Our friends in CT need our help. The AAPI Commission that they fought so hard to create is in jeopardy of being dissolved. According to Bill Howe, one of the leaders in the movement to save the commission:

The original budget amount was for $150,000. That was then reduced to $25,000. The Governor (Jodi Rell) has proposed cutting that to zero. We estimate that we need $175,000 to fund an Exec director and a secretary. The APA Commission is slated to be in effect July 1, 2009. There was been proposals also to combine all ethnic commissions into one – which we oppose since APA needs are different than the African American or Latino Commissions. We have worked over 10 years to get where we are now. We fight the bias that all Asians are wealthy. We have been asked why we cannot just fund this from wealthy Asians. The model minority myth hurts us.

He is urging everyone to call the two leaders of the CT General Assembly: Senator Donald Williams, (860) 240-8614 or (800) 842-1420, williams@senatedems.ct.gov Represenative Christopher Donovan (860) 240-8500 or (800) 842-1902, Christopher.Donovan@cga.ct.gov To read the script and learn more about what the Commission does, continue after the flip:

Here is the script that Bill sent over: “Please do not eliminate the Asian pacific American commission before it will do its most critical work. We fully understand the enormity of the economic downturn, but funding the commission is a minuscule fraction of the budget. Tens of thousands need the voice of the commission. As they are the fastest growing population and ethnically diverse, they face many challenges, such as health care access, economic and legal justice, employment discrimination, and hate crimes.” And here is some detail on what the commission actually does:

Why we need an Asian Pacific American Commission 1. Access to proper health care and hospital services is severely restricted because of the lack of interpreters 2. Access to courts restrictive because of lack of proper interpretation 3. Severe need for adequate housing - casino workers; immigrant communities 4. High prevalence of mental health issues - unmet. Suicide prevention and problem gambling 5. Discrimination-hate crimes, employment 6. Cuts to aid to immigrant families. 7. English language instruction inadequate in both adult education and grade school, resulting in difficulties obtaining a job 8. Communication problems with DSS and other agencies in obtaining services What Commission Will Do? The Commission will serve as the voice for this ethnically diverse and fastest growing population in Connecticut. I. Be a Resource for the Asian Community II. Be the Link Between the Community and Government Conduct an aggressive outreach and awareness campaign III. Data Collection a). Perform a Needs Assessment study b). Gather and update census data with 2010 Census c). Present a “snapshot” of the community IV. Address Issues to Form Basis for Legislative Priorities - Advocate and provide testimony, be a voice for this underrepresented community, research and identify unique issues to the Asian Pacific community. V. Projects and Activities: a) Partnership with Secretary of State: Voter registration and work with town committees b) Political empowerment: Increase representation on boards, advisory panels c) Economic Development: Gather and organize a Asian business bank

And a link to an article in the State Capitol: Constituencies Speak Out Against Pared Down State Government You know what to do. Take a few seconds out of your day to make a call. It could be the difference!