Mission
The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan educational and professional organization dedicated to building leadership and public policy knowledge within the Asian Pacific American (APA) community. Its mission is to promote Asian Pacific American interests and success in public service careers, to provide information and education on policy issues affecting the APA community, and to serve the APA community at large.
Background
CAPAL was founded in 1989 to address the visibly low numbers of Asian Pacific Americans serving in the public sector. The founding members of CAPAL came together in Washington, D.C. to establish a forum for engaging and training the next generation of Asian Pacific American policymakers and public leaders.
Achievements
CAPAL works towards achieving its mission through its signature programs: the Washington Leadership Program (WLP), Scholarships Program, Federal Internship Program, and the Professional Development Program.
CAPAL’s first Washington Leadership Program (WLP) served a class of 10 interns and 10 young professionals in 1989. By 2009, an average of 125 students and interns attended each WLP Session, and nearly 2,000 interns and young professionals had graduated from WLP.
Today, CAPAL continues to attract young APA leaders to Washington, D.C. through nationwide campus and community outreach. CAPAL has awarded over $50,000 in scholarships to promising students who work in unpaid public sector internships. CAPAL also helps students to explore opportunities in the Federal workforce through partnerships with government agencies. With a network of over 600 public policy professionals, CAPAL provides undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge, insights, and mentorship they need to successfully launch their own public service careers.
Norman Mineta, Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation
“We should all take pride in CAPAL’s work – in bringing together Asian Pacific American professionals in the DC area, in building opportunities for all of us to work together, and especially in helping to develop our future leadership.”
- Norman Mineta, Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15)
“As the Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I cannot stress how instrumental CAPAL has been in cultivating the next generation of leaders. Through their education and leadership training program, CAPAL is assuring that the interests of the Asian Pacific American community will be honored for years to come.”
- U.S. Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15)
