Month: July 2019

On July 29th APPAC hosted Fundraising event for Angela Ramos, candidate for Suffolk County’s 9th District Legislature. The event was a success with the aimed target funds raised for the candidate. During the event the APPAC platform and goals were also introduced to Suffolk County audience and numerous attendees of the event were accepted into the APPAC membership. APPAC would like to thank all who attended the event and showed their support! Without undermining the national politics APPAC believes in the following: Who will most likely pick up a phone if you call your representative in Washington, D.C., to complain or raise an important issue with him / her? Most likely a college intern. Reach out to your local council member, however, and you can usually speak with a real decision-maker. Running for Suffolk County’s 9th District Legislature Angela Ramos comes already comes with a vast array of political activism and achievements under her belt. She was on the front line of the successful fight to bring a Prayer room and Halal food to the Muslim students in the Brentwood school district. She lobbied the NYS Senate and Assembly in an effort that resulted in the acquisition of $250,000 for the MDQ Islamic school in Brentwood. She’s spent years fighting for women’s rights as President of the Long Island Women of Vision Coalition and for education reform in Brentwood by advocating for teachers and students. She transported several buses of Women including some from the Bay Shore MDQ Mosque to protest Trumps racist policies in Washington DC. Speaking at the event and introducing Angela Ramos, Dr. Ahmad Ijaz, the APPAC Chairman, stressed the role and importance of local politics and how each person can make a faster and easier positive impact and difference by getting involved at the local level. He introduced the APPAC goals and platform to the Suffolk Country community who was attending the event, explained why the APPAC goals and causes are aligning with the goals and causes that Angela Ramos is fighting for and raising at the political level. The United States being a country in which a single vote has a very tiny chance of affecting national level elections, what is possible to do? Involvement in local community politics and increasing civic engagement at the grass roots level is easy and powerful. Getting involved in your local government is a great place to start if you want your voice to contribute to the political dialogue. The policies created by local governments affect our lives tremendously. And in recent years, patterns are changing with political power and influence shifting from national institutions into the hands of mayors and city councils. This has also been affected by expanding urbanization and the growing concentration of people and money in urban areas have paved way for the city, rather than the nation or the state, to establish itself as the innovative political institution of the future. We can keep ignoring this fact or we can embrace it but it’s a well-recognized fact that cities have become the epicenters for policy debate that leads to action. We truly believe that for the communities such as American Pakistanis, for the communities for the rights and opportunities of whom local political candidates like Angela Ramos are fighting for the movement of political power to the city level is a huge opportunity to drive change. Local elected officials have an ear to the ground and are much more likely to listen to your concerns than their counterparts at the federal levels. APPAC sincerely believes that civic engagement, responding to local politics with active participation and contribution of ideas, action and support are vital to the longevity of our nation. It is our common responsibility to improve our understanding of the local infrastructures that make our democracy work. You can start increasing your civic engagement and contribute your voice, actions and support to the causes that you care most by supporting Angela Ramos and becoming a member of the APPAC.

APPAC working on grassroots level, young Muslim kids busy in a political campaign on ground: Very often when the organization or initiative is led by people out in their communities who care about the issues of the day, you understand it can turn into something serious and strong. American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee is actively involving American youth with Pakistani descent in grassroots political campaign and voter registration processes. Most tough public issues – from crime to racial tension to substance abuse – directly involve and affect young people. But at the same time too often we see that youth are absent from discussions on these issues.

APPAC programs help American Pakistani community to build trusting relationships necessary for long-term change.

APPAC youth activist from diverse backgrounds and experiences develop trust, understand each others’ experiences, and work together on solutions. We are providing hands on guide and experience for youth and adults, who are dedicated to finding ways for all kinds of people to engage in dialogue and problem solving on critical social and political issues. Feel free to reach out to us to find out how you can get involved and make an impact.

Please help us to share and distribute this announcement about our upcoming Workshop. It’s only with your “Likes” and “Shares” we can spread these good causes further and take the message to those who are in need of such help. Please don’t remain indifferent, stay involved. Thank you. Would you like to learn about affordable college? Would you like to realize your dream of college for yourself or your children? How about crushing the burden of student loan which sometimes puts generations of family into debt? American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) – Educational Empowerment Program is announcing Informational Workshop on: “Tuition-Free Degree Program: The Excelsior Scholarship Informational Workshop” at our Belmont office, Brooklyn New York on July 14th, 2017. Leading the way in affordable education, New York State is now home to the nation’s first accessible college program – The Excelsior Scholarship. Education is one of the most important parts of the APPAC’s work. Simply put, we believe that education is the key to lifting families out of poverty and empower them increasing their opportunities for success in life. The new Tuition-Free Program begins in Fall 2017. Enhanced Tuition Awards will be phased in over three years, beginning for New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually in the fall of 2017, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and reaching $125,000 in 2019. New York State is planning that under this groundbreaking program, more than 940,000 middle-class families and individuals making up to $125,000 per year will qualify to attend college tuition-free at all CUNY and SUNY two- and four-year colleges in New York State. The new program begins in the fall of 2017 and will be phased in over three years. Applications now being accepted through July 21st 2017 During our workshop we will inform you of everything you need to know about New York’s tuition-free program, including eligibility requirements, how the program is implemented, and other frequently asked questions. Attending our workshop, you will also learn how you or your child can be eligible for Enhanced Tuition Awards too. We will tell you about Enhanced Tuition Award Program of New York and provide necessary information to sign up for this program. APPAC will also inform you about its new initiative of Free SAT Preparation Program under its Educational Empowerment Program. The workshop is open to all interested persons, in particular parents and their pre-college age children. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by reaching out to our email – info@appac.co or call us at 1-877-62 APPAC or 718-2079550. Please RSVP by July 12th 2017.