ACLF Newsletter: Community Voice - February 2009

Dear ACLF Supporters,

Please go to the link http://aclfnorthwest.org/Feb%202009%20ACLF%20Newsletter.pdf to access ACLF's Community Voice Newsletter; Feb 2009 - Volume 7, Issue 1.(Text version below).

Featured Articles:
*Ten Years of Advancing API Leadership, Empowerment & Civic Engagement; By Monica Cheng, CLP ‘08
*ACLF Calendar
*Executive Director’s Message
*New Waves. New Logo; By Christina Twu, CLP ‘07
*Alumni Spotlight: Gabriela Villareal, CLP ’01
*Alumni Spotlight: Paul Francis, CLP ‘06
*ACLF Out and About Photo Collage
*Thank you 2008 ACLF Contributors

Thank you,
Czarina Nicolas
Administrative Assistant

Office: 409 Maynard Ave S, Suite 201A Seattle, WA 98104
Mailing: PO Box 14461 Seattle, WA 98114 206-625-3850 phone & fax || www.aclfnorthwest.org

Promoting social, economic and political justice by training and supporting a strong, sustainable community of civically engaged leaders that reflects the diversity of local Asians & Pacific Islanders.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

COMMUNITY VOICE: ACLF Newsletter, Feb 2009 - Volume 7, Issue 1

Ten Years of Advancing Leadership, Empowerment & Civic Engagement
By Monica Cheng, CLP ‘08

In late 1998, a group of API community activists gathered together for what co-founder Kip Tokuda called a “fireside chat”. These founding leaders of what would soon become the Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation (ACLF) recognized an unfulfilled need in the greater API community: the need for a safe and stimulating environment within which emerging leaders who were invested in their respective communities could be nurtured. Over the course of several gatherings, this group created a mission statement and set of objectives based upon core values of social justice, mentoring, commitment to community empowerment, non-discrimination and inter-community unity. They also laid the foundation for the first Community Leaders Program (CLP) class, which would be launched in 1999-2000.

When asked to describe these first few years, Tokuda likened them to “flying by the seat of our [the founders’] pants… It was a plane that we built as we were flying.” Many of the founders, along with other community leaders they recruited, became part of ACLF’s first board. The first CLP class was recruited by word of mouth. Jill Nishi, Doris Lock and Nanette Fok—three other co-founders—developed a curriculum and taught workshops sessions. Volunteers helped secure funds from the Seattle Foundation, State Farm, Washington Mutual and the Japanese American Citizens League. Although staff, space and funding shortages posed challenges for this fledgling organization, ACLF successfully graduated its first CLP class and presented its first completed community project in November 2000.

Throughout the last 10 years, ACLF has witnessed many changes. It now has two full-time staff and stable infrastructure. The torch has been passed on to the next generation of API leaders as the Board has completely turned over, except for Michelle Capuyan (current President) and Julien Loh who have served since 2002. Board members have added CLP sessions to reflect a more politically involved community and to address new community needs. Furthermore, ACLF has partnered with Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP) to produce a leadership summit. Amidst these changes, ACLF’s focus on community based and values-oriented leadership, along with the basic structure of the CLP curriculum and community project, have remained unchanged. “The CLP is the heart and soul of ACLF,” adds Capuyan. “We solicit program feedback from each graduating class which helps us identify additional training topics and ensures our curriculum is meeting the leadership needs of our community.”

As he considers ACLF’s greatest accomplishments, Tokuda points to a core group of progressive, like-minded and skilled API leaders who are well connected. He notes, “ACLF is now institutionalized as a credible, competent and well connected organization [and] community projects have strengthened other community-based organizations.” Although he has left the board, he continues to be involved with ACLF. Looking forward, he envisions ACLF becoming more prominent in developing political leadership, actively placing participants in positions by informing employers of successful participants and continuing to re-engage alumni, former board members and supporters in its continual efforts to develop civically-minded API leaders.

~~~~~
ACLF Calendar

Fri, Feb 27: Karaoke Social
7:00pm
Spitfi re Bar & Grill
2219 4th Avenue, Seattle

Sat, Feb 28: API Community Leadership Conference
9:00am - 4:00pm
Shoreline Community College
16101 Greenwood Avenue North, Shoreline

Sat, Mar 14: CLP Applications Due
Download Community Leaders Program Applications
@ aclfnorthwest.org/clp.htm

Spring 2009: ACLF 10 Year Reunion!
TBA!

Contact aclfnw@aclfnorthwest.org for more info.

~~~~~
Executive Director’s Message

Dear ACLF Family and Friends,

It has never been more necessary to support leadership in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by today’s rough economy. We bear this in mind as ACLF honors its 10 year legacy of strengthening the community leadership capacity of Asian Pacific Islanders in the Northwest. Over the years, we have seen our 113 Community Leaders Program (CLP) alumni utilize the skills, mentors and networks gained at ACLF to be a community voice in the public, private and nonprofit sectors –advancing the visibility, representation and political clout of the Asian Pacific Islander community in the democratic process.

