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Norman Y. Mineta Statement on the Passing of Senator Daniel Inouye

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:33:40 -0800

CONTACT: Vida Benavides, vida@americasopportunityfund.com

Washington, D.C., December 19, 2012--Dan Inouye became a hero in everything he did – as a young soldier on the battlefields of World War II and a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, as one of the architects of the State of Hawai’i, as the first American of Japanese ancestry to serve in the United States House of Representatives, as the first Japanese American United States Senator, and as the highest-ranking Asian Pacific American in U.S. history as President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate.

“He reached those heights of achievement, however, through qualities that far too often go unnoticed, but which matter most of all: a generosity of spirit, a sense of caring, and an unwavering integrity, to which his family, his friends, his staff, and all of the people from every walk of life he dedicated his life to helping – his students – can attest."

“Dan Inouye was a great man – but his greatest achievement may lie in the fact that it was impossible to know him without becoming more in that process than you were when you started.”

Photo Credit: Daphne Domingo

America's Opportunity Fund Diversity Project Video Debut!

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:33:25 -0700

We've done it again!

In our recent George Takei PhotoPhrase contest we asked why diversity matters, and you answered.

We couldn’t be more excited to share your responses in America’s Opportunity Fund's second video!! We put it together, but these are your inspirations and ideas.

We would like to thank all of the participants in our contest for helping us make this video a reality. We love that you value diversity as we do and we just had to share how much you think it matters with the world!

Please share this video with your friends and contacts and make sure to let Secretary Mineta know what you think.

Please see all of the participants' Twitter handles below and don't forget to tweet them if you like their answers!

@luanLJ

@MeeshMoosha

@FrancisChoe

@BenjaminDauber

@Lephammer

@heathbrown

@sillistring

The AOF George Takei "Why It Matters" PhotoPhrase Contest...WHO WON?

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:19:21 -0700

Secretary Norm Mineta Announces the 3 Winners of the AOF George Takei "Why It Matters" PhotoPhrase Contest

Diversity with America's Opportunity Fund Video

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:12:53 -0700

Diversity with America's Opportunity Fund Video

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AOF's "Why Diversity Matters" George Takei PhotoPhrase contest WINNERS!

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:56:19 -0700

AOF's "Why Diversity Matters" George Takei PhotoPhrase contest WINNERS!

We couldn’t be more excited to share the with you the winners of our George Takei PhotoPhrase contest.

Thank you to everyone who participated and a special thank you to George Takei for making this all possible!

CONGRATUALTIONS to the lucky 3!!

FIND OUT WHO WON HERE!

Sumbit your comments HERE! Or tell us what you think via Facebook or Twitter!

AOF Diversity Video Debut

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:45:17 -0700

We couldn’t be more excited to share the very first America’s Opportunity Fund video with you! This video comments on diversity issues in our Congress and the discrepancies between the AAPI community and its representation in government.

We would like to thank all of the participants for helping us make this video a reality. In the coming weeks we will be showcasing each of them as members of the AAPI community and to thank them for their support of Secretary Mineta and AOF’s efforts!

Please share this video with your friends and contacts and make sure to let Secretary Mineta know WHAT YOU THINK!

Jasjit Singh, Sikh American

Jasjit is responsible for educational outreach, government relations, and organizational development at a national non-profit in DC. He has provided numerous presentations on racial profiling, employment discrimination and community challenges to various audiences including the US Assistant Attorney General, FBI Director, TSA Administrator and EEOC Chairman. He currently serves on DHS Secretary Napolitano’s Faith-Based Initiative and has published op-eds and appeared in/on several media outlets including New York Times, Politico, Washington Post, Huffington post, National Public Radio, and CBS Radio.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!

AOF Endorsed Candidates UPDATES!

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:19:57 -0700

Jay Chen

Jay raised an outstanding Jay $305,000 in only eight short weeks and with his primary coming up on June 5^th, he shows no signs of slowing down. Jay has also received numerous endorsements, including Los Angeles and Orange County Federations of Labor! His newest office in Orange County opened May 8th. Hats off to Jay!

Click here to visit Jay's site!

Tammy Duckworth

Tammy’s road to victory in Illinois’ 8^th Congressional District winds on. After overwhelmingly winning her primary in March, she has now launched her "American Dream Tour," and preformed wonderfully in her first debate against Rep. Joe Walsh. We anticipate only good things from this incredible Iraq Veteran and her campaign team. Good luck, Tammy!

Click here to visit Tammy's site!

Mazie Hirono

With her June 12^th debate coming up, and over $1.6 million latest cash on hand, we foresee great things for this wonderful HI representative come the August 11th primary. Mazie has earned numerous endorsements from organizations both on the Islands and on the Mainland, as well as the support of Senator and President Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye. Go Mazie Go!

Click here to visit Mazie's site!

Mark Takano

Mark’s primary is fast approaching. With over $300,000 cash on hand and countless endorsements, including CA Senator Barbara Boxer, Mark seems ready for the June 5^th deadline! He also recently launched his new website, Teacher for Congress, check it out here! Keep up the good work, Mark!

Click here to visit Mark's site!

America's Opportunity Fund Endorses Jay Chen

Wed, 02 May 2012 12:54:43 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Alvina Yeh // alvina@americasopportunityfund.com

Washington, D.C., May 2, 2012 – Today America’s Opportunity Fund (AOF) announces an additional endorsement for the 2012 election cycle. AOF is proud to add Jay Chen (CA-39) to its list of endorsed candidates.

