apa activist training and midwest summit

Hey Midwest! This one's for you... make plans, get involved, and mark your calendars. Asian Pacific Americans for Progress is hosting a day-long activist training and social/reception at the Field Museum in Chicago on Saturday, August 4th. The event is part their efforts to mobilize the APA community and equip us with skills for political empowerment. The training will be led by the Director of Training at the Democratic National Committee, Parag Mehta, and include director/producer Eric Byler, with more guests to be confirmed. Sounds like it's going to be a really valuable experience. Here are the necessary details:

APA Activist Training and Midwest Summit

Saturday, August 4. Chicago, IL

Join your fellow progressive Asian Pacific Americans from throughout the Midwest as we engage in a Saturday training led by Parag Mehta, Director of Training at the Democratic National Committee, along with filmmaker Eric Byler. Sponsored by Asian Pacific Americans for Progress.

To register, go to: http://www.apaforprogress.org/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=3

Who: Activists, student leaders, community leaders, volunteers

What: Learn the basic tools of political organizing including volunteer recruitment, networking, planning events, targeting, phonebanking and other useful campaign skills.

When: Saturday, August 4th, 2007

11:00-12:00 PM - Networking and Registration

12:00 - 6:00 PM - Training

6:00 - 8:00 PM - Reception/Social with special guests

Where: The Field Museum

1400 S. Lake Shore Drive

Chicago, IL 60605-2496

Fee(s) - Includes training and reception/social, as well as admission to the Field Museum. Students please inquire about additional scholarships.

Student...$25 before July 15 / $30 after July 15

Regular...$35 before July 15 / $40 after July 15

Co-sponsors - To be listed in our program book or to place an ad, please contact Theresa Mah at apap.chicago@gmail.com

Parag V. Mehta - Parag is the Director of Training for the Democratic National Committee in Washington, DC. Prior to joining the DNC, Parag served as Deputy Political Director for America Votes, a coalition of 32 of the largest progressive groups in the country who joined forces to register, educate, recruit, and mobilize voters for the 2004 elections. In 2003, Parag was a Deputy Political Director for Governor Howard Dean's presidential campaign, based in Burlington, Vermont. In 2002 he served as Deputy Field Director for former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk's U.S. Senate campaign in Texas. From 2000-2002, Parag worked as a speechwriter and policy analyst for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Parag holds a B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Eric Byler - Chinese American film director Eric Byler was nominated for a 2003 Independent Spirit Award for his debut feature "Charlotte Sometimes," which also earned a nomination for actress Jacqueline Kim. His second film "Americanese" starring Joan Chen, Chris Tashima, Allison Sie and Kelly Hu is soon to be released by IFC Films. Eric's most recent directing credits include "My Life Disoriented" which aired nationally on PBS and "Tre," soon to be released by Cinema Libre Studio. Eric has been invited to speak at colleges and universities around the United States, and is known for grassroots activism and YouTube documentaries he created during the 2006 Virginia Senate race on behalf of Senator Jim Webb and Virginia's Asian/Pacific American community.

Asian Pacific Americans for Progress (APAP) - APAP is national network of progressive Asian Pacific Americans and allies. For more information, click here: http://www.apaforprogress.org/

To reach us, please email: apafp@apaforprogress.org

Hear that, Chicago? Sounds like a great chance to get involved, meet some cool folks, and be part of something special. And for the rest of you in the midwest, why not make the trip out to Chicago for a day? For more information, and to register, go here