網頁

星期三, 9月 17, 2014

AAPI Highlights, September 17, 2014

AAPI Highlights, September 17, 2014
Welcome to this edition of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) Highlights. Below you’ll find news about the commemoration of 20 years of the Violence Against Women Act, WHIAAPI’s new and innovative partnerships with community organizations, and agency announcements.
We invite you to visit our page at www.whitehouse.gov/aapi. Follow us on Twitter at @WhiteHouseAAPI for the Initiative, @KiranAhujaAAPI for Kiran Ahuja, the Executive Director of the Initiative and @Inouye44 for Shin Inouye, the White House Director of Specialty Media.
President Barack Obama signs S. 47, the “Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013,” (VAWA), which reauthorizes several Violence Against Wome
President Barack Obama signs S. 47, the “Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013,” (VAWA), which reauthorizes several Violence Against Women Act grant programs through FY 2018; and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 through FY 2017, in the Sidney R. Yates Auditorium at the U.S. Department of Interior in Washington, D.C., March 7, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
Continuing the Conversation: VAWA at 20
Last Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).  Dr. Tiffany McNair, a White House Fellow in the Office of the Vice President, said, “Last Tuesday, I had the incredible privilege of attending a commemoration of this milestone held at the National Archives. During the program, I learned more about the history of VAWA – stories recounting the long road leading up to its passage, its victories and challenges over the years, and the lives it has and continues to change. One survivor vividly shared her account of abuse, near death, plans of escape, and eventual freedom from her husband’s victimization.” Read more.
Partnering with Private Investors to Rebuild America
We all know the “road to prosperity” is a metaphor, but what if it were an actual road? The fact is, investing in transportation creates value, and that means it’s a worthwhile investment — for public funds, yes, but also for the private sector. So, with public investments in our nation’s important transportation assets steadily declining, we need to find better ways to partner with private investors to help rebuild America. And rebuild America we must. The American Society of Civil Engineers predicts that we’ll face a $1 trillion funding gap for transportation by the end of the decade. More than two-thirds of American roads are in less than good condition, and if you lined up all of the structurally deficient bridges in the country, they would stretch from Boston to Miami. Read more.
Celebrating 20 Years of AmeriCorps
Recently at the White House, President Obama joined former President Bill Clinton in celebrating the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, and welcoming some of the national service program's newest members. Across the country, thousands of people took the pledge to be AmeriCorps members. Since AmeriCorps' inception in 1994, 900,000 Americans have served in the program and have committed 1.2 billion hours of service. Read more.
Growing Our Economy and Strengthening Our Financial System
Six years ago, Wall Street was rocked by a financial crisis that culminated in the bankruptcy filing of Lehman Brothers, the largest in U.S. history. The financial crisis resulted in the longest and deepest recession the American economy had experienced in 60 years. While more work remains to continue digging out of the deep hole that was left by the crisis, this week offers a chance to reflect on the significant progress that has been made since then in strengthening the economy and reforming the financial sector. Read more.
WHIAAPI Announcements 
Announcing New Partnerships to Expand Opportunity for AAPIs
Earlier this year, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) announced Challenge.gov partnership opportunities during our National AAPI Community Google+ Hangout. The Challenge invited individuals and organizations to submit their ideas for potential partnerships with the Initiative that would help improve the quality of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). WHIAAPI received many innovative proposals from across the country that addressed various issues affecting the AAPI community, from education to health to economic development. Read more. 
Championing America’s Small Businesses
In August, Commissioner Ravi Chaudhary had the pleasure of working with the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce on a training course for small business owners on how they can compete for large supplier contracts. A unique aspect of this particular training event was that the training was geared toward Asian American-owned Small Businesses (SB). The course instructor provided guidance to the attendees on administrative and business approaches that best meet the large supplier requirements. Read more. 
Increasing Opportunity and Access for Pacific Islanders
Earlier this year, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI), in coordination with Payu-ta Inc. (an umbrella organization of non-governmental organizations in the Pacific region), held its first Community Tour and Regional Summit outside the contiguous U.S. at Guam Community College, where Commissioner Mary Ann Young Okada serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. During this convening, community leaders shared stories of their respective struggles and challenges, while federal representatives highlighted programs and technical assistance to address the community’s needs. Read more.
Agency Announcements 
Justice Department and CNCS Announce $1.8 Million in Grants to Enhance Immigration Court Proceedings and Provide Legal Assistance to Unaccompanied Children
