The California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA), whose mission is to elevate the political, economic, and social issues of Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) by contributing to and strengthening how state government addresses the needs, issues, and concerns of the diverse and complex Asian and Pacific Islander American communities, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, https://capiaa.ca.gov.

The California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs applauds Governor Newsom and the State Legislature for making the historic investment of $8 million, on-going, to California Community College (CCC), and $8 million, on-going, to California State University (CSU) to create central offices and disseminate funds to AANAPISI-eligible CCC and CSU colleges and universities to serve underserved AANHPI higher education students.California Education Code commencing with Section 79510 (for CCC) and Education Code commencing with Section 89297 (for CSU) authorize each respective college systems to provide culturally responsive on-campus student support programs specifically for low-income, underserved, first-generation Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students to increase higher education retention and attainment.

The State of California is proud to announce the launch of the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS). CalKIDS is a new program designed to jump start education savings for California children and to support the college or career training dreams of many underserved California families.

This program serves two groups: newborns and eligible low-income public school children. All participants will automatically receive seed deposits and other possible financial incentives in a CalKIDS account. CalKIDS is administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, an agency of the State of California chaired by State Treasurer Fiona Ma that oversees ScholarShare 529, the state’s official college savings plan.

All babies born in California on or after July 1, 2022, will receive up to $100 in a college savings account. Additionally, eligible low-income public school students may qualify to receive up to $1,500 in college savings for their future.*

As California schools begin in-person instruction, the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Vaccinate ALL 58 task force held a media briefing to detail what returning to the classroom looks like under the state’s SMARTER plan and actions California is taking to keep children, parents, teachers and staff safer from COVID-19.

The state announced that as part of the SMARTER Plan, California has been working closely with County Offices of Education to distribute more than 10 million over-the-counter (OTC) COVID-19 tests in preparation for the start of the school year.

Dr Sohil Sud, California Department of Public Health, Brooks Allen, Executive Director of the State Board of Education, and Yurina Melara, Multiethnic Press Secretary talked about the COVID-19 back-to-school safety policies and suggestions.

She identifies as African American, Mexican, and Puerto Rican. He is Korean American but didn’t speak English until he was school age. They met and got married in Los Angeles and had four children who they are “raising intentionally” in a multicultural, multiracial, and multilingual home.

At a time of increased political polarization and racial tension, Sonia and Richard Kang’s story offers an alternative narrative that is increasingly becoming the norm in the United States.

The couple shared their experience during an August 5 media briefing organized by Ethnic Media Services looking at the rise in inter racial marriages amid a backdrop of increasing hate crimes and deepening political polarization.

In his latest column for Asia Times, George Koo examines the final tally of Nancy Pelosi's Asia tour.