(Washington, DC – 6/2/2011) On May 2-3, SALDEF organized a workshop at the 8th Annual Asian & Pacific Islander (API) Policy Summit. The two-day summit, one of the largest Asian American civic engagement gatherings in California, was attended by over 400 participants. The theme of the summit was “Fighting the Good Fight: Impacting Local, State, and Federal Public Policy”. SALDEF conducted a workshop, entitled “When hate hits home: Being proactive to hate and responding when it occurs,” addressing the impact of religious and racial profiling, workplace discrimination, and hate crimes on South Asian communities. Through this workshop, participants learned about community challenges from diverse presenters representing the South Asian Diaspora. Other panelists included representatives from CAIR and Asian Law Caucus. SALDEF Community Relations Associate, Birpal Kaur, presented on specific incidents facing the community and how these issues affect opportunity and quality of life. The conclusion included strong policy recommendations, addressing the need for stronger legislation in these areas. The annual summit empowers API organizations through skills training, in-depth strategy sessions, and direct advocacy, and gives participants an opportunity to become stronger advocates, organizers, and leaders.
