FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: emma@ncapaonline.org
May 10th, 2021
Washington, DC—The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) issued the following statement after the election of two new members to the coalition’s Executive Committee. Tavae Samuelu, Executive Director of Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) and Seema Agnani, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific Americans Community Development (National CAPACD) were voted in Tuesday, May 5th.
Gregg Orton, National Director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) said:
“Congratulations to both Seema and Tavae for being recognized by their colleagues for their leadership within NCAPA. They both bring perspectives and credibility that reinforce what makes NCAPA unique: we are a member-led coalition and as we continue to diversify our leadership, we’re made stronger to face the growing challenges confronting the broader AA and NHPI community. “
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Tavae Samuelu is Executive Director of Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), an organization that advances social justice for Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander communities. Through her work, Samuelu provides strategic oversight of EPIC’s mission through culturally relevant advocacy, research, and leadership development.
Tavae Samuelu is Executive Director of Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) stated:
“NCAPA has been a critical space for EPIC’s organizational learning and growth. I’m grateful to be able to reciprocate in this role. I believe in the potential for this coalition to leverage collective power towards building the kind of world our communities need and deserve. “
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Seema Agnani has nearly 20 years of experience advocating for housing and economic justice in immigrant communities. Currently, she is Executive Director of National CAPACD, a coalition of organizations who work with low-income Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to improve housing security.
Seema Agnani, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific Americans Community Development (National CAPACD) commented:
“It is an honor to be able to join the leadership team of NCAPA and am thankful for the trust of my colleagues in the movement. As a South Asian American that has worked in the AAPI community to address economic injustice and further immigrant rights throughout my career, I hope to contribute to building a stronger and more powerful voice at the national level with our coalition partners. The diversity of the AAPI community is our greatest strength and as we continue to build a movement together, I hope that I will be able to push for policies that will lift up all our communities, work in solidarity with other communities of color, and advance a vision for this country where everyone can thrive.“
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Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is a coalition of 37 national Asian Pacific American organizations that serves to represent the interests of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns. Our communities are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, currently making up approximately six percent of the population.