Friday, November 7, 2008

"I am Asian American and I vote!"

From some participants at our November 1 rally. I am voting on November 4, 2008 because...

"...I want the voice of Asian Americans to be heard and our issue will be taken care of."

"...This is a historic election and moving forward, I can foresee that Asian American President of the United States of America."

"...I want to participate in the process and make a difference."

"...It is my right. I want to vote for the candidate that will make America safe."

"...I think our country is going in the wrong direction and we really do need a change!"

"...I want to have a voice in deciding who will run our country. Many people have died or suffered for us to have this right. Many other countries don't have this freedom."

"...If I don't vote, I don't have a say in how the economy and government impacts my life and the lives of my family members."

"...I want to help make a better difference in America, which is so necessary during a time like this."

"...I care a great deal about the economic health and the geopolitical standing of this republic in the global order."

"...It matters who we elect!"

"...I am a citizen who wants to be a responsible citizen."

"...I want my voice to be heard on issues that affect my community."


Thanks everyone for voting in this historic election!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Vote on November 4, 2008!
The Asian American Vote = Our Voice Counts!


Voting represents an opportunity to voice your opinion on issues that affect your family, friends and community. Will you be voting on Tuesday, November 4? This is a historic election, and Asian Americans can and should be a part of this history. Please be sure to get out and vote! Our vote is our voice! Polls are open from 7am-8pm. If you are unsure of your polling location or would like information about how to vote absentee, go to www.michigan.gov/vote.

** YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE! **

If you have any problems on Election Day, call the Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund at 800-966-5946 or call 866-OUR-VOTE. You have the right to ask for assistance from a pollworker. You have the right to bring someone of your choice into the voting booth to assist you with voting (except employer or union official). Election workers will ask voters to show a photo ID as part of the usual ballot application process at the polls. If you do not have identification, you can still vote! You just need to sign an affidavit at your polling location saying you do not have identification in your possession.

Questions? Email michigan@apiavote.org or michiganfellow@apiavote.org.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

**GET OUT TO VOTE -- OUR VOICE COUNTS!**
Non-partisan Asian American community rally!!

Saturday, November 1, 2008
Rally: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Phone Bank: 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. (Get Out The Vote!)
@ Philippine American Community Center of Michigan
17356 Northland Park Ct., Southfield, Michigan 48075

- FREE FOOD AND GIVEAWAYS (including gift cards, buttons, stickers, and car wash vouchers)
- THIS IS A FAMILY-FRIENDLY EVENT!
- National anthem sung by PaoKia Yang, Osborn High School Senior
- Speakers include: State Sen. Hansen Clarke; State Rep. Hoon-Yung Hopgood; Dr. Sook Wilkinson, Chair of Governor's Advisory Council on APA Affairs; Kimberly Wawrzyniak, Miss Philippines Michigan 2008; and MORE!

Hosted by APIAVote-Michigan & the Filipino American Political Association of Michigan
RSVP to Napapond: michiganfellow@apivote.org

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Oct. 27 and 30 Town Hall Meetings!!

Exercise your right to vote! Convened by the Michigan organizations of APIAVote, APALA, ACCESS, ACLU, LCLAA, and NAACP...

Bring friends! This is a family-friendly event. The election is less than two weeks away. Learn about Michigan's statewide ballot initiatives and about your voting rights! U.S. Congressman Michael Honda, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, will give remarks at the town hall on October 27.

Town Hall Meeting on the 2008 Ballot Issues and Know Your Rights!!!

Canton:
Monday, October 27, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
UAW Local 735, 48055 Michigan Ave., Canton, Michigan

Southwest Detroit:
Thursday, October 30, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Southwestern High School, 6921 W. Fort St., Detroit, Michigan


Refreshments provided... RSVP to Ying Gee at 313-926-5361 or Stephanie Chang at michigan@apiavote.org

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

33 days until the election! Three ways you can help...

Well, there are just thirty-three days until November 4, Election Day!

Want to help out? There are three major activities that APIAVote-Michigan really needs your help with:

1. Voter registration! Michigan's voter registration deadline is Monday, October 6! Register to vote by clicking the "register to vote" icon in the upper right hand corner of the page. Also, check out some opportunities to help register people to vote.

2. Get Out The Vote (GOTV) phone banks! APIAVote needs your help in Wayne/Washtenaw, Oakland, and Macomb Counties, to call Asian American voters to remind them to vote on November 4! Our first big phonebank will take place on Saturday, October 11, 1:30 - 4:30 pm, Philippine American Community Center of Michigan, 17356 Northland Park Ct, Southfield. Come have pie, cider, and doughnuts!! Sign up to help out and check out the other volunteer opportunities here.

3. Election Day volunteering! Help to defend Asian & Arab American voting rights, by volunteering for three hours on Election Day, November 4, for the exit polling/election protection project we are working on with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Sign up to help out!

Hope to see you soon! :-)

Defending Asian & Arab American voting rights -- Election Day volunteers needed!

Asian and Arab American Election Protection and Poll Monitoring
Defending Asian American Voting Rights


************************************
Trainings
Wednesday, October 22, 12 Noon – Dickinson Wright PLLC, 500 Woodward Ave., Detroit
Wednesday, October 22, 3:00 PM – Dickinson Wright PLLC, 38525 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills
Wednesday, October 22, 6:00 PM – University of Michigan, Michigan Union, 530 S. State Street., Ann Arbor
Saturday, November 1, 4:00 PM - Philippine American Community Center of MI, 17356 Northland Park Ct., Southfield

In past elections, Asian and Arab Americans have faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote. In addition, candidates and the news media have often overlooked the Asian American vote. In response, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund has monitored the elections for compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act, which mandates bilingual ballots and forbids anti-Asian voter discrimination, and conducted a non-partisan multilingual survey of voters to document Asian and Arab American voting patterns.

In 2004, 1,200 volunteers polled almost 11,000 Asian and Arab American voters in eight states. Volunteers are needed to administer a multilingual voter survey in 3-hour shifts and document voting problems on Election Day. Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

There will be a one-hour training session for all volunteers in various locations. (90-minutes with CLE credits). All volunteers must be non-partisan during the time they help. To sign up and for a training schedule, go to www.aaldef.net or complete the volunteer form attached or/and pasted below, and send it to apia.right2vote@gmail.com or Gurtej Singh, c/o Navtej Singh, Affinity Solutions, LLC, P.O. Box 380832, Clinton Township, MI 48038. Thank you!


VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP FORM

NAME: _____________________________________________________
ADDRESS: __________________________________________________
CITY: __________________________ STATE: ________ ZIP: _______
EMAIL: ______________________________________________________
PHONE: daytime ____________________ evening __________________
ORG./CO./SCHL./ASS'N: _______________________________________
ARE YOU?
___ Undergraduate student ___ Graduate student ___ Law student
___ Attorney ___ High school student ___ Community volunteer

WHERE DO YOU MOST PREFER TO BE STATIONED? (rank if multiple): ___No preference
___Detroit ___Hamtramck ___Ann Arbor ___Dearborn
___Canton ___Troy ___Novi ___No preference/Wherever most needed.

DO YOU HAVE ACCESS TO A CAR TO DRIVE TO YOUR SITE? []Yes []No
Some sites are not accessible by public transportation.

ON TUESDAY, NOV. 4, WHEN ARE YOU AVAILABLE TO VOLUNTEER? (rank 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.)
___6:00 - 9:00 am ___9:00 am – 12 N ___12 N - 3:00 pm ___Not yet sure.
___ 3:00 - 6:00 pm ___6:00 – 9:00 pm ___Other_________ ___Willing to do multiple shifts.

ARE YOU BILINGUAL IN ANY ASIAN LANGUAGE/DIALECT? (check all that apply)
Language ability is not required to volunteer but can be very helpful.
___Cantonese ___ Mandarin ___Korean ___Tagalog ___Japanese
___Hindi ___ Gujarati ___Punjabi ___Bengali ___Urdu
___Vietnamese ___Khmer ___Malayalam ___Arabic ___Hmong
___None ___Other_________

ARE YOU?
___ Past Volunteer: Year_____________
___ Partnering with another volunteer: Name _____________ (times must match).

You will be notified of trainings and other logistics upon receipt of this form.

RETURN THIS FORM TO:
AALDEF Election Protection Project- Michigan
Mail: Gurtej Singh, c/o Navtej Singh, Affinity Solutions, LLC, P.O. Box 380832, Clinton Township, MI 48038
Email: apia.right2vote@gmail.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Gurtej Singh, apia.right2vote@gmail.com, (586) 354-3575
Napapond Fay, michiganfellow@apiavote.org, (248) 895-4107

OR

Glenn D. Magpantay, Bryan Lee, or Julia Yang
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10013
800-966-5946 /info@aaldef.org

Five days until the Michigan voter registration deadline!

Notice something new on the blog? It's an online voter registration tool, our very own! Click on the blue "Register to Vote" icon and it'll walk you through the steps.

Want to help in the last few days before the voter registration deadline? We need all the help we can get! Or, if you have your own idea about where to do voter registration, want to register voters at your own church, Asian grocery store, neighborhood, etc, please let us know as soon as possible. Contact Napapond at michiganfellow@apiavote.org.

Check out what we're doing these last few days before the deadline...

THURSDAY

Oct. 2: APIAVote will present at a brownbag hosted by the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum – Michigan chapter!

FRIDAY

Oct. 3: APIAVote hopes to register voters at the University of Michigan TASA Skate Night, 9:30pm!

SATURDAY

Oct. 4: APIAVote will register voters and be represented at the Association of Chinese Americans annual dinner

SUNDAY

Oct. 5: Korean Central United Methodist Church, 10:45am-1:00pm, 500 W Gardenia Ave, Madison Heights. Contact Stephanie: 734-751-9814 or michigan@apiavote.org.

Oct. 5: Hmong Alliance Church in Warren: Morning. To be confirmed. Contact: Napapond: 248-895-4107 or michiganfellow@apiavote.org

Oct. 5: [Pan-Asian] Asian American Health Fair, 1-4pm, PACCM, 17356 Northland Park Ct, Southfield. Contact Napapond: 248-895-4107 or michiganfellow@apiavote.org.

Oct. 5: APIAVote will present at the Korean American Women’s Association meeting!

Oct. 5: UM Vietnamese Student Association Pho Night, 6-9pm, Trotter House, UM-Ann Arbor campus. Contact Stephanie: 734-751-9814 or Michigan@apiavote.org

Let us know if you want to help out!

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Let's get the Asian American vote out in November!

APIAVote Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Phone Bank Schedule

Sign up today to volunteer, by contacting Napapond at 248-895-4107 or michiganfellow@apiavote.org.

Free food!! Training, call lists, and scripts will be provided. Phone banking is FUN, easy, and an amazing way to ensure that our community turns out to vote on Election Day and is informed about their rights! APIAVote-Michigan’s phone banks are non-partisan.

[Oakland] Saturday October 11: 2:00-4:30 pm [Meeting begins at 1:30pm, with apple cider, pie, and doughnuts!]
Philippine American Community Center of Michigan, 17356 Northland Park Court, Southfield, MI
*15 volunteers

[Macomb] Thursday October 16: 5:30-8:00 pm
Clinton Township MEA, 38550 Garfield, Suite B, Clinton Twp., MI 48038-3406
*10 volunteers

[Wayne/Washtenaw] Monday, October 20: 5:30- 8:00 pm
Plymouth MEA, 40500 Ann Arbor Road, Suite 100, Plymouth, MI 48170
*10 volunteers

[Oakland] Friday October 24: 5:30- 8:00 pm
Center for Progressive Leadership office, 104 W. Fourth Street, Ste. 306, Royal Oak, MI
*2 volunteers

[Oakland] Monday October 27: 5:30-8:00 pm
Center for Progressive Leadership office, 104 W. Fourth Street, Ste. 306, Royal Oak, MI
*2 volunteers

[Oakland] Wednesday October 29: 5:30-8:00 pm
Center for Progressive Leadership office, 104 W. Fourth Street, Ste. 306, Royal Oak, MI
*2 volunteers

[Wayne/Washtenaw] Monday November 3: 5:30-8:00 pm
Plymouth MEA, 40500 Ann Arbor Road, Suite 100, Plymouth, MI 48170
*10 volunteers

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Voter registration deadline is October 6!

Would you like to help register voters before the October 6 Michigan deadline? We need all the help we can get!! See below and contact the appropriate person to sign up to help for a few hours this month.

The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium released a new publication! "Power Vote 2008: An Introduction to Civic Engagement" can be found at the NAKASEC website: http://nakasec.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/nakasec-power-vote.pdf

* Sep. 20: [Hmong] Pontiac Hmong New Year Celebration, 10-5pm each day, Howard Dell Community Park, 345 E. Edison Street, Pontiac MI 48342. Contact Napapond: michiganfellow@apiavote.org or 248-895-4107.
* Sep. 21: [Filipino] Philippine American Community Center of Michigan Anniversary Event with Consulate General, 17356 Northland Park Ct., Southfield. Contact Napapond: 248-895-4107 michiganfellow@apiavote.org
* Sep. 24 (?): [Chinese] Parkway Meadows Senior Apartments, daytime, 2575 Sandalwood Circle, Ann Arbor. Contact Napapond: 248-895-4107, michiganfellow@apiavote.org
* Sep. 24: [Pan-Asian] Asian Professionals Organization quarterly event, 5:30-7:30pm, River House, 377 Bridge St NW, Grand Rapids. Contact Stephanie: 734-751-9814 or michigan@apiavote.org
* Sep. 27: [Pan-Asian] Asian Center Health Fair, 12-5pm, Grand Rapids. Contact rosegarden24@gmail.com
* Sep. 28: [Korean] Korean United Methodist Church, 9am-1pm,
42693 Dequindre Rd, Troy. Contact Stephanie: 734-751-9814 or michigan@apiavote.org
* Sep. 29: [Chinese] Turner Senior Resource Center, "Voting 101" seminar, 3-5pm, Ann Arbor. NEED MANDARIN-SPEAKING VOLUNTEERS! Contact Napapond: 248-895-4107, michiganfellow@apiavote.org
* Sep. 30: [Korean] Taegeuk Village - Korean senior center, morning, 3712 Williams St, Wayne, MI 48184 -- NEED KOREAN-SPEAKING VOLUNTEERS! Contact Napapond: 248-895-4107, michiganfellow@apiavote.org
* Oct. 5: [Pan-Asian] Asian American Health Fair, 1-4pm, PACCM, 17356 Northland Park Ct, Southfield. Contact Napapond: 248-895-4107.

Thank you!! Election day is 47 days away.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Now is the perfect time to volunteer.


If you haven't yet volunteered your time with APIAVote-Michigan, now is the perfect time to do so! Election Day is 71 days away. Please see volunteer opportunities below and don't hesitate to contact michiganfellow@apiavote.org with other ideas or suggestions.

  • Aug. 30: CAPA annual food tasting festival, 6:30-9pm, PACCM, 17356 Northland Park Ct, Southfield. Contact Arthur: rthrwng@gmail.com
  • Sep. 7: Thai food fair, 11am-4pm, Midwest Buddhist Meditation Center, 29750 Ryan Rd, Warren. Contact Napapond: michiganfellow@apiavote.org
  • Sep. 14: Metro Detroit Chinese Allianche Church, 10:15am-1pm, 31329 John R Rd, Madison Heights. Contact Stephanie: michigan@apiavote.org
  • Sep. 14: Korean church in Ann Arbor (?), 12-2pm. Contact Stephanie: michigan@apiavote.org
  • Sep. 14: Philippine American Community Center of Michigan Open House, 12-5pm, 17356 Northland Park Ct., Southfield. Contact michiganfellow@apiavote.org
  • Sep. 20/21: Philippine American Community Center of Michigan Anniversary Event with Consulate General, 17356 Northland Park Ct., Southfield. Contact michiganfellow@apiavote.org
  • Sep. 20/21: Pontiac Hmong New Year Celebration, 10-5pm each day, Howard Dell Community Park, 345 E. Edison Street, Pontiac MI 48342. Contact Napapond: michiganfellow@apiavote.org or 248-895-4107.
  • Sep. 25: We need 8 more volunteers to help at the APACC “Blood of the Dragon” wine tasting event, 4-9pm, Park West Gallery, 29469 Northwestern Hwy, Southfield. By providing 10 volunteers, APIAVote-Michigan will receive a generous donation from the APACC! We need your help. Contact michigan@apiavote.org
  • Sep. 27: Asian Center Health Fair, 12-5pm, Grand Rapids. Contact rosegarden24@gmail.com
  • Sep. 28: Korean United Methodist Church, 9am-1pm,
    42693 Dequindre Rd, Troy. Contact michigan@apiavote.org
  • Did we miss any big summer events?? Are there other events in your area at which you think we should go and register voters? If so, please let us know by emailing us at michiganfellow@apiavote.org. THANKS!

If you are interested in....
  • Hosting an APIAVote-Michigan house party to educate your friends, have snacks, and talk about the election;
  • Working as a bilingual pollworker on Election Day; or
  • Submitting a 1-2 minute YouTube video about the importance of the Asian American Youth Vote (and if you are under the age of 30), to be eligible for a $1000 prize...
Let us know! We have information to provide to you :-) Contact michiganfellow@apiavote.org or michigan@apiavote.org.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008


VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ON AUGUST 5TH!


Don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 in the primary elections! Very important state, county, judicial, and local primaries are likely taking place in your district! The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To find your polling location or see your sample ballot, visit www.michigan.gov/vote.

· Do I have to show ID when I go to my polling location? Election workers will ask voters to show a photo ID as part of the usual ballot application process at the polls. Acceptable forms of identifica­tion include a Michigan driver’s license or personal identification card. Examples of other acceptable forms include current versions of U.S. passports, military identification with photo, driver’s licenses issued by other states, etc. Any ID must include your name and photo. If you do not have identification, you can still vote! You just need to sign an affidavit at your polling location saying you do not have identification in your possession.

· Can I vote absentee? As a registered voter, you may obtain an absentee voter ballot if you are (a) age 60 years old or older; (b) unable to vote without assistance at the polls; (c) expecting to be out of town on election day; (d) in jail awaiting arraignment or trial; (e) unable to attend the polls due to re­ligious reasons; or (f) appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence. Requests to have an absentee voter ballot mailed to you must be received by your clerk no later than 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election. After receiving your absentee voter ballot, you have until 8 p.m. on Election Day to complete the bal­lot and return it to the clerk's office.

Here is the application to request an absentee ballot: http://www.mi.gov/documents/AbsentVoterBallot_105377_7.pdf.

The Asian American Vote – Our Voice Counts!


Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Ballot initiatives in 2008 ....and a poem.

This morning, I did a workshop with about seventy kids (grades K-8?) at the Association of Chinese Americans' youth summer camp in Plymouth. In addition to learning about the process of voting, doing a mock election for favorite Disney movie, and seeing voter registration and turnout rates Asian Americans in Michigan, the kids broke into their small groups and created either a picture, song, poem, or radio announcement. This is one of the poems --

Get Out & Vote!

Poem written by youth campers at the Association of Chinese Americans summer camp, July 22, 2008

Eat chicken for lunch.

Then go out voting.

Then hit the ocean to go boating.

Let us vote to float your boat

It’s your vote you’ll send

And that’s the end!

Chicken tenders!

Chicken chicken chicken chicken…


Adorable, isn't it? I thought it was hilarious!! By the way, WALL-E was the winner of the mock election.

----------------------------

In other news -- there are a number of controversial ballot initiatives that appear to have collected enough signatures to make it onto the Michigan ballot in November 2008. What do you all think about the:
Please comment with your opinions! Click on the links above to visit each of the proposals' websites.

Stephanie

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

New APIAVote-Michigan blog!

Welcome to the new blog for APIAVote-Michigan!

This is where we will post announcements, events, volunteer opportunities, news, and more. We can also use the blog as a forum for discussion on various topics within the Asian American community in Michigan.

APIAVote-Michigan has many great activities planned in order to register, educate, and mobilize Asian Americans to vote in 2008!!

Please help sustain this important and groundbreaking work by contributing $20, $50, or a donation of any amount.
Checks can be made out to "APIAVote" with "Michigan" in the memo line, and sent to: 5105 Trumbull St, #2-N, Detroit, MI 48208.

Have a wonderful day, everyone! :-)