AOF Co-Founder and Chair, former Secretary Norman Mineta had the following statement about Jay:

“Jay Chen is a rising star in the Democratic Party and represents the next generation of leadership our country needs. His business background, service on his school board, and commitment to underrepresented communities make him the ideal choice for the 39th Congressional District. I am honored to join the growing list of residents, organizations and leaders who support Jay Chen."

A graduate of Hacienda Heights public schools, Jay Chen won a scholarship to attend Harvard University and worked as a management consultant prior to starting his own small business. Fluent in Mandarin and Spanish, Jay was elected to his local school board in 2007 and has helped guide the district through consistent academic growth while preventing furloughs and layoffs to K-12 education. He serves on several local civic boards and is an intelligence officer in the United States Naval Reserve.

America's Opportunity Fund (AOF) is a 501 C (4) Political Action Committee that provides opportunities for candidates, and communities of color, to participate fully in the electoral process at the federal and statewide level.

The goals of AOF are to affect a marked increase in the number of elected officials who embrace and understand the needs of communities of color; generate significant funds to support its mission in targeted states throughout the country; increase voter visibility and participation to support AOF endorsed candidates to achieve victory.

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Happy Asian American Heritage Month!

Tue, 01 May 2012 15:14:41 -0700

Happy Asian American Heritage Month from all of us at America's Opportunity Fund!

What the GOP Can Learn From Jeremy Lin

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:16:20 -0800

What can one possibly add to the hill of hype that now surrounds the glorious Jeremy Lin, New York Knickerbocker?

We are fascinated by his rise, but instead of focusing on his talent, which is raw and untested, we fixate upon his race and his biography. Lin's parents came here from Taiwan in the late 70s, settling in California, and he grew up as American as he did Taiwanese, with a quiet but devoted Christianity that marks him as a cultural conservative, and a playfulness and sense of humor that keeps him tethered to the modern world. Implicit within the coverage of Linsanity is the assumption that Lin is so special because he is unusual. But he's not, really. If you've been paying attention to integration of second-generation Asian-Americans into the our political super-culture, he's kind of normal.

Asian-Americans are a unique lot for political folks to categorize, in that they don't tend to identify collectively as one. Korean-Americans in Northern Virginia have different ways of seeing the world than Filipinos in Nevada. (Manny Pacquiao's last-minute endorsement of Harry Reid in the 2010 Senate race may have swung the race to him.) Taiwanese-Americans in Palo Alto are more conservative than Chinese-Americans in New York. It has long been assumed that Latinos would become more Republican as subcultures assimilated into the mainstream, but that hasn't happened. It doesn't seem like it will happen with Asian-Americans either, who, by 2050, will compromise about 8 percent of the U.S. population. The GOP's association with American Christianity and with upward mobility are enough for Asian-Americans to give that party a look, but the Asian-American vote has become more and more Democratic as the average Asian-American voter has spent a longer amount of time inside the U.S. "On paper, Asians—culturally conservative, family values, entrepreneurship, fiscally conservative, meritocracy—seem tailor-made for Republicans," says Tony Lee, a Korean-American conservative and editor at the publication Human Events. "But, like with Cubans, the younger generation of Asians has not voted as Republican as one may have expected or assumed. "

Another superstar Asian-American athlete, the short-track speedskater Simon Cho, provides a second example. Like most Asian-Americans in their twenties, Cho's parents weren't born in the U.S.; when he was two, they moved to the U.S. from Korea seeking a better life for their children. (They snuck in from Canada and were later naturalized.) Cho turned out to be a prodigy. His parents sacrificed their own economic security so that he could train for the Olympics. At any point—even now—Cho could return to Korea and be a celebrity, getting endorsements, and money. At age 20, though, he chooses to remain in the U.S., because he is an American, pure and simple, even though Americans insist on seeing him as an Asian who happens to be an American. Last weekend, Cho won the World Cup in the men's 500 meter race, despite having literally broken his back last year. In all likelihood, he will race in the Sochi Olympics in 2014, and he is, as of now, the favorite to win the gold, supplanting his mentor Apolo Ohno, as the speedskater's new it-man.

I don't know how Cho will vote next November, but I suspect it won't be for a Republican. Cho has spoken out in favor of compassion for illegal immigrants. He was one, after all. But if Republicans were to rid themselves of their anti-immigrant wing, or if they choose not allow their primaries to be controlled by it, there is no real reason why Asian-Americans can't become a true swing constituency. Their allegiances with the Democratic Party are tenuous. "If Asians vote for Republicans like Jews have traditionally voted for Democrats, Republicans could see many advantages," Lee says. "For that to happen, Asians have to see conservatism as the best way for them to be more integrated and assimilated into the mainstream for themselves and their children, which should not be that hard a sell." Look again at Lin's own story: he faced discrimination as a kid playing on the courts of (even) Palo Alto, and slurs while at Harvard, but because of his superior natural abilities, rose up through the most meritocratic institution in society. There is no affirmative action based on race or last name. If you can't play, you are not going to get on the court. That up-by-the-sneaker-laces narrative is a vital part of Lin's appeal—and the Republican deal.

