President’s Message

Dear friends , brothers and sisters I wish you all a very happy healthy blissful year 2025. With the turn of the year I feel honored and humbled to begin the presidency of APPAC . I understand leading an organization like Appac is a huge responsibility and I will be needing advice and support from all of you. As many of you know APPAC was formed about 8 years ago amidst the haze of anti Muslim rhetoric and Islamophobia to bring forward the counter narrative and building our community to participate in the sociopolitical system of the country we have chosen as our home. And from the platform of Appac we have been emphasizing the vital importance of doing so and today as I start I want to reiterate it. When we examine the histories of various immigrant communities—such as the Chinese, Irish, and Japanese—and, most importantly, our own, it becomes evident that minorities have faced significant discrimination and prejudice, including Islamophobia. It is only when these communities come together, unite, and engage in diligent social and political work that their voices can be heard. Despite facing both overt and subtle biases, our community has risen to the challenge. Organizations like APPAC have been instrumental in fostering sociopolitical awareness, leading to a notable increase in the number of dedicated individuals from our community running for public office, particularly in the 2020 and 2022 elections compared to 2016. However, we must acknowledge that there is still much work to be done. Today, a disturbingly small percentage of our community is registered to vote, and an even smaller percentage actually participates in elections. The common sentiment of “I don’t involve myself in politics” is prevalent, leaving many of us unaware of the societal demands we face. Forvexample; not being involved in local school boards, where our children are educated, is all too familiar. Dear brothers and sisters, if we wish to live with respect and dignity and want our children and grandchildren to thrive in a society that is not hostile or oppressive, we must actively engage in the sociopolitical systems of our country. We can confidently say that we are better off here in the U.S. than in our countries of origin. The more is the gain the more is the demand of the society to be worthy of this by being part of it . This can not happen or continue to happen that we reap all the benefits from the society and we do not pay it back in terms of our time and resources . And as we invest more in our society—both socially and politically—the more we stand to gain. Our community is among the most educated, affluent, and law-abiding in the nation, free from the stigmas associated with drugs, violence, and organized crime. We simply seek to contribute to the country that has offered us so much, to raise healthy families, and to cultivate thriving neighborhoods. To secure our rightful place in society, it is imperative that we all take responsibility. We cannot rely on others to advocate for us; this is our job, and it begins with each one of us. Thank you.