AAPI Highlights

AAPI Highlights, ­­­March 05, 2015

Welcome to this edition of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) Highlights. Below you’ll find news about WHIAAPI’s summer internship program, the President’s commitment to middle-class economics, and agency announcements.

We invite you to visit our page at www.whitehouse.gov/aapi. Follow us on Twitter at @WhiteHouseAAPI for the Initiative and @KiranAhujaAAPI for Kiran Ahuja, the Executive Director of the Initiative.

WHIAAPI offers full-time internships during the spring, summer, and fall and is currently accepting applications for its summer program. (Photo by WHIAAPI).

Calling All Students: Apply for the Summer 2015 WHIAAPI Internship Program bySunday, March 8

As America’s population becomes increasingly diverse, it is important to have this diversity reflected in the federal workforce. Although AAPIs comprise 6 percent of the U.S. population, they make up only 3 percent of the Senior Executive Service (SES), the highest ranks of federal government. As part of the WHIAAPI’s work to strengthen federal workforce diversity, we want to highlight federal internship opportunities. Internship positions are open to eligible undergraduate and graduate students, and applications are due this Sunday, March 8, 2015. Read more.

Recap: 2015 National AAPI Community Google+ Hangout

On February 25, WHIAAPI held its second National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community Google+ Hangout. Executive Director Kiran Ahuja was joined by Aditi Hardikar, Associate Director at the White House Office of Public Engagement; Konrad Ng, Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center; and Billy Dec, member of the President’s Advisory Commission on AAPIs. Read more.

Federal Agency Spotlight: Department of Labor

In August 2014, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published the “Labor Force Characteristics by Race and Ethnicity” report which, for the first time, included unemployment rates and other important labor force information for seven Asian subgroups: Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Other Asian. Labor force characteristics can vary widely across the Asian subgroups, and regular publication of such estimates will better allow researchers, policy makers, the media, and the public to determine how various Asian subgroups fare in different labor market conditions. As such, BLS will continue to publish such important disaggregated data in this annual report going forward. To learn more about these and other DOL efforts, see the 2015 Federal Agency Accomplishments Report.

AAPI Historic Sites Campaign Webinar: March 10

Please join the National Park Service and WHIAAPI for a webinar on the AAPI Historic Sites Campaign on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET. This campaign is part of the AAPI Heritage Initiative which aims to recognize and honor the stories, places, and people of AAPI heritage as part of our entire country’s history. Register here.

Next Generation Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Leaders’ Dialogue on Higher Education Webinar: April 9

Please join the WHIAAPI and Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) for a webinar on Next Generation Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Leaders’ Dialogue on Higher Education on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM ET. This webinar will focus on the importance of higher education for the Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (NHPI) community. During the dialogue, Administration officials, community representatives, professors and student leaders will discuss the prevalent issues and challenges that NHPI youth face in higher education, share personal journeys of pursuing higher education as NHPI educators and students, and emphasize the pertinence of educational attainment to build a thriving NHPI community. Register here.

White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders: May 12 

WHIAAPI is pleased to invite you to the White House Summit on AAPIs on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, in Washington, DC. The Summit will feature engaging panels, workshops, and armchair dialogues with senior Administration officials, AAPI celebrities, and well-known community leaders, plus performances by distinguished AAPI artists. The Summit will inspire participants to continue to build upon the legacy, strength, and influence of the AAPI community, especially in the final years of the Obama Administration. The Summit is part of a series of events on May 11-15 during AAPI Heritage Month in Washington, DC, and provides a unique forum to actively engage with hundreds of AAPI leaders from across the nation.  Previous AAPI Heritage Month speakers have included President Obama at the 2013 White House Celebration and Vice President Biden at the 2014 Opening Ceremony.The White House Summit on AAPIs is open to the public and free of charge. Stay tuned for details on the program in the coming months, but please visit our Summit webpage and subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive updates. For questions, please email WhiteHouseAAPI@ed.gov.

