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Frances Lee

Jack W. Lee

Taeku Lee

Kent Lim

Wilfred Lim

Goodwin Liu

Rolland C. Lowe

Joe Lucero

Laura Luster

Shauna Marshall

Kathy Owyang Turner

Belinda Reyes

Wondie Russell

L. Ling-chi Wang

Angie Wei

Georgette Wong

Germaine Q Wong

STAFF

Ching-In Chen, Employment Advocate

Brian Cheu, Interim Executive Director

Leo Chyi, Employment Coordinator

Tara Hui, Community Advocate

Rachel Kahn, Administrative Director

Rachel Kim, Development Director

Bianca Lee, Intake Coordinator/Receptionist

Vivek Malhotra, Legislative Advocate

Stella Ng, Employment Advocate

Le Quach, Employment Advocate

Theodore Hsien Wang, Policy Director

Christina Wong, Policy Advocate

Many thanks to those who left us stronger

Diane T. Chin, Executive Director 1998-2003

Lily Chow, Employment Advocate 2000-2003

2003-2004 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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Steven Owyang, Chair

Lester Olmstead-Rose, Treasurer

Helen S. Chin, Secretary

Annette Carnegie

Herb Castillo

Gregory Z. Chen

Robert Chen

Bernadette Chi

David S. Chiu

Leon Chow

Lovely Dhillon

Bill Jeong

Keith Kamisugi

Teresa L. Lai

In 2003, our 34th year in existence, we witnessed great world conflict and unrest that continues to threaten civil liberties both abroad and at home. The case of Captain James Yee starkly demonstrates that Asian and Pacific Americans, Muslims, and other individuals who follow their own faith continue to be viewed with suspicion and are targeted for unfair persecution and public criticism. CAA’s small but dedicated staff continues to receive on an almost daily basis phone calls, e-mails, and walk-in complaints from Chinese and other Asian and Pacific Americans who have been discriminated against in their jobs, have viewed racist advertisements or television portrayals, or been denied vital social services. These assaults upon their human dignity are often overwhelming to our clients, and although it is often difficult to challenge deeply-ingrained discriminatory practices, we are compelled to do so because every individual who walks though our doors deserves to be treated as an equal in this society.

We took special satisfaction last year in the resounding defeat of Proposition 54 throughout the state. This time it was not only the Bay Area and Los Angeles that spoke out against Ward Connerly’s so-called Racial Privacy Initiative. Throughout California, county after county rejected this attempt to inappropriately limit the state’s ability to collect the vital demographic information that is used to ensure fairness and equality in our educational system, our health provision, and our criminal justice system. This victory, made sweeter after the difficult battles against Propositions 187 and 209, has created a strong network of mobilized Asian and Pacific American activists throughout the state who will be working together not only to fight against racist initiatives but also to promote legislation supporting immigrants and communities of colo r. Our Sacramento office, although only recently opened, has already played a crucial role in coordinating statewide advocacy efforts.

We are also excited about our continued work with the Chinese American community in one of the City’s most neglected neighborhoods, Visitacion Valley, where they make up over 50% of the population. CAA has been offering community support and employment services in the Valley since 1998. Members of the Chinese American community are ready to take on organizing and leadership development, and CAA will be working with parents, schools, and community based organizations to empower Chinese American residents of Visitacion Valley to become strong advocates for their own needs and who can work in a multiethnic collaboration with other communities to address shared concerns. This project marks an exciting new stage in our advocacy work.

Finally, a thank-you to the staff, board, members, and supporters who have helped make CAA an enduring institution known throughout the country for its groundbreaking civil rights advocacy. Without your unwavering support, we would not have been able to achieve what we have accomplished over the past 35 years. The pages of this report offer a snapshot of our activities in 2003, as we renew our commitment to serving the Asian and Pacific American communities. Thank you for your belief in our work.

