​Washington, DC – Today, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) announces its endorsements for Maria Elena Durazo, General Vice President for Immigration, Civil Rights, and Diversity at UNITE-HERE and the only national elected labor leader running for party leadership, and New York State Assembly Member Michael Blake for Vice Chairs of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
 
Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President and Assistant Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers, AFSCME Local 3930, stated: “We are proud to back two more candidates for DNC Vice Chairs who are committed to elevating and engaging people of color, young people and working families in the party. At a time of divisive rhetoric, policies and leadership coming from the right, our party needs dynamic leaders who will prioritize building a pipeline of progressive, diverse leaders at the local, state, and national levels.” 
 
UNITE HERE General Vice President Maria Elena Durazo said: “APALA has been a central force in bridging labor and the greater Asian American and Pacific Islander community, so it’s an honor to receive APALA’s endorsement for my campaign for DNC Vice Chair. When we bring more working people and diverse voices to the table around issues of health care, fair wages and safe jobs, and immigration, we know we’ll have the power and base to win.”
 
Assembly Member Michael Blake added: “I am honored to receive APALA’s endorsement for DNC Vice Chair. If elected as Vice Chair, I hope to cultivate a new generation of leaders who not only win their elections but also pass progressive policies beneficial for all communities throughout the country. The much needed change in the party leadership can be the difference to more meaningful engagement of community leaders and organizers on the ground.” 
 
APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana commented: “This week’s elections will be very exciting to see where the direction of the party is indeed headed. With more organizers of color -- and those who will champion issues most important to us -- at the helm of the DNC, we have hopes they will create a path forward that re-inspires communities of color and engages new allies in the years to come. We are in an important time for building, and Keith, Grace, Maria Elena and Michael are the type of leaders the party needs.”
 
APALA also previously endorsed Keith Ellison for DNC Chair and Congresswoman Grace Meng for DNC Vice Chair. 

###

Washington, DC – Today, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) announces its endorsement of Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) for the Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) is thrilled to stand behind a champion of working families and a strong advocate to engage the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community more deeply and meaningfully within the Democratic Party. 
 
Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President and Assistant Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers, AFSCME Local 3930, stated: “Congressman Ellison’s leadership at the DNC will be a very strategic move for the labor movement as a whole. His focus on working families along with his commitment to the inclusion of diverse people within the DNC leadership signal the way forward for the Democratic Party. His progressive vision and leadership for our country is exactly the kind of Chair the DNC needs.”
 
Congressman Keith Ellison said: “I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. As the first and only national organization that represents AAPI workers, APALA's importance cannot be stressed enough. I've always been a strong supporter of labor, and if I'm elected the next Chair of the Democratic National Committee, I want all APALA members to know that I'll have their backs day in and day out." 
 
Jigme Ugen, Executive Vice President of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota and APALA member, added: “It’s exciting to see leaders in the party and within labor rally behind a DNC Chair candidate like Keith. Fifteen years ago, I coordinated GOTV for Keith’s campaign, and I’ve seen firsthand that he understands that in order to win, we need to have better engagement and partnerships on the ground. That’s where elections in states and local communities have tremendous ripples and influence on the national agenda. Strong state and local parties need to be the foundation of a strong DNC.”
 
APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana commented: “Keith is an organizer at heart, and he understands that all communities – from young people to rural folks to people of color – need to be politically and civically engaged at the grassroots level. At a very divisive moment in our history, Keith will be able to unite our diverse communities to tackle the hateful candidates, policies and rhetoric that will come from the right-wing. We are proud to support Keith’s campaign for DNC chair and look forward to continuing our work to build a more visionary and inclusive party and country.”
 
Congressman Keith Ellison currently represents the 5th district of Minnesota and was the only candidate for DNC chair to release an engagement plan for the AAPI community.

###

Washington, DC – Today, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) announces its endorsement of Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) for the Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). APALA is proud to stand behind an advocate who understands the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and continues to fight for our community’s diverse needs.
 
“Grace’s representation on the DNC marks an important shift for representing AAPIs in the Democratic Party on the national stage,” stated Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President and Assistant Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers, AFSCME Local 3930. “With an incoming administration that has polarized our nation already and with a need to strengthen the Democratic Party with more leaders of color, strong allies in government like Grace will be hard to come by.”
 
"Throughout my life, I have dedicated my work towards racial, social, and economic justice. Representative Grace Meng doesn't just share my vision but, both as a member of Congress and as DNC Vice Chair, she's proven that she knows how to make progress towards achieving our goal of a more equal and just society. I'm proud to support her campaign for re-election and look forward to continuing our work to better our party and our country,” commented APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana.
 
Congresswoman Grace Meng said: “APALA has a long history of elevating voices in the AAPI community and building coalitions to fight for immigrant and minority communities. I'm honored to receive APALA’s endorsement and support as I fight to expand and strengthen the coalitions already built by organizations like APALA, and to create new lasting, meaningful partnerships between existing communities and the Democratic Party.”
 
Michael Yee, APALA National Treasurer and Treasurer of Local Union No. 3, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, concluded: “As a New Yorker, I have witnessed Grace’s strong positions on issues that matter to our community. We as AAPIs cannot be forgotten during the next administration. APALA will be standing behind representatives who will elevate our voices where they’re needed most.”
 
Congresswoman Grace Meng is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Committee on Small Business, and recently spearheaded legislation to eliminate the term “oriental” in federal law.

###