Since its comprehensive planning retreat in October, 1998, APANO, the parent organization of APANO-PAC, has initiated, advocated, co-sponsored, and promoted action in these areas:
LEGAL ISSUES AND RIGHTS:
- Home Buying Fair
- Environmental Justice Workgroup
- I-5 Partnership Workgroup
- Alternate Language Voting – State of Oregon Alternative Voting Materials Advisory Committee
- ACLU Safe and Free Conference
POLICY DEVELOPMENT and ADVOCACY:
- Budget Forum – Multnomah County (1999, 2000)
- Budget Forum – Multnomah County/City of Portland to express community needs and advocate for support and funding for programs important to API communities. (2001)
- Budget Forum – Portland Public Schools (2002)
- Meeting with David Bragdon, President of METRO (2004) – Metro is the directly elected regional government that serves more than 1.3 million residents in Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties, and the 25 cities in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area.
- PPS Advisory Committees: Second Language Task Force, Student Retention Advisory Committee, Committee on Accelerating Student Achievement, Budget Committee. Superintendent, Directors and Principals Hiring Panels
- City/County Advisory Committees: Multnomah County System of Care – Aging and Disability Services, Multnomah County Teens Uniting for a New Era, Bureau of Housing and Community Development, Public Involvement Task Force, School Age Council School Efficiency Committee, Diversity and Civic Leadership Coalition, Health Community Council, Portland Parks and Recreation, Office of Neighborhood Involvement
- Coalition for Responsible Treatment
- Interwoven Tapestry Project
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:
- Leadership Training – Trainer Bev Stein (1999)
- Leadership Training (2000, 2001)
- Annual Youth Leadership Conference
VOTER REGISTRATION AND POLITICAL ACTION:
- Voter Registration and Education Drive Training – Western States (1999)
- Voter Registration/Education and GOTV Project (2000, 2004)
- Candidates Forums featuring candidates for local, county, state and national offices (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006)
- Participation in API V.O.I.C.E (Voting, Organizing, Involvement, and Civic Engagement (Oct. 2004)
EDUCATION:
- A series of three community forums between API communities and the Portland Public Schools, providing parents and community members opportunities to voice their concerns, expectations, and collaboration vital to the academic success of their children and their communities’ children. (March, April, May 2001)
- Meetings with each of the Superintendent and central administration of Portland Public Schools since 1998 on the specific topics of appropriate curriculum, productive classroom interactions, teacher qualifications, and hiring and retention of teachers skilled in working with culturally and linguistically diverse students.
- Sponsoring “speak-out sessions” during which parents and students could interact directly with school district personnel.
- Co-sponsoring with Oregon State University and the Asian Family Center annual meetings that invited parents and families to meet with the University President and University administrators, faculty, and enrolled students to encourage post-secondary education as important to their future. Information was provided on financial aid, student academic assistance, faculty and student advocates, housing and dining options, and both ethnic/racial and general campus extra-curricular activities.
- Active participation in the Coalitions for Educational Excellence, which also includes representatives from the African Community Center of Oregon, the Latino Network, Slavic Coalition of Oregon, which focuses on second (third, or fourth) language issues faced by students, parents and communities.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES:
- Family Law Conference (2000)
- Youth and Gun Violence Prevention Conference
- Community Health Forums
COLLABORATION
- Coalitions of Communities of Color
- Coalitions for Educational Excellence
