2017-2019 Statement of Purpose & Action Items
Statement of Purpose

Energizing & Engaging API Voters | Electing API Democrats
Strengthening & Mobilizing Our Communities

Activating Grassroots and Grasstops

Work and connect with Asian Pacific Islander (API) grassroots activists, elected officials, community leaders, and the Democratic Party leadership alike to maximize Caucus outreach efforts in local communities to recruit, motivate, and activate API candidates and activists – from County Central Committees to public offices

Training for Winning Campaigns

Host campaign and mobilization trainings to make sure that API activists and candidates have the tools and know- how to win campaigns; work with local activists and County Parties to encourage API candidates running for local offices to actively seek Party endorsement

Engaging and Energizing

Strive to reach and engage every potential API Democrat in all corners of the state – in suburbs, cities, and rural areas by grassroots outreach and media/social media outreach; increase Caucus media and communications presence via regular newsletters, website, and social media

Acting Together and Actualizing Goals

Work with Caucus membership, API elected officials, activists, and the Party leadership to further Democratic causes and fight for Democratic values; hold our Caucus and our Party accountable to make sure that the issues of the API community are addressed

Motivating, Mobilizing and Voting

Work with local Democratic clubs and activists to register and mobilize API Democratic voters at the ballot box; work with allied organizations to protect voting rights and promote ballot access to make sure that the voice of the diverse API community is heard

Action Items

Advocacy

  • Explore ways to increase issue advocacy on API issues
    • Work with state legislators in creating an active legislative agenda and help advocate for API-oriented legislation
      • Identify 3-5 pieces of legislation relevant to API community for CDP Legislation Committee endorsement/support consideration
      • Work with at least 2 API Democratic Clubs to advocate on behalf of CDP-endorsed or API Caucus-supported bills pertinent to the API community, such as sending 1 letter per bill to each Democratic legislator
      • All advocacy items are subject to Caucus board evaluation at the end of each legislative year to assess the result of the advocacy work, including the number of bills advocated, the number and type of contacts made with legislative offices, and the disposition of each bill

Campaigns

  • Elections: Support and mobilize for Party-endorsed API campaigns/events and targeted campaigns
    • Help at least 3 Democratic Party endorsed candidates (federal, state, or local) via campaign field mobilization or other campaign-related activities
    • If engaging in field mobilization in 2017-2019:
      • Attempt to contact at least 5,000 HH via walk or phones total
      • Attempt to engage 50-100 Caucus members or volunteers for campaigns
      • The Caucus shall track the total volunteer hours, and/or the total attempted contacts made on each campaign in which the Caucus engaged and present the final report at the November E-Board or the 2019 CDP Convention, if applicable. The Caucus Chair or a designee will track the field
    • Elections: Explore creative ways to support Party-endorsed candidates
      • Post campaign information regarding endorsed candidates on CDP API Caucus website (www.apicaucus.com) and social media such as
      • Include campaign volunteering information in Caucus monthly newsletters
        • Include at least 1 “campaign spotlight” feature in each Caucus monthly newsletter within 2 months of any election cycle asking Caucus members to volunteer or support the campaign
        • Information will be made available via newsletter and posted on Caucus
      • Recruitment: Recruit APIs to run for Central Committees and local offices; encourage local candidates to seek County Party endorsements
        • Engage at least 5 potential API Democratic candidates running for public office to seek the endorsement of the relevant Democratic Party body (i.e. CDP for federal and state races and County Parties for local races where the local jurisdiction is located)
        • At the end of the calendar year, assess the number of API Democratic candidates who ran for public office, sough and secured Party endorsement, the extent of the Caucus’s engagement in each race, and the outcome of each
      • Training: Host workshops/trainings on grassroots outreach, campaign preparation, and how to run for public office/Central Committee
        • Host at least one training workshop or training day for Caucus members, activists, or potential candidates
        • Continue to partner with other Democratic organizations on candidate/activist training

Coalition Partnering

  • Partner with CYD API Caucus, various other API Democratic clubs and further opportunities to work jointly with other democratic clubs and other relevant organizations.
  • Work with elected, CAPAC, API Legislative Caucus, legislative leadership, and other CDP Caucuses and allied organizations on outreach and messaging
  • Work on at least one project with CYD, CCD, CAPAC, API Legislative Caucus, or other CDP Caucuses
  • Hosts County Party-chartered API Democratic clubs/organizations regional mixers and/or receptions to build CDP convention attendance
    • Create an contact database of all API Democratic clubs/organizations across the state before the 2019 CDP Convention; make the contact information available on Caucus website
    • Host at least 1 conference call with all API Democratic clubs/organizations across the state to facilitate information sharing before the 2019 CDP Convention

Communications & Messaging

  • Media: Increase earned media visibility in mainstream media and ethnic media alike to maximize Caucus visibility through statements, releases, and/or media events
    • Release at least 10 short press releases or statements on relevant API topics or pressing political issues
    • Increase ethnic / API media presence – generate at least 25-50 media hits
    • Appoint a communications/media relations point-person to work with the Chair on press-related activities
  • Online Media: Update and maintain Caucus website: apicaucus.com and use the website as an interactive information hub for Caucus members, activists, and voters alike
    • Include regular updates on Caucus website
    • Include DEM 2019 information on Caucus website
  • Online Media: Create and maintain a Caucus Facebook page with regular updates
  • Online Media: Update and maintain a monthly e-newsletter system. The newsletter should be distributed online at least once a
  • Online Media: Assist the CDP communications team with maintaining any CDP API language website section as required
  • Other: Assist CDP with any translation needs in Asian and Pacific Islander languages as required

Membership

  • Committees: Populate Caucus committees to increase membership participation and expand Caucus activities
    • Appoint at least 3-5 committees to facilitate and expand Caucus activities, including those standing committees prescribed by Caucus bylaws
    • Convene at least one meeting for each committee, whether in-person, via conference call, or via electronic means, to set the priorities and goals for each committee
  • Development: Increase Caucus membership and membership participation via special events and other activities
    • Host 3 Caucus special events (i.e., receptions) to increase membership
    • Recruit at least 40 new members by 2019 CDP Convention
  • Development: Expand Caucus membership diversity in demographics and geography
    • Two-year goal: Work with local API activists to create or re-charter at least 1 new API Democratic club in regions with significant API population but without API Democratic presence, such as the Central Coast/Central Valley, the Los Angeles San Gabriel Valley area, the Los Angeles area, and the Inland Empire area.
    • At the end of 2018, assess the progress of club chartering in each of the above-mentioned regions

Outreach

  • Events: Host more Caucus events involving all API ethnic specific Democratic groups and allied organizations
    • Co-host at least 2-5 events with local API Democratic clubs
  • Voter: Work with County Parties and Democratic clubs on voter registration efforts, beginning with registering new citizens to vote at naturalization ceremonies
    • Help register at least 1,000 new Democratic voters in 2018-2019

Note: Please feel free to contact us with suggestions on any other goals or action items!
Email us at cademparty.apicaucus@gmail.com.