Report from the Milwaukee, WI House Party:

A gathering of Asian Americans convened at a Milwaukee house party hosted by Stewart Ikeda and facilitated by Marcia Lee. After sharing refreshments and making introductions, we settled in to hear from and discuss the speakers featured in this Sunday's APAs for Progress teleconference. Attendees represented a range of backgrounds, ages, and diverse parts of the extended metro area. Attending were college students and recent graduates, educators, and others working in the arts, publishing, small business and the non-profit sector. Most of the attendees did not know each other well before, and we enjoyed a detailed discussion of the teleconference topics and speakers, and their intersection with our local and individual concerns, upcoming campaigns in our state, and the common interests among us.

Among the favorable observations voiced in the post-conference discussion: There was general agreement that the afternoon's presentation overall was a positive experience. Comments said the presentation conveyed a "hopeful" feeling and sense of change and progress, an impression that Asian Americans had "arrived" at positions of meaningful influence and responsibility in the federal government, and a sense that government was becoming more "accessible" and a more accurate reflection of a diverse society. Attendees appreciated that the tone of the presentation was very polite, even congenial, even while difficult questions were posed directly and frankly by the organizers about delicate issues such as the administration's plans regarding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and immigration reform. Although the featured speakers were clearly incapable of addressing some of these questions with direct answers, it was noted favorably that they made an effort to respond, with civility, in some measure on a related topic within his or her purview.

As the early evening approached, discussion of national issues melded with that of attendees personal concerns. Among those expressed were concerns over a perceived increase in racism, perhaps more veiled than in the past, in response to the historic Obama victory and the changes his diverse administration represents. Other topics raised included firearm legislation, endorsement considerations for politicians in Wisconsin, the broad definition of "Asian Americans and Pacific Islander," the poor employment market, and the utility of networking through pan-Asian-Pacific organizations such as APAP even for those who already participate in ethnic-specific and non-political organizations.

 

In the end, there was favorable movement toward continuing discussion of these topics and other priorities online, and continuing to move in the direction of formalizing a local chapter of APAP to solidify networking ad bring focus to regular local (inter)action. Although the number of participants physically gathering this time was small, a number of RSVPs expressed regret at not being able to attend and their continued interest in participating in future APAP national and especially local Milwaukee activities moving forward.

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