Dearest APALA members,
My term as 2023-2024 APALA president has certainly flown by. The last six months have been particularly busy. As we wrap up this year, I find myself reflecting on what makes APALA special to me. Our community, our values, and our advocacy come to mind, and I thank all of you for supporting our work with openness, integrity and enthusiasm.
As an organization, we have accomplished much over the past six months. A few highlights are:
- The Executive Board transitions.
- We announced upcoming changes to the Asian Pacific American Awards for Literature to uplift and celebrate our Pasifika community.
- We released a statement in support of the nationwide student protests over the genocide in Gaza.
- We successfully transitioned to a new member listserv.
- The APALA Executive Board approved funds for awards toward the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, & Museums (ATALM) 2024 Conference.
- APALA and the American Indian Library Association (AILA) awarded four Talk Story grants.
- We awarded the 2024 APALA Travel Grant.
- Membership elected four new members to the Executive Board.
Thank you for joining us in sunny San Diego for ALA Annual! If you have taken any photos you’d like to share please add them to our Google Drive folder.
As many of you may already know, I will continue on as your Interim President for the year 2024-2025, and the venerable Annie Pho will continue to advise as Interim Immediate Past-President. I thank Cynthia Mari Orozco for her many years of contributions and for her steadfast commitment to APALA. I’m excited that she will continue to stay involved in our organization, and wish her the very best. I also want to thank the current Executive Board for weathering the storms with me this past year. Many thanks to our committee members and chairs for all of their hard work. APALA is 100% volunteer-run and we couldn’t accomplish anything without you.
Looking forward, I am eager to get started on this new term. I see this as an opportunity for continued growth, both as a leader and as an organization. I am also thrilled by the new additions to the Executive Board, and can’t wait to work with them.
Thank you, APALA, for gifting me such a happy professional community. It has been such an honor to be your president this year. Please know you can always get in touch with me with any ideas, questions, or concerns.
Jaena Rae Cabrera (she/her/siya)
APALA President 2023-2024