Very truly yours,

Brian Cheu Steve Owyang

Interim Executive Director Chair, Board of Trustees

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DONORS & CONTRIBUTORSFOUNDATION, GOVERNMENT & CORPORATE SUPPORTERSAkonadi Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union, Asian Pacific Fund, The California Endowment, San Francisco First Source Hiring Administration, Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, Levi Strauss Foundation, Rosenberg Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Community Development, San Francisco Municipal Railway–Third Street Light Rail Project, Zellerbach Family Foundation

Champion for Justice / $15,000Wells Fargo

Defender of Justice /$5000 and aboveKent M. Lim and Company

Advocates of Justice /$3500 and aboveBank of AmericaHelen ChinFederal Home Loan BankHeller Ehrman White & McAuliffeMorrison & Foerster

Guardians of Justice / $2000 and aboveAsian American Bar AssociationAssociation of Chinese American AdministratorsBank of the OrientBingham McCutchenBlockbuster Inc.California Teachers AssociationGregory Z. Chen

ChevronTexacoBernadette Chi and Raymond SheenWing and Helen ChinChinese American Institute of Engineers and ScientistsHenry and Priscilla DerEvelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. FundHerrero Contractors and Gordon H. Chong and PartnersIronworkers Local 377May Jew and Emily LeeKaiser PermanenteKGO Radio and KGO –TVFrankie and Frances LeeMinami, Lew & Tamaki LLPSteven Owyang and Onilda CheungPG&ELillian K. SingJulie TangThe Association of Chinese Teachers /TACT/

Union Bank of CaliforniaLing-chi and Linda WangGermaine Q Wong and Mock/Wallace Architects

Community SponsorsAsian American Alliance of Marin/Diane Chin and Gil Dong/Global Fund for WomenMarin Chinese Cultural Association/Northeast Community Federal Credit

Silent Auction DonorsAdventure Cat Inc./Asian Art Museum Blockbuster Inc./Broadway Plaza/Burma Superstar/Eric Byler and Charlotte Sometime The Movie/Chapeau!/Andrew S.C. Chen Bernadette Chi and Raymond Sheen/Becky Chin & David E. Kelley Productions/Chef Chu’s/John Chung/Lovely Dhillon and Jassi Singh/Gil Dong/Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Electronic Arts/EOS Restaurant and Wine BarFiloli/James Healey/Hilton Hotel

Hiroshima and June Kuramoto/Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf/Holiday Inn Financial District Chinatown/Hotel Nikko/Houston Rockets David Henry Hwang/Lark Creek Peggy Li Creations/Mandarin Gourmet/The New Conservatory Theater/Steven Owyang and Diane Chin/San Francisco Giants/Asian Firefighters Association/Tea Garden Springs Tommy Toy’s/Torrano N Torrano Gold Co., Wells Fargo /The Westin St. Francis/May Yeung Designs

Special ThanksNurserymen’s Exchange and the Pearlstein Family/ Vince Calcagno and Zuni Café/See’s Candies /James Healey & The Westin St. Francis/Claudia Fung, Tomonari Ito and Cinthia Wen of NOON

CELEBRATION OF JUSTICE 2003 SUPPORTERS

MAJOR DONRS: Ignatius Bau, Michael I. Begert, Adam and Loan Beguelin, Annette P. Carnegie, Fred H. Chan, Herbert and Donna Chan, Andrew S.C. Chen, Gregory Z. Chen and Joanne Lin, Robert and Grace Chen, Claudine Cheng, Brian H. Cheu, Bernadette Chi and Raymond Sheen, Diane T. Chin, Helen S. Chin, Kaan and Eva Chin, David S. Chiu, Maurice Chuck, Henry and Priscilla Der, Lovely Dhillon and Jassi Singh, Wilbert and Barbara Din, Herbert Donaldson, Roland Duhn, Katheryn M. Fong and Andrew MacInnis, Patricia M. Fong, Richard G. Fung, Bernhard Chao Gunther and Wendy Foo Gunther, Dan and Denise Hall, James C. Hormel, Deeana Jang, William and Sharon Jeong, George P. Koo, James and Shirley Kwok, Teresa Lai and James Stanislaw, Bill Lann Lee, Frankie and Frances Lee, Hanns and Katy Lee, Jack W. Lee and Debbie Ching, Teri Lee and Fred Lass, Tzu-Chen Lee, Estate of Lena A. Leong, Melvin and Aryee Leong, Ralph and Nellie Lew, Wilfred Lim, Betty Louie, Jennie H. Louie, Sinclair and May Louie, Joanne Low and Carroll Tom, Lawrence and Doreen Low, Eva C. Lowe, Russell E. Lowe and Virgina Jew, Shauna Marshall and Robert Hirsch, Mari Mayeda and A.J. Kutchins, John H. Ngai, Lester Olmstead-Rose, Jimmy G.S. Ong, Paul and Martha Owyang, Steven Owyang and Onilda Cheung, Bob Ross, Wondie Russell, Lillian K. Sing, Ronald and Carol Takaki, Julie Tang, Simon and Theo Teng, Kathy Owyang Turner and Chuck Turner, Albert and Anna Wang, Ching Chung and Alice Wang, Ling-chi and Linda Wang, Bernadine and Benson Wong, Calvin E. Wong, Georgette F. Wong, Germaine Q Wong, Jeff Wong, Jerome Wong, John C. Wong and Judy Hong, John Wong, Stella Lee Wong, Franklin and Catherine Yap, Elaine Boi Ling Yee, Helen Yee, Lawrence K. Yee, Norman Yee and Catherine Chung, C.C. Yin

Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory, Rose T.Y. Chen Charitable Foundation, Gow Supply Company, Harrington Investments, Inc., Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, Law Office of Helen Hui, IBEW Local Union 6, L C General Engineering & Construction, Lem Construction, Inc., Kent M. Lim & Company, Mock/Wallace Architects, Norman Wright Mechanical Equipment Corp., Proven Management, San Francisco JATC-Electrical, Sato & Joson Engineers, SBC Telecommunications, Soo Yuen Benevolent Association, Temper Insulation Company, Tom Do Hing Foundation, US Bancorp Foundation, Yamas Controls

MEMBERS & CONTRIBUTORS: 1st Fiber-Tech Insulation a. ABD Services, Air Reps West, Alta Mechanical, American Civil Liberties Union, Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, Katherine Asada, Asian American Bar Association, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, Asian Firefighters Association, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Perinatal Advocates b. Rachel A. Baker, Morris J. Baller & Christine Brigagliano, Rena M. Bancroft & Burl Toler, Tani Barlow & Donald Lowe, Augustine Bau & Katharine Bau Hsiao, Ewa Z. Bauer, Lisa T. Belenky, Amanda Berger, Lauren & David Berman, Diane Bisgeier c. Sara Campos & Brad Seligman, Agnes Chan, Douglas S. Chan, Gayle J. Chan, Jean Bee Chan & Peter Stanek, Raymond Chan, Assemblymember Wilma Chan, Yuen Kee & Christina Chan, Barry Chang, Enoch H. Chang, Jun Chang, Patricia & Alexander Chao, Charles Schwab Matching Gifts Program, Donald & Eunice Chee, Chek Tan & Company, David Y. Chen, Edward & Janet Chen, Kuang Yu Chen, Qian Ping Chen, Tammy Chen, Andy Cheng, Jessie Cheng Charitable Foundation, Paul Cheng & Alva Lew Cheng, Donald & Lily Cheu, Linda Cheu, Wah Cheuk Cheung, Lily E. Chew, Paung Kwan Chi, Darryl D. Chiang, Jonathan Y. Chin, Lonnie K. Chin, Philip Charles Chin, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Assoc., Chinese Progressive Association, Ruth & Pang Chiu, Shek Maria Chiu, Eric & Kit-Ching Cho, May Choi & Daniel Dea, Juickep Chop, Ann Chow, Christopher Chow, Lily Chow, Raymond & Marcella Chow, Sam H.C. Chow, Raymond Choy, Virstan Choy & Marina Lew, Christine K. Young Insurance, Judy Chu for Assembly, Lincoln Chu, Patty Chu, Suzanna Y. Chu, Vivi Chu, Clara A. Chun, Stanley S. Chun, Derek Chung, Leo Chyi, Alexandra Close & Franz Schurmann, CM Construction, Community Educational Services, Virginia C. Cook, John Crew & Sheila Gadsden d. Ramie K. Dare, Ming Kai Dear, Gail Dekreon, John Denvir & Miriam Rokeach, Truman Der, Emmy Dere, DMG North Inc., Carolyn Doggett, Eileen M. Dong, Gil Dong e. Eng Family Benevolent Assoc., Chip Eskildsen, Orapin D. Eskridge f. S. Fan, John & Sandra Fewer, James F. Fields & Connie Perry, Harold Y.G. Fong, Harry J. Fong, Heather J. Fong, Matthew Fong & Yee-Ling Fong, Paul & Maxine Fong, Ruby & K.Y. Fong, Sandy Fong, Steve K. Fong, James & Sui Hen Fowler, Marilyn Fung, Tony Fung & Katherine Yamakido g. Modesta Garcia, The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, Emma