APA Legislative Day set to take place in Olympia

More than 1,000 Asians and Pacific Islanders, collectively speaking over 20 languages, are expected to participate in this year’s Asian Pacific American Legislative Day in Olympia, the largest pan-Asian Pacific American gathering of its kind in the nation.

The Asian Pacific Islander Coalition (APIC), community advocates and Asian Pacific Americans statewide will gather at the State Capitol Building in Olympia, Wash. to urge the governor and the state’s elected officials to prevent cuts and invest in critical services for the community, to ensure language access and culturally competent care throughout the state’s healthcare reform efforts, to invest in efforts to close the achievement and opportunity gaps for low-income children of color in K-12 education, and invest in our community’s capital infrastructure through projects like the new Shoreline clinic being built by International Community Health Services.

The event will begin with entertainment at 10:00 a.m. and a rally at 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at the State Capitol Building in Olympia, followed by visits with legislators.

The Asian Pacific Islander Coalition is a statewide network of Asian Pacific Islander community organizations dedicated to promoting health and human services, civil and human rights, equal access to education, economic development for small businesses, and other concerns of Asian Pacific Americans, including immigrants and refugees in Washington state. Participants for the event will come from all parts of the state, including Pierce, Spokane, Yakima, King, Snohomish, and Thurston counties, and southwest Washington.

“APA Legislative Day is a key opportunity for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to make their voices heard on issues of critical importance to the community,” Diane Narasaki, chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of King County, said. “The lives and well-being of all generations of our community is at stake.” (end)