like voltron: four leading civil rights organizations form asian american center for advancing justice

Today at the annual Advancing Justice conference, four leading Asian American civil rights organizations -- the Asian American Institute (AAI), Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), Asian Law Caucus (ALC) and Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) -- announced that they are formally affiliating under a new name: Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. From the press release:

"This represents a tremendous opportunity not only for the Asian Law Caucus and our sister organizations, but for the larger Asian American community," said Titi Liu, executive director of ALC, the nation's oldest Asian American civil rights organization. "Through Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, we will have a larger platform from which to speak about issues that affect our community."

Asian American Center for Advancing Justice will address many of the issues that are currently the focus of headlines across the country, including immigration, LGBT, civil rights and worker's rights.

"We are very excited to be part of this partnership of equals at a time when Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a greater presence - both in numbers and in prominence - than ever before," said Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director of APALC, the nation's largest organization addressing the civil rights and legal services of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The four groups will adopt their shared identity in stages over the coming years, explained AAI Executive Director Tuyet Le. "By affiliating gradually, we will maintain our identity and presence in our local communities. AAI is the leading pan-Asian organization in the Midwest, and we will continue to speak to local issues. Asian American Center for Advancing Justice gives us a voice to speak to national ones as well."

Each organization will continue to be based in its home city, while any one of the member organizations may be the national lead on a given issue or area. For more information, visit the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice website here.