Gee, Michael Gee, Winnifred Gin, Robert Gnaizda, Edwin Go, Kelvin Gong & Joyce Hee, Vincent Gong, William & Maryan Gong, Elizabeth Guillen, Jian Hua Guo, Lucas Guttentag & Debbie Smith h. Walter and Elise Haas Fund, Melanie Hahn, Vera Haile, Jacquie Hale, Jennie Chin Hansen, Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Co., Donald L. Hayashi, Carole Hayashino, Sabrina D. Hernandez, Donald Hesse, Elaine T. Ho, Gustin Ho, Ricky Ho, Christine Hom, Samuel Lee Hom, Carl Hong, Ruby S. Hong-Kobayashi, Laura & Destry Hood, Jennie A. Horn, Mamie How, Henry & Lolan Ho-Wong, John Hsu, Stanley J. Hsue, Alice Huang, Guan Xiong Huang & Shuming Xu Huang, Zhong Qian Huang, Myron & Betty Huey, Paul & Madeline Huey, Clifford Hui, Hukilau, Albert & Rachel Hum, Hung On Tong Society, Hunt Construction Group, Victor Hwang i. Christopher M. Ing, International Institute of the East Bay, Islamic Networks, Inc. j. Teri L. Jackson, James Lee Family Properties, Helen C. Jeung, Anthony & Violet Jew, Helen Joe-Lew, Linda Jofuku, Donald & Amy Jong, Neil Joson, Johnny D.G. Jue, Val Jue, Edmund & Haw Jung, Mindy Jung k. Rachel Kahn, Richard Kahn & Anne Brown, Keith Kamisugi, Julie Kavanagh, Hayeon Kim, Rachel Kim, William & Jeanette Kim, Larry A. Klein & Milbrey McLaughlin, Kathy Lim Ko & Maurice Miller, KTVU, Partnership, Verna Kuo & Josh Levenberg, Judith Kurtz, Sylvia Kwong l. Chun Sun Lai, Mu Ling Lai, Lawrence & Jane Lam, Newton Lam, Stacee Lam, Dean Lan, Deborah Lau, Kan H. Lau, Kenneth C. Lau & Lisa Chan, Ki Lau & Mabel Ng, Wing Lau, Law Center for Families, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights , Albert S.K. Lee, Alberta Lee, Bernie & Virginia Lee, Bianca Lee, Edwin & Anita Lee, Frieda Lee, Hoover Lee, Ivy Lee, James & Annette Lee, Jennie Lee, John C. Lee, Jong Lee, Kathleen W. Lee, Kin L. Lee, Marjorie Lee, May X. Lee, Nancy Y. Lee, Naomi & Chuck Lee, Simi Lee, Sophie Lee, Taeku Lee, Wai Man Lee, Wilbur & Donaldina Lee, Lee On Dong Association, Warren R. Leiden, Russell & Sherlyn Leong, Daisy Leung, Joseph R. Leung, Sam & Beryl Leung, Levi Strauss & Co., Harry & Katie Lew, Jeanne B. Lew, Norman & Irene Lew, Evelyn Li, Gimmy Park Li, Portia Li, Wen Guang Li, Xiaoye Li, Yeely Li, Annette & Edmond Lim, Marcus Lim, Michael S. Lim, Raymond & Darlene Lim, Lim Family Benevolent Society, Charles Lin, James Lin, Joanne Lin, Tana Lin & Paul Holland, Office of Assemblymember Carol Liu, Goodwin Liu & Ann O'Leary, Jessie C. Liu, Mok King & Mee Yee Liu, Natalie C. Liu, Lily Lo, Francisco Lobaco, William Lock, Melanie Lok, Lenard & Lily Louie, Moon F. Louie, Raymond K. Louie, Wilma Louie, Chong & Jan Low, Harry W. Low, James Low, Randall Lowe, Rolland & Kathy Lowe, Francis Lu, Luigi & Margaret Lucaccini, Lili J. Luhur, Kai Lui, Charlie & Helen Lum, Weyland Lum, Pat Luong, Laura Luster, King Ly, Colleen Lye, Linda C. Lye m. Frank Mah & Jeannie Young, Kenji, Mako & Kalani Mah, Cary C. Mak, Manilatown Heritage Foundation, JoAnn Mar, John F. Mark, Jan Masaoka, Ruthanne