Philadelphia, PA – July 1, 2024 – Christine Chen, founder and Executive Director of APIAVote, held a press conference online to announce the upcoming 2024 Presidential Town Hall and National AAPI Leadership Summit this month.
Presidential Town Hall: AAPI Community Engages Directly with Presidential Candidates
The theme for this year’s Presidential Town Hall is “Uniting Power: Our Community. Our Vote. Our Future.” The event will take place on July 13, 2024, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, with an anticipated attendance of over 1,800 participants. Since 2008, this national forum has provided the AAPI community with a valuable platform to engage directly with presidential candidates.
In the press conference, Christine Chen stated, “The Presidential TownHall not only provides the AAPI community with an opportunity to have face-to-face discussions with the candidates but also ensures that AAPI issues are prominently featured in the campaign discourse and media coverage. We look forward to this year’s event further promoting voter engagement and political influence within the AAPI community.”
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and the highest-ranking Asian American in Congress, Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, have confirmed their participation in this significant event.
Democratic candidate Joe Biden and Republican candidate Donald Trump have both been invited, with more details to be announced soon.
National AAPI Leadership Summit: Empowering Community Leaders
Prior to the Presidential Town Hall, APIAVote will host the National AAPI Leadership Summit from July 11 to 12 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Philadelphia. The summit will gather the most influential AAPI community leaders and organizers nationwide, aiming to equip them with the knowledge and connections necessary to mobilize the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community for the 2024 election.
“Through the National AAPI Leadership Summit, we aim to provide the necessary support for our community leaders to better mobilize their communities for the election, ensuring that our voices are heard and our rights are protected,” Christine added.
Achievements and Aspirations
During the press conference, Christine Chen highlighted the significant achievements of APIAVote in recent years. Since 2008, the Presidential Town Hall has continuously grown, attracting 1.1 million viewers via live stream and television broadcast in 2020. The AAPI voter turnout in 2020 reached a historic high of 60%. In 2022, 3.6 million AAPI voters participated, with 6.2% being first-time voters, more than double the proportion of all first-time voters (3.5%).
Christine Chen encouraged the AAPI community to actively participate in the upcoming events, showcasing the community’s strength and unity through involvement in the Presidential Town Hall and National AAPI Leadership Summit. “As Asian Americans, our voices and votes are playing an increasingly crucial role in American politics. Let’s unite our efforts for our community, our votes, and our future,” she urged.
Registration and Participation
Please share and register early, as spots are limited. To sign up for the Presidential Town Hall and National AAPI Leadership Summit, visit https://apiavote.org . By actively participating in these pivotal events, the AAPI community will continue to be a powerful voice in American politics, advancing the rights and future development of our community.
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回顾与展望
CUS ChineseinUS also asked about the previous locations of the Presidential Town Hall. Christine mentioned that past events have been held in California, Virginia, and Las Vegas. This year marks the first time the Presidential Town Hall will be held in Philadelphia, chosen due to the city’s significant growth in the AAPI population and the outstanding work of local community organizations in elections.
CUS ChineseinUS also asked about the previous locations of the Presidential Town Hall. Christine mentioned that past events have been held in California, Virginia, and Las Vegas. This year marks the first time the Presidential Town Hall will be held in Philadelphia, chosen due to the city’s significant growth in the AAPI population and the outstanding work of local community organizations in elections.
Philadelphia is set to witness this historic moment, as the AAPI community showcases its influence and significance in American politics through these events. This gathering is not only an opportunity for Pennsylvania and Philadelphia to integrate into the mainstream but also a platform for in-depth exchanges with the most influential AAPI community leaders nationwide.
Stay updated with the latest conference news, join us, and witness the remarkable moments of the AAPI community’s impact in American politics.
Supporting Organizations
National
The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW)
Filipina Women’s Network
Laotian American National Alliance (LANA)
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators (NAPACSL)
National Coalition For Asian Pacific American Community Development (CAPACD)
National Tongan American Society
Public Wise
Southeast Asian Freedom Network
Voice of Vietnamese Americans
CA
LEAD Filipino
Orange County Asian American Initiative
Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)
The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization (PIVOT)
Vietnamese American Roundtable
GA
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta
IA
Iowa Asian Alliance
MI
Rising Voices
MO
Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation
MN
Asian American Organizing Project
Asian American Unity Coalition
NC
North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT)
NJ
AAPI New Jersey
NM
New Mexico Asian Family Center
OH
OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates
Greater Cleveland Chapter
PA
Asian Americans United
Woori Center
AAPI PA Power Caucus
AREAA Greater Philadelphia
Asian American Community Fund of PA
ChineseinUS （Media）
Korean American Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
PA Youth Vote
Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation (Jaisohn Center)
SEAMAAC
TX
Rise AAPI
WA
Asian Counseling and Referral Service
