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American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee is devastated to hear the news of multiple deaths during a recent fire in London, UK. This tragedy has taken lives of innocent victims during similar events of both nature-caused and man-caused character taking place all over the world, including in Pakistan as well. Our prayers and thoughts are with the victims of those deadly events. We express our deepest and heartfelt condolences. Muslims who were awake during the London fire because they were beginning their Ramadan fast “saved people’s lives” when a deadly blaze broke out at a west London tower block, writes HuffPost UK. A London resident of Pakistani origin Humraz Khan rushed to help as the London fire raged. He was awake because of Ramadan: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/london-fire-muslims-breaking-ramadan-fast-may-have-saved-lives-in-grenfell-tower_uk_59410ad3e4b0d3185486088c

American Pakistani Public Affairs Community was part of a massive celebration for Pakistan Independence Day Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the country. The Parade took place in Hicksville, New York.

APPAC took part in the parade contributing to decorations with Pakistani and American flags, staging a special decorated float, and with APPAC membership. Congratulations to each one of you on Pakistan Independence Day!

The American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee plays a valuable role as a bridge between Pakistan and the United States, bringing them together. In this regard, the parade was a celebration and a reminder to Pakistani-American youth to make their contribution. Men, women and children came together in an impressive show of unity, representing their homeland in national dresses.

American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) truly believes that the road to success and prosperity is paved through with knowledge, education and information. With that belief in mind the APPAC launched its Educational Empowerment Assistance Program on June 27th, 2017. Within this Program we will: • Assist target groups to get access to free SAT preparation courses around the U.S. – please let us know whoever is interested in learning more about these opportunities; • Use those programs to increase educational opportunities and advancement of American Pakistani youth; • Inform and assist target groups of existing opportunities for educational grants and assistance. In early July APPAC is hosting its first series of educational opportunity seminars in Brooklyn NY to inform and explain more about new Excelsior Scholarship opportunity for free college and Enhanced Tuition Award programs in New York State. We are also partnering with existing organizations and resources which provide educational empowerment services and support to those who need such help and we can hook you up with such partners. We will be soon making announcements about the date, venue and logistics of this event. We are looking for volunteers to aid us with program tasks. If you are interested in learning more about our Educational Empowerment Program and what we have to offer, please let us know by reaching out to us by this Facebook page, our email – info@appac.co or give us a call at 1-877-62 APPAC.

The American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) recently helped to alleviate one of the most burdensome moments of American history. Back in May of 2017, three men were stabbed for their acts of kindness in defending teenagers on a Portland light-rail. Jeremy Joseph Christian, a 35-year-old convicted felon. is accused of fatally knifing three men who were trying to protect two African-American girls, one of whom was wearing a hijab, on a Portland light-rail train. Christian shouted ethnic and religious slurs at the two young women, the Portland Police Department said in a statement. The three men that intervened were stabbed by Christian. Ricky John Best, 53, died at the scene, while Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche, 23, died at a hospital, police said. Micah David-Cole Fletcher of 21, who was another victim, remained in a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The relatives of the victims were welcomed to the 9th annual scholarship dinner of the NYPD’s Muslim Officers Society at Terrace on the Park in Corona, Queens. During this dinner, the APPAC handed over $13,000 to the families of the Portland victims that was raised by the committee. We must respond to hate with love, to evil with good, as our faith instructs us, and send a powerful message of compassion through action. No amount of money will bring back the victims, but American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC) does hope to lessen their burden in some way and show heartfelt appreciation for their heroic acts against Islamophobia and bigotry. APPAC condemns all forms of violence, hate crimes and bias attacks regardless of the religion, ethnic origin, language and place of residence of the perpetrators. We call on all members of our constituent communities to take note of, document and report to us such instances of hate crimes, bias attacks and individual cases of discrimination. History proves that the easiest position to take in such instances – staying indifferent and uninvolved is often the worst course of action or inaction we can take as a humanity.

On July 13th American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee hosted a Fundraising Event for Acting Deputy Attorney of Kings County Mr. Eric Gonzalez. The event was a huge success attracting a wide audience of supporters for Mr. Gonzalez from a variety of ethnic and racial groups living in Kings County. Mr. Gonzalez’s insight, enthusiasm, wise counsel and leadership have helped propel the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office to the forefront of criminal justice reform. He was sworn in as Acting District Attorney in October of 2016 after the passing of District Attorney Thompson. You can find out more about Mr. Gonzalez’s career and accomplishments on his webpage http://www.brooklynda.org/eric-gonzalez/ APPAC is truly committed to and supports democracy, transparency and diversity in politics. At the same time, APPAC truly believes that state and local victories provide the foundation for political movements by giving hope and momentum. Therefore, APPAC calls on fellow American Pakistani community members and broader American Muslim community members to get involved in local politics more actively. Local policies influence state policies, and state policies influence federal policies. We have a long history in the US of states and municipalities leading the way on issues from child labor to legal abortion, to women’s suffrage. Local and state politics give progressive senators and congressmen a concrete example to point to when trying to move similar legislation at the national level. While activism is important on the federal level, you can have a much bigger impact on the local and state level. State and local politicians represent far smaller constituencies and are easier to influence. In addition, many states are far more liberal than the US as a whole, for example New York State. These progressive states with democratic trifectas often lead the nation on many issues, but there are many areas where we can push ahead further. Please reach out to us for different, effective ways of getting involved more in the local and state politics and make a positive impact in your and your communities’ lives. For more information on APPAC mission and our latest actions, please visit our website www.appac.co and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/APPAC2017/ With any inquiries please send us an email at info@appac.co or call us at 1-877-62 APPAC.

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.