AAPIs NEEDED to Interview for Educational Police Toolkit – PAID

Dear Community Members:

Greetings from Asian Media Access, we are working with Dr. Blong Xiong from University of MN to develop an educational kit for our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to better engage with the Police, and overcome the linguistic and communication style barriers.

We are seeking interviewees from AAPI community, if you are interested to participate, please review the following questions, and send a short e-mail to Maloney Yang , and we can set you up for an hour telephone interview with Dr. Blong Xiong, and we will send you a $20 Target Gift card to thank you for your participation.

For more information, please contact us at 612-376-7715 or Maloney Yang .
Domain Question Intent
Intro: How a person behaves when encountering with the police depends on his or her belief, attitude, expectation, and experience in the past…
1. In your opinion, when you think of police what comes to mind? (10 minutes)
a. Why?
b. What makes you say that?
c. Do you think others in your community share your view on this? To understand AAPI’s expectations and beliefs about the police
Intro: Coming to contact with the police can be a touchy situation. Thus, we want to understand how AAPIs would react when encountering with the police…

2. Have you had any physical contact with the police in the past?(When I said physical contact I meant arrest, questioning, raid, etc.)
a. If yes, can you describe what your experience was like?
b. Can you describe the exchange between you and the officer?
c. What was your reaction to the encounter?
d. Do you remember what you did or said during the encounter?
3. [For the noncontact participants] What do you think you should do when stopped by a police officer, especially for questioning or for an arrest?
4. [For everyone] What do you think people you know in your community should do when stopped by a police officer, especially for questioning or an arrest?
5. What should you do when a police officer wants to search you, your car, or your home?
Learn about how AAPIs behave or should behave when encountering with the police under different circumstances.Specifically, what AAPIs can do to prevent police’s encounters from becoming seriously detrimental to their safety.[1]
6. Now, please take a few minutes to read this case study and look over the questions before we discuss it [See handout]

7. When you were younger (child or teenager), did your parents talk to you about how to deal with the police?
a. Yes, what was the message?[2]

8. Have someone ever told you about how to handle yourself if you’re stopped or questioned by the police?
a. Yes, whom and what was the message?

9. Have you ever spoken to any young people, including your children, about how to handle themselves if they are stopped or questioned by the police?
a. Yes, what was the message?
Determine if the behavior people embodied when encountering with the police was a pattern and whether this should be something we need to focus on as part of the education.
Intro: Due to the model minority myth, we do not know much about the type of crimes (gun control and gun safety, gang violence, human trafficking, illegal gambling, and prostitution) that is being committed in the AAPI community. Based on your experience and observation…

1. Is there a particular crime concerns you the most in your community?
a. What about gun control and gun safety, gang violence, human trafficking, illegal gambling, and prostitution? Are these a concern to you? Are these a concern to your community?
2. Have you experienced these crimes in your community? How often?
3. Have you seen these crimes committed in your community?
a. What and how often?
4. What can be improved to stop these crimes from happening in your community?
a. Do you have any suggestions to ensure public safety?
b. Are there any suggestions for the police to prevent these crimes from happening in your community?
Which crime concerns which AAPI community the most?

—
Maloney Yang, Program Coordinator
Asian Media Access
2418 Plymouth Ave N.,
Mpls., MN 55411

 

Heating Assistance Payments for Low-Income Minnesotans will begin soon

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

For Immediate Release
November 13, 2013

Department of Commerce secures $98.7 million in funding for the Energy Assistance Program
Heating Assistance payments to low-income Minnesotans will begin soon

SAINT PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Department of Commerce announced today that Minnesota will receive $98,726,312 in federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds for Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP). LIHEAP helps low-income homeowners
and renters pay heating bills through grant money paid directly to utility companies and heating fuel vendors on behalf of customers.

“Year after year, the LIHEAP program has helped keep Minnesotans who struggle to pay for home heating stay warm throughout the winter,” said Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman. “These important federal funds keep thousands of homes from losing heat and protect our neighbors from being out in the cold.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce administers the LIHEAP in partnership with 32 local service providers throughout the state. LIHEAP is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program helps renters and homeowners earning less than 50 percent of the state’s median income ($43,642 for a family of four) obtain grant money to help pay their heating bills.

