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Community Service

APABA-DC has a long history of community service in the D.C. metro area and has relationships with various Asian Pacific American community-based organizations in the area. APABA-DC participates in pro bono clinics and organizes other volunteer activities for its members during the year. APABA-DC has ties to many local community based organizations and plans to reach out to other community groups.

We have anti-racism and anti-hate crime resources available here.

For any questions, please contact Vice President for Community Affairs and Assistant Vice President for Community Affairs at community@apaba-dc.org.

Advice and Referral Clinic


APABA-DC has partnered with the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program's Advice and Referral Clinic for two Saturday’s a year with volunteer attorneys to staff the clinic usually in June and December. Attorneys with all levels of experience are welcome to volunteer; expert mentors and other resources will be available. This is a great opportunity for members to donate their legal skills to people in need of assistance. Through the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program Advice & Referral Clinic, members of the private bar effectively assist these individuals by assessing their legal matters and providing general information and advice. The Clinic provides individuals who have civil legal problems governed by D.C. or federal law an opportunity to discuss with volunteer attorneys certain kinds of matters, including bankruptcy/debt collection, consumer law, employment law, family law, health law, housing law (landlord & tenant, etc.), immigration/asylum, personal injury, probate (wills, medical directives, etc.), public benefits (welfare, SSI, etc.) and tax law. All services are provided free of charge.

Immigration Law Clinic


APABA-DC was asked to provide assistance in its Inaugural year of the D.C. Bar Immigration Legal Advice and Referral Clinic. The rising demand in the community they are opening it up to the Asian American community. In order to address the rising need for bilingual legal services in the District, the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program along with a number of partners, sponsors an Immigration Clinic to provide free legal advice regarding immigration issues to foreign language-speaking District residents. Visitors to the Clinic are able to receive assistance from volunteer attorneys with advice on immigration/asylum issues. The Clinic is staffed primarily by bilingual attorneys recruited from the Hispanic Bar Association, APABA-DC, and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program's Pro Bono Partnership (PART) law firms.

Additional Initiatives


APABA-DC also works on other non-legal services related community service initiatives.

For the 2019-2020 year, APABA-DC organized a Bollywood dance class fundraiser with SABA-DC and CAMBA for the Capital Food Area Bank and with generous donations from attendees and members raised nearly $2000 for the food bank. In the past, APABA-DC has worked with other organizations on donation drives during the holiday season and volunteered with the Capital Area Food Bank. 

Philanthropy Leadership and Community Engagement (PLACE) Program



APABA-DC’s Philanthropy Leadership and Community Engagement program (PLACE) aims to create an environment for education, exploration, and development of personal and group philanthropy in the DC area.  PLACE participants each make a charitable contribution and meet once a month over eight months to gather, learn, and donate to organizations serving the AAPI community.  PLACE presentations and conversations have focused on trust-based philanthropy, tax implications of charitable giving, evaluating philanthropic organizations, and meetings with philanthropists and community leaders.  Since August 2022, we have raised over $11,000 through personal charitable contributions.

PLACE participants are selected each summer to participate in the annual term from September through May.  All donations to support local organizations serving the AAPI community are welcome and can be made here.  If you prefer to make a contribution by check or want to learn more, please contact Ethel Badawi at ebadawi@pbgsearch.com.

Our 2022-23 Inaugural Grant Recipient was A/PI Domestic Violence Resource Project.  Since 1996, the Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP) has provided services to survivors of domestic violence in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia.  The organization was founded by survivors and continues to be survivor-led and driven.  DVRP provides free and confidential services, in over 20 Asian/Pacific Islander languages.  DVRP aims to improve the safety of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, regardless of income level, immigration status or English fluency.

APABA-DC is an affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

APABA-DC

P.O. Box 27223

Washington, DC 20038

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