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Community Vietnamese

Empowering Asian American Communities: The Launch of the Asian Resource Hub

In response to the alarming surge in anti-Asian hate incidents, Asian Americans Advancing Justice organizations, in partnership with Microsoft, have launched the Asian Resource Hub, a groundbreaking digital platform aimed at empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

The hub is a comprehensive resource that combines data from various sources, including surveys, hate trackers, law enforcement, and public records, to provide a detailed picture of the discrimination and hatred faced by AAPI communities. It also offers a searchable national directory of resources and culturally competent services available in multiple Asian languages, including Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, with plans to expand to Hindi, Khmer, Tagalog, and Thai.

The initiative was introduced during a National Ethnic Media News Briefing on February 29, 2024, highlighting its importance in addressing the significant increase in anti-Asian hate, which rose by 339% between 2020 and 2021 alone. The hub aims to provide AAPI communities with the necessary tools to build resilience, feel empowered, and access essential resources tailored to their needs.

The Asian Resource Hub is not only a response to the immediate needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic but also a long-term infrastructure to support AAPI communities in the face of continued discrimination. It is designed to be community-based and focused, offering powerful storytelling and data visualization to help users understand the Asian American experience in the context of hatred and discrimination.

By leveraging technology and data, the hub seeks to provide insights into the challenges faced by AAPI communities and offer solutions to fight back against hate. It is a testament to the collaboration between organizations like Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Microsoft, and the broader community to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

As the hub continues to evolve, it aims to become an evergreen site, constantly updated with new resources and languages to serve the diverse needs of AAPI communities. The goal is to make it a robust resource that can effectively address the gaps in support and understanding of anti-Asian hate and empower individuals and communities to stand against discrimination.

For more information and to access the Asian Resource Hub, visit asianresourcehub.org.

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Community Small Businesses Workforce Development

Integrating Expertise into the Diversity Framework: Establishing a Competent and Representative Government

Introduction

The integration of expertise across all domains, alongside ensuring diversity in terms of race, sex, and ethnicity, fortifies the efficacy of government agencies and boards in formulating and implementing policies that are both informed and representative.

Embedding Expertise in Representation

Within a government agency, the marriage of varied expertise and diverse representation ensures that policy-making is not only cognizant of the different community facets but is also anchored in specialized knowledge. Be it in law, social work, economics, public health, or any other pertinent field, having experts on boards and within agencies ensures that regulations, policies, and enforcement measures are crafted with a deep understanding of the domain-specific challenges and solutions.

Balanced Decision-Making

The integration of domain-specific expertise with diverse representation facilitates balanced and informed decision-making. Experts bring to the table a depth of knowledge in their respective fields, while representatives from varied demographics provide insights into the unique challenges and needs of their communities. This confluence ensures that policies and regulations are not only technically sound but also socio-culturally relevant and empathetic.

Ensuring Competent Service Delivery

Competency in service delivery is significantly enhanced when personnel within government agencies possess the requisite expertise to navigate the complexities of their domain. This, coupled with a rich representation across different demographic segments, ensures that services are delivered in a manner that is both proficient and contextually apt, mitigating risks of miscommunication and misunderstanding within the community.

Trust and Credibility

Government bodies that exhibit a blend of expertise and diverse representation inherently build more trust and credibility among the citizenry. The public is more likely to trust policies and regulations that are crafted by individuals who not only mirror their own diverse backgrounds but also possess the knowledge and skills pertinent to the domain.

Community Engagement and Collaborative Governance

Diversity and expertise within government agencies foster an environment conducive to collaborative governance, where community members feel seen, heard, and understood. The combination of technical know-how and sociocultural understanding enables government personnel to engage with the community in a manner that is both authoritative and relatable, paving the way for a cooperative and mutually respectful relationship between the government and its citizens.