There's a huge opportunity for Republicans, who will desperately need minority voters in a diversifying America without straying from conservative policies. Right now, they're blowing it. But Democrats would be well-advised to stop treating Asian-Americans as a monolith. The community is too diverse for that these days. They defy typing.

As does Lin.

America’s Opportunity Fund Endorses Mazie Hirono, Tammy Duckworth, and Mark Takano

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:25:39 -0800

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Alvina Yeh // alvina@americasopportunityfund.com

America’s Opportunity Fund Endorses Mazie Hirono, Tammy Duckworth, and Mark Takano

Washington, D.C., February 9, 2012 – Today America’s Opportunity Fund (AOF) announces additional endorsements for the 2012 election cycle. Focusing on candidates who represent and support the needs of underrepresented communities, AOF is proud to add the following candidates to their endorsements:

Mazie Hirono for Senate (Hawaii)
Tammy Duckworth for Congress (Illinois-8)
Mark Takano for Congress (California-41)

AOF Co-Founder and Chair, former Secretary Norman Mineta had the following statements about the endorsed candidates:

“Serving Hawaii for over 30 years; Mazie Hirono has contributed so much as Deputy Attorney General, State House Representative, Lieutenant Governor and as an tremendously effective Congresswoman. Mazie is known for her leadership on several issues, especially in education where she was instrumental in advancing quality early childhood education legislation. She is the obvious choice for Senate as she has such a passion and commitment to the people of Hawaii.

Tammy Duckworth is the embodiment of an American hero. A Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard, she was awarded a Purple Heart for injuries received in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tammy’s leadership and advocacy for her fellow soldiers led to service as Director of Illinois’ Department of Veteran’s Affairs and later as Assistant Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs. Tammy’s perseverance, incredible strength of character and dedication to service make her a strong candidate to represent Illinois in Congress.

Mark Takano’s lifelong passion for public service and learning is reflected in his dedication as educator in the Rialto Unified School District. Mark has also served as a member and Board Chair of the Riverside Community College District's Board of Trustees among his numerous other leadership roles in education, technology and health organizations. Mark’s varied experiences as a longtime advocate, committed educator, and grassroots policy leader make him well suited as a leader who will fight for California’s families.

These candidates are all exceptional leaders with a demonstrated commitment to our communities. I know they will serve their constituents well and I am proud that AOF is able to support their candidacy for office”.

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AOF Condemns Hoekstra's Racially Insensitive Campaign Ad

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:16:01 -0800

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Alvina Yeh // alvina@americasopportunityfund.com

Washington, D.C., February 6, 2012-- America’s Opportunity Fund (AOF) condemns the commercial aired during yesterday’s Super Bowl from Michigan Senate candidate, Pete Hoekstra. The commercial depicting a young Asian American woman speaking in broken English and set in a presumed Chinese countryside perpetuates negative stereotypes and is disrespectful to the Asian American community. It is unfortunate that Hoekstra decided to target his opponent Debbie Stabenow using tasteless anti-Asian sentiment.

In addition to his commercial, Hoekstra’s website, “Debbie Spend it Now”, is deeply offensive. Designed with images full of stereotypes, it’s disturbing that Hoekstra does not realize how insulting the website is for Asian Americans, particularly Chinese Americans.

“It is deeply disappointing that Mr. Hoekstra chose to use such inappropriate and vitriolic tactics in his campaign. The ad’s negative implications toward Asian Americans are simply uncalled for,” said AOF Chair, Norman Mineta. “It is a shame that Mr. Hoekstra felt the need to make political statements at the expense of a community with such a long and accomplished history of contributions in our country”.

In light of Hoekstra’s campaign, AOF strongly urges others to not base their political ads on xenophobic rhetoric. AOF insists on a formal apology from the Hoekstra campaign. In addition, AOF would like Mr. Hoekstra to take down the offensive website and commercial. Negatively stereotyping a community only leads to more aggravation, when candidates should be focused on what they will do to help improve the country for all those who live in it.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Alvina Yeh // alvina@americasopportunityfund.com

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Happy Lunar New Year!

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:49:16 -0800

Dear Supporter,

Happy Lunar New Year from all of us at America’s Opportunity Fund!

We wish you and your family a joyous, healthy and prosperous New Year.

As we enter the Year of the Dragon, I think of the dragon’s symbolic characteristics of passion, ambition, and drive. Our communities are much like the dragon, in the peak of our political growth as our populations expand and become more politically savvy.

Here at AOF, we’ve accomplished a lot over the years and it’s thanks to supporters like you. With your help we’ve been able to:

endorse progressive candidates across the country,
supplement field and media efforts in key races,
train candidates and campaign staff,
send qualified campaign fellows into races, and
engage our communities through education programs with public leaders.

With another major election cycle well underway, we hope to do even more to increase the number of progressive candidates who serve underrepresented communities, support races in areas with large concentrations of communities of color, and increase voter participation to support AOF-endorsed candidates.

As AOF Chair, I want to get your input on our work for 2012. What do you think we should focus on for this year?

Please take our survey and let us know what you think.

Help us grow our political momentum by adding your thoughts on our work for this year. Thank you again for your support. Here’s to a dynamic Year of the Dragon for all our communities,

Norman Mineta

Chair, America’s Opportunity Fund

Happy Holidays from Norm Mineta and America's Opportunity Fund!

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:40:44 -0800

Dear ~FirstName~,

Season’s Greetings from America’s Opportunity Fund!

As we take the time to celebrate the meaning of the Holiday season and reflect upon this past year, we wanted to give thanks to all of you who have donated and supported our programs. You’ve helped AOF to strengthen our mission to increase the number of elected officials who represent the needs of communities of color, increase voter visibility and participation to support those endorsed candidates.

This past year, we continued to host our signature 2-day Candidate Trainings where attendees learned about various elements of a campaign including: targeting voters, polling, message development, fundraising, voter contact, getting out the vote, and new media.

We also launched two new programs – our “In the Dome” speaker series, which was kicked off with Rep. Karen Bass speaking about being freshman in Congress and our “Arts and Activism” discussion that was live-cast with actress Tamlyn Tomita and singer Maria Aragon.

AOF Leadership Advisor, Vida Benavides, spoke at the Center for American Progress about AAPI voters in the electorate. In addition, AOF Finance Advisor, Madalene Mielke spoke at a political networking event co-hosted by AOF and the Asian American Action Group, New Latino Movement, Democratic GAIN and Young & Powerful for Obama.

AOF also hosted Chairman Norm Mineta’s 80th Birthday celebration this November. President Clinton sent a video birthday greetingacknowledging Norm’s legacy through AOF’s work stating, “It’s very fitting that Norm is being honored tonight by America’s Opportunity Fund which in a short time has done so much to support communities of color and to inspire civic engagement". House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senator Daniel Inouye also shared birthday wishes along with family and friends present.

This past year, the US Census numbers were revealed and show the Asian American populations growing faster than any other minority group in the country. 55% (roughly 4 million) of AAPI voting-age citizens were registered to vote in 2008. Research indicates that once registered, 86% of AAPIs will turn out to vote – representing a large potential for engagement.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are also demonstrating leadership growth with recent victories of prominent AAPI leaders winning local races like Ed Lee, the first Chinese-American Mayor of San Francisco; Aney Paul, the first Asian American woman elected to Rockland County (NY) Legislature; and Rolando Lavarro, AOF Candidate Training Alumni, to Jersey City (NJ) Council. An unprecedented number of AAPIs throughout the country have also announced to run for federal seats in 2012. Our political momentum will continue to increase and with your help, AOF will be in the position to support several candidates throughout the country and advance voter turn out.

AOF anticipates a new year of increased political activism and we are very excited of the programs that will enable us to support progressive candidates through financial support, field and media. We look forward to your continued involvement.

From our AOF family to yours, we wish you Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the
New Year!

AOF Website | Twitter | Facebook

For Envoy To China, The Personal And Political Mix

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:40:20 -0700

The U.S. ambassador to China, Gary Locke, went home Friday. He didn't return to Seattle, his old stomping ground, but to his ancestral village in southern China. It was his third trip back, though his first since being appointed ambassador.

At first, Chinese Internet users had criticized him as a "fake foreign devil who can't speak Chinese." But now the tide has turned.

Locke kicked off his return to his ancestral home with a video posted on China's version of Twitter. It's a nod to his status as an Internet sensation. At a round-table discussion with local reporters in Guangzhou, in China's southern Guangdong province, he admitted that he has been taken aback by his runaway popularity.

"It was completely unexpected, and not by design," Locke told the journalists. "I'm somewhat overwhelmed by the microblogging that takes place in China, and the smartphones and all the people that want to take photos of myself and my family."

That much was clear straight away. Press conference over, the reporters elbowed each other out of the way to have their pictures taken with Locke.

But when a television reporter asked him to say something to the local audience in Cantonese, he refused, saying, "I don't want to embarrass myself, or my Chinese ancestry. Let me just say I'm so proud to be here as United States ambassador to China."

Later on, he told students at an international school to study harder, saying he regrets his inability to speak Chinese.

Advantages Of Being Ordinary

But this trip to Guangdong province is about more than just business. One stop was a snack shop serving sesame paste, his favorite dessert. This, too, became a photo op, as the owner shyly sidled up asking for a photo. She was trembling with pride at the celebrity slurping her sesame soup.

"Even though he's an official, he's an ordinary person," said owner He Zhilian. "He's very down-to-earth. So I'm extremely honored that he's come to my shop."

Locke has shot to fame not for his meetings with top Chinese officials but for his ordinariness. He carries his own backpack, travels in economy class and buys coffee with discount vouchers.

Such low-key behavior highlights the luxurious lifestyles of some Chinese officials, so much so that one party-controlled newspaper published an editorial on its website saying Locke's posting was a neocolonialist plot "to strengthen pro-U.S. forces in China." He shrugged this off.

"There's no way this was a U.S. government neocolonialist plot," Locke said.

But he admitted that being in the spotlight does have its advantages.

"If anything, the added attention, greater visibility I've been able to generate, if that can open doors, and bridge and expose more Chinese to American values, the American way of life, then that's great," he said.

His modest, backpack-toting lifestyle is sometimes in contrast to his official duties. His schedule recently included a meeting with local Communist Party officials at a luxurious hotel in Taishan, Guangdong province.

With its marble-floored corridors with gold-plated columns and domed ceilings decorated with frescoes of chubby-cheeked cherubim, the hotel is Guangdong's version of Versailles.

His next stop was at Shuibu kindergarten, where he was mobbed by crowds, hands outstretched, desperate to touch this rock star ambassador. Inside the kindergarten, children wearing heavy face paint danced with pompoms to the soccer anthem "Ole Ole Ole." Outside the gates, crowds gathered, waiting to see the hometown boy made good.

"I've been following him on the Internet," said Zhao Jie, as she shuffled from foot to foot trying to get a glimpse of the ambassador. "I think for an ethnically Chinese person to become an American ambassador makes us all very proud."

Taking Care Of Family Business

Driving past fields of bright green crops, the sounds of welcoming drummers and lion dances greeted Locke at his ancestral village, Jilong. The head of his family, sixth-great-uncle Mr. Luo, was waiting for him at the village entrance, along with all the other villagers and dozens of other members of the extended Locke family.

It's Locke's first trip back since his father, Jimmy Locke, died in January. And he had family business to attend to in the ancestral home, a modest brick building almost 100 years old, built in the traditional style. Family photos line both walls of the house, while handmade woven baskets hang from the low eaves.

Locke climbed a ladder to place a photo of his father in the family shrine, a burgundy wood alcove at the heart of the house, topped with elaborate woodcarvings painted gold. Then he carefully poured out wine for the spirits, and sprinkled it on the ground.

Amid fireworks, he visited the family graves, with 40-odd members of his extended family. They bowed to the graves, burned incense and gave offerings of two suckling pigs.

"I think because my dad passed away ... it's different this time," said Locke's sister, Rita Yoshihara, who has joined him on this pilgrimage, their first in five years. "It felt good to have closure, to come and pay respects. It's been a little bit emotional, but it's been good."

After visiting the graves, Locke sat alongside his 85-year-old great-uncle, asking him questions about their shared history. The personal nature of this visit underlined Locke's roots.

But the personal is also political. In this social media age, Locke's ethnicity means he has a chance to make an impact like few ambassadors to China ever have before.

Maria Luisa Mabilangan Haley: A Leader's leader

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:12:56 -0700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Gene Benavides // 202-556-3122

Maria Luisa Mabilangan Haley: A Leader's leader

Little Rock, AR - Today, in Little Rock, Arkansas and across the country, we honor and celebrate the life of Maria Luisa Mabilangan Haley.

In Maria Haley’s acceptance speech to the Lions World Services for the Blind Vision Awards Luncheon not too long ago, Maria summed up her life this way, "I came here as an immigrant bride...24 years later I walked down Air Force One with the President of the United States. Only in this great country can this happen. America and Arkansas have given me tremendous opportunities...and now... I want to give back."

Maria led an extraordinary and exemplary life deeply rooted in public and community service. Her deep love for her community, her state, and her country includes serving the President of the United States and two Arkansas State Governors.

As the White House Deputy Director of Personnel, Maria was instrumental in placing leadership throughout the Clinton administration that reflected America's diversity. It was Maria who advocated and facilitated my appointment process to become the first Asian American Cabinet Secretary. I am eternally grateful for Maria’s guidance and leadership.

Maria mentored, counseled, and ushered a new generation of Asian American and Pacific Islander appointees under the Clinton Administration; many of them continue to grow as leaders in public and community service and in the private sector. Regardless of the demands of her role, she always took the time to listen, guide, and provide wise counsel to those seeking professional direction.

Maria also played a key role in creating the first White House Commission on Asian American and Pacific Islanders. She oversaw the recruitment and appointment process for many of the AAPI community leaders who became Commissioners for the White House Initiative on Asian American and Pacific Islanders; which helps to provide access and participation with the federal government. The White house Initiative continues to carry on its mission; enabling systematic changes in the federal government's inclusion of AAPI concerns and issues.

Maria also has a special place in our history as the first Filipino American to be confirmed by the US Senate. As the first Filipina at national table, she was able to utilize her role and presence by working tirelessly towards equity and justice for Filipino World War II Veterans.

Her compassionate spirit inspired us to believe that each of us can and should make a difference in this world. That is how she lived her life. We mourn the loss of a leader’s leader and a good friend but find comfort that our lives have been enriched and blessed by her legacy to us, to our country and the world.

Norman Y. Mineta

Maria Luisa Mabilangan Haley

Born in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation, Ms. Haley began her life living in a small hut hiding from enemy soldiers. Upon the granting of independence to the Philippines, Ms. Haley's father, Felipe Mabilangan, Sr., a political science professor, joined the Filipino Diplomatic Corp as an ambassador, and at age 10 Ms. Haley began what she often referred to as her journeys and adventures.

As the daughter of a diplomat, Ms. Haley was educated and traveled all over the world, living in India, Pakistan, France, Spain and Laos. She credited her father for inspiring her love of democracy and public service and her mother, Felisa Hugo Mabilangan, a grade school teacher, for teaching her strength, discipline and graciousness. All of these traits were the benchmarks of Ms. Haley's life and career. That career began in the Philippines in 1966 as Sales Manager for the Manila Hilton, the first international hotel in the Philippines, where she traveled extensively to develop new markets worldwide.

