Washington, DC – In June of this year, current Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana will be stepping down as full time staff and transitioning from the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) and the Institute for Asian Pacific American Leadership & Advancement (IAPALA) by August. His visionary leadership and boundless energy will be sorely missed by the National Executive Board, staff, all members and supporters. Under Cendana’s leadership, APALA and IAPALA have grown from a single person staff person to nimble four-person team with a budget of almost $1 million, and have strengthened their partnerships and coalition building across community, labor, and youth. He was the youngest ever and first openly gay person to serve as Executive Director and during his tenure also served as the first Filipino and openly gay chair of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans and youngest general board member of the AFL-CIO, a federation of labor unions representing 12 million working people.
Johanna Puno Hester, APALA & IAPALA National President and Assistant Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers, AFSCME Local 3930 stated: “We’re greatly indebted to Greg. An organizer at heart, Greg has transformed APALA into a trusted progressive leader in labor and in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Words can’t explain how much Greg will be missed at APALA, and though I am sad to see him go, we are excited for Greg in his new endeavors and for a new Executive Director to lead APALA in our years to come.”
Kent Wong, Founding APALA President and UCLA Labor Center Director, said: “I’ve known Greg for over a decade. He was one of the best student organizers at UCLA, became President of the U.S. Student Association, and has emerged as a national leader for worker rights and social justice. Greg’s influence extends throughout the labor movement and Asian American community, and he has energized APALA by recruiting and training a new generation of young activists. APALA owes a huge debt of gratitude to Greg’s leadership, and we know he will continue to make contributions to our movement.”
Gregory A. Cendana concluded: “What I find most inspiring about our AAPI labor community is that we strive to build a pipeline of new leaders and organizers who will elevate our voices where they’re needed most. These past seven years at APALA have been an incredible experience to create and strengthen relationships across movements, sectors and industries. I’ve worked with some of the best and brightest organizers throughout the country, and now it’s time to step back and create space for another emerging leader to organize and direct our resistance for the next 25 years. Special thanks to Johanna Puno Hester and the National Executive Board for the honor to serve--APALA will always have a special place in my heart and I'm proud to be a part of this family.”
We are now accepting applications for APALA and IAPALA Executive Director. The deadline to submit all application materials is Friday, April 7th by 11:59pm EST.
Johanna Puno Hester, APALA & IAPALA National President and Assistant Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers, AFSCME Local 3930 stated: “We’re greatly indebted to Greg. An organizer at heart, Greg has transformed APALA into a trusted progressive leader in labor and in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Words can’t explain how much Greg will be missed at APALA, and though I am sad to see him go, we are excited for Greg in his new endeavors and for a new Executive Director to lead APALA in our years to come.”
Kent Wong, Founding APALA President and UCLA Labor Center Director, said: “I’ve known Greg for over a decade. He was one of the best student organizers at UCLA, became President of the U.S. Student Association, and has emerged as a national leader for worker rights and social justice. Greg’s influence extends throughout the labor movement and Asian American community, and he has energized APALA by recruiting and training a new generation of young activists. APALA owes a huge debt of gratitude to Greg’s leadership, and we know he will continue to make contributions to our movement.”
Gregory A. Cendana concluded: “What I find most inspiring about our AAPI labor community is that we strive to build a pipeline of new leaders and organizers who will elevate our voices where they’re needed most. These past seven years at APALA have been an incredible experience to create and strengthen relationships across movements, sectors and industries. I’ve worked with some of the best and brightest organizers throughout the country, and now it’s time to step back and create space for another emerging leader to organize and direct our resistance for the next 25 years. Special thanks to Johanna Puno Hester and the National Executive Board for the honor to serve--APALA will always have a special place in my heart and I'm proud to be a part of this family.”
We are now accepting applications for APALA and IAPALA Executive Director. The deadline to submit all application materials is Friday, April 7th by 11:59pm EST.
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| announcing_apala_executive_director_search.pdf |
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