The National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development will hold its National Convention from September 26-29, 2010 at the Liaison Capitol Hill Hotel in Washington, D.C. The theme this year, “Building Community within a Multiracial Nation” is meant as a call to step up to the challenge of meeting the immediate needs of communities of color affected by the current economic crisis while continuing to build supportive networks, community infrastructure, and a more powerful advocacy voice for all communities.
Convention speakers include government and private sector leaders, advocates and social justice allies that will focus on community development, affordable housing, health and environmental justice to highlight best practices in our networks and to discuss how we can make the most of the emerging opportunities in the present moment together.
Convention participants will have valuable opportunities to exchange practical information, resources and tools with colleagues from across the country who are working to strengthen neighborhoods and communities in these tough economic times. This year, the Convention will include opportunities to engage with key federal agencies, Administration officials and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Some of this year’s invited keynote speakers include: Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI); U.S. Congressman Michael Honda (CA-15), who also Chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-35); HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan; White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes; White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Director Kiran Ahuja; and National Council of La Raza President and CEO Janet Murguia.
For a complete schedule and to register visit online at www.nationalcapacd.org and look for the convention link. Or, all CAPAC in Washington D.C. at 202-223-2442.
One forum on the cultural importance of neighborhoods and community space will focus on the struggle to preserve places of social and historical significance in the midst of complex political and economic challenges. These cultural “hubs” of ethnic communities are not only for local residents, according to the forum, but for people in larger regions, states and indeed in many cases across the country.
Another forum on building multiracial collaborations and coalitions will focus on the increasing population in cities and regions without a single racial majority. These diverse communities face common challenges of fiscal crises, deteriorating infrastructure and declining public programs. The forum will also address the resurgence of discriminatory and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
The goal of the forum is to learn how to build multiracial coalitions to advance progressive change and foster sustainable, inclusive, and economically vibrant communities.
Another forum will focus on integrating health, community development and organizing. Leaders and practitioners in the health, community development and organizing fields will share a vision and current work towards achieving more equitable outcomes and improved quality of life for everyone.
The session will show how foundations and federal agencies are collaborating to design strategies and invest resources that will target root causes of long standing disparities faced by low-income communities and communities of color. It will also introduce work on how community development, health, social justice and civil rights organizations are coming together to impact educational and economic opportunities, access to transportation, pollution and climate change, crime and safety, access to healthy foods and safe, decent and affordable housing.
