ANNOUNCING A NEW PUBLICATION

Voices from Colorado:
Perspectives of Asian Pacific Americans
by Nestor J. Mercado, Elnora Minoza-Mercado and Alok Sarwal
2008
(ISBN 978-0-615-20213-6)

The authors and other leaders of Asian Pacific American communities in Colorado are pleased to announce the publication of Voices from Colorado: Perspectives of Asian Pacific Americans. Asian and Pacific Americans (APAs) are one of Colorado’s fastest growing groups, and they have been an integral part of this state’s economy and society since the late nineteenth century. However, the story of their experiences and contributions is not widely known. Voices makes these vital APA communities more visible and accessible. The chapters in book provide background material on APA cultures and history and then focus on contemporary Colorado APA economic, organizational, educational and social/health service endeavors. Other topics covered include APA community social and cultural leaders, youth, festivals, media, the creative arts, the Japanese American internment, and current issues. Most of this material is presented through the words of Colorado APAs themselves who, through interviews and their own written accounts, describe their lives, accomplishments, and rich and diverse cultures.

Voices is a unique, one-of-a-kind publication that will be of interest to all readers who want to know more about the diverse racial and ethnic groups in Colorado. The book also is a valuable educational resource and reference for students and teachers. The authors are longtime, highly respected Colorado APA community leaders, and they have produced this book with the cooperation of many of the leading APA individuals and organizations in this state. Reviews of this book have been highly positive, with comments such as

‘Voices From Colorado’ explores an amazing variety of Asian Pacific Americans (APA), communities and celebrations in Colorado. The stories and accomplishments from the younger generations to the old, from APA businessmen and women to students are inspiring and impressive. As a woman of Asian heritage, I was moved by the rich history of our culture in Colorado and the future potential of Asian Pacific Americans.
Best,
Teresa Kostenbauer

Congratulations on your book launch. It is outstanding and I am honored to be included. Quite obvious that much care and love as well as diligence and accuracy went into the contents. The comprehensiveness of the book is over the top impressive.
Mary Lee Chin
Nationally known nutrition and media consultant,
spokesperson for nutrition and food corporations
and for the American Dietetic Association.

The struggle continues today that has been chronicled so well by you. A monumental effort, well done.
Marge Taniwaki

This book is highly recommended for library purchase. Questions or requests for additional information can be directed to the publisher at: voicesfromcolorado@gmail.com or 303/635-6925.

APAs are one of the fastest growing populations in the country. The projected number of U.S. residents in 2050 who will identify themselves as APA is 33.4 million, which will be eight percent of the total U.S. population. Also, how can APAs remain invisible in the U.S. given their increasing social, economic, and cultural contributions and influences?

There are many books on Asian Pacific Americans in the market today, but this one is different because it is specifically written about the experiences of and by APAs in Colorado. However, we also have addressed issues that are relevant for Asian and Pacific Americans elsewhere as well. We believe that this book will be a contribution to existing information about APAs.

The highlights of the book are the interviews with a cross-section of APAs in Colorado. We hope our readers will not only learn about the APAs, but will also find inspiration from them.

Finally, as stated in the beginning of the book, we hope we have captured and conveyed the America of Colorado’s Asian and Pacific Americans. We further hope that, as a result, our readers now have a better understanding of APAs and that they will want to continue learning more about them.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Nestor J. Mercado, retired editor-in-chief of Asian Pacific American Times, Chair Emeritus, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) Region V, author: God Bless America, a discussion of family values and Fulfillment of a Dream, past president, life member, Filipino American Community of Colorado (FACC), former Assistant Editor, Economic Research Journal, Graduate School of Business, University of the East, M.A. in Economics, University of the East, Master in Public Administration, University of the Philippines, Life Member, Pi Gamma Mu, International Social Science Honor Society, has been a lifelong advocate of visibility of Asian Pacific Americans.

Elnora M. Mercado, retired managing editor, Asian Pacific American Times, Asst. Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado, Denver; retired Librarian, Auraria Library; B.S. Library Science, University of the Philippines, M.S.L.S. Syracuse University; Fulbright Travel grantee; past president, life member, Filipino American Community of Colorado (FACC) hopes to put Asian Pacific Americans on the map of Colorado and in the U.S. for their social, economic and cultural contributions through this book:

Alok Sarwal, PhD., executive director for Colorado Asian Health, Education and Promotion (CAHEP), a nonprofit 501C3 organization, successfully completed projects for reducing health disparities in the Asian Pacific American (APA) population in Colorado, has been president of India Association of Colorado, vice-chair, Kindred Spirit Council of the Denver Center of Performing Arts. Recently selected for the prestigious 2007 David Satcher Leadership in Community Health national award.