McCunn, Deborah McKoy, Byron Mellberg & Edith Brown, Don Melsopp, Kent Mitchell, Paul R. Monroe, Susan W. Moy, Donald & Lillian Munakata, Karen Musalo & Richard Boswell n. George Nakano, National Air Balance Co., Peter Ng, Veronica Ng, Thanh Duc Ngo & Andrew Vu, Sally & Donald Nissen o. Margo Okazawa-Rey, Michael Omi & Dianne Yamashiro-Omi, Gale Ow p. Robert Palmer, San Mei Pan, Hoi Yung Poon, Jim P. Poon, Wei Chi Poon, Public Advocates q. Carole C. Quan, Jack & Daisy Quan, Jack & June Quan, Keith & Loretta Quan, Wendy Quan r. Jady Yueh-Erh Rahman, Rob Reich & Heather Kirkpatrick, Belinda Reyes, Mark Ridley-Thomas, Gilbert H. Robinson, Ross Rogers, Romeo 5, Marcia Rosen, Diane L. Ross, RS Analysis, Margaret Russell, Andrew Russo, Julie Ryu s. Peggy Saika, David Sanchez, Judith W. Sandoval, Alison Satake, Paul Schlotfeldt, SEC Engineers, Victor Seeto, Sheedy Drayage Co., Tony Shen & Jenni Li , Dale F. Shimasaki, Man Shum, Sam Shum, Leslie P. Smith, Betty Soo Hoo, Southern California Edison Company, Leonard Swanson, Gail & Paul Switzer, Liana & Raymond Szeto t. Mitsue Takahashi, Christine Tam, Simon & Eleanor Tam, Thomas K. Tam, William Tamayo, Leong & Margaret Tan, The Association of Chinese Teachers (TACT), Aman Thind, Third Thursdays, Thomas Jee & Associates, Marissa M. Tirona, Benjamin & Ruby Tom, Gary V. Tom, Janet Tom, Roger & Pauline Tom, Willis & Shirley Tom, Clifford Tong, Hing W. Tong, Kelvin Tong, Trans Pacific Geotechnical Consultants, John Trasviña, Bill Trinh, Jorge K. Tsang, Vincent & Persephoni Tsin, Will & Myrna Tsukamoto u. Ellen Uy v. Marc Van Der Hout & Jody LeWitter, Visitacion Valley Children’s Programs, Mai Vue, VVJET w. Marilyn Waller, Elizabeth Wang, Hee Won Wang, Janet & Andrew Wang, Johnson C. Wang, Patrick B. Wang, Phillip K. Wang, Theodore Wang, Lisa Wanzor & Sarah Marxer, Curt & Denise Wear, Angie Wei, Wei Wei, Wells Fargo & Company, Linda Hallen Wohlrabe, Cynthia Jane Won, Alan & Rachel Wong, Anna Y. Wong, Bruce F. Wong & Karen Hamai, David Y. Wong, Dennis Wong & Endora Hsia, Eddie & Eva Wong, Eric & Yolanda Wong, Glen Wong, Guy M. Wong, Harda & Kam Wong, Holly J. Wong, Howard J. Wong, Jones & Sharon Wong, Kenneth & Janice Wong, Leeland & Li Hsiang Wong, Mary Wong, Michael J. Wong, Peter W. Wong, Preston & Susan Wong, Richard H. Wong, Ron Wong & Mike Tekulsky, Ryan T. Wong, Sandra Wong, Victoria Wong, Wah Tat & Shu Wong, Weldon & Carol Wong, Weyman & Yvonne Wong, Alice N. Woo, Gene S. Woo, Grace Woo, Henry & Henrietta Woon, Diana P. Wu, Maria Wu, Robin Wu & Reagan Louie, Wu Yee Children’s Services y. Calvin W. Yee, Daniel K. Yee, David & Jayne Yee, Howard S. Yee, Jimmy Yee, Sam & Donna Yee, Sylvia Yee, Tina Tong Yee, Yiaway Yeh, Chi-kwan & Mary Yen, Tiensze & Maria Yen, Walter & Lillian Yep, Bernard S. Yeung, Yoneo Yoshimura, Bing H. Young, Donna J. Young, Preston & Joanne Young, Simon & Betty Young, Connie & Kou Ping Yu, Lai Y. Yu, Sandra Yuen, Soo Yun, Judith Yung z. Karl Zabel, Leslie W. Zeitler, Karen Q. Zhu, Helen Zia & Lia Shigemura

