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Our Vision
America, with its vision of opportunity, equality, and freedom, has always been a nation for immigrants. Yet, the promise of equality on paper has not been a guarantee of social acceptance or political freedoms to many Americans.

America is really an ideal; the struggle for the India Abroad Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) is to make America and Americans realize that ideal - to make America not only tolerate diveristy, 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
The Center's mission is the improvement of American democracy through the development of active citizen-leaders.

What are citizen-leaders?
The foundation of democracy lies with its citizens, who must make their viewpoints known to their elected representatives.

In the United States, however, apathy has begun to take hold of the citizenry. In 1996, less than half of all Americans voted in the presidential election, the first time in history.

Asian Indian Americans are particularly apathetic when it comes to their democratic responsibilities. Only 14% voted in the last presidential election; more than 60% aren't even elegible to vote.

The Center is committed to developing leaders who can act as model citizens, encouraging others to take advantage of the freedoms that this country affords and fulfill their responsibilities in making this country a better place to live for all Americans.

Our History
The India Abroad 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 70 students in Congressional offices as interns in the past five years

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

In 1998, conducted 23 workshops at fifteen conferences throughout the country, reaching approximately 1900 students, young professionals, and others in the community

Launched the largest Indian American political issues newsletter, the NationalWire, reaching almost 1000 people on a monthly basis

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