proud to be a community leader

I know it's been a while since I wrote, but it's because National CAPACD's annual convention is finally over. The staff and I have been working day and night for the past 4 days. It was SUCH a great experience. I didn't realize the impact CAPACD has in the AA&PI community. They have the ability to gather the most inspirational leaders from all over the country! Such legends as "Uncle Bob" Santos, Gordon Chin, Bill Watanabe, Jan Masaoka, and of course the great Sefa Aina! There were many more guests such as Representatives Judy Chu, Xavier Becerra, Secretary Hilda Solis, etc. It was definitely an empowering convention! It was beautiful to be in that environment, everyone advocating for huge issues. Everyone talked with each other sharing stories, experiences, new ideas; so much political dialogue it made my heart swell with joy.

I was fortunate enough to meet with Wayne Ho: the ED of the Coalition for Asian American Children & Families. He is so chill, yet he gets things done. I met other great people as well, even Pacific Islanders - like this young Native Hawaiian woman who got to meet Obama and take a picture with him. Anyhow Wayne shared with us 3 main points which summarized the convention's theme (building the future).

1. All politics are local. Meaning you can always do something for your community to create lasting change.
2. Vision is the ability to see the invisible. This is touching on how for years the AA&PI communities have always been left out of conversations. We were never taken into consideration, never at the table. Invisible. Luckily, we had community leaders early on to pave the way to change. To make us be seen! To force people to hear our voices, and believe in ourselves.
3. It's about who you know, it's about who knows you. He explained it like this: Do you know Obama? Ohkay that's good. Now, does Obama know you? The point is to network network network! Build relationships, and create change so you will be known.

Robin Danner also added: being in a coalition is not optional! We need to come together to become one powerful force in order to take care of business.

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The convention was a great learning and growing experience. I'm so glad I got to be a part of it, needless to say you can find me there next year! (Hopefully lol depends on the dates, school comes first ya know?)

Look what I woke up to this morning (,;