During a campaign stop in Seattle, Indiana mayor and presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg visited the offices of Asian Counseling and Referral Service on July 23 to participate in the agency’s nationally recognized Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Democracy Initiative and learn more about the issues that most impact AAPI communities.

Two dozen AAPI community leaders from around the state joined the round table with Mayor Buttigieg, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. He answered a wide array of questions posed by the group that included race, immigration, police accountability, the economy, and the divisiveness in the current political climate.

“It’s so important that we stand up for each other in every part of the richness of America’s diversity. It is a strength and not a weakness of this country and we need to celebrate it as such, in our policy choices and in our language,” Mayor Buttigieg shared with the coalition of AAPI community leaders.

Nationally and in Washington state, AAPIs are the fastest-growing racial group, yet they are often “invisible” and left out of the political dialogue and key issues of our times. The AAPI Democracy Initiative aims to spotlight the diversity of unique issues impacting AAPIs while boosting civic engagement in these communities. In addition to voter registration and outreach in 20 different languages, the AAPI Democracy Initiative also develops local leaders who serve as resources in their own communities.

“We want to thank Mayor Pete Buttigieg for reaching out to ACRS and taking the time to meet with AAPI community leaders and learn about the issues and needs our communities. Now more than ever, we need leaders in office who can engage and listen to people whose voices and experiences are different than their own. Tuesday’s discussion demonstrates the relevance of the AAPI Democracy Initiative work to educate and empower present and future leaders on the issues most important to Asian American and Pacific Islanders,” said ACRS Executive Director Michael Byun.

Since its launch in 2015, the AAPI Democracy Initiative and its coalition of partners across the state has gained national recognition for lifting AAPI issues while increasing the visibility and electoral power of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. ACRS’ AAPI Democracy Initiative has helped thousands of AAPI members exercise their voice on issues that matter most to their communities, achieve U.S. citizenship, register to vote, and access tools and resources to make informed choices during elections. In 2016, voter turnout for registered voters contacted by ACRS’ Democracy Initiative was 7% higher than all AAPIs across the state.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, ACRS welcomes all presidential candidates of all parties to visit our dynamic facility, participate in our AAPI Democracy Initiative and learn more about the unique issues, needs, cultures, and history of our diverse communities. Mayor Buttigieg’s attendance at ACRS is not an endorsement for his campaign.

“No campaigning, fundraising or volunteer pitches by the candidate is a mark of a truly sincere opportunity merely to learn more about the rich diversity of the communities and contributors that make our nation great. This is what democracy looks like,” said Byun.