2015 Fall Newsletter

Fall Report to Chapter Members.

There was a flourish of activity this past summer and a lot happening with our chapter. This Fall Report is to provide you with a brief summary of some of the more important.

• Resolution Regarding Chinese.
  
  In early August, we worked with the local chapter of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, to pass a City of Seattle resolution on expressing regret for the Anti-Chinese legislation passed by the Washington Territory and previous Seattle City Councils, recognizing the past and continuing contributions of the Chinese to Seattle and reaffirming the City’s commitment to the civil rights of all people. Passage of the resolution was a strong and powerful statement that expressed gratitude for the contributions of the Chinese and denounces the racial discrimination towards the early Chinese pioneers. It also recognizes the role of the Chinese in the history of this city and will make us feel that we are a valuable and integral part of Seattle.
• Memorial to Early Chinese. We have been working with the City of Seattle’s Waterfront project staff, Councilmember John Okamoto, former Seattle Mayor Charles Royer and others to erect a memorial that informs the public of the contributions of Chinese in the development of Washington State and the racist 1886 anti-Chinese riots. We have been working jointly with the local branch of Chinese American Citizens’ Alliance on this project, which looks very promising. The memorial would be erected at the approximate location where the Chinese were expelled – between Main and Washington Streets on the waterfront.
• Gordon H. Chang’s Fatefull Ties Book Reading.
  
  OCA-Greater Seattle, Department of American Ethnic Studies-University of Washington, UW Asian Coalition for Equality, East Asian Center presents a reading for “Fateful Ties: A History of America’s Preoccupation with China.”Dr. Gordon H. Chang, Professor of American History, Olive H. Palmer Professor in Humanities, Director of the Center for East Asian Studies, and Co-Director of the Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project at Stanford University will be making a presentation on his new book.Where: Ethnic Cultural Center, University of Washington, 3940 Brooklyn Avenue NE
  Day: Thursday, October 22
  Time: 5:30PM-6:30PM
  Event is free and light snacks will be served.
• 3rd Annual Pre-Conquest of Indigenous Cultures and Aftermath Conference (PICA)
  
  The Pre-Conquest of Indigenous Cultures and Aftermath (PICA) Conference explores the convergences and differences among Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Latinos. Each year, we collaborate with UW-American Ethnic Studies Department, Heitage University-Yakima, Haida and South Shore School PTSA to celebrate and commemorate our histories. This year we will be focusing on the Immigration Act of 1965, Voting Rights Act of 1965, Commemorating the Fall of Saigon, the take over of Alcatraz by the Indians of All Tribes, and debuting
  Curtis Chin’s new film, Tested.
  Come join us for this three day conference:
  • November 6
    Native American Celebration: Reflections on the “Treaty of New Echota”
    South Shore School
    6:00PM-7:30PM
  • November 11
    Immigration & Activism: Honoring Veterans Day/OCA-GS Luncheon
    Joel Smilow Boys and Girls Club
    4520 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S.
    9:00AM-1:00PM
  • November 13
    Seattle Premier of “Tested,” Featuring Director, Curtis Chin
    Alder Commons
    University of Washington-Seattle
    6:00PM-7:30PM
• Partnering with Seattle Public Schools on material on local communities of color. Our review of the Washington State history book used by the Seattle Public Schools has serious flaws, especially regarding Asian Pacific Americans. We will be working with the Seattle Public Schools Social Studies staff to provide material to supplement its curriculum on Asian Pacific Islanders in this state
• Renaming the Children’s Park the “Donnie Chin Children’s Park.”
  
  We are heading the coordinating committee to rename the Children’s Park in Chinatown/International District after Donnie. We strongly believe that this would be an appropriate way to recognize his role as the founder of this park, and to pay tribute to Donnie for dedicating his entire life to making our community a safer and better neighborhood for all.
• Governor’s Sub-Cabinet on WMBE. Board member Frank Irigon is participating in the Governor’s Sub-Cabinet on the state’s Women, Minority Business Enterprise Program. This program, which aims to provide Women and Minority businesses a fair amount of the state contracting, has been failing miserably.
• Honoring Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.
  
  We are a co-sponsor for an event honoring the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe for their dedication to community enhancement and spirit of philanthropy within the AAPI community. The event is scheduled Saturday, November 21, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. @ ACRS in South Seattle. We will welcome a variety of panelists from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, enjoy a variety of native american cultural performances, and feast in a community potluck with dishes from Seattle’s many different ethnic groups.
• Asian Pacific Americans Struggle for Racial Equality video. We are producing a video on the APA fight for racial equality in the state. The video, which is funded by a grant from the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, should be completed in a couple of months.
• OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates National Convention. Eight members of our local chapter attended the national convention in early July. It was held in San Francisco. Board member Frank Irigon received an award for his volunteer services. We were disappointed that the national staff failed for some reason to review our application for the “Chapter of the Year” award. We had high hopes of winning the award because of the intense advocacy work our chapter did this past year.
• Visionary Award.
  
  Our chapter will be given the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation/ Northwest Asian Weekly “Visionary Award” on October 9th  at China Harbor Restaurant.