Conclusion

In a diverse and multifaceted society, ensuring that government boards and agencies are imbued with both domain-specific expertise and rich demographic representation is pivotal. This ensures that the governance framework is not only technically robust and competent but also empathetic, inclusive, and reflective of the varied needs and nuances of the entire community. A government that is representative and expert in its functioning stands in a strong position to serve its citizens effectively, ensuring harmony, equity, and sustainable development within the society.

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Community Leadership Development Self-Improve Small Businesses

Kentucky Implements Stricter Policy for Car Registration: ITINs No Longer Accepted

Viet Bao Louisville, KY - Car Registration with ITIN
Viet Bao Louisville, KY - Car Registration with ITIN

Introduction:

Kentucky has recently implemented a more stringent policy regarding car registration and ownership, causing significant concerns among certain communities. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has announced that Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) will no longer be accepted for car titling and registration in the state. Instead, the only approved documents for these purposes are a Kentucky Driver’s License number, a Social Security Number, Visa, or Green Card. This change has raised questions about its impact on immigrant communities and the potential consequences for car owners who rely on ITINs.

Controversial Policy Change:

Previously, Fayette County in Kentucky was one of the few regions that allowed ITINs to be used for completing the car titling and registration process. However, the KYTC has decided to enforce a new policy, discontinuing the acceptance of ITINs. This decision has been met with criticism, particularly from individuals and organizations who argue that the new restrictions disproportionately affect immigrants and foreign nationals who do not possess Social Security Numbers.

Challenges for Immigrant Communities:

The exclusion of ITINs from the list of acceptable documents for car registration and ownership has raised concerns among immigrant communities in Kentucky. ITINs are tax processing numbers issued by the Internal Revenue Service for individuals who are ineligible for Social Security Numbers. They are widely used by individuals who are legally residing in the United States, including students, researchers, dependents, and spouses of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents.

Impact on Car Dealerships:

Local car dealerships, such as Galaxy Auto Sales, have expressed their surprise and disappointment at the sudden policy change. Many of these dealerships serve a significant number of buyers who rely on ITINs for their car purchases. In fact, it has been reported that approximately 30% of monthly car sales in such dealerships are made to buyers who use ITINs. This policy shift not only affects car dealerships’ revenue but also places them in a difficult situation, as they may have to repurchase vehicles sold to individuals using ITINs.

KYTC’s Justification and Lack of Clarity:

The KYTC spokesperson, Naitore Djigbenou, has defended the decision, claiming that ITINs were never intended for identity verification due to the potential for fraudulent use and the inability to verify them through the Cabinet’s automated vehicle information system. However, specific details regarding the timing of the policy change and the associated statute remain unclear. Requests for clarification on these matters have gone unanswered, leaving many stakeholders searching for answers.

Unintended Consequences:

Advocates for immigrant rights and equal justice have raised concerns about the narrow list of acceptable documents and the potential unintended consequences of the policy change. They worry that individuals who wish to purchase vehicles but are not drivers themselves may face difficulties. Additionally, in the event of a collision involving a registered vehicle, the change could complicate matters for law enforcement officers trying to enforce the law and ensure that all vehicles involved have proper registration and insurance.

Enforcement and Future Implications:

The enforcement of the new policy means that individuals using ITINs for car registration and ownership can now face citations for failure to transfer vehicle ownership. While the Kentucky State Police and local law enforcement agencies do not specifically target this issue during routine traffic stops, it may come to light if individuals are pulled over for expired registration or other related violations. This raises concerns about the potential risks associated with driving without proper registration and title, as well as the potential consequences for affected individuals.

Conclusion:

Kentucky’s decision to no longer accept ITINs for car registration and ownership has sparked controversy and drawn attention to the challenges faced by immigrant communities. The exclusion of ITINs from the approved list of documents for these

REFERENCES

https://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article44119413.html

https://www.lex18.com/news/lex-in-depth/new-rules-for-vehicle-titling-registration-in-fayette-county-have-big-impact-on-itin-users