The Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans has requested community members to reserve April 3rd for API Day at the Capitol 2024. Events are planned to begin at 10:00 am in the State Capitol Rotunda. This is an opportunity to connect with key players in state government at a rally in the Capitol rotunda as well as at one-on-one legislative visits arranged ahead of time. More details to come soon! #MNAPIDay24. You can visit the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans online at Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (mn.gov).
The Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans is an executive branch, non-cabinet agency tasked with the responsibility of working for the implementation of economic, social, legal, and political equality of Asian Pacific Minnesotans. Their primary customers are the Governor, the Legislature, state agencies, and Asian Pacific organizations and citizens.
Historically, the purpose of Day at the Capitol has been to give every community member an opportunity to speak to their legislators, wield their democratic rights, and be heard during a crucial and strategic time in the legislative session. Many of our community members may not always feel confident or comfortable taking their places in the legislative process. API Day at the Capitol is designed to light the way and empower each individual. Each year, the Council gathers keynote speakers, community leaders and knowledgeable guides to the political process. Those attendance are guided through the process of engaging legislators about the issues that are most important to them, whether it is the arts, health and education, support for small business, or other policies in order to help make Minnesota a great place for communities to reside.
Several of the Southeast Asian Minnesotan communities will be marking fifty years in the United States soon, and it is important to share the stories of those journeys, from successes to ongoing challenges and ways that we can identify best practices for immigrants, refugees and those who are part of the next generations.
The Asian American and Pacific Islander community in Minnesota is diverse, and includes those from many nations and cultures: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma/Myanmar (Shan and the Karen, among others), Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Federated States of Midway Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii's, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos (Hmong, Lao, Tai Dam, Khmu, Iu Mien and over 82 different ethnicities who live there), Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, New Caledonia, New Zealand, North Korea, Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tibet, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, and Vietnam including the Montagnards (Rhade,Bahnar, Jarai, Koho and Mnong).
The Council is also seeking its next research director. You can also find many of their recent annual reports online to get a sense of key issues they are engaged with.
The current executive director of the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans is Sia Her, who arrived with more than a decade of experience in non-profit management, policy advocacy, and engaging new Americans in both the political and policy processes. She served as Education and Training Department Manager at Hmong American Partnership for more than four years. She also served as Campaign Manager for the successful Saint Paul Public Schools’ “Strong Schools, Strong Communities” levy referendum campaign which secured over $300 million dollars for the Saint Paul Public Schools. Ms. Her holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Macalester College. She first joined the Council in March, 2013 eleven years ago.
