The AAPI Victory Alliance has released a statement applauding President Joe Biden for the establishment of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI).

Led by Krystal Ka’ai, the new initiative will ensure that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) have a seat at the table, along with the ability to advocate and fight back against hate and violence that we’ve seen across the board recently, AAPI Victory Alliance said.

“The AAPI Victory Alliance applauds President Joe Biden for establishing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. This commission is the first step towards harnessing our AAPI growth and power and allows our communities to have a seat at the table with the issues that matter most to us. From stopping AAPI hate to ensuring an equitable COVID-19 recovery to harnessing our growing influence and power in our electoral systems, the time for AAPIs to have a seat at the table has never been more crucial. We commend President Joe Biden for recognizing our communities and installing this initiative.

“We also congratulate our longtime partner Krystal Ka’ai on her appointment as the Initiative’s Executive Director. Krystal is a dynamic and committed leader who will consistently advocate for our communities. Krystal has a long track record on Capitol Hill and advocacy for AAPI communities and will be essential in moving the Initiative to a more prominent level. We look forward to working alongside her and ensuring that our AAPI communities are getting the help and support we need.

Krystal Ka’ai, who has been selected to serve as Executive Director of the Initiative, was recently executive director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, leading legislative, communications, and outreach strategy for a bicameral caucus composed of more than 70 members in both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. (Photo credit: Aubrey Gemignani)

She worked to advance key priorities impacting the AAPI community, including health care, immigration, education, civil rights, economic development, and more. She previously served in various roles with the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the State of Hawai‘i.

According to the Executive Order establishing the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, the Initiative is charged with driving a whole-of-government agenda to advance equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities.

The agenda includes helping to coordinate a comprehensive Federal response to the rise in acts of anti-Asian bias and violence, addressing the systemic lack of disaggregated data on AA and NHPI communities in Federal statistical systems, expanding language access and language assistance programs for AA and NHPI individuals across federal programs, strengthening economic security and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities by empowering AA and NHPI entrepreneurs, building new workforce training opportunities, and promoting workplaces that are free from harassment against AA and NHPI workers.

The agenda also includes addressing the concentration of poverty experienced in many AA and NHPI communities, addressing disparities in educational outcomes for AA and NHPI students of all ages, and addressing bullying, harassment, and discrimination in our Nation’s schools, advancing climate and environmental justice for AA and NHPI communities who are particularly impacted by the climate crisis and are overburdened by environmental degradation.

The office will be responsible for promoting inclusion and belonging for all AA and NHPI communities by strengthening public awareness and education about AA and NHPI communities, cultures, and traditions, empowering AA and NHPI communities to be civically engaged, including through electoral participation, building a Federal workforce where AA and NHPI public servants are leaders at the most senior levels of our government, and ensuring that AA and NHPI communities are empowered and equitably served by Federal funding, grants, and contracts.