Skip to main content

Join a Ballot Party

Election season is in full swing  and ballots will be arriving in our mailboxes soon (Oregon ballots will be mailed between Oct. 19-23). Beyond the big race that everyone is talking about, Oregonians also are faced with important decisions on a number of ballot measures.

The Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon's VOTE Team, comprised of volunteers, community leaders and APANO staff, has been hard at work on elections work. In addition to voter registration drives, APANO volunteers also hosted ballot measure forums in Portland and Eugene. Some 80 participants attended a civic engagement training hosted by APIAVote in Portland. Organizers discussed strategies around building impactful campaigns, in an effort to boost the capacity of Asian Pacific Islander groups to mobilize around issues of concern. Click on the link to learn more about the training, learn about the trainers, and jump to page 3 for APANo's voter guide.

Participants at the APANO Civic Engagement Training talk about framing issues, 
getting the message out, and building on the power of coalitions.
There are a number of opportunities in the coming weeks to join an APANO ballot party. Learn more about the issues, ask questions, and meet community leaders and organizers who are committed to advancing issues of importance to API communities.

If you want to attend or want more information, email Colin Kiley or call 541-510-2096.

Friday, October 19  
6pm | Salem 
Hosts: Micronesian Islander Community
Saturday, October 20 
time TBA  || Portland
Hosts: Gauri Raj, Jennifer Kleskie

Sunday, October 21 
4pm | Eugene 
Hosts: Misa Joo, Jennifer Chain, Elaine Szeto

Wednesday, October 24
5:30pm | Portland 
Hosts: June Schumann, Jean Yamamoto

Saturday, October 27 
2-5pm | Portland
Hosts: Channbunmorl Sou, Linda Than, Sokho Eath, Sourixay Vilalay

Saturday, October 27 
5-7pm | Portland 
Hosts: Chinese American Citizens Alliance 

Saturday, November 3 
8:30pm | Portland 
Hosts: Jennifer Tam, Cassy Nguyen

Popular posts from this blog

Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto

In "Slow Down: The Degrowth Manifesto," renowned Marxian scholar and philosopher Kohei Saito offers a compelling argument against the relentless pursuit of economic growth that permeates contemporary capitalism. Saito’s thesis focuses on the concept of degrowth—a radical reduction in production and consumption that aligns with sustainable ecological limits rather than constant expansion. Pictured above is Kohei Saito Saito makes a significant and timely contribution to the ongoing conversation about sustainable living. Slow Down adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from environmental science, economics, and social theory to present a clear and urgent depiction of the current ecological crisis. Saito critiques the widely accepted belief that economic growth equates to progress and questions the sustainability of existing global consumption patterns. He advocates for a fundamental reshaping of our economic systems to prioritize human well-being and ecologica...

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...