Washington, D.C. – The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) joined the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) coalition on Capitol Hill for a multi-day convening with Congressional offices to discuss critical issues impacting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. This week alone, the coalition met with over 38 Congressional offices.
AASF Executive Director Gisela Kusakawa with NCAPA Coalition national leaders from across the country at the Capitol.
AASF Executive Director Gisela Perez Kusakawa is among national nonprofit leaders who met with members of Congress and their staff to advocate for policies that protect civil rights, support research communities, and strengthen opportunities for AANHPI Americans across education, healthcare, and economic sectors.
From Left to Right: Anju Chopra, Director of Policy, Ravi Raj, Esq. Policy Counsel, NCAPA, Mitchell Smith, Associate Counsel for Senator Booker, and AASF Executive Director Gisela Kusakawa
About NCAPA
The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) is a coalition of over 40 national AANHPI organizations based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1996, it serves as a powerful, unified voice for AANHPI communities, working to influence policy, improve community visibility, and ensure equity and justice in the legislative and legal arenas. The NCAPA coalition includes some of the oldest and most prominent AANHPI nonprofits in the country. NCAPA serves as a national voice and represents the broader AANHPI population, including East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander American communities.
AASF first joined NCAPA’s national coalition in 2023, when Executive Director Kusakawa submitted AASF for consideration as a member of the NCAPA Coalition. AASF was honored to be welcomed by NCAPA leadership and organizational members, including NCAPA National Director Gregg Orton, who shared the following words: “AASF has emerged as a leading voice for the Asian American scholar community, and their work to fight for the rights of Asian American and immigrant scientists, researchers, and scholars is essential for the advancement of our communities.”
Since then, the NCAPA coalition continues to bring together Executive Directors from across the country to strategize on the current landscape, strengthen coalition alignment, and chart collective plans and priorities.
“AASF is grateful to NCAPA for convening this powerful group of changemakers and for creating intentional space for collaboration, shared leadership, and long-term movement building,” said Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum. “Together, we are helping shape a stronger, more coordinated future for AANHPI communities and for all communities.”
AASF extends special thanks to Jo Ann Paanio, Esq., Policy Director at NCAPA, and Ravi Raj, Esq., Policy Counsel at NCAPA, for their leadership in coordinating this convening and facilitating critical conversations between coalition members and congressional offices.
This year’s Capitol Hill meetings build on AASF’s ongoing commitment to engaging with policymakers, educating our leaders, and advancing data-based policies that protect scholars, scientists, researchers, and AANHPI communities nationwide.
Learn more about NCAPA: https://www.ncapaonline.org/