LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY TRAINING
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| Advocates at our 2017 LAT Training |
Final call - applications due tomorrow, February 28
Applications for SEARAC's 2018
Leadership & Advocacy Training (LAT)
are due tomorrow, February 28. The LAT program is a three-day training intended for emerging advocates from Southeast Asian American and ally communities to learn how to advocate effectively for policy change. The training will be held June 20-22, 2018, in Washington, DC.
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IMMIGRATION
Southeast Asian American Deportation Convening
SEARAC and partners from the Southeast Asian Freedom Network (SEAFN) and the Vietnamese Anti-Deportation Network hosted an anti-deportation convening in February in Washington, D.C. The event convened grassroots organizers, directly impacted people, and advocates from national networks and several community-based organizations across the country. Participants committed to working together to push one national policy agenda to end mandatory detention and deportation laws hurting Southeast Asian American communities and other immigrant and refugee families.
Protecting Family Immigration
The Senate discussed several immigration proposals this month in an effort to find a compromise on the DREAM Act. SEARAC issued a
statement denouncing the
Secure and Succeed Act, a proposal that would have drastically cut family-based immigration and undermined protections against prolonged immigration detention.
To protect family reunification, we are collecting stories in the Southeast Asian American community to demonstrate how our families have benefitted from family-based immigration.
Please take 5 minutes to share your story by filling out this form. These narratives will help us to defend against attacks on our families.
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HEALTH
Report launch: SEAAs for affordable health care
SEARAC is excited to release our full report, "
Southeast Asian Americans Speak Out to Protect the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid Expansion." Learn what over 350 community members had to say to policymakers about protecting the health care of their Southeast Asian American constituents. In February, SEARAC hosted a call to discuss the attempts made in 2017 to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), present key findings and policy recommendations from SEARAC's Protect Our Health Care comment card campaign, and discuss next steps and how community members can get involved.
Weren't able to attend? You can view
a recording of our call here to learn about our latest health report and the impending threats to our health care.
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Higher Education Act on the move
At the end of 2017, Congress introduced the
Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform
(PROSPER) Act. Also known as
H.R. 4508, the PROSPER Act is the latest attempt to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA). This would have far-reaching implications for how Southeast Asian American students prepare for college, decide which college or technical school to attend, finance their education, are supported while in college, and potentially pursue graduate programs.
Many of our students are low income, first generation, and/or English language learners.
Only 18.4% of Cambodian, 17.6% of Hmong, 15.9% of Lao, and 28.3% of Vietnamese adults over the age of 25 have a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 30.7% of American adults. Additionally, 18.5% of Cambodian, 38.1% of Hmong, 19.7% of Lao, and 16.4% of Vietnamese families live in poverty, compared to 12.2% of White families.
Any HEA reauthorization should include policies, programs, and funding to support Southeast Asian American students who face these barriers.
These policy priorities will guide SEARAC's advocacy efforts if and when Congress re-authorizes HEA.
If you would like more information or to engage with us on the legislative process, please email our education policy associate, Souvan Lee, at
souvan@searac.org.
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OPPORTUNITIES
Intern with SEARAC!
Have you always wanted to know what it's like to work with SEARAC? Now is your chance! SEARAC is currently looking for summer interns for our DC and California offices. As an intern you will be able to work closely with SEARAC staff on national and local policy issues.
Read more and apply by April 1.
Teach for America
Current college seniors: Teach For America is currently accepting applications for the 2018 corps. Our final deadline for the year is March 2nd. Learn more and apply here. Current college underclassmen: Teach For America is accepting applications for paid summer opportunities and its 2019 corps. Contact a recruiter to learn more, and explore our early application process for juniors here.
Frontline Solutions Fellowship
Frontline Solutions hires emerging leaders interested in the intersection of social justice, entrepreneurship, and consulting in the nonprofit sector. Undergraduate and graduate students, community organizers, artists, entrepreneurs, and non-profit professionals are encouraged to apply. We are seeking a diverse cohort, and are particularly seeking Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, Latinx, and Black applicants. The program is structured as a 10-week summer paid fellowship with supplemental professional development opportunities. Fellows will be placed at Frontline's offices in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD. Apply
here by March 16.
Nominate a breakthrough AAPI voice
Know of someone who's having a breakthrough year, or about to have a breakthrough year, in 2018? This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, NBC Asian America will celebrate some of the emerging voices of the AAPI community - and we're looking for nominations today!
Honorees will be athletes, creators, entrepreneurs, etc....there is no limit to age, gender, or career - they can be new to the industry or someone who's been around for awhile, but experiencing a breakthrough moment; as long as they identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander, we want to hear about them! Nominate them here by March 6.
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