CAA employs multiple strategies to create change. At the grassroots level, we nurture the ability of Asian and Pacific American communities to participate fully in civic life. At the public policy level we advocate for systemic changes that create a more just and equitable society. Throughout our work we seek to build and foster alliances that strengthen and sustain a progressive Asian and Pacific American movement.

COMMUNITY BUILDING

Though our constituency encompasses the broader APA community, our grassroots work prioritizes the needs of low-income, immigrant, and limited English proficient (LEP) individuals. These activities include leadership development for monolingual public school parents, employment services for newcomer jobseekers, and community education on issues that impact language minorities, communities of color, and new immigrants.

Leadership development: CAA organizes public school parents and provides leadership development to improve LEP parental involvement in San Francisco Unified School District. Through the Visitacion Valley Parents Association, an education and advocacy group for limited-English proficient (LEP) parents, CAA supports parent-run advocacy trainings, educational workshops, and civic engagement opportunities. More on VVPA

Employment services: CAA places hundreds of primarily immigrant jobseekers in construction and hospitality work, as well as vocational training programs. Our support includes general assistance, client advocacy, and information and referral work. Special efforts are made to reach dislocated garment workers and to improve access to opportunities in the higher-wage plumbing and electrical trades.

Community education: By providing walk-in hours and maintaining updated referral lists, CAA is a critical community resource for community services and activities. At the same time, CAA is a leading progressive Asian and Pacific American voice in the ethnic and mainstream media on issues ranging from stereotyping in the media, APA political participation, and pressing public policy questions.

ISSUE ADVOCACY

CAA advocates for programs, policies, and legislation to meet our communities’ needs, and to change or eliminate those that are harmful and discriminatory. Our advocacy includes research and analysis of policies that impact our constituents, community outreach and education, technical assistance to legislators and government administrators, and building advocacy networks and campaigns across racial and ethnic communities. Our core civil rights issues include language rights, immigrant rights, and racial justice.

Language Rights: CAA fights for equal access to critical social services for limited-English proficient and immigrant residents. In San Francisco, we monitor implementation of the Equal Access to Services (EAS) Ordinance with a focus on the Police Department’s language assistance procedures, creating a vocational ESL track in the City’s centralized construction training program, and monitoring polling sites with high language assistance needs on during elections. In addition we advocate for stronger language access and bi-lingual education policies in the San Francisco public schools.

Immigrant Rights: CAA strives to create a society that fully embraces and values its immigrant population. As a founding member of the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Services and Education Network, CAA works with over a dozen agencies to provide and promote critically needed legal and social services to protect immigrant rights. In this capacity, CAA provides APA immigrants and the broader community with information about proposed changes to federal immigration laws and ensures residents are aware of City services and CBO resources available to immigrants.

CAA is also a leading member of Friends of Educational Opportunities in Chinatown (FEOC), an association of community leaders and organizations committed to a permanent City College campus in San Francisco Chinatown. A permanent City College campus will provide generations of new immigrants with critically needed ESL, job training, and citizenship classes. Link to FEOC website

Racial Justice: CAA combats multiple forms and manifestations of racism and racial hierarchy. This includes speaking out against harmful stereotypes, identifying and addressing discrimination, and advancing policies that promote racial and ethnic inclusion and equity. These include effective hate crime legislation, race-conscious affirmative action programs, and school and workplace practices that promote diversity and reduce segregation.

PROMOTING SOCIAL CHANGE

CAA seeks to build and foster alliances that grow and sustain a progressive Asian and Pacific American movement. We believe affirmative action is necessary to intentionally combat all forms of discrimination and oppression.

Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE) is a CAA-led effort that works with Sacramento policymakers, advocates, and community members on budget and legislative proposals impacting Asian and Pacific Americans in California. Conducted in partnership with the Asian Law Caucus and the Asian and Pacific American Legal Center, AACRE is helping to build a statewide presence for the progressive APA community committed to civil rights and equality. Visit AACRE Online for to learn more and take action on statewide immigrant rights, language rights, and civil rights issues important to the APA community. Link to AACRE Online

API Equality, a new project to CAA, seeks to address marriage discrimination and the struggles of same-sex couples within the context of the APA civil rights agenda. API Equality is building the capacity of APA community leaders and individuals to be effective marriage equality and civil rights advocates, and developing a statewide public education campaign and coalition. Link to API Equality website