Have you heard the news about the changing face of America? There are now 18 million Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in the U.S. – that’s about 6% of the total US population. As the fastest growing racial group in the country, today Asian Americans can be seen in all levels of public service, mainstream media and corporate and community leadership.
When CAAM was founded in 1980, Asian Americans were just 1.5% of the population. We were largely invisible in mainstream media. Our images were stereotypes such as Suzy Wongs, houseboys and ninjas. For 34 years, we’ve brought authentic Asian American stories to the forefront to better reflect the growing presence and contributions of Asian Americans.
Through our Media Fund, we provide critical funding to independent filmmakers. Each year, we award approximately $200,000 to 10 outstanding film projects that illuminate the Asian American experience.- Each year, we present approximately 10 hours of diverse content for PBS, reaching millions of viewers nationwide.
- Through innovative nationwide programs like our recently launched Muslim Youth Voices Project, we equip underrepresented communities with tools to tell their own stories.
- CAAMFest, our annual film, music and food festival showcases the work of more than 100 filmmakers from around the world, providing rich cultural bridging and bonding experiences to over 26,000 attendees.
We’re proud of how far our communities have come but there are still so many other communities whose voices and experiences need to be heard and acknowledged. It’s all of our responsibility to share our story.
Help make our 35th year stronger than ever by donating $35 or more securely online at www.CAAMedia.org/Amplify by December 31, 2014. Ensure that we can continue to support storytellers around the world with the tools and resources to tell timely, relevant and compelling stories. If your company has an employee matching gift program, please increase the impact of your gift by requesting a matching gift. For more information, please contact Jennifer Chu, Membership Manager, at jchu@caamedia.org or (415) 863-0814 extension 102.
Regards,
Stephen Gong, Executive Director Dipti Ghosh, Chair, Board of Directors
Main image: Chef Martin Yan, CAAM Executive Director Stephen Gong, CAAM Board Chair Dipti Ghosh and Chef Roy Yamaguchi at CAAMFeast 2014. Photo by Michael Jeong.
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