It’s not exactly a sexy topic: redistricting. But the fact is, if you want to walk the walk about Asian American political empowerment and representation, then you need to engage this topic of redrawing political boundaries. And the Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) is offering to help you understand just how to do that at a workshop this Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Grapevine Arbor, 324 S. Mission Drive (note: not Mission Road) in San Gabriel, Calif.
The strategy and information session is being organized in response to the alarmingly low number of Asian Pacific American applicants to a Citizens Redistricting Commission, a 14-member body which is charged with reshaping legislative districts in California. Organizers from CAUSE note that, within our state resides 40 percent of the national APA population, but, currently only 4 percent of the applicants for the influential commission are APAs.
Confirmed speakers for Thursday include State Senator Carol Liu and Assemblymember Mike Eng. Other local elected officials are also expected. The Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council (A3PCON) and other local AAPI organizations are co-sponsoring the event.
Our community keeps talking about how far we’ve come politically, but 4 percent is a pretty dismal number for a state like California. The deadline for commission applicants is Feb. 12. Calling on all you smart, conscientious APAs out there, your community needs you. For more information about Thursday’s forum or to RSVP, write/call: INFO@CAUSEUSA.ORG OR 626.356.9838. To read more about California’s redistricting commission, visit http://wedrawthelines.ca.gov/.
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