Asian Pacific Americans are a vital swing vote in Washington State, and the Seattle chapter is at the center of the activity.  The local chapter is implementing its political program through a community coalition, APIA-Vote Washington '08 (WA '08).  They have partnered with Raising Our Asian Representation (ROAR) and APIA-Vote, and Chinese Information Service Center has provided office space for the coalition's field organizer, Jared M. Jonson, former Executive Assistant for the Washington State Commission on Asian and Pacific American Affairs.  His extensive knowledge of APA youth and communities has contributed greatly to our progress.  Through WA '08, Seattle APALA launched an exciting PSA and poster contest for youth artists to capture the theme of "Our Voice, Our Democracy: Civic Engagement in
Communities of Color."
 
In addition to promoting voter registration and education, the chapter is focusing on translating a gubernatorial candidates comparison flyer in conjunction with the Washington State Labor Council.  At this time, the languages include Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean.  Members plan to follow up the flyer mailing with in-language phone calls.  The chapter is also developing plans for an APA voter contact program focusing on the 8th Congressional District, as well as coordinating with Labor to Neighbor and other union efforts.
 
The significant role that APA will play at every level of the upcoming elections cannot be stressed enough.  Every vote truly counts, especially when we recall that the Governor's race in 2004 was decided by less than 200 votes.
 
On August 19, 2008, the Wing Luke Asian Museum unveiled its new Community Dialogues exhibit featuring a history of APA Civic Engagement and ways to get involved.  WA '08 participated throughout the planning process on themes, oral histories and activities.  (Information provided by Tracy Lai.)

APALA celebrates the passage of the Higher Education Opportunity Act (H.R.4137) by the U.S. House on July 31, 2008. 
The bill includes the historic Asian American and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions program.  Similar to programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), the AAPISI program is designed to provide greater opportunities and services for underserved college students, including low-income and APIA students. 

The program first passed in September 2007 and H.R.4137 will extend it through 2013 with increased funding (up to $30 million per year) and expanded activities.  Now colleges and universities can access funding for AAPI students for tutoring, research and data collection, community outreach programs, and partnerships with community organizations.  This legislation will make it easier and more affordable for APA students and workers to attend college.

APALA worked with the APIA community as part of NCAPA and also with the broader labor community to pass this historic legislation.  Matt Finucane of the National Education Association and founding Executive Director of APALA said, "The passage of a permanent serving institution designation was a great victory for the AAPI community and our leaders on the Hill and an important  sign that Congress is willing to look beyond the model minority myth and see the diversity and challenges of individual AAPI communities."