PRESS RELEASE
AAPCHO Statement on President Biden’s Establishment of White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders at HHS
Congratulates Krystal Ka’ai’s Appointment as the Initiative’s First Native Hawaiian Executive Director
May 28, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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WASHINGTON – The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) released the following statement on President Biden’s establishment of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans (AA), Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) and the appointment of Krystal Ka’ai as the Initiatives executive director.
Jeffrey Caballero, AAPCHO’s executive director, said:
“AAPCHO applauds President Biden’s renewal of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and housing the Initiative within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Initiative plays an important role in coordinating federal policies affecting AA and NHPI communities, and being the primary liaison across government to improve the wellbeing of our communities. We appreciate the President’s selection of HHS as the Initiative’s lead agency given the many challenges affecting AA and NHPI communities, including the significant health and mental health concerns from COVID-19, anti-Asian hate, systemic health and health access disparities.
“AAPCHO further applauds President Biden’s historic appointment of Krystal Ka’ai to serve as the Initiative’s first executive director of Native Hawaiian descent. Krystal has been a steadfast leader for AAs and NHPIs, and she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Initiative during this critical time for AAs and NHPIs across the country. As executive director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus for nearly a decade, Krystal has always centered the needs of the community in guiding the Caucus’ work and ensuring that AA and NHPI issues were championed by Members of Congress and in federal policies. AAPCHO and our member community health centers congratulate Krystal on her appointment and we look forward to continuing to work with her in this new role.”
About AAPCHO
AAPCHO is a national association of community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. For more information on AAPCHO, please visit www.aapcho.org.
Contact
Kristine Cecile Alarcon, (510) 671-5054, kalarcon@aapcho.org