February Newsletter: Happy Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year is right around the corner! We wish a very happy and prosperous new year to our friends and family who celebrate. As we enter the Year of the Ox, we celebrate the resilience and strength of our communities. We look forward to another year of serving the diverse communities of Washington on behalf of the Washington state Governor.

This Friday, we’ll be joining Sen. Joe Nguyen and Rep. My-Linh Thai for their annual Lunar New Year celebration! This is a chance for our communities to virtually gather and celebrate as we enter a new year. Join us for remarks from state leaders and cultural performances from community members as we ring in the new year together: https://www.facebook.com/events/124986606154108/

Please join the Washington State Legislature, led by Sen. Bob Hasegawa and Rep. Sharon Tomiko-Santos, in their virtual observance of the Day of Remembrance beginning on Monday, February 15, 2021 at 8:30 a.m.

This annual ceremony marking the anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of more than 120,000 persons of Japanese ancestry, will commence in the House of Representatives on Monday. The Senate will conclude the observance on the nationally and state recognized Day of Remembrance, Friday, February 19, 2021, at 12:30 p.m.

Both events will be televised on the TVW channel and live streamed on the TVW website at the time of the event for you to watch from the comfort of your home.

At a time when being together feels especially needed, we are disappointed that we cannot gather together in person this year to commemorate the Day of Remembrance. Nevertheless, we remain grateful for the honor of recognizing the history of heroism and resilience in our Nikkei community.

Join the Equity in Education Coalition for their monthly lunch and learn, this time on reopening schools in the pandemic!

When: Wednesday, February 17th, 2021 12 – 1:30 PM

Where: Via Zoom

Sign up here: https://eec-wa.org/event/re-opening-schools-amidst-a-pandemic-lunch-and-learn/

Thank you to everyone who joined CAPAA and APIC-WA for the annual API Legislative Week! Over 250 of our community members from around the state met with 58 elected officials to advocate for equitable and progressive policies for our communities.

This year, more than any other year, it is vital that we make our voices heard. This pandemic has devastated our communities and blown open racist disparities that have always existed. These systemic problems need all of us speaking together to bring about systemic solutions.

If you participated in API Legislative Week, please take a quick moment to fill out this feedback form when you have a chance: http://bit.ly/apilegweekfeedback

The situation surrounding COVID-19 is rapidly changing and affects every aspect of life in state right now, particularly as vaccinations are now available for a portion of the population. COVID-19 vaccination information has now been translated into 39 languages. We hope the following information is helpful to you and your networks.

For individuals looking to get vaccinated, translated materials on getting vaccinations is available here: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/COVID19/ResourcesandRecommendations#Vaccine

Organizations and community partners can find translated fact sheets, infographics, social media graphics, and more at https://coronavirus.wa.gov/partner-toolkit/covid-19-vaccines-questions-answers

Washington is home to vibrant communities and diverse citizens who all have unique talents, skills and experiences. Governor Inslee places a high priority on boards, commissions, and agencies that are reflective of the diverse make-up of Washington and that utilize the impressive talent of our citizens. We are always seeking skilled and experienced individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds to participate in boards and commissions ensuring an effective and representative government.

We are excited to share the highlighted Current and Upcoming Gubernatorial Appointment Opportunities.

As someone with deep roots in your respective communities and organizations, we hope that you will share these opportunities. Anyone interested in being appointed will need to fill out this Application. Please explore the Boards and Commissions Profiles if you are interested in learning more about the many opportunities to get involved!