Keith Kamisugi

Asian Pacific Americans for Progress PAC (APAP PAC) announced that it selected Michael Nailat as its inaugural Glen S. Fukushima Campaign Fellow, a position that has been placed with Dr. Judy Chu’s campaign for California’s 32nd Congressional District.

The campaign fellowship is made possible through a donation by Glen. S. Fukushima, a former Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for Japan and China at the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Executive Office of the President.

Nailat, a Silverlake resident, was chosen from 24 applicants for the Fukushima Fellowship. Currently the information technology coordinator for Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), he graduated with a masters in public policy from the University of Southern California and a two bachelors degrees from the University of California, Irvine.

A co-founder of Filipino Americans for Immigration Reform, and an organizing committee member of Justice for Filipino Americans, Nailat also interned during college with Teamsters Joint Council 42, assisting the director of advocacy in member outreach and voter registration drives.

“Having been a community organizer for so long, it’s been easy to forget that progress happens not only on the front lines, but also behind the scenes and in sometimes the most unlikely of places,” said Nailat. “With so much political, economic, and social change happening right before our very eyes, we have a unique opportunity now more than ever to be catalysts as well. I’m definitely grateful for this opportunity.”

“With such a competitive race ahead of us, I’m thankful that Michael will be joining us as the Fukushima Fellow from APA for Progress,” said Chu. “He will play an important role in my efforts to share my experience and vision with the voters of the 32rd Congressional District.”

“Judy Chu’s entire public service career has been dedicated to improving the lives of her constituents and all Californians,” said Curtis Chin, a member of APAP PAC. “As an educator, local school board member, a city councilmember and mayor, an Assemblywoman and now as chair of the California State Board of Equalization, Judy has proven to be a champion of a broad range of causes, including working families, education and government as a force for good.”

“Throughout the 2008 presidential campaign, I saw the incredible impact that young activists were making in President Barack Obama’s campaign,” said Fukushima. “My support of the APA for Progress Campaign Fellow is one modest way that I can contribute to the ongoing growth and development of a new generation of political leadership.”

Fukushima, a veteran of NCR Corp., AT&T Corp., and Cadence Design Systems, Inc., is a California native, a Fulbright Fellow, and a graduate of Stanford University, Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Business School, and Harvard Law School. He is currently CEO of Airbus Japan.

“APA for Progress PAC would like to express our deep appreciation to Glen Fukushima for his investment in our program to promote young activists,” said Chin. “Because of this support, we can not only assist Dr. Judy Chu in her campaign, but also provide an opportunity for Michael to learn about campaigning first-hand.”

The APA for Progress PAC is hosting a private reception in honor of Fukushima on Friday, May 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Los Angeles. For more information and to request an invitation, please contact Keith Kamisugi at keith@keithpr.com.

Asian Pacific Americans for Progress is a national network of progressive Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and allies that organizes educational programs with an affiliated political action committee that endorses candidates and engages in campaign activities. For more information, visit http://apaforprogress.org.