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PROTECTING CRITICAL SERVICES IN SAN FRANCISCO

CAA and SEIU Local 790 joined forces to save six medical interpreter positions and the Patient Referral Unit at San Francisco General Hospital, two key programs that provide essential health services to immigrants and low-income residents. We met with Board of Supervisors staff and held press conferences with mainstream and ethnic media. Because of our advocacy, the Board of Supervisors restored these critical programs.

After learning that the Department of Public Health was proposing to drastically reduce funding to primary neighborhood health care centers, CAA trained 15 Visitacion Valley community organizations and neighborhood representatives in budget advocacy. All the training participants were facing massive cuts in the basic medical services available to their low-income clients. Service providers and residents spoke at hearings before the Health Commission and the Board of Supervisors, and as a result, the primary neighborhood health care centers were saved.

UNITING AGAINST PROPOSITION 54

In 2003 the civil rights community united to defeat Proposition 54, Ward Connerly’s initiative to ban state and local governments from gathering race and ethnicity data. CAA joined with Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Asian Law Caucus, and APIA Health Forum to develop a statewide APA coalition that educated our communities and got out the vote. On October 7th, California voters overwhelmingly rejected Proposition 54 by a 2 to 1 margin, sending a clear message that we are tired of racially divisive initiatives. The APA coalition created and distributed multilingual public education materials at street fairs, to community organizations, through e-mail trees, and to the ethnic media, and also reached out through phone banking and public speaking. Ultimately, the APA coalition made a significant difference, turning what was once a 75% “Yes” vote in APA communities into a 72% “NO” vote in just 10 weeks.

Since our founding in Chinatown in 1969, CAA has worked to empower San Francisco’s Chinese Americans, becoming a leader in the struggle for economic and social justice and a vital part of the community. For the last thirty-five years, people have known they could turn to CAA for help. Almost every day we speak with someone who needs assistance: finding a job, responding to hate crimes, fighting discrimination at work, dealing with school bureaucracy, standing up for civil rights. And every week the local Chinese media turn to CAA for analysis and perspective on the local, statewide, and national issues and policies that impact the community.

VISITACION VALLEY

When CAA opened a Visitacion Valley office in 1998, our central goal was to increase access to neighborhood services for its limited-English proficient Chinese immigrant residents. In the last five years, our work has expanded to include community education, community advocacy, and opportunities for cross-cultural communication in this low-income but culturally rich neighborhood. In 2003 CAA surveyed neighborhood leaders and residents to assess the persistent gaps in local services and programs, which will only worsen as social services continue to be cut. Looking to further deepen our work in Visitacion Valley, staff also researched and visited innovative community development projects in similarly diverse neighborhoods around the country. We ended the year with a five year strategic plan to recruit and train neighborhood-based Chinese American community advocates with the skills and information to work for neighborhood improvements, while working in alliance with other community leaders.