“Energy bills during long winters with subzero temperatures can take a large bite out of household budgets and have left many Minnesotans stretching every dollar and struggling to make ends meet,” said Commissioner Rothman. “We encourage all Minnesotans who may have difficulty paying their heating bills to apply for LIHEAP assistance. Households that include children under the age of six, people with disabilities, veterans and seniors are especially encouraged to apply.”

Last year, Minnesota served 147,636 households and renters with $109.6 million in federal funds. The average household income of those receiving LIHEAP funds was $16,422. Approximately 73% of the homes included at least one senior, person with a disability, or a child under the age of 18. This year, the average grant per household will be $500.

Qualifying families must apply for assistance at the local service provider in their area. Funding is limited and is administered on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested households should contact their local service provider by calling 1-800-657-3710 or visiting the Energy Assistance section of the Commerce Department’s website (http://mn.gov/commerce/energy). The Minnesota EAP is supported by federal LIHEAP funding and administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

The announcement of the grant awards to all the states from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can be found on the HHS website.

-30-

Anne O’Connor
Communication Director
Minnesota Department of Commerce
**My office number changed 7/1/13 to 651.539.1463
Mobile: 651.587.7185
Fax: 651.297.1959
anne.oconnor@state.mn.us

 

Affordable Care Act Forums – Nov. 7th

Portico Healthnet will be hosting two forums on the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, November 7th at the Wellstone Center (179 Robie St E, St Paul, MN 55107) from 1 – 4pm and from 5:30pm – 7pm.

The first forum, Navigating the New World of Healthcare Coverage, will be held from 1-4pm. This forum is geared toward nonprofits who are interested in helping their communities navigate MNsure and access to affordable health care coverage. They will begin with an overview of the Affordable Care Act and its effects on the healthcare landscape in Minnesota. We will then provide nonprofit staff with tools and confidence to help the people they serve enroll in affordable health care through MNsure. This forum presents an opportunity to learn and also to share questions and ideas with other nonprofit peers working in healthcare access.

The second forum, New Options for Healthcare Coverage, will be held from 5:30-7pm. This forum is geared toward community members who are interested in learning more about the Affordable Care Act and how to enroll in affordable healthcare coverage. They will begin with and overview of the Affordable Care Act and what it means for Minnesotans. They will then help community members understand the steps to becoming enrolled in affordable healthcare coverage through MNsure. Portico’s certified Navigators will be available to schedule follow-up appointments to apply and enroll in coverage through MNsure.

Please contact Leigh Grauman at lgrauman@porticohealthnet.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Nonprofit Forum – Navigating the New World of Healthcare Coverage

Community Forum – New Options for Healthcare Coverage

 

Perspectives: [Re]Defining the Asian American Experience

Please join the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans to celebrate the artistic accomplishments of the Legacy Fellows.

This event showcases work by filmmaker Elijah Chhum, writer and spoken word poet Chay Douangphouxay, photographer Joseph Hang, printmaker Jade Hoyer, filmmaker Joua Lee, and screenwriter Ying Lee, recipients of the 2013 Legacy Fellowship through the Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans and the Minnesotan Humanities Center.

This collection offers unique commentary on what it means to be Asian-American, showcasing diverse perspectives on the artists’ shared and individual experiences as Asian-Americans.

This activity is funded in part through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Legacy Amendment vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
Saturday October 19, 2013
Neighborhood House
179 Robie Street East
Saint Paul, MN 55107

Reception 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Film Presentation 8:00pm – 9:30pm

Legacy Fellow Press Release

 

2013 Reading Together Book Launch

Join community members, the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, and the Minnesota Humanities Center as we celebrate the four upcoming titles from the 2013 Reading Together Project. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the authors and illustrators, hear more about their inspirations and work, ask questions, and receive a complimentary copy of all four titles.

The 2013 titles are:

Linh and the Red Envelope
Written by: Diane Tran
Illustrated by: Alex Shimkus

Melody of the Qeej
Written by: Mai Kou Xiong
Illustrated by: Vang P. Lee

Night Breeze
Written by: Steve Wright
Illustrated by: Ilhwa Gloria Kim

Tawan the Sun Girl
Written by: Chay Douangphouxay
Illustrated by: Alex Kuno

The evening begins with an hors de’eouvres reception at 5:30 p.m. Panel discussion begins at 6:00 p.m. with a book signing to follow. These books are written at an early elementary level (grades 2-3), and children are encouraged to attend.

Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
Location: Minnesota Humanities Center
987 Ivy Ave. E, St. Paul, MN 55106 (map)

If you plan to attend, please RSVP here.

About the Reading Together Project:

This is the second year of the Reading Together Project collaboration between the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans and the Minnesota Humanities Center. The Reading Together Project seeks to address the lack of children’s books that speak to the experience of being an Asian Pacific Islander (API) child or youth in the United States. The project supports the development of English literacy skills while recognizing cultural heritage and creating opportunities for children and families to learn about API cultural heritage together. The project will disseminate resources targeted towards closing the achievement gap for API students by offering culturally relevant resources.

*This work is funded in part with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

 

Minnesota Voters Can Now Register Online

Hello,

I’m pleased to share that Minnesota voters will be able to register online to vote, starting today. In addition, military and overseas voters can apply online to receive absentee ballots.

If you wish, you can promote online voter registration on your own site by adding one of the online voter registration logos on this page and linking to the online registration application or military/overseas absentee ballot application.

Information about both of these tools can be found at http://www.mnvotes.org. Additional information about online registration can be found in this PDF, How_Online_Voter_Registration_Works

Please let me know if you have any questions, and thanks for helping engage and prepare Minnesotans to vote!

Best,

Jeff

Jeff Narabrook
Voter Outreach Director
Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State
jeff.narabrook@state.mn.us
651.201.1339
State Office Building, Suite 180
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

 

“Create CommUNITY” Annual Conversation on Race

The organization “Create CommUNITY” is hosting it’s annual conversation on race using art, music, and a guided conversation to explore the realities of living in many worlds, how that affects our identities and others’ perceptions of us. Please see details below for registration and more information.

October 8, 2013
7:30am – 10:30am
River’s Edge Convention Center

Registration – https://annualconversation.eventbrite.com/

Create CommUNITY – http://www.createcommunity.info/

CUNITY flyer

 

MNSure Insurance Exchange Information

The MN Departments of Commerce and Health along with MNSure, the new state health insurance exchange, had a press conference on Friday September 6th, 2013.  They released new information about the different health insurance plans, rates, and other information.

There are 3 important dates to remember: October 1, 2013; January 1, 2014: and March 31, 2014. Beginning October 1^st, everyone may enroll in health insurance plans advertised on MNSure.  However, those health plans along with the new healthcare laws from the Affordable Care Act or ACA (also known as “Obamacare”) starts on January 1, 2014.  March 31, 2014 is the last day for enrollment and everyone needs to some sort of health care insurance or you will be taxed.

When enrollment begins next month, there will be 5 different insurance companies that will sell plans on MNSure.  Of those 5, only 3 will be selling plans for small groups/businesses.  These insurance companies will sell 4 different “metal” plans.

***BUT there are quite a few exceptions, lots of fine print to read, and can be quite confusing.

• Not all of these health insurance companies will be selling their plans in every part of the state.  Each county will have at least 2 health insurance companies selling health plans.  To see how many health insurance companies will sell plans in your county, see Figure 1 below.

• In total, there will be 141 different plans offered.  78 plans are for individuals and families while 63 are for small businesses.

• The rates in Figure 2 are for a non-smoker living in the Twin Cities.  These rates are determined by 4 things: your AGE, your TOBACCO usage, where you LIVE, and the “COMMUNITY RATING.”  The “community rating” is the combined medical costs of everyone in that company’s market.

• Your monthly premiums are based on the rates and which health plan benefits you choose.  For example, if you choose the “Bronze Plan,” the health benefits under this plan are different than the other plans AND you will have a cheaper monthly premium, BUT more expensive copays and deductibles.

• These rates DO NOT include the potential tax credits you may be eligible for.  Your eligibility for the different tax credits depends on your income and they may significantly reduce your monthly premiums.

• You have the option of taking your tax credit immediately so that your monthly premiums are more affordable OR you can claim your tax credits when you file for taxes.  However, you still HAVE to include these tax credits on your tax filings whether you take right away or later.

• Rates for individual health plans and small employer group coverage will change once per year.

• MNSure is a PUBLIC health insurance exchange and ANYONE can enroll in a health insurance plan on MNSure.  Some private employers are offering a PRIVATE health insurance exchange BUT ONLY for their employees.  (IBM, GE, and Time Warner have announced their intention to do so)

• You DO NOT have to buy insurance on MNSure.  You may find some health plans on MNSure to be more affordable than your current health insurance plan and/or may find a plan that offers more benefits at a more affordable price.

• MNSure is our state version of the health insurance exchange and it is DIFFERENT from the federal version.

If you have any questions, MNSure’s call center will also help small business and individuals answer questions about anything.  Their call center number is: 855-3-MNSURE   or   855-366-7873

If you think you are a Scam/Fraud victim or have questions/concerns about a potential scam/fraud, contact the MN Department of Commerce’s “Consumer Response Team: 651-539-1600 or toll free at 1-800-657-3602

Please do not hesitate to contact our office either: Souvan Lee, 651-757-1740

MNSure FAQ

MN Department of Commerce

Individual Market Plans Offered by:

1. Blue Cross Blue Shield
2. Group Health, Inc.
3. Medica Health Plan of Wisconsin
4. PreferredOne Ins. Co.
5. UCare

Small Group/Business Market Plans Offered by:

1. Blue Cross Blue Shield
2. Medica Health Plan of Wisconsin
3. PreferredOne Ins. Co.

Figure 1

 

State Health Insurance Exchange and RFPs

As you may already know, the State Legislature recently passed into law the State Health Insurance Exchange (MNSure) which was part of the new federal Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). MNSure would allow individuals and small business owners and employees to browse different health insurance plans online and purchase healthcare coverage tailored to their needs through this exchange. MNSure will start enrolling October 1st, 2013 and the insurance plans and new laws will begin to take affect January 1st, 2014.

The outreach and implementation has many opportunities that require the involvement of various organizations including state and local agencies, chambers of commerce, and community/non-profit organizations among others. To ensure that our API community members are able to access MNSure, all these entities are eligible to apply for grants to become a Consumer Assistant in the role of a navigator, in-person assister, certified application counselor, and/or an agent/broker. MNSure has and will be sending out RFPs for these roles and other funding opportunities for the purpose of outreach. For your convenience, we have attached a Funding Announcement document from MNSure and included a link below to more information and RFPs from the MNSure website.

As this new insurance exchange is created, it is important that our Asian Pacific Islander (API) communities are included in the process, stay involved, have access to and can navigate the exchange, and are not adversely affected.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact MNSure via their website or our Research Analyst, Souvan Lee at Souvan.Lee@state.mn.us

http://www.mn.gov/hix/your-benefits/consumer-assistants.jsp

 

2013 Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Retreat

Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Retreat 2013
2013 SOCIAL MEDIA AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
#APYLR2013

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What is the Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Retreat?

The retreat provides training to potential youth leaders through a balance of programs and hands on opportunities. We believe in leadership through action. This retreat is designed for you to learn and explore who you are as a leader. What motivates you to lead; what leadership styles best suits you and the community in which you lead; and Why do you lead?

Who: Youth ages 14 to 18 years old

When: Friday, June 28, 2013 to Tuesday, July, 2 2013
Drop-off at the Capitol Lower Mall on Friday, June 28 at 8:00am
Pick-up at the Capitol Lower Mall on Tuesday, July, 2 at 9:00pm

Where: Vermillion Community College
1900 East Camp Street
Ely, MN 55731
(218)365-7200
**A charter bus will transport us to and from the camp.

Sign up now:
(application checklist)
____Complete Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Retreat 2013 application form (signed)
____Participant questionnaire
____Reference form
____Health Records

Application sent to:
Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans
Attention: Sandy Kwan
658 Cedar Street, Suite 160
St. Paul, MN 55155

Application deadline for participants extended to June 14, 2013

For more information: Contact Sandy Kwan at sandy.kwan@state.mn.us or call 651-757-1743

The Asian Pacific Youth Leadership Council (APYC) is a leadership initiative of the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans, a state agency created by the legislature to advise them and the governor on issues of importance to Asian Pacific Minnesotans. The initiative addresses the lack of Asian Pacific youth voice in civic engagement by leveraging cultural and historical experiences. At the same time, the youth council addresses the fact that the Asian Pacific community is on average 10 years younger than the general population and investment in this group is instrumental to Minnesota’s future.

#APYLR2013 is a collaborative effort of: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, Vermillion Community College and the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans.