Day 2: Reflecting and Celebrating 20 Years of Building CAPACD
Tuesday, September 15th
3:30 pm ET / 2:30 pm CT / 12:30 pm PT / 9:30 am HT
Discussion Forums
Reflecting, Reclaiming
Join us for one of the following discussion groups to delve deeper into strategies for building the resilience of AAPI communities and neighborhoods, focused on the issues most pressing in our neighborhoods today.
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Discussion Forum​​
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What’s Next for AAPI Business Districts?
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We all want to know – what is to become of my local AAPI business district during and after this pandemic? What strategies can be and should we employ to prevent the closure and displacement of our beloved mom-and-pop shops – with the whole community in mind? How do we work toward rebuilding an equitable economy that fosters sustainable forms of entrepreneurship and community ownership? The experts in this session are you – our National CAPACD members on the ground who are doing this work daily. This is a discussion forum – so come prepared to share your ideas, insights, and help us shape our policy priorities for an economic recovery that is inclusive of AAPI entrepreneurs.
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Speakers:
Cindy Wu, Bay Area LISC

Michael Yee, County of Hawaii

Discussion Forum​​
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Housing & AAPIs: Strategies for an Equitable Recovery for Low-Income Homeowners and Renters
The pandemic has exacerbated housing insecurity facing many low-income AAPIs and communities of color as potential homebuyers see rising home prices and stringent credit requirements and renters face threats of eviction and community displacement. In this session, housing experts will reflect on the pandemic’s impact on AAPIs and communities of color and draw parallels to the foreclosure crisis that birthed the formation of National CAPACD’s Housing Counseling Network one decade ago. Join us for a moderated discussion on strategies to support AAPI and POC homebuyers and renters and how our communities can equitably recover from the fallout of the pandemic.
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Speakers:
Melany De La Cruz, UCLA Asian American Studies Center​

Agatha So, UnidosUS​

Chhan Pech, UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge

Angie Liou, Asian Community Development Corporation

Doug Ryan, Prosperity Now

Discussion Forum​​
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The Art of Resilience: AAPI Creative Placemaking in 2020
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Artists and cultural bearers have been at the forefront of leading community engagement and healing in 2020. Examples abound of AAPI artists, cultural practitioners, and institutions addressing issues of xenophobia and racism, interpreting complicated public health information, increasing visibility of AAPI businesses, and keeping people connected despite physical distancing. Join this discussion about what AAPI creative placemaking looks like in 2020, and the importance of sustaining this work during recovery and post-pandemic. Come prepared to share what is happening in your own community!
Speakers:
Rebecca Chan,​ Friends of Rail Park

Desi Danganan, Kultivate Labs

Erik Takeshita, ArtPlace America

Erika Gee, Chinatown Community Development Center

Yin Kong, Think!Chinatown

Discussion Forum​​
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AAPI Renter Nation: Organizing Strategies to Resist Displacement
View the Recorded Session:
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Nearly three-quarters of low-income AAPIs live in the highest housing cost markets in the country. As a result, many in our communities were struggling to get by even before the pandemic. Housing advocates estimate 30- 40 million people could be evicted in the coming months as a result of COVID 19, unless Congress takes immediate action. Join community organizers and advocates for a discussion on eviction prevention strategies, as we build a long-term movement to fight back against displacement and gentrification!
Speakers:
Carolyn Chou, Asian American Resource Workshop

Denise Wong, Filipino Advocates for Justice

Joseph Seia, Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington

Discussion Forum​​
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Beyond Slogans and Hashtags: Solidarity In Practice
View the Recorded Session:
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As we confront dual pandemics, COVID-19 and ongoing anti-Black racism, it is important to build up our frameworks, analyses, and practices to engage in meaningful and transformative solidarity. In this session, we discuss ways in which Asian American communities have been building and practicing solidarity in various contexts. We will share principles for solidarity practice, identify best practices, and explore how to deal with conflicts and challenges that often emerge. This session will provide emerging and seasoned practitioners with shared language, tools, and ideas to engage in solidarity at their own organizations and in their communities.
Speakers:
Deepa Iyer, Writer, Lawyer, Activist, Facilitator

Kabzuag Vaj, Freedom, Inc.

Allie Yee, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon

Soyun Park, Micro Business Network

Stephanie Cho, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta
