As the debate about Oregon's budget measures 66 and 67 continues, not all voices are part of the debate equally. MRG Foundation has made a Critical Response grant to APANO (Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon) to engage people in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in discussions about how these measures could specifically impact them.

For example, if Measures 66 and 67 don't pass, the resulting deep cuts in social services will affect families in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities via reduced services for seniors and youth that families rely on. Meanwhile, small business owners in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities may not know if the corporate tax changes that are part of Measure 67 will affect them. Plus, as in many communities, this unusually-timed election faces the challenge of low turnout -- APANO will be working to ensure that Asian and Pacific Islander community members will cast their votes.

APANO will be bringing information about the measures directly to the Asian and Pacific Islander communities via a ballot party, a phone bank, and other outreach efforts.

Because APANO's leadership and membership is drawn directly from Oregon's diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities, they are uniquely well suited to engage individuals in the many languages needed for an effective outreach effort. Their Measure 66/67 phone bank, for example, will have volunteers who can speak with voters in Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese (both Mandarin and Cantonese), Cambodian, and Thai.

To learn more about APANO's work to turn voters out on Measure 66 and 67, visit the APANO website.

MRG's Critical Response Grants fund grassroots social change groups that are organizing a progressive response to an unexpected crisis or opportunity. You can learn more about Critical Response grants here on our website.

Photo of June Arima Schumann at APANO ballot party by Thomas Le Ngo