APALRC Files Brief in Maryland Court of Appeals to Ensure Legal Rights of Limited English Proficient Litigants
Mon 6/8/2009
The Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC), joined by CASA de Maryland and the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau, filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Ms. Nonceeya, a Thai speaking and limited English proficient immigrant, in the matter of Nonceeya v. Lone Star Steakhouse. The Public Justice Center is acting as co-counsel in this appeal. The APALRC’s brief, drafted by APALRC Staff Attorneys, Nadia Firozvi and Parag Khandhar, serves as an important opportunity to provide the necessary contextual information about the limited English proficient community and the Maryland judiciary’s responsibilities under the law as language barriers continue to prevent limited English proficient (LEP) litigants from accessing courts.
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APALRC’s largest interpreter training: 22 Asian Languages spoken at APALRC’s 10th Annual Training
Sat, 4/18/2009
On April 18 and 19, 2009, 50 bilingual participants speaking in 22 different Asian languages participated in a rigorous two-day 12-hour interpreter training held by the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC). Recognizing a need for Asian language interpreters among social and legal providers in the DC Capitol region, the APALRC organizes an annual interpreter training, held at the Thurgood Marshall Center this year, to train community members to interpret in both legal and non-legal settings.
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APALRC Holds a Community Partner Training Session on U-Visa Filing
Fri, 1/16/2009
APALRC held the first of its U-Visa Community Partner Trainings to educate community members of availability and eligibility requirements for U-visa filings for victims of crime. The training was held at the Chinatown Community Cultural Center and was attended by many of our community partners, including the Asian Service Center, Chinatown Service Center, and New Comer Service Center.
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Recently Formed Wah Luck House 800 6th Street Tenants’ Association Leads First General Member Meeting and Introduces APALRC as Legal Counsel
Thu, 1/15/2009
The Wah Luck House 800 6th Street Tenants' Association held its first general meeting led by the Board who were elected in August 2008. Located at the corner of 6th and H Streets in D.C., the Wah Luck House is home to primarily low-income, limited- or non-English proficient Chinese seniors and families. In 1982, the District government constructed the 153-unit Wah Luck House as home for displaced families after a section of the historic Chinatown neighborhood was razed to make way for the city's first Convention Center. Since that time, ownership of the building has changed hands a number of times, sometimes even without the knowledge of the residents.
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APALRC Wishes You and Your Loved Ones A Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Thu, 1/1/2009
We wish you much happiness and joy this Holiday Season and health and prosperity in the New Year.
We had such an incredible year in 2008, and would like to take this moment to thank you for all your support and encouragement. Through collaborative efforts and partnerships, we were able to achieve much success last year. To view some of our most notable accomplishments, please click on 2008 Annual Newsletter.
We look forward to continuing our efforts in ensuring access to justice for low-income, limited-English proficient Asian Americans in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region in 2009, and will keep you updated on our progress throughout the year.
- APALRC Board and Staff
George Wu, Former APALRC Colleague, Named OCA Executive Director
Wed, 12/31/2008
George C. Wu, who joined OCA as Assistant Director in March 2008 and was subsequently promoted to Deputy Director, will succeed Dr. Michael Lin as OCA’s Executive Director on January 1, 2009.
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Language Access Complaint Triggers Historic Ruling against Metropolitan Police Department
Thu, 12/18/2008
In an important step toward ensuring equal access for limited-English speakers, the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) today announced details of one of the country’s only victorious language access rulings against a law enforcement agency. APALRC filed the District’s first language access complaint against the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). In response, the D.C. Office of Human Rights (OHR) found MPD to be noncompliant with the D.C. Language Access Act. The D.C. Language Access Act mandates that D.C. government agencies provide the public equal access to government programs, service and information, regardless of language ability, through interpretation and translation of all vital services and documents.
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Myron Dean Quon’s Letter to the President Elect — Our Workplace and Asian Pacific Americans
Mon, 12/15/2008
Dear President-Elect Obama,
Congratulations on the start of a new administration. As one of a handful of pan-Asian legal advocates in the nation focused on the civil and legal rights of Asian Pacific Americans, the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) hopes that your administration is mindful of issues that are specific to Asian Pacific Americans (APAs). The APALRC is the nonprofit legal advocate advancing the legal and civil rights of low-income and limited English proficient Asian Pacific Americans of the Capitol region, through direct legal services, community education, and advocacy. Although we are only 5% of the country’s residents, 50% of APAs live in the East Coast or West Coast. Further, APAs are made up of more than 50 ethnicities and speak over a hundred languages/dialects. Finally, about 2 out of 3 APAs are foreign-born.
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APALRC Celebrates Ten Years of Dedicated Legal Service and Advocacy in the Region, and Honors its Founders, Founding Board Members, and First Executive Director
Tue, 11/18/2008
APALRC celebrated its tenth anniversary at the Equality Center in Washington, D.C. The event provided an opportunity for APALRC supporters to meet the organization’s new executive director, Myron Dean Quon, founders, board members, staff, and a decade’s worth of law student volunteers. The event also honored APALRC’s first executive director, Jayne Park, for her visionary leadership and dedication for the past eight years, and recognized one of its founders, John C. Yang, for his tireless work and generous contributions.
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