Our 10 years of growth marks significant progress and change organizationally. Almost half of ACLF’s Board of Directors now consists of CLP alumni, a measure of success we consider to be led by those we have nurtured. We welcome two talented new board members - Suj’n Chon and Jared Jonson and bid heartfelt thanks to longtime, outgoing board members Darlene Lee, Lili Liu and Mariya Rubbelke. ACLF’s investment to increase staff capacity last year has stabilized our organizational infrastructure enough to begin planning for future programs. An ad-hoc program expansion committee of ACLF supporters is being established to research and propose feasible programs that will increase leadership development opportunities at ACLF and the resources necessary to sustain it.

ACLF’s innovative CLP model has inspired and become instrumental in supporting communities seeking to establish their own leadership programs. ACLF has advised groups including Out in Front (LGBTQ leadership program) here in Seattle and the Multicultural Leadership Program in Bloomington, Illinois - both piloting their curriculums this year. ACLF is excited to continue working with Tasveer, our 2008 community project partner, to refine the documentary “Beyond these Walls”. Created by the CLP 08 class, the documentary will serve as a critical, ongoing education tool about queer and mixed-orientation relationships in South Asian communities.

Keep an eye out this spring for ACLF’s 10 year reunion with alumni, founders, board members and supporters to celebrate our anniversary. Please continue to help us recruit excellent candidates to our 2009 CLP - applications are due March 14. We look forward to graduating our 10th CLP class this November in service of our theme- the Face of Leadership, the Heart of Community.

Many thanks,

Cherry Cayabyab
ACLF Executive Director

~~~~~

New Waves. New Logo.
By Christina Twu, CLP ‘07

In commemorating ACLF’s 10 year anniversary, staff and board gave our logo a little “oomph”. Our new logo reflects our common Asian Pacific Islander history (blue waves symbolic of crossing oceans), our collectivity (separate parts of our whole coming together) and the movement we are building together as we “make waves” towards social justice. Special thanks to Wilmer Galindo, the mastermind behind the logo, who helped us hone in on a concept and image that really sang. A logo carries a lot of weight, but our identity really relies on all the hands and feet of our organization that reach out into public, private and nonprofit work. Through advocacy, commitment and service--we are proud to have you carry a piece of ACLF wherever you go!

ACLF is excited to partner with socially-conscious Asian American clothing company, Blacklava.com to create ACLF brand apparel. Contact our office to order your ACLF gear today!

~~~~~
Alumni Spotlight!

Gabriela Villareal, CLP 2001 is the Immigration Policy Coordinator for the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an advocacy organization representing over 200 groups in New York State that work with immigrants and refugees. She joined the NYIC to advocate for policy and legislative changes to the immigration system and to protect the civil rights of immigrants. She has advocated against human trafficking for several years starting as a volunteer for then-State Rep. Velma Veloria’s office to organize the first state conference on this human rights violation and later she coordinated an international conference for the University of Washington Women’s Center. She later moved to New York City to work for Safe Horizon, the largest service provider to survivors of trafficking on the East Coast. There, she served as the Training and Advocacy Director for the Anti-Trafficking Program.

For nine years, she lived in Seattle where she enjoyed a brief stint as ACLF’s Program Coordinator and worked for a Seattle City Council Member. She became involved with the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) as a Seattle chapter member and eventually joined NAPAWF’s board. She is a recipient of the King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence “Take Action” Award and contributed to the second edition of “Asian American Women: Issues, Concerns, and Responsive Human and Civil Rights Advocacy”. Born in the Philippines and raised in Los Angeles, Gabriela graduated from the University of Washington with a B.A. in Women Studies and currently lives in Manhattan.

“My CLP mentor, Velma Veloria, provided me with great counsel and gave me a wonderful opportunity to work with her on an exciting project. The experience helped me build my career in the human rights field. ACLF created a nurturing environment for me - one that has yet to be replicated since.”

***
Alumni Spotlight!

When Paul Francis, CLP 2006 reflects back on his program experience, he remembers the ACLF community exceeding his expectations. “Being bi-racial, I had always been leery of participating in any activity or program that sought to categorize my ethnicity in a way that never quite reflected my complicated makeup,” he remembers. Paul Francis’s father was born in England and his mother is West Indian with ancestors from India. “But from my first day as a CLP participant, I felt enveloped in support, from the board and staff , to past and current participants, to local and state leaders. I felt a sense of openness and desire for meaningful discussion that was different from what I had expected.”

A first-generation college graduate born in Perth, Australia, Paul grew up in Tucson, AZ and graduated from the University of Arizona in 1999. In 2003, he relocated to Seattle with his wife Jen, where he joined the University of Washington’s Office of Admissions as a senior admissions counselor. During his time with the CLP 06, Paul began his political career as a policy analyst with the Democratic Caucus in the Washington State House of Representatives, where he presently serves on the Higher Education Committee and the Appropriations Committee on General Government. Paul stepped up as a project advisor and mentor to the CLP 07 class, who put together a community resource guide and recommendations for Inter*Im Community Development Association’s resident program.

“Many people’s lives exhibit a rich tapestry of passion, determination and strength, “ says Paul. “ACLF offers the opportunity to harness and focus all of that in a manner that reflects and propels forward one’s own ethics, morals, interests and abilities. It teaches that in a community everyone has an important role, and those roles evolve and change over time.”