Events & API Caucus Membership Meeting at the California Democratic Party Convention

Friday, May 26
Convention Welcome Reception – 7pm
First Draft Taproom and Kitchen, 1230 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles

Saturday, May 27

CADEM Celebrates AAPI Heritage Month – 1:30pm
During General Session in LA Convention Center Hall A

California Young Democrats API Caucus Happy Hour – 5-7pm
with Assemblymember Mike Fong
HiDef Brewing, 1203 S Olive St, Los Angeles
http://tinyurl.com/CYDAPIHAPPYHOUR

API Caucus Meeting – 7:45-9:30pm
Platinum F-J Meeting Room, JW Marriott, 900 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles

AAPI Legislative Caucus Hospitality Suite – 10:15pm- Midnight
with Assemblymember Evan Low
Platinum E Meeting Room, JW Marriott, 900 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles

For list of all CADEM Convention events please visit https://cdpconvention.org/schedule/

Share your convention experience! Use hashtag #Organize4CA and #CADEM

All events are open to the public except General Session. Convention credentials or observer pass required for General Session.




2023 API Caucus Membership Meeting
Saturday, May 27, 2023, 7:45pm-9:30pm
Updated Location: Platinum F-J Meeting Room, JW Marriott
900 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles

AGENDA
– CDP Officer Reports

– Adoption of new Caucus Bylaws
New bylaws can be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uUcvmXc43iMbmknmbB7vYgry-l0uUa_i/edit

– Awards Ceremony – Trailblazer, Rising Star, and Organization Award

– Democratic Senate Candidates

– Invited guest speakers:
– AG Rob Bonta
– AAPILC Chair Evan Low
– California Democratic Party officer candidates
– Democratic Candidates for US Senate: Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee (sending surrogate)

– CDP API Caucus Officer Elections

– Speakers – time permitting.

Happy Songkran! Happy Thingyan! Choul Chnam Thmey!

The AAPI community is not a monolith. And we can’t ever forget the contributions of our Southeast Asian friends and neighbors.

The AAPI caucus wishes Thai and Lao Americans a Happy Songkran, Burmese Americans a Happy Thingyan, and the Cambodian Americans Choul Chnam Thmey!

API Caucus Rising Star & Trailblazer Award Nomination Deadline: April 14

Two Months Until the CADEM Convention in Los Angeles
The Caucus will be meeting in person at the CADEM Convention over Memorial Day Weekend in Los Angeles. Registration details will be available soon.
Sign up to speak at the API Caucus Convention Meeting
Candidates and campaigns: We will have some time at our Convention meeting for candidates to speak to the Caucus. If you would like to speak, please fill out the form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd9qfiPs_s-onFNsFVZ6zWc5c5d9gcVWP9Ea38z5BCOQAmTqw/viewform
Apply Now to Run for a Position on the 2023-2025 API Caucus Board
The API Caucus will be meeting and holding our elections for the 2023-2025 Board at the May 2023 CA Dem convention. If you are interested in running for a position on the API Caucus Board, please fill the form here. https://forms.gle/qabDzEfDoHPJn68H7
The deadline is 30 days before the convention. Convention starts on May 25 – please apply by April 25.
Learn more about the different Caucus board positions in our bylaws at https://apicaucus.com/bylaws/
A candidate for office must be a full member of the Caucus in good standing for at least 30 days prior to the election. If you need to renew your membership, please use the link here: https://onlinecampaigntools.com/WebForms/ViewForm?key=v3OgtUdQThjhzNZ%2FYfwUPw%3D%3D
Nominate Someone for our Trailblazer & Rising Star Awards Applications Close April 14
Trailblazer Nominee Submission Form: https://forms.gle/asJa8BL6P2HEMZcX9 The Trailblazer Award honors extraordinary California Democrats for their excellence in leadership and outstanding public service to the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community and the people of California. 
Rising Star Nominee Submission Form: https://forms.gle/Nd7yMoiizkPeL91z8 The Rising Star Award recognizes outstanding emerging leaders in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community whose courage, service, and leadership demonstrate strong commitment to empowering the AAPI community in California.

