Mission - Asian Pacific American Coalition of Connecticut

APAC Urges Formation of an
Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission

Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) are one of the fastest-growing
populations in the country. In 2005, according to the U.S.
Census, APAs represented approximately 3.2% of the total
population in Connecticut, making Connecticut the 8th fastest
growing APA population in the United States. From 2000 to
2005, the APA population in Connecticut grew more than 30%,
from approximately 84,000 to over 108,000. APAs come from
nearly 50 countries and ethnic groups, including East Asians,
Pacific Islanders, Southeast Asians, South Asians and Asian-
Latino Americans. These groups within the APA community
speak numerous languages, practice different religions and
have markedly different needs and characteristics.

Despite the “model minority” stereotype, many APAs are in
desperate need of services, including mental health and
physical health services; job training; English language
education; and access to courts and the legal system. APAs
continually face bias, discrimination, and hate crimes which are
often overlooked or under-reported. Almost 8,000 APAs in
Connecticut live in poverty.

With this tremendous APA population growth, the General
Assembly now has the opportunity to partner with the APA
community in identifying and addressing the APA community’s
unique needs. An Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
would serve as a resource to the Governor, the General
Assembly, state agencies, departments, and commissions on
issues relating to the social, educational, health, economic
development, and civil rights concerns and interests of the APA
community to adequately serve this growing population.

What will the Commission do?

The Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission will actively aid
and support the Governor, the General Assembly, state
agencies, departments, and commissions in developing policy
initiatives, programs, and effective legislation to address
issues of concern to the APA community. Through its proactive
approach, the Commission will:

submit a Commission Plan of Action before the start of
each session outlining the Commission's policy focus and
strategies to address key priorities;

support state entities in providing services to the APA
community in areas such as workplace justice and equality,
education, job training, access to health care, mental
health and addiction services, immigration, English
language instruction, economic development, housing,
access to courts, and civil rights;

promote political empowerment of the APA community,
including programs in areas such as voter registration,
citizenship training, and voting rights;

promote the election and appointment of APA elected
officials, judges, and commissioners, and the hiring of APAs
in all branches of government;

support the state's efforts in developing international
trade and cross-border economic cooperation with the
countries of Asia and the Pacific Rim;

support the state's efforts to develop effective foreign
language and cultural programs for educational and
economic development purposes;

provide information and research to the General Assembly
and state entities to support policy and legislative
initiatives, and provide testimony to the General Assembly
and state entities as an advocate on behalf of the APA
community in Connecticut;

promote cultural awareness and celebration of the
contributions of APAs to Connecticut; and

provide any other aid and support the state may need in
serving the APA community and the community at large.

Note: The diverse APA community in Connecticut includes individuals
who are Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Taiwanese,
Burmese, Cambodian, Filipino, Hmong, Indonesian, Laotian, Thai,
Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, Timorese, Bruneian,
Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Indian, Indo-Caribbean, Maldivian,
Nepalese, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Tibetan, Hawaiian, and other people
of Asian and/or Pacific Islander descent.