By Jon Melegrito

Living in the nation’s capital, the seat of power of the most powerful country in the world, has many benefits and blessings. History is often made here. As has often been said, we’re first in war and first in peace. But, sadly, always last in the National Football League.

We’ve basked proudly during uplifting and unifying moments, like the inauguration of the first American black president, the passage of bills that move the cause of justice forward, or the creation of White House commissions that promote the interests of ethnic minorities. Like the White House Initiative on Asian Pacific American Islanders (WHIAAPI) that saw the appointment of Filipino American leaders to a very important national panel. As well, access to congressional offices and federal agencies provide immediate opportunities to interact with government officials, raise questions and influence their actions and decisions. Towards this end, massive demonstrations by concerned citizens from across the nation converging in the nation’s capital, make us appreciate what freedom truly mean. A peaceful protest by ordinary men and women at the National Mall, marching and chanting, is what democracy looks like.

To witness, and better yet, to participate in such mass actions in front of the White House, in Capitol Hill or a foreign embassy, is to be part of history as it happens.

Living “inside the Beltway,” to be sure, can also be dispiriting and depressing. There are times when the barrage of partisan bickering can be very frustrating. Government dysfunction can easily turn off our connection to a political process that is essential to democracy’s health and survival.

Here in the nation’s capital, laws are debated and policies are made; policies that affect our pocket books, our health, our civil rights, our security, the environment, and just about everything related to our cultural, economic, political and social well-being.

Given what’s at stake, depending on who benefits, there is intense lobbying by various vested interests to affect legislation before they become the law of the land.

As citizens, therefore, we need to be actively engaged to make sure government works for us, the people. We can’t throw our hands in defeat or despair when things don’t go our way. To remain silent or indifferent is to allow politicians to call the shots, without regard to the common good.

NaFFAA leaders were among the panelists at last year's White House briefing on Asian American Pacific Islander issues, which included health care, the elderly, and immigration reform. NaFFAA members from across the country participated in the day-long summit. (photo by Jon Melegrito)

NaFFAA leaders were among the panelists at last year’s White House briefing on Asian American Pacific Islander issues, which included health care, the elderly, and immigration reform. NaFFAA members from across the country participated in the day-long summit. (photo by Jon Melegrito)

COALITION BUILDING. In this political town, we are fortunate to have a working group of Asian American Pacific Islanders, who are looking out for our interests. Founded 18 years ago, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) is a 34-member coalition of, among others, Chinese Americans, Filipino Americans, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, South Asian and Southeast Asian Americans. It includes organizations like Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), JACL, NaFFAA, OCA, SEARAC and SAALT. Based in Washington D.C., NCAPA serves to represent the interests of the greater Asian American (AA) and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities and to provide a national voice for their various issues

To be at the table with leaders of these various communities strengthens our collective voices as we pursue common concerns. Among them: comprehensive immigration reform, health care, voting rights, racial profiling, media bias and affordable education.

Our collective concerns were articulated, for instance, in NCAPA’s response to President Obama’s recent State of the Union Address. The statement thanks the President for his support of immigrant families and his resolve to fix our broken immigration system, his commitment to provide equal pay, and his plan to institute quality and affordable education including free community college.

NCAPA also applauds the President’s call to reform the criminal justice system so that it protects and serves all Americans, notably for Muslims and Muslim Americans and for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

These key issues significantly affect the lives of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, communities that experienced one of the fastest growing poverty rates in the wake of the recession.

CURRENT ISSUES: Immigration and immigration-related matters continue to be top priority concerns of Asian American. Despite the disappointment over the failure of Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform last year, advocates continue to lobby Congress. President Obama’s executive order providing immigration relief to some undocumented immigrants, while limited, is a boost to the immigrant rights movement.

Meanwhile, there are administrative remedies that intended beneficiaries can avail of. Recently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will expand Deferred Action and Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on February 18, 2015.  This will be the first day to request DACA under the revised guidelines established as part of President Obama’s recent Executive Action on immigration.

Currently, the DACA program applies to people of any current age who entered the U.S. before the age of 16 and lived in the U.S. continuously since January 1, 2010. New guidelines will extend the period of DACA and work authorization from two years to three years and allow parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to request deferred action and employment authorization for three years, provided they have lived in the U.S. continuously since January 1, 2010, and pass required background checks.

To avail of authorized legal assistance at little or no cost, visit the Filipino American Legal Defense and Education Fund (FALDEF) at www.faldef.org.

WHITE HOUSE SUMMIT: Of interest to our community is the White House Summit on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders scheduled for May 12, 2015 in Washington, D.C.

The Summit will feature engaging panels, workshops, and armchair dialogues with senior Administration officials, AAPI celebrities, and well-known community leaders, plus performances by distinguished AAPI artists.  The Summit will inspire participants to continue to build upon the legacy, strength, and influence of the AAPI community, especially in the final years of the Obama Administration. For questions, visit the summit web page, whitehouse.gov/aapi or e-mail whitehouseaapi@ed.gov.