QUEENS, NY: On June 12th, APA VOICE: Asian Pacific Americans Voting & Organizing to Increase Civic Engagement and local partners hosted an in-person non-partisan candidate forum for State Senate District 12 and State Assembly District 30. Held at P.S. 12 James A. Colgate in Woodside, the event brought out over 80 local residents to hear directly from primary candidates ahead of the upcoming election. The forum was moderated by award-winning journalist and Muslim Community Network board member Aymann Ismail, who asked questions submitted directly by neighborhood residents and co-sponsoring organizations. To ensure full language access, the entire forum was simultaneously translated into Bengali and Nepali, and the coalition distributed separate candidate surveys in English, Bengali, and Nepali to all attendees.
The forum gave Queens voters a chance to press candidates on the issues hitting the neighborhood hardest, including affordable housing, gaming addiction, immigration, public safety, and education. State Senate candidates Assemblymember Steven Raga and Aber Kawas, alongside State Assembly candidates Shamsul Haque, Patrick Martinez, and Somnath Ghimire, all presented their platforms and engaged directly with community concerns. Given that Asian Pacific Americans comprise 52.6% of the voting-age population in Assembly District 30 and 28.5% in Senate District 12, organizers stressed that the community's electoral influence is undeniable, and Asian American voters will no longer accept being overlooked; their needs must be heard, respected, and fully reflected in government.
(Photo courtesy: APA VOICE)
Full recordings of the event can be accessed online: Senate District 12 & Assembly District 30.
With the primary election quickly approaching, APA VOICE and its partners are reminding all registered voters that today, June 13th, is the first day of Early Voting in New York State. The coalition urges all eligible community members to make their voices heard by voting early. Early voting runs from today through Sunday, June 21st, before Primary Election Day on Tuesday, June 23rd. True representation is built at the polls; voting early ensures our neighborhood's demands cannot be ignored.
“This forum shows our Asian American electorate is a powerful political force that can no longer be ignored,” said Yoon Ji Kim, Executive Director of the MinKwon Center for Community Action, convener of APA VOICE. “For the past decade, we have been on the ground working tirelessly with our partners to ensure that members of our community—from our youth to our seniors—are educated, organized, and fully aware of their rights and power. From voter education to the census and redistricting, we will continue to remain on the front lines, organized and vigilant, to fight for the equitable representation and resources our communities deserve amidst these challenging times.”
“Adhikaar is proud to partner with APA Voice to create opportunities for voters to engage directly with candidates and elevate the issues impacting our communities. As one of the only organizations in the United States dedicated to organizing and advancing the rights of working-class Nepali-speaking communities from South and Southeast Asia—one of the fastest-growing AAPI communities in the country—we know that democracy is strongest when every community is informed, engaged, and heard. As early voting begins, we hope this forum empowers voters to make their voices count,” said Mamta Nyangmi, Interim Executive Director of Adhikaar for Human Rights and Social Justice.
“As a proud member of APA VOICE, MCN was honored to help organize this year's candidate forum. Events like these provide invaluable opportunities for community members to engage directly with candidates and make informed decisions about the future of our neighborhoods. Queens is home to one of the largest Muslim voting populations in the country, and the APA VOICE coalition's efforts to increase civic engagement are vital to ensuring our communities are informed and empowered to participate in the democratic process. We are especially grateful to our Board Member, Aymann Ismail, for moderating this important conversation and for his steadfast support of MCN's mission,” said Husein Yatabarry, Executive Director of the Muslim Community Network.
"Chhaya CDC is a long-time and proud partner with APA Voice in bringing civic education and participation to the Asian American community in NYC. Last night's nonpartisan candidate forum is a testament to the collective work we have done to ensure that our communities have access and opportunity to make informed decisions when electing a candidate of their choice. As an organization that serves the South Asian and Indo-Caribbean community in NYC to build housing stability, economic well-being, and power, these candidate forums allow our communities to engage directly with candidates on these issues and activate them to participate in the civic process," said Farzana Linda, Assistant Director at Chhaya Community Development Corporation.
“APA Voice’s commitment to civic engagement continues to strengthen our communities by creating opportunities for residents to become informed and involved in the democratic process. As a partner, Woodside On the Move is proud to work alongside APA Voice and other community organizations to ensure that voters have access to meaningful dialogue and information. These forums are not political; they are civic. They provide residents with the opportunity to make their own assessment of which candidate is best qualified for the job. Together, we are building stronger communities by empowering people to participate, engage, and make informed decisions about their future,” said William Jourdain, Executive Director of Woodside on the Move.
"As a proud member of APA VOICE, OCA-NY was excited to contribute to the organization of this candidate forum," said Angela Li, Executive Director of OCA-NY. "Candidate forums are critical spaces for our communities to engage directly with the democratic process. Voter education empowers our community to make informed decisions, advocate for issues that impact our families and neighborhoods, and ensure our voices are heard at every level of government."
“At a moment when our immigrant, queer, and trans communities are scapegoated and pushed to the margins, forums like this are a powerful reminder that we deserve more than mere survival — we deserve safety, dignity, and real investment, not promises. Centering LGBTQ+ safety, language access, and immigration services is not optional; it is the baseline for any candidate who claims to serve Queens. As a proud member of APA VOICE, our Black, Indo-Caribbean, South Asian, and Latinx communities will support leaders with a proven record of protecting our right to live openly, access information in our own languages, and obtain the immigration resources we need to keep families together, stay safe from ICE, thrive, and belong in our diverse neighborhoods,” said Mohamed Q. Amin, Founder and Executive Director, Caribbean Equality Project.
“Friday evening’s event was an important opportunity for our communities to hear directly from the candidates about crucial issues such as affordable housing, immigrant rights, and strategies to create economic opportunity,” said Thomas Yu, Executive Director of Asian Americans for Equality. “We thank APA VOICE and all of the participating groups for organizing the forum. As early voting begins today, all of us at AAFE urge community members to make their voices heard and to exercise their right to vote!”
“For too long, AAPI communities have been viewed as an afterthought in our political process. Candidate forums like this one hosted by APA Voice, help change that by creating direct opportunities for voters to engage candidates, elevate community priorities, and demand accountability from those seeking public office. An informed community is a powerful community. We encourage every eligible voter, particularly Filipino Americans in Queens, to learn about the candidates, participate in early voting, and exercise the fundamental right that generations before us fought to secure. Our communities deserve a seat at the table and that starts at the ballot box,” said Rachelle Peraz Ocampo, President of National Federation of Filipino American Associations - NY (NaFFAA NY).
“India Home was proud to support this forum and help ensure older adults and immigrant communities had the opportunity to hear directly from candidates on issues that affect their daily lives. Civic engagement is essential to building stronger, more inclusive communities, and we encourage all eligible voters to participate in the democratic process,” said Shaaranya Pillai, Deputy Director of India Home, Inc.
Full list of co-sponsors (in alphabetical order):