BUILDING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY

CAA and The Association of Chinese Teachers worked together to assess why, despite continued demand, there was a decrease in the number of Chinese bilingual programs in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). It became clear that parents were not getting accurate information about their rights under Proposition 227, and their children were being denied the opportunity to learn in bilingual classrooms. Because of our advocacy, the school district has improved its system for notifying parents of their rights and will attempt to add bilingual classrooms in high demand neighborhoods.

Year after year, the results of the SFUSD student assignment process cause anger and frustration among many Chinese parents who want their children to attend neighborhood schools. Because CAA’s goal since our founding has been quality education for all San Franciscans and diversity in each school, in 2003 we began hosting meetings with community activists and education advocates to develop recommendations that keep schools diverse while providing greater support and alternatives to families whose children are not able to attend the school in their neighborhood.

C E N T E R F O R AS I A N A M E R IC A N A DVO C AC Y CHINESE EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM F I N A N C I A L S : Statement of Activi t ie sCOMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

ASIAN AMERICANS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUALITY

In March CAA partnered with the Asian Pacific American Legal Center to open a new Sacramento legislative advocacy office. Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE) is the first statewide project to promote and defend the civil rights of Asian and Pacific Americans in California. Our advocacy on statewide issues has grown substantially in recent years- with AACRE, led by CAA Legislative Advocate Vivek Malhotra, we can now work for APA civil rights in Sacramento full time.

CAA’s language access advocacy has helped transform the political environment in Sacramento; policymakers now care about increasing immigrant access to programs and services. When we began this advocacy four years ago, CAA struggled to find a single legislator willing to address language barriers. In 2003, even with an estimated $30+ billion state deficit, a total of nine language-related bills were introduced.

AB 309, which CAA drafted with Assembly member Judy Chu and which was signed into law by Governor Gray Davis, will create protections for over two million limited-English speaking Asian and Pacific American consumers in California. For almost thirty years, the California Civil Code has required businesses that choose to orally negotiate certain basic agreements in Spanish (such as buying or leasing a car or renting an apartment) to translate the corresponding written contracts into Spanish as well, protecting consumers from bait-and-switch tactics. AB 309 extends this same protection to speakers of Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Korean, when businesses choose to negotiate agreements in any of those languages.

At the end of the year, AACRE released a Report Card, the first of its kind, to evaluate how members of the State Legislature voted on key legislation important to California’s diverse APA communities. The Report Card caught the attention of many legislators, whose accountability to Asian and Pacific Americans had never really been measured. The Report Card will be published annually to raise awareness about public policy priorities for APAs in California and evaluate the responsiveness of state legislators to these issues. The 2003 Report Card is available to the public on CAA’s website <www.caasf.org>.

Support & Revenue

Grants & contracts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 450,132Individual donors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 87,732Celebration of Justice (net). . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 86,076Investment income & spending. . . . . . . . $ 49,056Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 18,268

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 691,264

Expenditures

Advocacy program.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 232,308Employment program.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 197,907Statewide advocacy program/AACRE. .$ 68,563General & administrative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 81,237Fundraising & development. . . . . . . . . . . .$ 72,082

Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$ 691,264

HELPING SAN FRANCISCANS EARN A LIVING WAGE

The CAA Employment Program has a long history of innovation, continuing in 2003 with a partnership with City College of San Francisco to develop a Vocational English as a Second Language training program for construction workers with limited-English skills, to assist them in gaining entry into unions and promotions in employment. Twenty-eight students completed the program, with several students entering the trade and building unions. The vast majority of the clients increased their confidence using English and rated the teacher, class, and job counseling as “excellent.” CAA will conduct another training class in 2004.

CAA has been working to renew San Francisco’s First Source Ordinance, which requires private developers and city contractors to make entry-level job openings available to low-income individuals. CAA Policy Director Ted Wang was appointed chair of the Workforce Advisory Committee, which will be responsible for evaluating and redrafting the city’s program to better serve low-income workers in San Francisco.

CAA’s Employment Advocates work with over 600 clients each year, providing job counseling, soft skills training, job placement, and referrals for services and union training programs. Because of the ongoing instability in the job market, in 2003 CAA focused on our retention program, which helps clients keep their jobs or successfully transition from one job to another.

JANUARY to DECEMBER 2003

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