania
Why? Because you want to meet all the great workshop facilitators, phenomenal speakers, artists, writers, and student leaders across the country
How? Go to the ECAASU website

We’re not just coming together because we’re Asian Americans, but we’re at the forefront of larger minority and leadership movement that is closing the gap between ethnic minorities and the divide between the majority and minority, to make those contemporary issues that concern the minority the priorities of our country and our future, to make the face of Asian Americans in the realms of art, literature, politics, business, social media, academia, etc… the norm rather than the exception.

July 17, 2009

Written by C.N.

Miscellaneous Links #13

Here are some more announcements and links out that have come my way relating to Asians or Asian Americans. As always, links to other sites are provided for informational purposes and do not necessarily imply an endorsement of their contents:

National Directory of Scholarships, Internships, and Fellowships for Asian American and Pacific Islander Students

As the pressures of the economy place financial obstacles to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, State Farm, the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), and the Asian American Studies Program at University of Maryland (AAST) collaborated to present the 2009-2011 National Directory of Scholarships, Internships, and Fellowships for Asian American and Pacific Islander Students.

According to Camden Lee, an OCA intern and University of Maryland student, the directory is “an amazing resource that provides opportunities that I never even knew about.” Available at OCA & JACL events and online at the University of MD AAST site, this one of a kind Directory includes information and resources for AAPI students and their families. . . .

Professor Larry Shinagawa, director of AAST, said: “The directory is a handy reference that can be used by all students and parents who are interested in finding the financial means and experiential resources to pursue higher education. You will find here a wealth of information, tips, and resources that can help enable students to pursue a quality higher education. The adage that education can never be taken from you and enables you to persevere and succeed continues to be the age-old truth. We hope this directory serves the purposes of advancing educational opportunities to collegiate-age students of APA background.”

National Directory of Scholarships, Internships, and Fellowships

Normal Mineta Fellowship at the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) announces an opening for the JACL Norman Y. Mineta Fellowship in the Washington, D.C. office of the JACL. This fellowship is in the Washington, D.C. office of the JACL and will be focused on public policy advocacy as well as programs of safety awareness in the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. The fellowship is named for the Honorable Norman Y. Mineta, former Secretary of Transportation and former Secretary of Commerce, and is funded by State Farm Insurance.

Support Federal Hate Crimes Legislation

Earlier this week, Senator Leahy introduced the Leahy/Collins/Kennedy/Snowe Hate Crimes Amendment (identical to the text of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act) to S. 1391, the FY 2010 Department of Defense Authorization Bill. The Senate has begun periodic debate on the amendment that would provide significant improvements to our current hate crimes prevention laws. The House of Representatives already passed the bill in April.

This bill expands the coverage of existing hate crime laws to include crimes not only based on race, color, religion, and national origin, but also bias-motivated crimes based on the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability.

It also provides the federal government jurisdiction to prosecute hate crimes in states where current law or local law enforcement action are inadequate. This increased protection will help ethnic and racial groups that continue to be subjected to bias-motivated violence and intimidation.

Hate crimes cut across every community. Passing this bill will ensure that all people have the right to be safe and free from physical harm and intimidation. The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act sends a clear message that Americans do not have to live in fear.

Senators will vote soon. Please call your Senators toll-free at 866-659-9641 and urge his or her support of the Leahy/Collins/Kennedy/Snowe Hate Crimes amendment (Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act), which will provide safety and security for all individuals. We appreciate your support and the action you will take to help fight hate crimes.

Florence Tan Moeson 2010 Fellowship

The Asian Division Friends Society announces the Florence Tan Moeson Research Fellowship Program for 2010. This Fellowship Program is made possible by a generous donation of Florence Tan Moeson, for 43 years a Chinese Team cataloger in the Regional and Cooperative Cataloging Division at the Library of Congress before she retired in 2001. Mrs. Moeson passed away on November 15, 2008.

The purpose of the Fellowship Program is to give individuals the opportunity to use the Asian and Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) collections in the Library of Congress to pursue scholarly research projects. The Library’s Asian collections are among the most significant outside of Asia and consist of over 2.8 million monograph, serial, newspaper, manuscript and microform titles in the vernacular languages of East, South and Southeast Asia.

The Library’s AAPI collection was officially launched in 2007. It contains primary resource materials including monographs, serials, government reports, newspapers, census data, photos, oral histories, sound recordings, film, and miscellaneous ephemera pertaining to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

For more details regarding this fellowship and information about past awardees, please visit the ADFS website. The deadline for the 2010 application season is September 30, 2009.

The Florence Tan Moeson Research Fellowship awards total $14,000 each year for 10 years in support of grant support for research projects employing the Asian Division’s Reading Room and the Library’s extensive Asian collections.

