Episode 180: 23 Million+ Will No Longer Be Ignored
Did you know that the Asian American Pacific Island (AAPI) population is, according to the AAPI Victory Fund, 23 million plus people strong with roots from countries in East, South, and Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands. They have vast ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity and make up approximately six percent of America’s population. L. Joy brings AAPI Victory Fund President and CEO, Brad Jenkins, to the front of the class to break down coalition building, engaging and empowering the AAPI population, and why PACs can be a force for good.
Homework:
Find out more about the AAPI Victory Fund https://aapivictoryfund.com/
Take a deep dive into AAPI Data https://aapidata.com/
Review #WhoWeElect Secretary of State https://www.sundaycivics.org/episodes/episode75
Our Guest:
Brad Jenkins spent four years serving as President Obama’s Associate Director in The White House Office of Public Engagement. From The White House, Jenkins brought together creative executives, thought leaders, and some of the world’s biggest stars to advance the President’s agenda—culminating in the Emmy-award winning “Between Two Ferns” interview on the Affordable Care Act. Jenkins then joined Will Ferrell’s Funny Or Die as Managing Director and Executive Producer running their branded social impact content business known as Funny Or Die D.C.
Since then, Jenkins has produced over 70 social impact campaigns, documentaries, specials, and events with organizations, companies, PACs, IEs, and foundations with a particular focus on the Asian American Pacific Islander community.
Jenkins’s company, Enfranchisement has helped lead campaigns for AAPI organizations such as The Asian American Foundation, RUN AAPI, Indian American IMPACT Fund, See Us Unite, We Are Sikhs, Rise, Period, Phenomenal, the 2021 AAPI Inaugural Ball, New American Leaders, Asian American Advocacy Fund, and more. Other campaigns have included Common’s Imagine Justice, Barack Obama and Eric Holder’s National Democratic Redistricting Committee, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Family Equality Council, Born Perfect, and more.
For his production work, Brad was featured on CNN’s “History of Comedy,” MSNBC’s “Story Of Cool” and he has won numerous awards including a Grand Clio, Shorty Award For Diversity, Streamy Award for Social Impact, Webby Award for Diversity/Inclusion, Halo Award for CSR, the Humanitarian of The Year from the Venice Family Clinic, and the Spirit of Innovation Award from the Asian American Victory Fund. Jenkins is Co-Founder and Board Member of RUN AAPI, Board Member of The Second City with Stephen Colbert, Business Forward, and Voters Of Tomorrow.
