Newsletter

Last month, 250 coalition members, community leaders, and supporters gathered for National CAPACD’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Gala in Washington, D.C. The evening was a joyful and powerful reflection on our coalition’s transformative impact in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities. The gala featured remarks from founding members, longtime partners, board members, and leaders of community-based organizations who have championed our work. 

In addition to vibrant cultural performances that reflected the diversity and strength of our communities, we also shared a commemorative video to capture key moments that have shaped National CAPACD’s journey. If you missed the gala, you can watch the video below and check out photos from the celebration on our Facebook page.

We would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support of our 25th Anniversary Celebration Gala.

As part of our 25th Anniversary celebration, National CAPACD hosted Building Equity Together: Policy Forum on AA and NHPI Economic Well‑Being in Washington, D.C. The forum brought together our coalition’s leaders to share community-driven strategies that address economic challenges faced by low-income AA and NHPI communities. We were honored to hear opening remarks from Congresswomen Grace Meng and Judy Chu. Our panelists shared powerful insights about how their organizations are expanding access to capital for small businesses, advancing housing justice, and embracing culturally-rooted community development. 

We are deeply grateful to all our participants for shaping this important dialogue and for championing policy solutions that uplift our communities. You can view the photos from the forum on our Facebook page. 

National CAPACD is proud to be one of five national community development organizations co-hosting the People & Places Conference, taking place from October 5-7 in Washington, D.C. Check out the conference agenda, which includes sessions exploring how community developers can continue to support communities during these challenging times. Participants will also join us on Capitol Hill, where we will deliver a united message to Congress about the need for community development funding and the local impact of federal cuts.

Deadline for early bird registration: August 15

National CAPACD brought together our Cultural Anchors Program participants last month in St. Paul, MN. The Cultural Anchors Program offers peer learning opportunities, funding, and technical assistance to support organizations in accelerating their comprehensive community development work. At the convening, participants met with the team from Asian Economic Development Association (AEDA) to learn how they run their annual summer Little Mekong Night Market. At this year’s market, the community celebrated 50 years since Southeast Asians first arrived and settled in Minnesota, with the Twin Cities being home to the largest urban Hmong population in the country.

National CAPACD released our latest report, Unveiling the Economic Realities of AA and NHPI Communities, developed in partnership with the Urban Institute. This report was informed by a community-based advisory committee and offers a deeper understanding of AA and NHPI economic well-being through disaggregated data, metro-level analysis, and community insights. It fills a critical gap in the field by highlighting disparities across multiple economic indicators and amplifying the voices of local leaders often left out of national conversations.

2026 Building CAPACD Convention
August 3-5, 2026
Hyatt Regency Long Beach
Long Beach, CA

Save the date for the 2026 Building CAPACD Convention in Long Beach, CA! Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.