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By Amy Van and Jintana LityouvongIE Guest Columnists David Della was a teenager when he began working summers in Alaska at a fishing cannery. The canneries were a livelihood for many Filipino American families at the time, as well as other Asian American families. For Della, it was not only a summer job, but became the place where Della developed his passion for social justice. Della noticed blatant practices of discrimination at the canneries. “There was segregation in the bunks as well as the cafeteria,” he said of the unfair treatment. “We had separate food, they [white workers] had… Read more

Governor Jay Inslee recently announced Lori Wada as commissioner to the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA). Wada has more than two decades of public service experience in support of affordable housing and health care equity initiatives. She currently serves as an Operations Supervisor for the Office of Insurance Commissioner. Wada provides consultation and training on the most up to date health insurance benefits, options, enrollments, and eligibility requirements. Previously, she worked at the Department of Commerce and the State Lottery Commission. Wada… Read more

By Amy Van and Jintana LityouvongIE Guest Columnists Since 1974, more than 100 community volunteers have made a pledge to serve as a commissioner for the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA). That pledge is to work toward one mission—to improve the lives of Asian Pacific Americans. Individuals ranging from school teachers to doctors, business owners to retired professionals, have all served on the Commission. These individuals bring to the table an understanding of the unique needs of their communities and a desire to apply their knowledge and experiences to give APAs a voice… Read more

By Amy Van and Jintana LityouvongIE Guest Columnists There was an “Asian Pacific American mentality” that Pio DeCano had grown up with, and it shows in his junior high school picture. “If you just look at my junior high school picture, there were [Japanese American] kids that had grown up in the concentration camps. There were Chinese Americans,” he said. “We all had different ethnic groups. There was the same kind of discrimination in the 40s, the 50s, and 60s the earlier generations have suffered through so there was a kind of common bond between us.” Martin (Mitch) Matsudaira similarly… Read more