The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum is the only national, multi-issue Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women’s organization in the country dedicated to building a movement to advance social justice and human rights for API women and girls. As a co-leader of the National Coalition of Immigrant Women’s Rights and the We Belong Together initiative, NAPAWF has been advocating for immigration policies that prioritize keeping women and their families together.

Although this proposed rule change doesn’t help those who are ineligible under current policies, such as same-sex couples who are not eligible to petition for legal status even for their legal spouses. Still, this rule is an important improvement for women than current policies and will enable more women and families to come out from the shadows and stop living in fear.

This legislation deviously attempts to use communities of color as foils to place a race- and sex-selection abortion ban by using misleading language from the civil rights movement. In reality, the bill exacerbates disparities in women of color’s access to family planning and reproductive health care by placing additional scrutiny on their reproductive decision-making and by claiming that Black, API, and Latina women seek to terminate a pregnancy because of the race or sex of the fetus. The same folks who support offensive billboards attacking Black and Latina women’s reproductive rights, support this legislation.

Help make the pro-choice movement’s voice heard by:

• Attending the Congressional Hearing in support of NAPAWF
• Taking action and telling the members of the congressional subcommittee that they should oppose PRENDA!
• Follow our Facebook page and Twitter to hear about what’s happening on the ground.

On September 28-29, 2011, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum will stand alongside the National Domestic Workers Alliance and over two dozen organizations (women’s delegation) in Georgia to bring visibility to the impact of Georgia’s new HB87 law, a copycat of Arizona’s SB 1070 legislation on women, children and families and make heard that We Belong Together.

NAPAWF’s participation as a co-lead for the women’s delegation is not only because we are progressive advocates for Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women and girls. Our passion for advancing social justice and human rights for API women and girls stem from where we came from, and our activism for change is for those who come after us. Highlighting this sentiment is Miriam Yeung, Executive Director, as going to Georgia on September 28 & 29 is, in her words, “For my mother. For my daughters.” Read Miriam’s story here.

During the convening in Georgia, the women’s delegation will hear stories of how women, children and families have been affected by HB87 and garner attention to the anti-immigrant law at a press conference at Georgia’s state capitol on 10:30am on Thursday, 9/29. If you have friends and family in Georgia, ask them to stand with NAPAWF and our advocates on fighting for immigrant rights! For more information on the schedule and press conference, click here.

Won’t you consider taking our movement for social justice and human rights for API women and girls one step further by making a donation today?

NAPAWF is currently seeking candidates for 2 full-time positions:

• Finance and Operations Associate
• Immigrant Rights Project Manager

For more information, click here.

Position Summary: The Chicago, IL chapter of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum seeks an energetic consultant to help develop and implement a groundbreaking Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Reproductive Justice (RJ) focused community survey project. The two-fold purpose of the project is to:

• Better understand the current reproductive justice needs and priorities of API women and girls in Chicago and;
• strengthen the API community in Chicago by creating linkages between organizations where API women and girls access services.

Timeline: negotiable but must be completed by June 2012.

Stipend:$1000 will be provided in addition to approved travel expenses associated with the project.

Apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume to hr@napawf.org no later than August 15, 2011, and title the e-mail “NAPAWF-Chicago RJ Consultant Application”. Complete position description can be found here. Questions can be directed to chicagochapter@napawf.org.

Full details of the job can be found at Opportunities at NAPAWF or click here to download the job description.

It is with great excitement and pride that we welcome the newest member of the NAPAWF family!

After a two hour labor, Alexandra was born on 3/10/11 at 8:43pm to proud parents, Miriam Yeung, Executive Director and Abby Shaw. She weighed 6lbs 15oz and was 19.25 inches long. As you can see, she is a fierce sister already!

Congratulations, Miriam, Abby, and older sister, Penelope!

The National Governing Board of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum seeks energetic, visionary, fabulous, fierce nominations for new board members. Read our official announcement here!

NAPAWF’s Mission

Founded in 1995, NAPAWF’s mission is to build a movement to advance social justice and human rights for Asian and Pacific Islander (API) women and girls in the United States. NAPAWF implements our mission by increasing the leadership, political power and visibility of API women and girls through community and public education, advocacy, collaboration, and grassroots multi-issue organizing.

NAPAWF Priorities 2010-2012

NAPAWF’s current priorities are to expand the membership and visibility of the organization by building our grassroots membership, supporting strong chapters, and continuing to advocate and organize on policies that affect the lives of API women and girls. Having completed a strategic plan in 2008, as well as a successful leadership transition, the organization is poised to take advantage of the current political moment to expand our influence and profile.

Board Responsibilities

Board members are crucial to the success of the organization. NAPAWF’s board members are expected to serve a term of three years. The focus of the board of directors is on governance and fund development. Members are expected to participate on bimonthly conference calls, and two face-to-face meetings a year.

In addition, members are expected to fundraise, serve on at least one
committee, and act as ambassadors for NAPAWF.

NAPAWF has identified a few specific skills that we hope to bring onto the board:

• Community Organizing skills: NAPAWF seeks board member with seasoned organizing experience to assist with development of base building and advocacy campaigns.
• Strategic communication skills: NAPAWF seeks board member with media and communications experience who can help expand NAPAWF’s message to wider audiences.
• Public policy skills: NAPAWF seeks a board member with progressive policy expertise, economic justice focus a plus.

NAPAWF also seeks a diverse board and strongly encourages applications from those outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, and/or those of South East Asian, South Asian, Japanese, Hapa, or Pacific Islander ethnicities and/or those who identify as LGBTQ.

Timeline:

• Nominations are due by March 31, 2011, download your nomination form here.
• Information sessions and interviews in April and May.
• National Governing Board approves board candidates in June 2011.
• New board members are expected to attend the board member orientation and board meeting in Old Towne, Virginia, August 12 – 14, 2011.

To be nominated, please submit a completed nomination form to
boardnominations@napawf.org. You are absolutely free to, and invited
to, nominate yourself!

If you have any questions, please contact:
Miriam Yeung, Executive Director, at myeung@napawf.org