JANUARY 2022 ISSUE

The Norman Y. Mineta Leadership Institute was launched in October 2006 in honor of Secretary Mineta’s lifetime achievements in exemplifying and promoting civic participation and public service. The institute focuses on launching a series of weekend long leadership trainings for nonprofit staff, community leaders and volunteers in various cities across the country..

One focus of these trainings to increase the leadership and organizing capacity of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community by equipping leaders with the tools necessary to engage Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in successful electoral campaigns. The Norman Y. Mineta Institute trains participants on the foundations of non-partisan electoral campaigns, leadership skills needed to be a well rounded civic leader as well as provides participants with strategies specific to working with AAPI communities, fulfilling an unmet need in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Training Objectives

To achieve this vision, the trainings will focus on three areas:

Provide a framework for civic engagement and political organizing To provide a political framework regarding the importance of electoral organizing for Asian American & Pacific Islander communities.

To deepen our political analysis of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders voters in our political system.

Provide participants with organizing tools to effectively build civic engagement programs

To provide tools that fosters our communities’ knowledge of outreach in order to create and implement effective voter registration, education and mobilization programs.

To support and nurture the next generation of leaders and volunteers

Increase and encourage regional partnerships

To provide a forum to share successful organizing models and lessons learned from local partners.

To develop a strategic plan focused on building capacity for the organizations to contribute to this joint effort.

Through this training, participants will learn about national and regional voting trends, engage in interactive workshops, and contribute in local planning sessions. They will also receive the nuts and bolts of running an effective voter mobilization program and how to incorporate civic participation into an organization’s existing programs and structure. Components of the training include the development of voter registration, education and outreach plans, voter mobilization, incorporating strong communications components, rules and regulations for 501(c)3 organizations, how to design and conduct evaluations and learn how measure programs and its impact.