Apply Now to Run for a Position on the 2023-2025 API Caucus Board


The API Caucus will be meeting and holding our elections for the 2023-2025 Board at the May 2023 CA Dem convention. If you are interested in running for a position on the API Caucus Board, please fill the form here. https://forms.gle/qabDzEfDoHPJn68H7
The deadline is 30 days before the convention. Convention starts on May 25 – please apply by April 25.
Learn more about the different Caucus board positions in our bylaws at https://apicaucus.com/bylaws/
A candidate for office must be a full member of the Caucus in good standing for at least 30 days prior to the election. If you need to renew your membership, please use the link here: https://onlinecampaigntools.com/WebForms/ViewForm?key=v3OgtUdQThjhzNZ%2FYfwUPw%3D%3D
Nominate Someone for our Trailblazer & Rising Star Awards
Trailblazer Nominee Submission Form: https://forms.gle/asJa8BL6P2HEMZcX9
Rising Star Nominee Submission Form: https://forms.gle/Nd7yMoiizkPeL91z8

The CA Dem API Caucus Stands with Congresswoman Judy Chu against Racist Remarks by a Republican Congressman.
Asian Americans are American. Questioning the loyalty of Representative Judy Chu, who is a distinguished American public servant, perpetuates racism against our communities. We must reject the coordinated right-wing smear campaign targeting Chinese Americans.
President Biden Nominates Julie Su for Secretary of Labor
Julie Su has worked on campaigns for raising the minimum wage, creating high quality jobs, enforcing safety standards, and stopping wage theft and human trafficking. She also previously served as the Labor Secretary of the State of California.
Learn more at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/28/president-biden-nominates-julie-su-for-secretary-of-the-department-of-labor/

Save the Date! California Democratic Party Convention at the Los Angeles Convention Center in May

The API Caucus will be meeting and holding our elections for the 2023-2025 Board at the May 2023 CA Dem convention. If you are interested in running for a position on the API Caucus Board, please fill the form here at least 30 days before Convention: https://forms.gle/qabDzEfDoHPJn68H7

Learn more about the different Caucus board positions in our bylaws at https://apicaucus.com/bylaws/
A candidate for office must be a full member of the Caucus in good standing for at least 30 days prior to the election. If you need to renew your membership, please use the link below.
Renew Your Caucus Membership

If you need to renew your membership, caucus dues can be paid at https://onlinecampaigntools.com/WebForms/ViewForm?key=v3OgtUdQThjhzNZ%2FYfwUPw%3D%3D

Biden-⁠Harris Administration Continues to Uplift Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities

On January 17, the Biden-Harris Administration released its first-ever National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) Communities. The new strategy, which comprises action plans prepared by 32 federal agencies—including all 15 executive departments in the President’s Cabinet—builds on the Administration’s broader equity agenda and details much needed investments in AA and NHPI communities and priorities, including data disaggregation, language access, and combatting anti-Asian hate.

Learn more at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/17/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-continues-to-uplift-asian-american-native-hawaiian-and-pacific-islander-communities/

ADEM Delegate Elections

Mail Ballots due January 31

In-Person Voting this Weekend

Ballots for the ADEM have been mailed out. If you have requested one, please complete it and return it ASAP, ballots must be received by January 31 to be counted. For those who don’t have a mail ballot, you can vote in person at any of the ADEM voting locations this weekend, go to www.ademelections.com to find the nearest one.

Save the Date – 2023 Convention

The California Democratic Party Convention will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on May 26-28, 2023

Caucus Meeting Recap

We heard from the California Young Democrats API Caucus, South Asians for America, the Grassroots Dems HQ, State Senator Dr. Pan, and Assemblymembers-Elect Dr. Jasmeet Bains, Stephanie Nguyen, and Senator-Elect Aisha Wahab on the challenges and successes from this year’s election.

We also had a panel caucus discussion on the 2022 Midterms and AAPI Outreach Strategies.

These included sending questionnaires to candidates focusing on our communities’ priorities, mailers to AAPI households, being at events year round, in language messaging that is not just translated but also tailored to the community, inviting ethnic media to events, cultural competency as part of candidate training, and working with other groups such as Young Democrtas and LGTBQ Democratic clubs to challenge racism.

Panelists also talked about building the bench through local Democratic club leadership, AAPI campaign staff, getting the next generation of activists at colleges involved, expanding representation on County Central Committees, and appointments to commissions and other leadership roles.

Thank you to our panelists:

  • Facilitator: Emily Ramos, NorCal Vice Chair, California Democratic Party – API Caucus
  • Serena Chen, Board Member and past President of Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County
  • Indroneal Banerjee, President, AAPI Democratic Club of San Diego
  • Jessica Caloza, President, Pilipino American LA Democrats
  • Steve Kang, President, Korean American Democratic Committee in Los Angeles

California Democratic Party passes Resolution Affirming that Members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) Community Are American

WHEREAS, the AAPI community includes individuals who draw their heritage from the Pacific Islands, East Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, and Central Asia, and is comprised of a diverse community, with no singular language, religion, or history that binds the community; and there are more than 22 million members of the AAPI community nationwide, with California being home to the largest AAPI population, as one out of every six Californians is AAPI; AAPIs are the fastest growing groups in our state and nation, the community has been crucial to achieving Democratic electoral victories; and

WHEREAS, members of the AAPI community are valued members of our society, with a long history of contributions to our American fabric; in 1587, the first documented arrival of Filipinos occurred; the earliest evidence of South Asians arriving in America was 1790, and with Sikhs arriving in America in 1899; approximately 20,000 Chinese laborers built the Transcontinental Railroad; the community has had different pathways and journeys to America; with a segment arriving here as laborers, others arriving due to political conflict, war, and natural disasters, while many have come to America in recent years as a result of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965, AAPIs are also the fastest-growing segment of the undocumented population; and

WHEREAS, AAPI communities were the first group to be targeted by race-based prohibitions on 34 immigration, including under the Page Act of 1875 restricting the entry of Chinese Women, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which was extended to prohibit the citizenship of most Asians, including South Asians, under the Supreme Court case of United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind in 1923; members of the Japanese American community were summarily incarcerated during World War II; the continued otherization of this community has led to the present day AAPI Hate, which also includes xenophobic attacks occurring against Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and South Asian communities in the aftermath of September 11; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party affirms and recognizes that members of the AAPI community are indeed American, and stands against the “forever foreigner” trope that leads AAPI communities to feel continuously otherized; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party affirms and recognizes the contributions of AAPI immigrants, and people of AAPI heritage, to California.

Thank you to our chair Deepa Sharma for authoring and leading this resolution.

California Democratic Party adds the Afghan Adjustment Act to list of 2022 priority legislation

California Democratic Party executive board took a Support position on Senator Amy Klobuchar’s Afghan Adjustment Act as a legislative priority. California is home to many Afghan Americans and the Act will provide stability and support for refugees.

Learn more about the Afghan Adjustment Act at https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2022/8/klobuchar-graham-coons-blunt-blumenthal-and-murkowski-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-allowing-afghans-allies-in-the-united-states-to-apply-for-permanent-legal-status

Interested in being a CADEM Delegate for 2023-2024?

Here is the ADEM schedule

December 9, 2022 – ADEM Candidate Application Closes

December 31, 2022 – ADEM Vote-By-Mail Application Closes

January 7-8, 2023 – ADEM Meetings (weekend 1)

January 21-22, 2023 – ADEM Meetings (weekend 2)

May 26-28, 2023 – California Democratic Party Convention (Los Angeles)

Learn more and apply at www.ademelections.com

Saturday Campaign Events in September-October

Sign up to make calls at https://www.mobilize.us/cadems/event/495665/
Voter Engagement Training in Millbrae on Oct 1 Please join our interactive voter engagement training for AAPI-identified leaders in San Mateo County led by Christine Chen, executive director and founder of the Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), a nationally recognized and leading nonprofit in AAPI civic engagement.
During this half-day training you will learn about voter mobilization strategies and develop skills to get our AAPI community registered and turning out to vote in November!
   8:30 AM – Coffee & Mingle    9:00 AM – Training    12:00 PM – Lunch
Limited seating, please RSVP early. Boxed lunch will be provided.
RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/san-mateo-aapi-voter-engagement-training-tickets-405442668937
Let’s Flip Congressional District 45 to Blue! Volunteer for Jay Chen for Congress
Hello Team Chen!    We are a few weeks from ballot drop and need YOU now more than ever.
Canvass with us in Garden Grove on Saturday, October 8.
We are also set up on our autodialer and are calling Monday-Thursday from 5PM-8PM! We are also calling in multiple different languages so if you or any of your friends are multilingual, join us now at jaychen.us/phonebank!    You can also find more volunteer events with us at jaychen.us/volunteer. Can’t make it to an event? Ask a friend to join us! Please be sure to reach out if you have any questions!
CYD API Caucus are hosting a API Women Day of Action in partnership with the California Democratic Party API Caucus and Riverside County NOW for Fauzia Rizvi for State Assembly and Jocelyn Yow for Eastvale City Council Re-election!
Join us for a Canvass walk will be hosted in Eastvale, CA on Saturday October 15, 2022 from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM!
Location will be provided upon RSVP. https://www.mobilize.us/cydapicaucus/event/508752/
Canvass for Aisha Wahab – Every Saturday Please join the A-Team on Saturdays at 10 AM in Alameda County to knock on doors and talk to your neighbors and tell them why you support Aisha Wahab for State Senate! Exact location will be provided the week of the canvass. No prior experience is needed. Training will be provided on site. Have fun and make a difference in your community.
Every Saturday,10am-2pm, https://www.mobilize.us/aishawahab/event/500976/
Register at https://cadem.org/executive-board/