For information on ordering, please download the order form: Voices from Colorado Order Form

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY Media Advisory

The State of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in Arizona: New report outlines challenges and opportunities

“Arizona doesn’t even see us. And when they do see us, I think it’s a stereotype of, ‘All Asians
are intelligent and succeed,’ and therefore they don’t need any type of encouragement or counseling or tutoring and the like.”

Not all Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in Arizona feel invisible, but according to a new report, released Nov. 13 by the Asian Pacific Arizona Initiative (APAZI), many of them do. The report, “The State of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in Arizona,” is the result of a year’s collaboration by ASU’s Asian Pacific American Studies (APAS) program, ASU for Arizona in the Office of Public Affairs, and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in Arizona.

This is the first report about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Arizona, and highlights the issues and challenges for these communities in states that historically have not had large AAPI populations.  It stands apart from most reports about AAPIs that have focused on areas with high concentrations of AAPIs or immigrant gateways such as coastal cities or large metropolitan areas; few if any have focused on areas experiencing the highest rate of growth in AAPI populations.

The report looks at several major areas: The history of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in Arizona, and issues dealing with health, economics and finances, language, the increasing complexity of biracial and multicultural issues, public safety, law and politics. The concluding chapter is on cultural festivals. ASU and UA faculty and researchers, community organization representatives, and student interns all contributed to the report.
Highlights from the 80-page report include these facts:

o The growth in the AAPI community has been rapid: From 1980 to 2006, the rate of growth for Asian-Americans was 599 percent, with the Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander rate at 738.6 percent. Chinese-Americans, Filipino-Americans and Asian Indian-Americans comprise more than 50 percent of the AAPI population in Arizona.

o Asian-Americans visit doctors in lower numbers than the rest of the population. They are infected with the hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis at disproportionately high rates.

o AAPIs have the lowest rates of using mental health services among all other racial groups, perhaps because of stigma or shame over using such services, lack of financial resources or language barriers.

o Asian-Americans are leaving their traditional gateways to the West - California and Washington - because they are weary of jammed freeways, high home prices and persistent crime, and they are moving to other areas, such as Phoenix and Las Vegas.

Salt River Project donated the printing of 2,000 copies of the report, which will be given to the various AAPI communities, state legislators, educators and others.

For more information contact (480) 727-6052 or www.apas.asu.edu .

Copies of the report are available online from the Office of Public Affairs http://www.asu.edu/vppa/asuforaz/downloads/State_of_AAPI_in_AZ_2008.pdf or Asian Pacific American Studies http://apas.clas.asu.edu/pdfs/State_of_AAPI_in_AZ_2008.pdf

Contact:
Judith Smith, jps@asu.edu
480-965-4821
Media Relations

Call for Papers
Global Islam in Everyday America
April 3, 2009
University of Pennsylvania

Hosted by the Asian American Studies Program, the Middle East Center, and the South Asia Center

Keynote Address: Yvonne Haddad, Professor of the History of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University

As Islam is increasingly associated with worldwide debates on terror, anti-West sentiment, and extremism, images of Islam and Islamic identity circulating in the media have become ubiquitous. Pictures of the veil, the turbaned terrorist, and the children schooled in madrasas are conflated to a singular representation of all Muslims. While Muslims face the challenges of negative imagery, researchers know relatively little about the lived experiences of Muslim Americans.

Global Islam in Everyday America is a one-day conference that explores Islam and Muslim identities in the U.S. by interrogating the multiple implications resonating from stereotypes of Islam and the ways in which the imagined versus the lived experience of American Muslims are implicated. We encourage papers that address the migration experiences, political participation and representation of Muslim Americans. We welcome scholars from a wide range of social science and humanities disciplines to submit their 750 word abstract that address these issues on Muslims of all racial and national backgrounds in the United States. Preference will be given to papers based on ethnographic research.

Possible topics may include but are not limited to the following:

Popular Culture and Islam Islam and Film

Muslims and Migration Gender and Islam

Social Practices Second Generation

Race and Islam Islam and Folklore

Please send your 750 word abstract along with your curriculum vitae to:

Dr. Fariha Khan
Associate Director, Asian American Studies Program
University of Pennsylvania
166 McNeil Bldg
3718 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104

fariha@sas.upenn.edu

Abstracts are due by November 7, 2008 and we will notify you of the status of your proposed presentation by December 1, 2008.