PRESS RELEASE

Contact:          Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO)
(503)512-0274
info@apano.org / www.apano.org

Pacific Islanders and Asians say “Vote YES for Oregon on January 26th”

The Board of Oregon’s leading advocacy organization for Asians and Pacific Islanders, the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), has endorsed the Yes on Measure 66 and Measure 67 on the January 26th, 2010 Oregon Special Election.  APANO’s Policy Advocacy Working Group is hosting an informational Ballot Party Thursday, January 14th 5:30pm-7pm, at APANO’s new statewide office.  922 N Killingsworth Ave.  This is an opportunity for the community to learn more about the funding measures for education, health, public safety, and human services.

Oregon’s State Budget for services that affect many families in our community every day – schools, health clinics, fire and police, employment training – are in jeopardy.  APANO asks your help in advocating for these services, by educating and encouraging a Yes Vote on Measure 66 & 67 January 26th, 2010.  Yes on Measure 66 & 67 is a vote for a better future for Oregon with services critical to our families, children and seniors.

Asians and Pacific Islanders are Oregon’s second fastest growing population, and are excepted to rise over 200,000 in 2010 Census, with a deep diversity of languages, cultures and religions.  For many of our families, 2009 has been a difficult year.  We’ve heard stories of job loss, the struggle for health insurance, educational challenges, and social isolation.  When we come together as community, across community, we can make decisions that can improve our livelihoods.  Asians and Pacific Islanders are intensely diverse, different languages, cultures, religions, even rice.  We are united most often by our common experience of immigration, of tradition, of intergenerational family.

This effort is a part of APANO’s ongoing Asian Pacific Islander VOTE Oregon programs.  APANO will continue Voter Education and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) work to increase participation of Asian and Pacific Islander American voters, the second fastest growing population in Oregon.  Outreach will include multilingual literature, doorstep conversations with businesses and nonprofit organizations, and a significant phone bank effort to reach over 1,000 voters on January 21 and January 24.

Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons