Asian Americans are the fastest growing population in the U.S. and more than 11 million AAPI will be able to vote in 2020.

In a newly released documentary, First Vote, Yi Chen follows a cross section of politically engaged Chinese American voters, all first-time voters, during the 2018 midterm elections. This includes a variety of voters: A gun-toting Tea Party-favorite candidate courting GOP votes in the South; a podcaster in Ohio who became a citizen in order to vote for Trump; a progressive journalist confronting Chinese Americans for Trump after moving to a battleground state from Beijing; and a University of North Carolina professor teaching about race and racism in the U.S.

RSVP to receive the link to view this newly released documentary from the comfort of your own home. Please consider helping us cover the costs of the film license ($202) by making a donation to Democrats Abroad.

By sharing this film, our goal is to bring awareness to the political influence of the AAPI community and find ways to improve voter outreach.

When can I watch?

You'll receive a link you can use to watch the documentary any time between Thursday, October 29 and Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Join the Democrats Abroad AAPI Caucus for a film screening of First Vote. 

After the screening, attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the film and also to submit questions for the discussion with the filmmaker, Yi Chen, on November 7th, 2020.

In a newly released documentary, First Vote, Yi Chen follows a cross section of politically engaged Chinese American voters, all first-time voters, during the 2018 midterm elections. This includes a variety of voters: A gun-toting Tea Party-favorite candidate courting GOP votes in the South; a podcaster in Ohio who became a citizen in order to vote for Trump; a progressive journalist confronting Chinese Americans for Trump after moving to a battleground state from Beijing; and a University of North Carolina professor teaching about race and racism in the U.S.

Our goal is to bring awareness to the political influence of the AAPI community and discuss ways to improve voter outreach. Please help us cover the costs of the film license ($202) by making a donation to Democrats Abroad.

Time

Asian Americans are the fastest growing population in the U.S. and more than 11 million AAPI will be able to vote in 2020.

In a newly released documentary, First Vote, Yi Chen follows a cross section of politically engaged Chinese American voters, all first-time voters, during the 2018 midterm elections. This includes a variety of voters: A gun-toting Tea Party-favorite candidate courting GOP votes in the South; a podcaster in Ohio who became a citizen in order to vote for Trump; a progressive journalist confronting Chinese Americans for Trump after moving to a battleground state from Beijing; and a University of North Carolina professor teaching about race and racism in the U.S.

Join the Democrats Abroad AAPI Caucus, Democrats Abroad China, and Democrats Abroad Hong Kong as we host a discussion with the filmmaker of First Vote, Yi Chen. She is a Soros Equality Fellow and DC Arts and Humanities Fellow. First Vote is her debut feature documentary. By RSVPing for this event, you will receive a link to watch the film prior to the event.

Our goal is to bring awareness to the political influence of the AAPI community and discuss ways to improve voter outreach. Please help us cover the costs of the film license ($202) by making a donation to Democrats Abroad.

Time

Annie Tanampai is an active member of Democrats Abroad Belgium. She has been living in Belgium for almost 10 years and in her free time she likes to spend time with her family, hiking, and traveling. She joins the AAPI steering committee because she wants to take action in raising awareness on the AAPI issues and help strengthen the AAPI community around the world. 😊

My name is Powen, and I've been living in Berlin, Germany, since 2014. I've been involved in Democrats Abroad for almost that whole time. I'm currently the Press & Communications coordinator on the Berlin chapter board, and I also serve as one of the representatives for Germany to the Democratic Party Committee Abroad (DPCA).

I spent most of my formative years in Michigan, but have lived in Pennsylvania, California, North Carolina, and Mississippi as well. In addition to political activities and organizing, I also work with technology startups focusing on marketing and internationalization.

Starting the Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus at Democrats Abroad is important to me because I believe that AAPI communities need a voice in our political system. The best way to focus on the needs, stories, and issues important to us to get organized and make ourselves heard.

I'm Suma, an Oregon voter. I grew up in Bangalore, India and relocated to the US to pursue my Master's degree in Computer Science. I was introduced to US politics while in school and I actively participated in organizing events and fund raising. With a rich experience of two Master's degrees and decades of work experience, I returned to India. I am on the board of a technology start-up and mentor new businesses. I am a fitness enthusiast, and participate in marathons.

It is an honor to serve as Chairperson of Democrats Abroad India, member of the Global AAPI steering committee, and member of Global IT team.

Hi, Everyone! I’m Emily and I am an Indiana voter and have been living in Berlin, Germany for the past nine years. Currently, I am the Vice Chair of the Berlin Chapter and the Events and Fundraising Coordinator for DA Germany, as well as a DPCA Voting Representative.

Originally born in Daegu (then known as Taegu), South Korea, I was adopted at the age of three months. My parents were from Missouri, but I grew up in Kentucky and Indiana, surrounded by a majority white community. My first experience with meeting someone from Korea was in third grade when a new student arrived at our school. My teacher paired us up and asked that I help her get settled and show her around school. As thrilled as I was to meet someone from Korea, I suspect our pairing was because of our shared background/attributes. Either way, I am still grateful that I was able to become best friends with this new student. I will never forget sleeping over at her house and eating traditional Korean food for the first time. 

My family was always open about the fact that I was adopted. It wasn’t until high school when I had the chance to visit Korea. Once we were there, I was amazed at how different I felt. Being in the majority for the first time in my life was great. Having grown up in a majority white community, I would forget how Korean I actually looked, so I did not feel like I actually belonged in South Korea. I quickly realized that I did look more Korean than I thought, since classmates did not notice me in the crowds, everyone assumed I spoke Korean, and I think many thought I was the tour guide for my classmates. 

After returning from the trip, my interest in Korea grew dramatically. I took several courses about Korea my senior year of college and since then, I have spent more time reflecting on what it means to be Korean, specifically a Korean adoptee. Living in Germany has added another layer to understanding my identity since many people question my Americanness when they ask where I am from. That question is typically followed up with, “But, really, where are you from?” By being a member of this caucus, I am very excited to have the chance to learn more about the culture, history, and importance of this growing sector of the U.S. population. It is also wonderful to meet other AAPI members of Democrats Abroad and recognize how diverse we are as a community. As one of the Co-Chairs, it is an honor to be able to represent one of these many diverse faces.

Welcome to the Global Asian American & Pacific Islander Caucus of Democrats Abroad!

The Democrats Abroad Global Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus (AAPI) advocates on issues important to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders both in the United States of America and living abroad.

The AAPI Caucus focuses on reaching out to AAPI voters living abroad, increasing engagement in civic and political life, and advocating for laws, policies, and programs that improve the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

We are also committed to highlighting AAPI history, culture, and the role of AAPI communities in fighting against racism, structural discrimination, and oppression. All Democrats Abroad members are welcome to join the AAPI Caucus.

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What is the AAPI Caucus?

• A forum for all Democrats Abroad members to understand the issues and concerns facing the AAPI community.
• A platform to engage with AAPI voters living abroad to ensure their needs are met.
• A vehicle to help eliminate unconscious bias towards AAPI among Americans and Democrats Abroad members.
• An advocate for policies and reforms important to the AAPI community, especially AAPI Democrats Abroad.
• A champion for AAPI history and culture to promote intercultural understanding.

Learn more about the AAPI caucus and read the caucus founding document, the Terms of Reference.

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First Vote Film Screening and Discussion with Filmmaker Yi Chen

Posted by Emily Lines · October 19, 2020 12:40 PM · 1 reaction

Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Middle Eastern Candidates in the 2020 election

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