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The AAEN COVID-19 APA Business Advocacy Program was created to provide an adhoc support system for APA Businesses - What is NEXT?

About this Event

In collaboration with Mr. Bo Steiner, Illinois District Director of the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Asian American Executive Network (AAEN) established an volunteer based platform that provided 5 services for APA Businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic. With 60 plus volunteers, 5 teams were established:

1. Research team - research and compiled a summary of resources made available by various level of government: federal government led SBA, IL-SBDC, Cook County, and City of Chicago, non-government advocacy organizations, corporate foundations, etc. The AAEN reference are published by the Chinese Mutual Aid Association of IL. See https://www.chinesemutualaid.org/covid19-resources

2. In-language support team - volunteers with Asian language skills are available to provide translation and interpretation as needed.

3. Communication Team - volunteers are sending information such webinars, reference resources, and any needed follow-up to the various Asian American Communities.

4. Business Liaison team - volunteers with business background are available to support APA Businesses with additional questions.

5. Education and Training team - Volunteers create, market and host webinars on COVID-19 . A series of 4 timely COVID-19 webinars in April and May were conduction with 300+ participants - mostly Illinois but many from other states.

Special thanks to all our collaborators such as National ACE, Small Business Majority, White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders regional network, Asian American Coalition of Chicago, etc.

So, what is NEXT?

1. Come learn about a new Small Business Development Center that is dedicated to help APA Businesess to work through the challenges during COVID-19 pandemic and recovery process.

2. Also learn about a support organization that can help APA Non-profit organizations to do the same - COVID-19 CARES Act programs.

A very special thank you to all the Asian American Executive Network co-hosts, volunteers, collaborators, and supporters. Together, we can build a better community. Please register to save a virtual seat...

Proposed Agenda

I. Welcoming remarks:

- George Mui - Founder and Moderator, Asian American Executive Network (https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-chunkau-mui-006277/) - confirmed

- Aurora Austriaco - Co-Host, Asian American Executive Network (https://www.linkedin.com/in/auroraaustriaco/) - confirmed

II. Recognition of volunteers -

- Maria Racho - COVID-19 APA Business Advocacy Coordinator, Asian American Executive Network - confirmed

- Anson Wu - Co-Host, Asian American Executive Network (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ansonwu/) - confirmed

III. Special Guests:

- Chiling Tong - CEO, National ACE (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiling-tong-1a682226/) - invited

- Daphne Kwok - VP, AARP ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/daphne-kwok-79883a39/)- invited

IV. COVID-19 CARES Act and support program updates

- Robert Steiner - Illinois District Director, Small Business Administration (https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-team/sba-leadership/robert-s-steiner) - confirmed

- Mark Petrilli - Illinois State Director, Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunities SBDC. ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/markpetrilli/) - confirmed

V. New Small Business Development Center designated to support the Illinois based APA Business Community.

- (To be announced) - confirmed

VI. Advocacy Organization supporting APA Non-Profit Organizations during COVID-19 and beyond

- IFF (www.iif.org) - invited

VII. Closing Remarks

Registration for this event has passed

08 Jul 2020
11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

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