Written by Andrew Chang

The Sacramento Valley chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held its 10th Annual Banquet entitled “Upholding our Constitution: Defending our Faith” on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at the Sacramento State Ballroom. CAIR, one of APAPA’s community partners, is America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group and works tirelessly to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America. Over 900 people attended this banquet that celebrated CAIR’s accomplishments over the past ten years and set forth its goals for the future involving continuing to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

 The inspirational program featured US Congressman Keith Ellison (5^th District of Minnesota) who is the first Muslim to be elected to Congress and Imam Siraj Wahhaj who is the Religious Director of At-Taqwa Mosque in New York and is the Leader of the Muslim Alliance in North America. Attendees especially enjoyed the feast of Arab cuisine that was served which included traditional favorites such as lamb, eggplant, and kabobs.

Please visit our news page at http://apapa.org/news/tp-news.aspx to view a photo taken at the event. Photo courtesy of Danny Lee. 

Thank you to Andrew Chang and Danny Lee for attending this event.

APAPA Southern California Region (APAPA-SCR) will be hosting its annual holiday mixer on Friday, December 14, 2012 from 6-10pm in Diamond Bar. Donations to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Huang, APAPA-SCR VP-Outreach at ehuang@aspus.com.

Please join us for our annual mixer & toy drive on Monday, December 10, 2012 from 6 to 8:30pm at APAPA's National Headquarters in Sacramento to celebrate the holiday season and to support children with special needs in the local community. To RSVP: Sokie Hul, (916) 928-9988 or email to sokiehul@apapa.org. For details, please visit our website at www.apapa.org.

APAPA-BAR will be hosting its First Annual San Francisco Intern Graduation Ceremony, Scholarship Fundraising & Installation Gala on Thursday, August 30, 2012 from 5:30-8:30pm at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District.

For more information, please contact Wendell Lin at 415-269-8654 or by email, Wendell.Lin@apapa.org or visit APAPA-BAR's page on our website at www.apapa.org.

You are cordially invited to attend the

Annual Membership Drive/BBQ 
 
Saturday, July 21, 2012
4:00-8:00pm
Admission $5
Free with Paid Membership 
 
Yin Ranch 
6319 Pleasants Valley Road
Vacaville, CA 95688
(Drive thru open gate at Pleasants Valley & Foothill Road) 
 
Dress: 
Country/Casual
Walking Shoes 
 
Join us for dinner, fun, and square dancing led by the 
Vaca Valley Ramblers 
 
To RSVP or for more information:
APAPA National Headquarters
(916) 928-9988
office@apapa.org

Please click on the link below for PDF flyer:

Annual_Drive_Flyer.pdf (263.50 kb)

The Annual Membership Drive will be held on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the Yin Ranch in Vacaville. Come enjoy great BBQ food, fun entertainment and the opportunity to meet new friends and learn more about APAPA. Volunteer opportunities are available. For more information, please contact APAPA National Headquarters, (916) 928-9988, Email: office@apapa.org.

Dear Friends,

On May 7, 2012, APAPA and co-host CAPITAL held the first annual Community Organizations’ Networking Meeting at APAPA’s National Headquarters. An invitation was extended to all Asian and Pacific Islander community leaders in the Sacramento Region.

Over 100 people representing 25 community organizations were in attendance, including Sonney Chong of CAPITAL, Aida Azurin of Filipino Community of Sacramento and Vicinity (FCSV), Mayue Carlson of Chinese New Year Culture Association (CNYCA), Melissa Chapman of the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region, Kendra Thao of Hmong Women’s Heritage Association (HWHA), Georgette Imura of the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Project (APYLP), Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento (ABAS), Sandy Louey of Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), Ofa Mann of To’utupu’o e ‘Otu Felenite Association (TOFA), Sukh Singh of Indus Valley American Chamber of Commerce (IVACC), Aiona Teu of Pacific Families, Inc. (PACFAM), Nilda Valmores of My Sister’s House, Betty Williams of NAACP Sacramento Branch, Kazuyo Morishita of KIDS FOR PEACE and grownups too, Randy Kajioka of the Asian Peace Officers Association of Sacramento (APOA), Nina Mourning of OCA Sacramento, APICA, APSEA, Mai Nguyen of Greater Sacramento Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (GSVACC), Alice Perez of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SHCC), Pat Fong Kushida of Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (SACC) and California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (CAPCC), Asian Community Center, Pacific Rim Heritage Foundation, and Filipino Fiesta of Sacramento.
 
Local officials who attended the meeting included Assemblymember Mariko Yamada, Assemblymember Richard Pan, Councilmember Darrell Fong, County Board Supervisor Jimmie Yee, Board of Trustee Harold Fong, Sacramento Board of Education Darrell Woo, SMUD Director Genevieve Shiroma and Board President Nancy Bui. Assemblymember Roger Dickinson was present to support the event.
 
The meeting was designed to give community leaders an opportunity to network with each other and with the local elected officials. The evening concluded with a Q & A session between the community leaders and elected officials. The event was an overall success. The attendees are looking forward to the next meeting.

Please click on the following link for photos taken at the event: http://apapa.org/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=5517

Photo credits: Lucy Oback & Paul Quong