Looking Beyond the Midterms
Into the Next Legislative Sessions

With a surprisingly good outcome for progressive candidates across the country in this year’s midterm elections, including in a number of key state legislatures, we are excited to look toward next steps and opportunities to enact policy that is inclusive and speaks to issues AAPI voters care about. AAPI Victory Alliance is celebrating the organization’s five-year anniversary with the Asian American Pacific Islander Policy Convening, to bring together legislators, academics, and policymakers to transition from November election efforts to policy-making and governing into 2023 and beyond.

Venue: Third Way, 1025 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036

This convening will bring together legislators (national, state, and local), academics, and policy makers to transition from the November election efforts to policy making and governing into the 2023 legislative sessions. For too long, the AAPI community has been neglected in the policymaking space. By bringing together thought leaders to discuss the challenges facing our democracy, and looking at these issues through an AAPI lens, we aim to ensure that AAPIs are integrated into the political and policy space beyond just voter turnout. This will be hosted by the AAPI Victory Alliance’s think tank and will address the following key issues:

gun violence prevention

REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

DIVERSITY IN EDUCATIOn

Watch AAPI Policy Conference Replay here:

9 AM - 9:30 AM: Opening and Introduction

AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore will welcome everyone and kick off the day’s events.

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Reproductive Justice: How Are AAPI Voters Thinking About and Responding to this Issue?

We will bring together reproductive justice groups and legislators who have studied what messaging works for AAPIs, how this impacted voter turnout, and where there are differences among AAPI communities. 

Moderated by: Shreya Singh Hernandez, Political Director at AAPI Victory Alliance

11:15 PM - 12:45 PM: Gun Violence Prevention - An AAPI Issue

Advocates from top gun violence prevention organizations will discuss the rise in gun violence in the AAPI community and the alarming increase in gun purchases. This will build off of conversations the AAPI Victory Alliance co-hosted with these organizations in the summer of 2022 and the subsequent coalition that was formed.

Moderated by: Varun Nikore, Executive Director at AAPI Victory Alliance

12:45 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch Keynote

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Diversity in Education

This panel will look at the strategies of invoking “critical race theory” and “parental control” and what that really means for AAPI community members. It will also discuss affirmative action and its implications for AAPIs, and how AAPIs perceive this issue.

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Reception

Thank you to our generous sponsors