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Building the Capacity of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community in Southern California

November 21, 2014 at 9:30 AM ET by Everett Wong and Jeffery Chao
Summary: 
On November 5, 2014, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Region 9/Southern California Regional Interagency Working Group (RIWG) partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice—Los Angeles, the Asian Pacific Planning & Policy Council (A3PCON), and East Los Angeles College (ELAC) to host an intermediate-level grant-writing workshop in Los Angeles.

On November 5, 2014, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Region 9/Southern California Regional Interagency Working Group (RIWG) partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice—Los Angeles, the Asian Pacific Planning & Policy Council (A3PCON), and East Los Angeles College (ELAC) to host an intermediate-level grant-writing workshop in Los Angeles. Nearly 150 local Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community advocates and leaders attended the all-day training to gain a deeper understanding of grant research, writing, and approval.

Community members attend an all-day grant-writing training in Los Angeles, CA

Community members attend an all-day grant-writing training in Los Angeles, CA on November 5, 2014. (by Everett Wong)

The training provided participants with a unique opportunity to learn the dynamics of the grant process from multiple angles and also gave attendees the opportunity to dialogue with representatives from local federal agencies and successful grant recipients. Trainers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) framed the workshop around the following key topics:

  • Organization
  • Applying for grants
  • Factors for award
  • Performance measures
  • EPA grant opportunities
  • Grant recipient presentation
  • Logic model
  • Budget
Community leaders participate in an all-day grant-writing training in Los Angeles, CA on November 5, 2014.

Community leaders participate in an all-day grant-writing training in Los Angeles, CA on November 5, 2014. (by Everett Wong)

Feedback from event participants was overwhelmingly positive. Participants reported an increased understanding of the grant process and many felt better equipped to apply for federal grants. 

The grant-writing workshop was a direct follow-up from the RIWG roundtable on April 8, 2014, where more than 100 advocates serving AAPI communities in Los Angeles met face-to-face to discuss how to access, navigate, and apply for government services.  

Everett Wong is a Readjustment Counseling Therapist at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and member of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Regional Interagency Working Group. Jeffery Chao is an Assistant Director at the U.S. Department of Labor-Veterans’ Employment & Training Service and member of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Regional Interagency Working Group.