The Asian Pacific American (APA) Program

The Asian Pacific American (APA) Program Manager implements a national program of work to improve the cultural sensitivity/diversity awareness/and skill development of the members of the workforce; conducts workforce trend analysis and works with leadership to identify and eliminate barriers to positive and work environment; works to increase the groups' participation rates in agency programs and employment opportunities; and advocates the resolution of protected group issues as needed. The APA Program Manager also serves as the Partnership Outreach and Capacity Building Program Manager for related 1994 Land Grant Colleges and University, and Asian Pacific American advocacy organization partners to implement program and information outreach,employment recruitment, and technical assistance to underserved communities.

Goals

• Develop a Outreach Strategy and branding tool to assist regions in marketing various types of federal employment;
• Establish a consortium with educational and other government agencies to fulfill mission-critical occupations such as; forestry technicians, biologist, science, technology, civil engineering and program management to coordinate recruitment efforts;
• Better utilize intern programs and increase their conversion to permanent  positions
• Create a Forest Service-wide mentoring program;
• Include EEO/diversity requirements in all hiring officials’ critical performance elements.
• Cultural Transformation means renewing the culture of the Forest Service so that all employees and customers are treated with dignity and respect and are provided the opportunity to succeed.

Background on the USDA Forest Service Asian Pacific American (APA) Program

Haven’t we done this before?  What is different?

• Think of cultural transformation as a continuous process of self and organizational reflection and adaptation, not as a single event.
• A learning organization is continually involving employees in an exploration of ways to stay vital and inviting in a rapidly changing environment.
• Our Cultural Transformation is another opportunity for all of us to engage within our own part of the agency to discover what we might do to continually improve our own place of work.

About Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month
The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.
May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian-Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).
Like most commemorative months, Asian-Pacific Heritage Month originated in a congressional bill. In June 1977, Reps. Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution that called upon the president to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. The following month, senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced a similar bill in the Senate. Both were passed. On October 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a Joint Resolution designating the annual celebration. Twelve years later, President George H.W. Bush signed an extension making the week-long celebration into a month-long celebration. In 1992, the official designation of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law.

Angel Island
Work on a new immigration processing station in the San Francisco Bay was slowed by the earthquake and fire in 1906. The Angel Island Immigration Station, "Ellis Island of the West," did not open until January 1910. Chinese immigrants processed through Angel Island included merchants, diplomats, students, ministers and immediate family members. Though small in number, more Chinese women came to America, creating changes in the bachelor society. A "paper son" scandal, based upon trade in fraudulent documents, made officials suspicious of all Chinese immigrants. Like Alcatraz, the island prison nearby, Angel Island was escape-proof. Chinese immigrants, who lingered there, some longer than two years, called it the "Isle of the Immortals" and carved poetry into the walls.

Music and Performing Arts
China's First Great Multi-Art Theatrical Tradition
Gary Haleamau — Traditional Hawaiian Music from Las Vegas
Multi-cultural Performance (Philippine and Burmese dance, martial arts demonstration)
Natasinh Dancers & Musicians -- Lao Music and Dance from Iowa
Sreevidhya Chandramouli and Friends: Northern Indian Vina Music
SURATI — Classical and Folk Indian Dance from New Jersey

Pacific Islander Heritage
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
(Learn about the people, legends, landscapes and footprints at the park's History & Culture section)
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park
American Memorial Park
Kalaupapa National Historical Park
National Park of American Samoa
Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
Pu'ukohola Heiau National Historic Site
War in the Pacific National Historical Park

Asian American Heritage
Manzanar National Historic Site
Minidoka Internment National Monument
Jun Fujita Cabin at Voyageurs National Park

Resources
FAPAC is an inter-agency organization of Asian Pacific American employees, representing over 100 Federal agencies and the District of Columbia government. FAPAC addresses issues affecting AAPIs in the federal workplace. FAPAC promotes equal opportunity and cultural diversity for Asian Pacific Americans within the Federal and District of Columbia Governments. https://www.fapac.org/home.aspx
The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization dedicated to building leadership and public policy knowledge within the Asian Pacific American community. Its mission is to promote APA interests and success in public service careers, to provide information and education on policy issues affecting the APA community, and to serve the APA community at large.
http://www.capal.org/
http://www.asian-nation.org/index.shtml

Federal Government

• E.O. 13216: Addendum to E.O. 13125, Increasing Opportunity and Improving Quality of Life of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
• Signed: June 6, 2001 by. Pres. Bush
• Federal Register page and date: 66 FR 31373, June 11, 2001
• Amends: EO 13125, June 7, 1999
  http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/06/20010606-5.html
  http://www.asianpacificheritage.gov/
  http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-aapi-initiative-executive-order-signing-and-diwali-event
  http://www.bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/detail/AG00

Employment Opportunities

Search for Jobs | Avue Central
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/ssrs/story?id=3753
The Projected Forest Service Workforce and Succession Needs: 
Annual Hiring Focus:

• Recruit to fill 1500 positions FS-wide each year; over 7,000 within the next 5 years
  
• Approximately twenty-five percent will be entry-level hires in the GS-5/7/9 range
  
• Other hires will include Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP) or Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)
  
• More on (Schedule B – Hiring Authorities) STEP and SCEP later…
  

What occupational categories does the Forest Service recruit from under SCEP

• The Forest Service recruitment efforts for SCEP positions focus on the agency ’s mission critical occupations.  Forest Service mission critical occupations include:
  
  • Forestry
    
  • Wildlife Biology
    
  • Soils Science
    
  • Civil  Engineering
    
  • General Biological Science (i.e., NEPA Specialists, Recreation Specialists, Fire Ecologists)
    
  • Information Technology Management
    
  •  Business (Accountants, Financial Management Specialists, Contract Specialists, Grants & Agreement Specialists)

Employee Organizations

Please attached the documents listed below the intranet under the Asian Pacific Program create an area at the end for Asian Pacific American Employees Association (APAEA)

1. Mission - To enhance the Forest Service ’s cultural and intergenerational competency in serving its employees and diverse publics.

Objectives
1.1 Provide Asian/Pacific Islander perspectives and advice to Agency leaders on managing Forest Service programs for the benefit of the Agency, employees and publics.

1.2 Interact with other employee resource groups, Asian/Pacific Islander leaders, communities, and organizations in order to demonstrate the cultural and intergenerational relevancy of the Forest Service.

1.3 Assist the Agency in being a “learning organization” by participating in dialogue that promotes inclusion and equal opportunity for Asian/Pacific Islander employees and publics.

2. Mission - To provide a forum for those interested in Asian/Pacific Islander issues and opportunities to network, mentor, share common ground, seek solutions, and cultivate a sense of community.

Objectives

2.1 Create opportunities and avenues for APAEA members to interact and network with each other.

2.2 Facilitate dialogue among other agencies, employee organizations, and Asian/Pacific Islander organizations to better understand and address challenges and opportunities affecting Asian/Pacific Islander employees and communities.

Membership

1. Requirements

1.1 APAEA Membership is open all permanent, temporary, and retired Forest Service employees who are committed to supporting the Mission and Objectives, regardless of their ethnicity, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, or familial status.

1.2 Forest Service employees may join APAEA at any time by contacting the Chair or Executive Committee.

Education

Federal Internship Program:  Each summer, the Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) places over 10 summer interns in the U.S. Federal Government. These internship positions are open to ALL MAJORS, and are suited for individuals looking to gain real-world federal government experience. Many of the CAPAL interns acquire public policy and management skills at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  However, CAPAL also has partnerships with many other federal agencies as well.
Each CAPAL intern will be awarded a $2,000 stipend to support the successful completion of their internship. Depending on your interests and placement, your duties could vary from policy or scientific research, project coordination and management, business, law, communication, and more. Applicants are asked to specify their preferences on the application, and those selected will be placed based on their interests and skills. Agricultural knowledge is not required. These internships are suitable for all students interested in government and public policy.
CAPAL will also mentor all selected interns and provide guidance in transitioning to Washington, D.C. including how to locate housing, how to navigate the city, and how to make the best of their summer in the nation’s capital.
The early internship application deadline is generally in early March for the following summer. For more information or questions, please contact CAPAL at: scholarships@capal.org
Click below to download the application form and instructions. Furthermore, please be sure to look at the duties and experiences of the 2009 interns to better understand the opportunities CAPAL offers.

• Click here for the 2011 CAPAL Internship Application
• Click here for the 2009 Interns/Scholar Duties and Experiences

Learn about the diverse demographics, see examples of health disparities, and find out what federal plans, activities and programs address the health and well-being of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders.
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/AAPIHeritageMonth/

 

Historical Asian Colleges

Historical Asian Colleges 2011

Compare STEP & SCEP

The advantages of  SCEP:

• A planned and progressive educational program that allows you to combine your academic studies with on-the-job experience.
• Experience you need to obtain a job that is in demand with the Forest Service. You can apply theories to interesting work that will give new meaning to classroom instruction and explore options before choosing a career.
• A partnership between you, your school, and the Forest Service.  Everybody benefits!
• Finally, a major benefit of SCEP is that it may lead to a permanent job for you upon graduation.

 You  are eligible for STEP/SCEP if you:

 
Are at least 16 years of age and a student enrolled or accepted for enrollment to obtain a diploma, certificate, degree, etc.

• Are taking at least half-time course work in an accredited high school, technical or vocational school, 2- or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school.
• Are a U.S. citizen.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Metro DC Area

JANUARY 28 & 29, 2012

2012 Lunar (Chinese) New Year Celebration, presented by Fair Oaks Mall and sponsored by Hai Hua Community Center in Virginia

Time: 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Where: Fair Oaks Mall, 11750 Fair Oaks, Fairfax, VA 22033

FEBRUARY 19, 2012, SUNDAY

Chinese New Year’s Celebration Banquet, Entertainment and Lion Dance with Drums

Where: China Garden Restaurant, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Rosslyn, VA.(703) 525-5317

Seats are limited. Reservations are first come, first paid (price per person $27.00 includes tip & parking). Fundraising proceeds will go to the Chinese Community Church in D.C.

Tickets: Call Jennie Yep, 410-531-3613 or 410-804-0911. Or email: jenniey@verizon.net

MARCH 21-APRIL 1, 2012

Shen Yun Performing Arts; Where: The Kennedy Center Opera House

Info: Visit, www.ShenYun 2012.com/dc

NATIONAL

FAPAC 27th National Leadership Training Conference

http://www.fapac.org/Resources/Documents/2012%20Conference%20%20RegistrationForm.pdf

Grand Hyatt Atlanta, 3300 Peachtree Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

April 30 – May 4, 2012

National Asian Pacific Heritage Month

Pending Theme:

May, 1-31  

• 

  My Biography

For more information, contact Pedro Nieto, Asian Pacific American Program Manager (202) 205-0999, pmnieto@fs.fed.us