AAPIC condemns the January killings of two Minneapolis residents - Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti - who were fatally shot by ICE officers in Minnesota. We stand against the use of racial profiling, violence, and lethal force by Federal agents. We join calls for independent, transparent investigations of these cases.

AAPIC acknowledges the other lives lost to ICE that have not been as heavily publicized in the news, including Keith Porter Jr. and the more than 30 individuals who have died in ICE custody. All of these deaths are tragic and deserve to be recognized.

Minnesota is home to a diverse Asian immigrant population, including Hmong, Burmese, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Korean, Laotian, and Vietnamese people. The Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota) are home to the largest urban Hmong population in the United States; Asian Minnesotans make up the largest immigrant population of any racial group in the state. This violence and discrimination against immigrants is not new to Asians in America, nor to communities of color. We don’t have to look back far in this country's history to see examples of weaponized racism by the highest office.

Our communities and families are living in fear and being targeted and terrorized by our own government.

To protect the safety and civil rights of all residents, AAPIC urges the County of Sonoma to establish a policy for every department to end all cooperation with ICE. Such a policy is critical to ensure safety, trust, and well-being of immigrant communities throughout Sonoma County.

Unchecked violence by ICE is increasing fear and anxiety among our vulnerable immigrant communities, American citizens of color, and those who demonstrate for our civil liberties. We stand with our broader community’s demands for policy change and justice; we must stay grounded in collective action and solidarity to create a safer, more just future for all.

Stop AAPI Hate published this statement on January 24, 2026:

https://stopaapihate.org/2026/01/24/statement-stop-aapi-hate-condemns-u-s-border-patrols-killing-of-minneapolis-protester-alex-pretti/

Community resource alert: United Way Wine Country is offering free tax preparation services for eligible households earning $79,000 or less. Certified preparers are available February through April, including free ITIN application and renewal support. 

For Sonoma County residents, United Way is also providing free Lyft transportation to eligible individuals who need help getting to appointments and essential services.

To schedule an appointment or learn more: Call 211 Sonoma (available Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5:30 PM)

These services are designed to reduce barriers and support financial stability for families in our community. Please share with anyone who may benefit.

united way free tax prep.pdf

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) has opened its 2026 National Scholarship and Awards Program, offering approximately 30 scholarships for incoming freshmen, undergraduate and graduate students, law students, and creative/performing arts students. Financial-need scholarships are also available.

Deadlines

• Freshman applicants: March 2, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. (HST)

• All other categories: April 3, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. (HST)

Applicants must be individual youth or student members of JACL, enrolled in school in Fall 2025, and may receive a maximum of two national awards.

Applications and guidelines are available on the JACL website under the Youth tab.
Questions may be directed to scholarships@jacl.org.

The Charity Cultural Services Center is offering a 10-week beginner wine class taught in Chinese by a professional winemaker. Participants will learn wine basics, tasting skills, and foundational knowledge in a welcoming environment.

10 classes beginning late January 2026
3:00 – 5:00 PM
747 Commercial St., San Francisco

This class is designed especially for beginners interested in exploring wine education in Chinese.

Sign up via QR code on the flyer or contact 415-989-8224

Sonoma County’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) Program allows residents to prepare and sell meals directly from their home kitchens on a limited scale.

Under California state law, MEHKOs may serve up to 60 meals per week and must follow food safety, sanitation, and inspection requirements to protect public health.

The program is designed to support small-scale food entrepreneurs while expanding access to diverse, locally prepared meals within our community.

Residents interested in starting a home-based food business can learn more about application requirements, permits, and resources through the Sonoma County Department of Health Services. Information is available in both English and Spanish.

Learn more:
https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/environmental-health-and-safety/microenterprise-home-kitchen-operations-mehko

An upcoming community listening opportunity hosted by First 5 Sonoma County, centers the lived experiences of Pasifika women and birthing people in Sonoma County.

This Maternal Health Focus Group with Pasifika Women is a safe and supportive space for community members to share their pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences—and to help shape the future of maternal health care in our region.

About the Focus Group

If you have given birth within the past three years, you are invited to participate in a virtual focus group designed to uplift Pasifika voices and experiences. Your insights will directly inform how maternal health services are developed and delivered in Sonoma County, helping ensure care that is culturally responsive, equitable, and community-informed.

Participants will be compensated for their time with a $50 gift card.

Event Details

• Date: January 26, 2026

• Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM

• Location: Zoom (online)

• Who: Pasifika women and birthing people who have given birth in the past 3 years

• Incentive: $50 gift card for participation

 Register here: bit.ly/maternalhealthsc

Why This Matters

Pasifika communities are often underrepresented in maternal health research and decision-making. This focus group is an important opportunity to ensure that real experiences—joys, challenges, barriers, and strengths—are heard and reflected in local systems of care.

By participating, you are contributing to:

• Improved maternal and postpartum care in Sonoma County

• Greater cultural responsiveness in health systems

• Community-driven solutions rooted in lived experience

Help Spread the Word

If you know someone who may be interested or eligible to participate, please consider sharing this opportunity within your networks. Community voices are essential to creating healthier futures for parents, babies, and families.

AAPIC is grateful to First 5 Sonoma County for centering Pasifika communities and for their commitment to listening, learning, and action.

The Sonoma County Library is in the final days of collecting community input for its 5-Year Strategic Plan, and AAPIC encourages our community members to make their voices heard.

Thousands of residents have already completed the survey, helping guide how library services evolve over the next five years. With fewer than five days remaining, this is a key opportunity—especially for AAPI community members—to ensure our needs, experiences, and priorities are reflected.

Your input helps shape decisions around:

• Access to digital resources

• Youth and family programming

• Community spaces and cultural offerings

• Equity and inclusion in public services

Two Ways to Participate

1. Take the Survey
The survey is quick, impactful, and closes soon.
 Please submit responses by January 18.

2. Join a Community Meeting
Prefer to share your thoughts in conversation? Register for an in-person or virtual community meeting and help turn data into dialogue.

Public libraries play a vital role in access, education, and community belonging. Don’t let the next five years of library services be shaped without AAPI voices at the table.

From dabao to mochi to biryani, this event explores how Asian cultures bring rice to life through flavor, memory, and tradition.

Join KQED Live for an evening with chefs and food storytellers who share how rice nourishes both body and community.

Location
The Commons at KQED
2601 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94110

A celebration of cuisine, culture, and the connections carried in every grain. Tickets here.

AAPIC is pleased to share an upcoming community event hosted in collaboration with the Bay Area Chinese Genealogy Group and the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project.

Join us for a special virtual book reading and conversation featuring Ron Lee, with the late L K Lennie Lee, centered on their book: Sojourners to Joke Sings: Tales of Chinatown & Beyond

Event Details

• Date: January 14, 2026

• Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM PST

• Location: Zoom (online only)

• Registration: Click here to register and learn more

Saturday, January 10, 2026 · 12:00 p.m. (Please arrive by 11:30 a.m.)

Enmanji Memorial Hall — 1200 Hwy 116 South, Sebastopol

Ring in the New Year in good company at the Enmanji-JACL Community New Year’s Potluck Luncheon. This beloved annual gathering brings together friends, families, and community members to share food, reconnect, and welcome the year ahead.

Guests are invited to bring a favorite main dish, side, and/or dessert to share. 

The luncheon will also feature live entertainment by Gary Sugiyama and the Cedar Mountain String Band.