In 1971, Ms. Haley immigrated to the United States to become a U.S. citizen and the bride of Mr. John Haley, a prominent Little Rock attorney who is now deceased. Ms. Haley described coming to Arkansas by saying, "I fell in love with John and the moment I set foot in Arkansas I fell in love with the state. I had an instant family with three wonderful children. This is home. This is where I belong." Throughout her amazing life and career, Ms. Haley has remained close to her Arkansas family and recounted her time with them as some of her most precious. As an Arkansan, Ms. Haley began her career in the United States in executive management with Fairfield Communities, Inc. but was soon recruited by then Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton to head the international and marketing divisions of the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission (now the AEDC). While serving her first Arkansas Governor, Ms. Haley used her international experience to move Arkansas forward by heading Arkansas' foreign trade offices in Brussels, Tokyo and Taipei, and taking responsibility for international economic development of the State, including exports and foreign investments. Ms. Haley was fond of saying, "that under Governor Bill Clinton's watch, exports and foreign investments tripled."

When Governor Bill Clinton decided to run for President, Ms. Haley hit the campaign trail early on his behalf, where she was appointed Senior Advisor for Asian American Affairs for Clinton/Gore. In this capacity, Ms. Haley traveled across the country making speeches, heading rallies and mobilizing Asian American support for the Clinton/Gore campaign. In California, Ms. Haley would laughingly recall that her campaign van was aptly named, "Haley's Comet for Clinton/Gore." Upon the election of President William Jefferson Clinton, Ms. Haley joined her President in Washington, D.C. in November 1992 as The Deputy Personnel Director for the Clinton/Gore transition team. Upon inauguration she joined him in the White House as Special Assistant to the President and Associate Director of Presidential Personnel for Economics, Commerce and Trade.

In 1994, Ms. Haley was nominated by President Clinton, and confirmed by the Senate twice, to serve as a member of the Board for The Export Import Bank of the United States. Ms. Haley was proud to be the first Filipino American in U.S. history to be confirmed by the Senate. Ms. Haley's charge from the President was to increase the Bank's capacity for providing trade financing to small business with a goal of setting aside 10% of the Bank financing for small business. In Ms. Haley's usual overachieving fashion, five years later the Bank small business portfolio had grown to 21%. Ms. Haley was also the first Ex-Im Bank Board member to travel to Africa, chairing the Bank Africa task force and opening opportunities for U.S. exports to the continent.

In July 1999, Ms. Haley was asked to return to the White House to serve as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Presidential Personnel, where she staffed the President, the Chief of Staff, and the Director in the selection and approval of Senate confirmed cabinet, sub-cabinet and senior level appointments. Upon her departure from the White House in the early morning hours of January 20, 2001, Ms. Haley said, "I left the White House still awed by its beauty, ---- and grateful to my President for the experience and the memories." For Ms. Haley, serving one president was not enough. Upon leaving the White House, she was called immediately by Philippines President Gloria Arroyo to serve as her advisor as well as advisor to the Philippines Ambassador to the U.S. on Philippines-US relationships.

Ms. Haley moved directly from this assignment to a new position at Kissinger McClarty Associates where she served as Senior Director for Asia in the international strategic advisory firm, headed by Arkansan and former Clinton Chief of Staff and Envoy to the Americas, Thomas F. "Mack" McCarty and former Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger. Ms. Haley's appointment in 2007 by Governor Mike Beebe to head the state agency responsible for bringing businesses to Arkansas and maintaining the presence of and growing existing business in Arkansas, was described by long-time colleague and associate, Mack McClarty, as the capstone of Ms. Haley's storied career. And, in Ms. Haley's words, "my life came full circle." In her five years with the AEDC, Ms. Haley's tireless energy and love for Arkansas was expressed in her record of accomplishments at AEDC. Governor Mike Beebe lauded Ms. Haley saying, "Maria Haley did more for the State of Arkansas than most people will ever know. Her tireless mission to create and keep jobs in Arkansas was a primary factor in our ability to ride out the recession as well as we have.

After living all over the world, Maria made Arkansas her adopted home, and dedicated herself to its betterment for more than 30 years. She was one of the first people I wanted on my team when I became governor, and she will be dearly missed as a friend and colleague." As a proponent for women, Ms. Haley also frequently talked about the importance of "sisterhood" and the importance of preserving and nurturing her relationships with her "girlfriends." She has said, "I could not have lived my life as happy and fulfilled without the support and love of my female friends." Her sisterhoods around the world will dearly miss Ms. Haley.

In her career, Ms. Haley has received numerous prestigious awards, including the 1997 Ronald H. Brown Export Enhancement Award from the Small Business Exporters Association, the 2000 Stan Suyat Memorial Leadership Award from the Asian American Government Executives Network, the 2000 Philippine Presidential Award given by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, and the 2010 Vision Award given by the Lions World Services for the Blind Foundation. She was a charter member of the Arkansas Women's Forum—affiliated with the International Women's Forum.

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America’s Opportunity Fund Expresses Condolences on the Passing of Etsu Mineta Masaoka

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:28:31 -0700

America’s Opportunity Fund Expresses Condolences on the Passing of Etsu Mineta Masaoka

June 7, 2011

Contact: Alvina Yeh, Communications Director // alvina@americasopportunityfund.com

Washington, D.C – Last week, long-time community leader Etsu Mineta Masaoka passed away. Mineta Masaoka was a stalwart leader and icon in the community, particularly within the Japanese-American community. She was the sister of AOF Co-Founder and Chair, Norman Y. Mineta, and was interned with her family at the Heart Mountain camp in Wyoming, where she met her husband, civil rights leader, Mike Masaoka.

