America is really an ideal; the struggle for the Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) is to make America and Americans realize that ideal - to make America not only tolerate diversity, but to value it as a source of American strength.

Not long ago, it was imagined that children grew up dreaming that they could one day become President of the United States. This wasn't everyone's dream, however; girls and minorities alike understood that their gender, race, religion, national origin, skin color, and other factors would impede their ability to realize this same dream. IACPA envisions a world where all children can believe that they can grow up to become the President of the United States of America.

Our Mission
Our mission is to increase awareness in the Indian American community and encourage participation by the Indian American community in the American democracy.

Our History
The Indian American Center for Political Awareness was founded in 1994 by the publishers of India Abroad, the largest circulating Indian American newspaper in the United States.

In the fall of 1996, the Center established a full-time office in the nation's capitol to expand and enhance its activities, becoming one of the only professionally staffed Indian American organizations serving the community nationwide.

With the establishment of a full-time office, the Center discovered that there were many policy issues of vital interest to the community that were left unanswered because there was no one to provide voice for the community.

IACPA has made an effort to insure that policymakers and the media understand the impact of legislation on the community. In so doing, the Center has joined with coalitions like the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

Our Accomplishments

• Placed 85 students in Congressional offices as interns in the past six years.

• Grown our Washington Leadership Program into one of the largest and most competitive Asian American internship program in the country.

• Conducted workshops at conferences throughout the country, reaching approximately 3000 students, young professionals, and others in the community.

• Publishes the largest Indian American political issues newsletter, the NationalWire, reaching over 1500 people on a quarterly basis.

• Led successful national campaigns addressing hate crimes, immigration, voting rights, and defamation.

Mr. Gopal Raju, Chairman
Founder & former Publisher, India Abroad

Ms. Veena Merchant
Former Executive Editor, India Abroad

Dr. Ralph Nurnberger
Sr. Government Relations Consultant, Preston Gates Ellis LLP

Senators