White House Announcements 

Weekly Address: Ensuring Hardworking Americans Retire with Dignity

In his weekly address, the President reiterated his commitment to middle-class economics, and to ensuring that all hardworking Americans get the secure and dignified retirement they deserve. While most financial advisers prioritize their clients’ futures, there are some who direct their clients towards bad investments in return for back-door payments and hidden fees. That’s why the President announced that he is calling on the Department of Labor to update rules to protect families from conflicts of interest by requiring financial advisers to put their clients’ best interest before their own profits.Read more.

When Women Succeed, the World Succeeds: What They’re Saying About the Let Girls Learn Initiative

President Obama and the First Lady have teamed up with the Peace Corps to expand access to education for adolescent girls around the world through the Let Girls Learn initiative. 70% of the 1 billion people living in extreme poverty are women. Education can change that. Education is not a privilege, it is a fundamental human right for all. Through a global network of support, the Let Girls Learn initiative will put lasting community-led and community-generated solutions in place for the more than 62 million girls across the globe are not receiving an education. Read more.

My Brother's Keeper: A Year Later

"Helping more of our young people stay on track. Providing the support they need to think more broadly about their future. Building on what works, when it works, in those critical life-changing moments." That's how President Obama explained the My Brother's Keeper initiative a year ago when it first launched. And in the 12 months since, we've seen a tremendous response from people and organizations at all levels that are answering the President's call to action. Read more.

Agency Announcements 

Department of Education: Applying for Fulbright-Hays Grant Programs

To assist Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) with the preparation of their Fulbright-Hays Grant applications, on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 1:00 PM ET, the International and Foreign Language Office will host a webinar for MSIs with guidance about competition priorities, budget and selection criteria and other components. Register here.

Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Special Enrollment Periods and Resources for the Uninsured 

Join the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services for the Special Enrollment Periods and Resources for the Uninsured webinar on Thursday, March 12, 2015 from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET. The health care law has created special enrollment periods for those who experience special circumstances such as graduating from college and losing health insurance, getting married and needing coverage for a spouse, losing employer insurance or turning 26 and losing coverage on a parent’s health plan. Join this webinar to learn more about special enrollment periods and how to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace. For those who are uninsured and don’t qualify for the special enrollment period, learn what resources are available and when to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace. Register here. 

Small Business Administration: Affordable Care Act 101 Webinars for Small Employers, Including Nonprofit Organizations 

SBA and Small Business Majority will host a free Affordable Care Act 101 webinar so small business owners can learn the basics of the Affordable Care Act and how they can enroll in health insurance marketplaces. 

• Thursday, March 12 at 2:00 PM ET: Register here.
• Thursday, March 19 at 2:00 PM ET: Register here. 
• Thursday, March 26 at 2:00 PM ET: Register here.

Funding Opportunities

Small Business Administration: Federal and State Technology Partnership Program

The purpose of this Program Announcement is to invite proposals for funding from any public or private organization, entity or individual interested in providing assistance and guidance to small technology business concerns. Read more.

Department of Health and Human Services: “Now is the Time” Project AWARE-Community 

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2015 “Now is the Time” Project AWARE-Community (Short Title: NITT-AWARE-C) grants. The purpose of this program is to support the training of teachers and a broad array of actors who interact with youth through their programs at the community level, including parents, law enforcement, faith-based leaders, and other adults, in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) or Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA). Implementation of the NITT-AWARE-C program is expected to increase the mental health literacy among youth-serving adults, policy-makers, and administrators of programs serving youth. Read more. 

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service: Labor-Management Cooperation Grant Program 

The Labor-Management Cooperation Act of 1978 identifies seven general areas for which financial assistance would be appropriate, including improving communication between representatives of labor and management and encouraging free collective bargaining by establishing continuing mechanisms for communication between employers and their employees through Federal assistance in the formation and operation of labor-management committees. Read more.

 For more opportunities, please visit Grants.gov or WHIAAPI's Grants & Resources page.