Vida Benavides, AOF Leadership Adviser, remarks, “On behalf of the family at America’s Opportunity Fund, we send our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the Mineta, Masaoka and Amano families. Etsu was a tremendous leader and figure in the Asian Pacific Islander American community and she will be sorely missed”.

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America's Opportunity Fund (AOF) is a 501 C (4) Political Action Committee that provides opportunities for candidates, and communities of color, to participate fully in the electoral process at the federal and statewide level.

The goals of AOF are to affect a marked increase in the number of elected officials who embrace and understand the needs of communities of color; generate significant funds to support its mission in targeted states throughout the country; increase voter visibility and participation to support AOF endorsed candidates to achieve victory.

Happy AAPI Heritage Month!

Fri, 13 May 2011 14:13:08 -0700

Dear Friend,

In 1977, when I was still a Congressman, I worked with Congressman Frank Horton to introduce a House resolution that established the first 10 days of May as Asian Pacific Heritage Week. A month later, Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga led the passage of a similar bill in the Senate. Then in 1990, APA Heritage Week was expanded to APA Heritage Month.

May is significant for our community - it is the month when the first Japanese immigrants arrived to our country in 1843 and the month when Chinese laborers completed the transcontinental railroad in 1869. While we take this month to celebrate our accomplishments, there is yet more that we can strive for - especially in the area of political representation. AAPIs are one of the fastest growing populations, representing 5.6% of the total population yet making up only 2% of our elected officials in Congress.

At America's Opportunity Fund, we strive to narrow the many gaps in political representation through our work. Our training series and education series are some of the ways we try to educate and build a pipeline for political leaders.

Together, I hope we can continue to expand the opportunities for our communities to be fully empowered and represented in our society. Happy Asian Pacific Heritage Month! I hope that you are able to take some time to observe this month with celebrations and events.

Norman Y. Mineta
Chair, America's Opportunity Fund

AOF News

May 16: Center for American Progress presents Asian American and Pacific Islander Voters in the Electorate

AOF Leadership Advisor and Dewey Square Group Principal, Vida Benavides, along with Deepa Iyer (Executive Director, South Asian Americans Leading Together), Karen Narasaki (President and Executive Director, Asian American Justice Center and Bill Wong (Strategic Counsel, Bill Wong, LLC) will be speaking on a panel hosted by the Center for American.

The panel will look at AAPI voter trends and patterns, their place in the overall political landscape and focus on what's to come for 2012. This event will also be streamed online. For more details, visit CAP's website.

May 21-22: Candidate/Candidate Training for DC/MD/VA Area

On the weekend of May 21-22, in partnership with Virginia Delegate Mark L. Keam, AOF will host another Candidate Training for those interested in running for office or who are ready to run for the next level. This training is also ideal for those who want a deeper understanding of staffing or supporting candidates for office.

"The AOF Training provides valuable insight on the nuts and bolts of a campaign. The program also gives you reflection, insight and a gut check on whether or not this is for you. Some people are well positioned and well equipped to be "the" elected official. And some are not. This program certainly will help you determine that." -Campbell, CA City Council Member Evan Low

Training details and application here.

New Website Up and Running

As part of our on-going efforts to provide consistent information about AOF, our programs and our community, we are proud to announce a completely redesigned website for our audience. The website will be updated with upcoming events, trainings, press releases and other relevant news. What do you think of our new design? What features or information would you like to see? Let us know via email, Facebook or Twitter.

Highlights of our website:

About the Fund - Learn more about AOF's history, our team and our work.
Candidates - Read about our previously endorsed candidates. Updates about their work will be added as we receive them.
Trainings - Read about our signature "Candidate" and "Get-Out-the-Vote" trainings. View biographies and testimonials from past trainers and participants.
Events - Mark your calendar for upcoming events near you.
News & Press - Read an archive of our press releases and related news posts.

Join the online conversation with AOF through:

"Dine and Dish Contest with Secretary Mineta" Winners Announced

During March, we called on our supporters to reach out to their networks to sign-up for our email list and Facebook page. We received over 150 entries, and our three randomly selected winners are Geri Sanchez Aglipay (Washington, D.C.), Dan Langkilde (America Samoa), and Ashish Sen (Chicago, IL).

Congratulations! Our winners have been contacted by AOF to schedule their lunch. If you didn't win this contest, stay tuned as we will continue to host other contests in the near future.

Recap: Artists & Activism - a Discussion with Actress Tamlyn Tomita

Last Thursday, actress Tamlyn Tomita (of Joy Luck Club and Karate Kid II fame) met with a packed room of community leaders and activists to talk about her work as a fellow activist in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Speaking for two hours, Tomita spoke about the issues she was passionate about, her role models, how to engage celebrities in political advocacy, and minority representation in the media. For a full video recording of the event, please visit our website.

AOF Communications Director Accepted as WeLEAD Fellow

Congratulations to our AOF Communications Director, Alvina Yeh for being accepted to American University's WeLEAD bipartisan leadership training program run by the Women & Politics Institute. The training works to increase the number of women working in politics and running for office. WeLEAD empowers young women, ignites their passions and prepares them to succeed in politics and public service.

Alvina served as a Deputy Campaign Manager to Congresswoman Mazie Hirono's re-elect campaign and prior to her stint on the campaign trail, she served as the Director of Programs at APIAVote. Alvina helped lead an unprecedented non-partisan national outreach, field and communications campaign to educate and moblize AAPI's to participate in 2008 elections.

Community News

Report: Latino and Asian voters mostly sat out 2010 election

Despite the growth in numbers of Latino and AAPI voters, a new report released last month shows that voters from both communities were disengaged in the 2010 election. Political leaders cite disappointment in the Obama administration over policy issues such as immigration as the cause for the lower voter turnout. Read more here.

Recent AAPI Accomplishments

May 10, 2011 - Edward Chen Becomes First APA Federal District Judge in Northern California.
Jan. 11, 2011 - Edwin Lee becomes San Francisco's first Asian American mayor.
Jan. 25, 2011 - Mona Pasquil is appointed as Appointments Adviser by CA Governor Jerry Brown.
Nov. 2, 2010 - Jean Quan is elected first female and Asian America mayor of Oakland.

Bryan Jung Joins White House Office of Public Engagement

Prior to his current position, Bryan served as the Special Assistant to the National Economic Council Director, Lawrence Summers. Previously, he handled special projects and scheduled for then Senator Joe Biden on the Obama for America campaign. Bryan also worked for the American Federation of Teachers and at two National Democratic Conventions. Bryan grew up in Rowland Heights, California and is a graduate of Brandeis University.

In March, Bryan Jung joined the White House Office of Public Engagement/Intergovernmental Affairs as the Director of Special Projects. In this role he is also the new Liaison to AAPI Communities. Bryan has worked in a number of leadership roles around the district and the country, and most notably worked on the Executive Order that re-established the White House Initiative on AAPIs.

Photo credits: Misha Tsukerman

Actress Tamlyn Tomita Meets with Activists to Discuss the Role of Arts in Advocacy

Mon, 09 May 2011 13:44:47 -0700

Actress Tamlyn Tomita Meets with Activists to Discuss the Role of Arts in Advocacy
Vocal Artist Maria Aragon Makes a Cameo

May 9, 2011

Contact: Alvina Yeh, Communications Director // alvina@americasopportuityfund.com

Washington, D.C. – Last Thursday, actress Tamlyn Tomita (of Joy Luck Club and Karate Kid II fame) met with a packed room of community leaders and activists to talk about her work as a fellow activist in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Speaking for two hours, Tomita spoke about the issues she was passionate about, her role models, how to engage celebrities in political advocacy, and minority representation in the media.

An activist for over 20 years, Tomita commented on the role she plays, “I’m basically a storyteller that uses my star presence to amplify our issues like healthcare, immigration, access to education, and LGBT rights.

Sergeant Shiro Tomita inspired Tomita at a young age about the values and dedication of community service. Tomita spoke eloquently of her late father who was a Los Angeles Police Sergeant in helping bridge understanding between communities and fighting for those who were taken advantage of. In addition, Tomita cited Congresswoman Judy Chu as one of her inspirations, “Judy Chu was my Asian American Women’s Studies Professor at UCLA. She and Dr. Bob Nakamura - who is another strong advocate for Asian American issues - he was my Asian American Film Studies professor at UCLA. Those two opened my eyes to what it meant to be apart of the community and giving back”.

As an artist who is a woman of color, Tomita also spoke of sacrifices she made in her career in order to choose non-stereotypical roles and roles that showed the broader spectrum of being AAPI.

For those feeling drained in advocacy work, Tomita advises, “There is no way you’re going to be useful to any of the people you serve and try to help and advocate for unless you take care of yourself. It’s as simple as love yourself.”

Also joining the discussion was Youtube star, 10-year-old Maria Aragon. Aragon, a young spokesperson for LGBT equality, spoke on why she chose to sing the Lady Gaga song “Born this Way”, which received 32 million views online. “We shouldn’t let ourselves down because of our differences and that’s why I chose [to sing] this song.”

Online participant Craig Grilley remarked, “I thought it was an engaging discussion with Tamlyn…Her passion and dedication to giving back to her community was revealed in ways and detail rarely seen in the typical celebrity interview”.

“Tamlyn Tomita's amazing career in film and television, and accomplishments as a political advocate, should serve as a model and inspiration for activists of every ethnicity,” said DC participant John Maa. “What most impressed me were the passion and humility that she displayed.”

Finally Tomita challenges our community to be active, “Ask questions, be noisy, go out there”.

To view a recording of the event, please visit our website.

For photos of our event, please visit this flickr page.

For video of Maria Aragon, please visit her youtube channel.

Virginia Candidate Training

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 12:51:53 -0700

When we first announced our trainings for this year, many of you asked when we would host one in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area. Our team has been working hard to plan our next training, co-sponsored by Virginia Delegate Mark L. Keam. This Candidate Training is for those interested in running for office or who are ready to run for the next level. This training is also ideal for those who want a deeper understanding of staffing or supporting candidates for office.

Vienna, VA Candidate Training

When: May 21-22

Where: 1952 Gallows Road, 3rd Floor Conf. Room, Vienna, VA

Cost: $150 with completed application.

Not sure if our training is for you? See what past participants have said about our trainings. Please feel free to forward this information to interested colleagues and friends.