The grants are awarded upon demonstration of need through a competitive process. Grants are intended to subsidize the researcher’s transportation fares to and from Washington, DC, overnight accommodations and photocopying fees. Graduate students, independent scholars, community college teachers, researchers without regular teaching appointments, and librarians with a demonstrated need for research fellowship support are eligible to apply.

The Library’s Asian collections began in 1869 with a gift of 10 works in 933 volumes from an emperor of China to the United States. Spanning a diversity of subjects from China, Japan, Korea, the South Asian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and the Asian Pacific American community, the Library’s Asian and AAPI collections have become one of the most accessible and comprehensive sources in the world. To learn about the content of LC Asian and AAPI collections, visit the Library’s Asian Division’s website.

Contact: Dr. Anchi Hoh, Co-Chair, Florence Tan Moeson Fellowship Program Committee, adia@loc.gov, 202-707-5673.

Asian Pacific Community Fund Annual Gala

Join the Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF) in celebrating its 3rd Annual Giving For All Seasons Fundraising Gala on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at the Grammy Museum Terrace in LA Live (800 W. Olympic Blvd.). The event is about promoting philanthropy and civic engagement in the diverse community throughout Los Angeles County.

Reception starts at 6:30 pm. Program starts at 8:00 pm and includes the 2009 Grant Distribution to our Affiliate Agencies and an Awards Presentation. Attire is Cocktail or Business.

APCF is honoring Assemblymember Mike Eng and Edison Chinese Connection for their leadership and service for the advancement of Asian Pacific Islanders throughout Los Angeles County.

Tickets can also be purchased by contacting Christine at cvasquez@apcf.org or (213) 624-6400 ext. 4.

Sponsors Needed for 2010 Asian Olympics

“Dai Hoi The Thao (Asian Olympics) is an ongoing tradition for 30 years. Hosted by the University of Texas Vietnamese Student Association, this three-day event gathers Asian-Americans from all over the U.S. to compete in many sporting games and activities. In addition to these activities, we also host an opening ceremony that consists of cultural and modern performers from all over the state. The growing number of participants and spectators has reaches huge numbers (3000), making it one of the biggest Asian-American sporting events in Texas.

At this current time, we are looking for sponsors to help fund an event of this magnitude. Sponsoring an event here in the capital of Texas not only promotes goodwill and high public relations, but also offers a chance to meet and gain prospective employees as well as a chance to help developing minds. If you are interested, please visit our website at http://daihoithethao.org/sponsors.html and/or e-mail rh22875@gmail.com.

Ronnie Huynh
Dai Hoi The Thao Coordinator ’09-’10

April 10, 2009

Written by C.N.

Miscellaneous Links #9

Here are some more links out that have come my way relating to Asians or Asian Americans. As always, links to other sites are provided for informational purposes and do not necessarily imply an endorsement of their contents:

  • JACL Asks Support for Veterans Commemorative Stamp:

    The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, is asking its members and friends to write letters of support for the Japanese American (Nisei) WWII Veterans Commemorative Stamp proposed to the United States Postal Service.

    The Postal Service has announced that its stamp committee will review letters of support for the Japanese American (Nisei) World War II Veterans Commemorative Stamp at its next meeting on April 23-24. Though the proposal will apparently not be officially reconsidered for issuance at the meeting, the Postal Service has acknowledged that they would review recent letters of support for the proposal.

    The campaign is hoping to sway the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC), which oversees stamp selection for Postmaster General John Potter, to change its stance on the internal, non-public guideline that prohibits stamps that honor sub-branches, units or divisions of the military. Previously, the Postal Service had said that the proposal would not be looked at until the July meeting.

    Should you, your organization, or a group of supporters wish to send a letter of support that might be reviewed at the April meeting, please send it as soon as possible. The Committee must be convinced that the proposal is worthy of consideration and that there is widespread public support. Letters of support can be sent to CSAC Chairperson Jean Picker Firstenberg (address below). If you or your organization have already sent a previous correspondence to the Postal Service asking for issuance of the stamp, a follow-up letter may also be sent. Personal letters are best, and a past 2007 sample letter can be found at the campaign’s website, www.niseistamp.org .

    Send letters to:

    Chairperson Jean Picker Firstenberg
    Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
    c/o Stamp Development
    U.S. Postal Service
    1735 North Lynn Street, Suite 5013
    Arlington, VA 22209-6432

    The JACL thanks you for your support.

  • Online Petition to Support Asian Workers in Saudi Arabia:

    Dear Sir,

    I need your support on the campaigning signature drive on the eploitation of Asian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and to stop at once the modern day slavery by their employers who bar their rights and welfare.

    For more background information, please visit http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2008/01/exploitation-of-asian-workers-in-saudi.html.

    To sign the petition, please go to http://gopetition.com/petitions/stop-exploitation-of-asian-migrant-workers.html

    Prabal Rai
    paulrai2004@yahoo.com