Accomplishments
CAPAVA HISTORY AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
CAPAVA, founded in 2002, is a nonprofit pan-Asian policy organization dedicated to advocating for the grassroots issues of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) in Virginia. Supported by a team of volunteers with extensive policy expertise, CAPAVA works tirelessly to elevate Virginia APA concerns to the attention of state and local policymakers while also providing essential information and resources to APA communities across the Commonwealth.
In its brief history, CAPAVA has spearheaded numerous policy initiatives, cultural events, and other activities supporting Virginia’s APA community.
CAPAVA joined the newly appointed Virginia Asian Advisory Board (VAAB) to host a policy Town Hall meeting in Northern Virginia. Over 20 experts testified on a wide range of APA issues including immigration, equal employment opportunity, education, youth gang violence, domestic violence, health, mental health and social service challenges for APAs. The testimonies were transcribed by CAPAVA and made available on CAPAVA’s and VAAB’s websites and formed the basis of VAAB’s first statutory report to the Governor.
CAPAVA worked with the Governor’s cabinet and Legislators to propose an APA outreach office in the Office of the Commonwealth.
CAPAVA collaborated with over 15 grassroots organizations to conduct a first-time APA candidates’ forum attended by over 500 APAs with participation by 21 northern Virginia candidates.
CAPAVA hosted the first-ever APA inaugural reception in Williamsburg in consortium with tidewater and central APA groups.
CAPAVA participated in northern Virginia APA poll monitoring efforts in conjunction with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
CAPAVA led APA poll monitoring efforts in central Virginia and tidewater areas.
CAPAVA collaborated in two additional town hall hearings in Richmond with the Virginia Asian Advisory Board as part of CAPAVA’s annual APA Policy & Resource Forums to gather grassroots issues for VAAB data collection.
CAPAVA collaborated again with northern Virginia APA groups on a Candidates Forum hosting a debate between candidates in key northern Virginia districts.
CAPAVA hosted a similar APA inaugural reception as part of its APA Policy & Resource Forum.
CAPAVA hosted an annual pan-Asian Heritage month celebration in northern Virginia in May. This heritage month celebration included APA VIPs, including Secretary of Transportation Norm Moneta, Congressman Mike Honda, US Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency and White House Officials, Senator-elect Jim Webb, and state and local elected officials. A wide diversity of APA communities attended this event highlighted by cultural performances and APA Film Festival previews.
CAPAVA collaborated in two additional town hall hearings in Richmond with the Virginia Asian Advisory Board as part of CAPAVA’s annual APA Policy & Resource Forums to gather grassroots issues for VAAB data collection.
CAPAVA held a first-ever Virginia APA education forum focusing on the educational needs of APA students and a procurement forum in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Virginia in Northern Virginia.
CAPAVA staged an APA film festival in conjunction with the DC APA Film Festival, focusing on the story of a Vietnamese family relocating to Virginia. (Jackie Bong Wright).
CAPAVA joined with Central Virginia AAS and other VA Asian Pacific Islander Associations for the Legislative Briefing and Governor's Receptions in Richmond, VA
CAPAVA and Make Us Visible partnered with the Hosting organization, VA Asian Chamber of Commerce, held the Asian American Policy Forum