The Department of Justice and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which administers AmeriCorps national service programs, has awarded $1.8 million in grants to increase the effective and efficient adjudication of immigration proceedings involving certain children who have crossed the U.S. border without a parent or legal guardian.  The grants will be disbursed through justice AmeriCorps and will enable legal aid organizations to enroll approximately 100 lawyers and paralegals to represent children in immigration proceedings. Read more. 
Labor Violations Found at American Samoa Hotel
American Samoa-based Dateline Industries Inc., doing business as Sadie's Hotels, has agreed to pay $21,314 in back wages to 89 hotel and restaurant employees. Wage and Hour Division investigators found that the employer improperly deducted costs for required uniforms, causing pay rates to fall below the applicable minimum wage of $4.50 per hour in American Samoa's hotel and restaurant industry. Read more. 
Attorney General Holder Records Message for Cartoon Network’s “I Speak up” Campaign to Combat Bullying
The Justice Department announced recently that Attorney General Eric Holder has recorded a video message as part of the Cartoon Network’s “I Speak Up” campaign to combat bullying.  The project urges young people to speak up in order to help bring bullying situations to an end. The goal of the campaign is to collect one million user-generated videos that unite the voices of kids, parents, educators, celebrities and government officials all saying “I Speak Up.” The goal of the campaign is to collect one million user-generated videos that unite the voices of kids, parents, educators, celebrities and government officials all saying “I Speak Up.”  Attorney General Holder joined other notable voices such as Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, as well as actors and professional athletes, in recording a message for the campaign. Read more. 
USPTO Deputy Director Michelle Lee Discusses Entrepreneurship and Job Creation at the Virginia Innovation Partnership Virginia Ventures Forum
Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Michelle K. Lee recently addressed the Virginia Ventures Forum, a meeting of the statewide Virginia Innovation Partnership (VIP) at the USPTO.  One of only seven multi-institution initiatives to win federal funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce's i6 Challenge in 2012, VIP is bringing together universities, community colleges, corporations, investment capital, and other resources to drive promising research discoveries forward and accelerate innovation and economic growth throughout the Commonwealth. Read more. 
Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities
The Secretary of Labor invites interested parties to submit nominations for individuals to serve on the Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities. Read more.  
Advisory Committee for Civil Rights Commission
Because the terms of the members of the Arkansas Advisory Committee are expiring on January 3, 2015, the United States Commission on Civil Rights hereby invites any individual who is eligible to be appointed to apply. The memberships are exclusively for the Arkansas Advisory Committee, and applicants must be residents of Arkansas to be considered. Letters of interest must be received by the Central Regional Office of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights no later than October 1, 2014Read more. 
Advisory Committee for the Na Hoa Pili O Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park Advisory Commission
The National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, proposes to appoint new members to the Na Hoa Pili O Kaloko-Honokohau (The Friends of Kaloko-Honokohau), an advisory commission for the park. The Superintendent, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, acting as administrative lead, is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the Commission. Read more. 
Advisory Council for National Environmental Justice
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC). The NEJAC was chartered to provide advice regarding broad, crosscutting issues related to environmental justice. This notice solicits nominations to fill approximately eight (8) vacancies for terms through June 15, 2017Read more.
Funding Opportunities
Department of Agriculture: Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program
The purpose of this competitive undergraduate scholarship grant program is to increase the multicultural diversity of the food and agricultural scientific and professional workforce, and advance the educational achievement of all Americans by providing competitive grants to colleges and universities. The Multicultural Scholars Program is available every year. Read more.
 Small Business Administration: Small Business Development Centers
The purpose of this announcement is to invite proposals for funding from entities currently funded by SBA as a Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Lead Center. Only applications that are submitted by SBDC Lead Centers will be considered for funding. In order to be eligible as a Host Institution, any Applicant must be a current recipient of SBA OSBDC funding. For-profit businesses are not eligible for this award. Read more.
Department of Commerce: Regional Innovation Grants
The Economic Development Administration is committed to helping foster connected, innovation-centric economic sectors which support commercialization and entrepreneurship as described in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. Working with regions across the country to develop regional innovation strategies, including regional innovation clusters, is also a Strategic Goal of the DOC’s FY 2014-2018 Strategic Plan and a keystone of the Secretary’s commitment to building globally competitive regions. As part of this strategy, funding is available for capacity-building activities that include Proof of Concept Centers and Commercialization Centers as well as scaling of existing commercialization programs and centers; feasibility studies for the creation and expansion of facilities such as science and research parks; and supporting opportunities to close the funding gap for early-stage companies. Read more. 
For more opportunities, please visit Grants.gov or WHIAAPI’s Grants & Resources page. 

沒有留言: