Please visit our website for more information about CAPA.
CAPA wishes everyone well during these troubling times.
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Amid the uncertainty and fear of the past few weeks, I hope this message finds you in good health and hopeful spirits.
As many of us have been sheltering-in, spending time at home with our loved ones, and doing what we can to stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus, I personally have used some of this time to reflect on how the current global health crisis has disrupted all of our lives significantly.
Prior to the Federal Government event gathering mandates, Council of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA) made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s Splendor of the East cultural show in the interest of the health and safety not only of our APA community, but that of the society more broadly. CAPA’s other annual signature events such as our Asian Festival and Leadership Summits have not been canceled but will be postponed with new dates to be announced in the future.
Despite these challenging times, I am deeply moved by the ways in which our CAPA members and partner organizations have risen to this occasion to support our greater community.
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From the efforts of Michigan’s Chinese American Coalition and the Vietnamese American Association of Michigan which gathered and delivered thousands of medical protective supplies to hospitals and healthcare facilities all across our state, to individuals and families that have sewed face masks for medical frontliners and delivered food and other items to the elderly and other vulnerable populations, the cooperation and compassion showed by each of you is truly inspiring.
Working together to support our community is incredibly important to slow the spread of COVID-19 and flatten the curve while helping those affected by the pandemic.
If there is any way that Council of Asian Pacific Americans can aid your efforts, we are here to help.
During these uncertain times we must all be good neighbors and united as a community. We are all in this together. By practicing social distancing and other mandates promulgated by health agencies and the government, we will get through this.
“Hope is important because it makes the present less difficult to bear. Believing tomorrow will be better, we can bear the hardships today.”
This quote from
Thich Nhat Hanh
has given me comfort during these difficult times, and I hope his words do the same for you.
Sincerely,
Ryan Rosario
CAPA President
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During these trying times as the world is trying to flatten the curve and prevent the spread of the coronavirus, there have been many local heroes to have stepped up to support the effort to alleviate the toll that the pandemic has caused in our community. CAPA, our partner organizations, and individual members have supported many of these efforts ranging from collecting and distributing medical equipment, informing the public about how to prevent COVID-19 transmission, to serving hot meals to the frontliners working in Michigan hospitals and clinics.
CAPA contributed and supported the Michigan Chinese American Coalition (MCAC) community initiative to fight the Coronavirus. MCAC raised over USD $198,000 along with 50 local organizations and 300 volunteers. Together, they were able to send six shipments containing 16,594 masks, 4,338 face shields, 5,334 PPE coveralls and thousand gloves and shoe overs to 16 hospitals in Wuhan, China, when the outbreak first appeared.
Since the US outbreak, MCAC has donated and delivered more than 50,000 medical masks, 1000+ coveralls to 36 medical institutes in Michigan, 5 food banks, several schools and police departments.
Michigan's Council of Asian Pacific Americans also commends the Vietnamese American Association of Michigan (VAAM) for their philanthropic efforts to aid local hospitals fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Their organization picked-up and delivered medical protective supplies to local hospitals such as Beaumont Hospital, Detroit Medical Center, St. John, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and Samaritas in Detroit. Their donations included: 220,000 pairs of disposable gloves, 30,000 N95 and Surgical face masks and 100 gallons of isopropyl alcohol.
CAPA also praises the Philippine Nurses Association of Michigan (PNAM) for educating the public about COVID-19, how it is spread, and how to prevent transmission using CDC guidelines. Currently, PNAM members are busy in their homes during these times of social distancing sewing facemasks for friends, families and medical frontliners in local hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.
We would also like to specifically thank our CAPA Board Members, Angela Wang-Beasinger and Eleonor Hubag Madiclum Jenks, for their great involvement in working on these initiatives to help flatten the curve in our community.
These are just some of the uplifting stories of APA heroes coming together to save lives. If you have an inspiring story to share, please share it with us. CAPA encourages our members and partner organizations to email
president@capa-mi.org your inspiring stories of how you are helping those in need so we can spread good news during this time of crisis.
Blow are some photos of our CAPA members and partner organizations doing what they can to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and help our Michigan communities.
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Have you filled out your 2020 Census yet? Things like school lunches, medical care, roads and bridges and educational programs all need your help to get the most funding possible. It only takes 10 minutes to fill out the census online.
You can fill out your census online today when you go to
www.2020census.gov
and include everyone who lives or stays at your home. Filling out the Census form online is one of the most powerful community-building activities we can all do safely right now.
The U.S. Census is one of the few things in the United States that actually connects every single one of us. No matter your age, gender or ethnicity, you are strongly encouraged to take part. It doesn’t matter how you dress or the language you speak. The Census tells us all that we are part of one, huge, diverse community throughout Michigan and the rest of the United States. It is written into the U.S. Constitution as “every person,” period. No exceptions and no exclusions.
Right now, most households are receiving an invitation through the U.S. Postal Service to respond online. The invitation has instructions and a unique census ID number you enter as you fill out the online form. It also has instructions on how to respond by phone.
You don’t have to leave your home, or even open your front door. Just sit down and be counted at
www.2020census.gov
. If you haven’t seen the Census invitation, you can still fill out the survey.
Households have until August 14 to complete the 2020 census!
There are several Census “helplines” available if individuals have questions about completing the Census. Some of those helplines include:
Michigan Census Team
: 833-823-6787
U.S. Census Bureau (English)
: 844-330-2020
NALEO:
877-352-3676
Arab American Institute:
833-333-6864
Committee for Civil Rights
: 888-268-6820
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The past year has been a busy and successful one for CAPA with our various signature events in 2019. Although this year’s Splendor of the East has been canceled due to the coronavirus, our other events like our Youth Leadership Summit, Asian Festival, Holiday Gala and CAPA Leadership Conference are still in the works with dates still to be announced. Visit our website at
www.capa-mi.org
for calendar updates.
Below is a photo year in review of CAPA’s 2019 signature events:
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(above) Songstress Aya Ko is announced the grand prize winner of the 2019 Splendor of the East Battle of the Stars at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center
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2019 Leadership Summit keynote speaker, Representative Andy Levin, with CAPA members at Madonna University.
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Young students get mentored by business professionals at the CAPA 2019 Youth Leadership Conference.
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Performers representing India show off their dance moves at the 2019 Asian Festival.
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Leaders from local universities discuss diversity, racial harmony, and community building during a breakout session at the CAPA Leadership Summit.
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Medical professionals volunteer their time to answer questions of local middle school and high school scholars.
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At the CAPA Asian Festival, the sounds of Japanese drums and dnacing filled the air of Madison Place.
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CAPA RECOGNIZED BY NET IMPACT & UP TO US
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CAPA is proud to announce that our organization was recognized for our efforts in promoting diversity and serving the state through our various educational and community outreach programs at the Net Impact Conference recently held at Detroit’s TCF Center.
Net Impact is an international organization with chapters in nearly 40 countries dedicated to empowering next-generation leaders and organizations willing to make an impact on some of the most pressing issues of our time.
Committed to equity and inclusion, Net Impact honored CAPA alongside other change-driven organizations and individuals on their conference mainstage. CAPA public relations chairman, Joseph Paul Javier, was there to accept the award.
Additionally, Joseph and one of CAPA’s newest directors, Paul Hardwood Ward, attended the Up to Us/Net Impact leadership conference in Oakland, California to meet with other young leaders from all across the nation. There they learned about the National Debt and the fiscal challenges facing the country while brainstorming with other attendees on topics such as diversity, sustainability, healthcare, communication and organizational leadership.
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Pictured: CAPA board members with Hilary Allen of Net Impact/Up To Us.
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