APA Labor Alliance selects new executive director

A DAUGHTER of refugees will helm one of the country's key labor organizations focusing on the needs of the Asian American and Pacific American communities.
The National Executive Board of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) announced that Alvina Yeh has been selected to serve as the organization’s next Executive Director.

“Ever since I became involved, I have always found a sense of community in APALA that you can’t get anywhere else," said Yeh. "With such a supportive National Executive Board and staff, I am excited to hit the ground running this June, especially in a progressive space that is a leader in the resistance needed in the AAPI and labor communities.”

Alvina Yeh

Originally from Colorado, Yeh has been an APALA member with the Washington, DC chapter for eight years and has served most recently as a chapter leader. There, she has helped facilitate and organize civic engagement programming in Virginia, various education roundtables, membership engagement events, and bolstered the DC chapter’s efforts with APALA priorities around supporting local Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers and communities.

Her prior experiences at State Voices, Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), and political campaigns, including the 2012 Obama presidential campaign, have also uniquely positioned her as an expert in electoral strategy, program management, strategic planning, and organizational development.

Yeh is the daughter of Chinese refugees who fled the Vietnam War. Her experiences as a child of immigrants and growing up in a house that welcomed and supported refugees and immigrants have shaped her values and commitment to community. Yeh's career demonstrates her deep passion for empowering traditionally disenfranchised groups to become active participants in our democracy.

“In trying times like these, we need leaders to step up and prioritize movement building and intersectional organizing,” stated Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President and Assistant Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers, AFSCME Local 3930.

“Alvina brings years of coalition-building experience for amazing year round civic engagement, and knows how to organize on the ground to engage the AAPI community and broader people of color in the civic and political process. She is a fierce advocate for our community, and I am confident she will lead APALA and IAPALA to the next level.”
Outgoing Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana, added, “I’ve known Alvina for almost a decade, and her vision, leadership, and track record show she's not only capable but the kind of leader we need in this political moment.”

Grace Meng seeks vice chair position for DNC

REP. GRACE MENG  (D-N.Y.) is running for the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, a position she has held since the summer of 2016.

Meng, as a politician of color, hopes to position herself as a bridge between the factions of the Democratic Party, which has been searching for answers since their disastrous performance in the November election.

Rep. Grace Meng

“Democrats must continue to invest in communities of color and emerging communities, and we must engage our base — fourth-generation steel workers and first-generation Americans alike,” she stated.

Democrats have been debating among themselves the future of their party: continue to emphasize outreach to the growing minority blocs and women; or reach out to Trump's supporters, white, disaffected blue-collar vote.

She received the endorsement of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) recently.

“Grace’s representation on the DNC marks an important shift for representing AAPIs in the Democratic Party on the national stage,” stated Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President and Assistant Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers, AFSCME Local 3930. “With an incoming administration that has polarized our nation already and with a need to strengthen the Democratic Party with more leaders of color, strong allies in government like Grace will be hard to come by.”

“Throughout my life, I have dedicated my work towards racial, social, and economic justice. Representative Grace Meng doesn’t just share my vision but, both as a member of Congress and as DNC Vice Chair, she’s proven that she knows how to make progress towards achieving our goal of a more equal and just society. I’m proud to support her campaign for re-election and look forward to continuing our work to better our party and our country,” commented APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana.

“APALA has a long history of elevating voices in the AAPI community and building coalitions to fight for immigrant and minority communities.,” said Meng. “I’m honored to receive APALA’s endorsement and support as I fight to expand and strengthen the coalitions already built by organizations like APALA, and to create new lasting, meaningful partnerships between existing communities and the Democratic Party.”

Rep. Meng is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Small Business, and recently spearheaded legislation to eliminate the term “oriental” in federal law.

Just a couple of days before the Inauguration of the 45th President, she announced that she would not be attending the ceremony, joining four other AAPI members of Congress.

“I respect the office of the President and our nation’s peaceful transfer of power,” said Meng. “But the President-elect must get the message that his antagonistic and divisive comments are unacceptable. We cannot tolerate attacks on women, minorities or a civil rights icon.”

She represents the Sixth Congressional District of New York encompassing the New York City borough of Queens, where she was born. Meng is the first Asian/American Member of Congress from New York State, and the only Congressmember of Asian descent in the entire Northeast.