Tuesday, February 06, 2001

Forming A Mighty Army for Eq. Opportunity

A mighty lobbying force is getting in shape to win equal opportunity in workplaces for all APAs.

What does equal opportunity mean?

It means "for every man, woman and child to go as far and rise as high, as their ambition and ability will take them." You, your loved ones, and your future offspring deserve equal opportunity not just in entry-level jobs, not just in all levels of technical jobs but also in rising to the top in any field, any institution.

Thus far, a glass ceiling has severely hindered our ability to rise to the top. In theory, there should be equal opportunity for all Americans regardless of race, gender, etc. Our mighty lobbying force, once organized, aims to get that for you in practice.

In less than one week, 80-20 has organized a lobbying army of 325 volunteers, covering 34 states. While that is extremely encouraging, our army still has weaknesses. We don't have people covering the following states for the APA community:

Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Will you or your friends and relatives who reside in the above states please step forth and be counted? If you know people in those states, help 80-20 recruit them. Volunteers need to fill out the following form. Do it today. Thank you.
Survey

1. I want to be involved in this lobbying effort which centers on holding public congressional hearings by relevant congressional committees on the glass-ceiling over APAs (visit congressional delegates, write letters, make phone calls, give financially, ..., etc.)

Ans: Yes, I want to help. My name is ___________, and I reside in
_________ (name of state or Washington D.C.)

2. I have lobbied either the state legislature or the Congress before?
Ans: Yes/No (If yes, please specify whether state legislature or Congress or both.)
3. Please list the names of members of Congress, whom you are willing to approach for supporting a Committee hearing in glass-ceiling over Asian Pacific Americans:

Ans: Senator(s) : ____________________________.
Representative(s) : ______________________________

Please place an asterisk behind the names of those who know you by your first name.

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80-20 is a national nonpartisan Political Action Committee dedicated to work for equality and justice for all Asian Americans. For more details, visit http://www.80-20initiative.net