The Georgia Asian-American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Task Force was recently organized to lobby state government to create a new AAPI Commission. A new commission would provide our communities an opportunity to engage elected officials and address AAPI needs statewide.
The first Georgia AAPI Commission was created by Gov. Roy Barnes in 2001. In 2003, Gov. Sonny Perdue appointed the second one. The Barnes Commission met quarterly and produced recommendations to improve AAPI access to government. The Perdue Commission served primarily in an economic advisory role to attract international investments and help local AAPI-owned businesses.
The commissions have now expired, while Georgia’s Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities have expanded exponentially. The U.S. Census shows our numbers grew 83 percent between 2000 and 2010. We now constitute 3.6 percent of the state — the fifth-fastest growth of AAPIs in the nation. Yet we continue to face challenges in achieving social, political and economic integration. As our demographics increase, our issues have amplified.
Policy makers should view the state’s AAPI communities as a huge asset. Most of us operate businesses that create jobs and attract international trade. A Minority Business Development Agency study revealed that we have more than 46,000 AAPI business owners with gross receipts of $14 million annually. This directly translates to greater revenue, job creationand stronger consumer buying power for Georgia.
Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have made progress in Georgia. In 1998, Judge Alvin Wong was elected to the DeKalb County State Court, the first Asian-American elected judge in the Southeast. In 2004, former state Rep. Charlice Byrd, R-Woodstock, was the first Asian-American elected to the Georgia Legislature, followed in 2010 by state Rep. B.J. Pak, R-Lilburn. In 2009, Alex Wan was elected the first AAPI Atlanta City Council member. This year, Gov. Deal elevated Fayette State Court Judge Carla Wong McMillian to the Georgia Court of Appeals.
In 2012, the Georgia AAPI task force coordinated with the White House Initiative on AAPIs to host the Southeast Regional Action Summit at Emory University. The task force also organized the 2013 AAPI Legislative Day, which drew the largest number of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in history to the Georgia capitol.
Last month, the task force held a reception with Gov. Barnes, state representatives and the Atlanta City Council to honor the legacy of Georgia’s AAPI commissions. Finally, the task force recently hosted Kiran Ahuja, executive director of the White House Initiative on AAPIs, who toured Gwinnett County and met with city and county leaders.
A new AAPI Commission would conduct studies and prepare recommendations for the Legislature and governor on multiple issues: economic development, political appointments and social issues. It would be a liaison to improve access to state programs.
The task force aspires to develop strong bipartisan support to jump-start a permanent commission. It is imperative to reboot and re-ignite an initiative that our communities enjoyed more than a decade ago.
Farooq Mughal and Bonnie Youn co-chair the Georgia Asian-American and Pacific Islander Task Force.
