Virginia Asian Foundation

Priority

Virginia Asian Public Affairs Committee (VAPAC)

 ASIAN LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT 2009 AT UKROPS HEDAQUARTERS OFFICE - 75 ATTENDANTS

16 ASIAN COMMUNITIES - 65 ATTENDANTS

Program Areas 

Virginia Asian Foundation works to lead efforts in the following civic empowerment areas: 

ASIAN POLICY FORUM OF FEBRUARY 2010- 75 ASIAN AMERICAN ATTENDANTS AND POLICY MAKERS

Program Strategies

To achieve the above program areas objectives, the Virginia Asian Foundation:

1. Identifies relevant civic issues needed to develop a Foundation Work Plan and to establish service outcomes measurements.

2. Recruits and engages emerging Asian Pacific American service providers, young Asian leaders, faith-based organization leaders, other Asian community members, government leaders, and private sector leaders wishing to contribute their talents, ideas, and energies to enhance the quality of life of our communities.

3. Provides the  tools, support, resources, and technical assistance for addressing Virginia's Asian American community needs and offering sustainable solutions through our philanthropic activities.

4. Documents, monitors progress, and offers continuous technical assistance, leadership, and support to locally funded Asian civil empowerment initiatives.

Virginia Asian Public Affairs Committee (VAPAC)

As part of this strategy, the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce (VACC) created its first Virginia Asian Legislative Summit in August 2009 with the purpose to formulate an agenda for the Asian Pacific American community at Ukrops Headquarters office in Richmond, Virginia.    The event attracted about 75 Asian Americans who came to brainstorm on five (5) keys public policy issues affecting Asian Americans: Health care issues, immigration, education, civic concerns/access to government services, and business/procurement.

In February 2010, the  VAF and VACC are Major Co-Sponsors of a Virginia Asian Legislative Policy Day in Richmond and  the cost for producing scripts of Asian community testimonials during this event by donating more than $2500 to the event to help empower Asian Americans. Our Legislative Forum with the legislators attracted 75 Asian participants and more than a dozen elected Virginia legislative leaders.

The success of our grass roots actions was due to the fact that we conducted a rigorous research effort on Asian civic affairs, and we received great support from the office of political leaders and public affairs officials from various government agencies. In addition, we utilized Asian community issues research findings from both the state, federal, and prior civic activist works gathered from our own activist work of both the Virginia Asian Foundation and Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce since 2005 to formulate and state the successful summit.

Purpose:

a)     Civic awareness, engagement & empowerment needed in the Virginia Asian Community. The Virginia Asian community is not united in any way around this yet.

b)     We have a successful business organization (VACC), we have a successful organization to encourage the arts & culture (VAF). Now we need the third aspect: civic empowerment

c)     Want to start building a core group of Asians in Virginia focusing on civic empowerment in public affairs.

d)     Work on issues in public policy that affect all/most Asians in Virginia (eg: immigration, health care, voting education, public education, good government).

Vision:

VAPAC as a Concept created by the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce  - VACC - and Virginia Asian Foundation -  VAF- will engage diverse Asian Community in Virginia to empower it to be active in public affairs at all levels.

Mission:

a)     To help unify Virginia’s Asian communities around issues of civic engagement, empowerment and education

b)     To work with our neighbors to build a more diverse, inclusive Commonwealth

c)     To educate Virginia’s Asian communities about relevant legislation at local, state and national levels

d)     To engage state and local officials on issues important and relevant to Virginia’s Asian communities

e)     To empower Virginia’s Asian communities through events that will bring together elected & appointed public officials, thought leaders, and community groups.

f)       To build coalitions with other state and local organizations to promote engagement on civic issues and public affairs

Core Committee Membership:

My Lan Tran - Foundation Director/ VAPAC Committee Chair Person, Virginia Asian Foundation - Chinese/ Vietnamese community

Tinh Phan - Virginia Asian Foundation Chairman - Vietnamese community

Hoa Tran - President, LN Nail Store - Vietnamese community

Rose Davenport - President, Search-For-Hire, LLC - Singaporean community

Goutam Ghandhi - Vice President, Bank of America - Indian community

Ali Faruk - Policy Analyst, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy - Pakistani Community
Lisa Jocson - Professional - Filipino community

Deep Janardhanan  - President, Noble River - Indian community

Van Ky - Co-owner, Van 's Printing Company - Vietnamese community