In response to the letter in the Dec. 1 Courier regarding Vision New America, I would like to clarify our program's mission and goals.

Vision New America is open to all students and has never limited our internship program to Asian Pacific Americans. In fact, VNA's outreach and recruitment activities such as those of school career fairs, club meetings, service organizations etc. have always been geared towards all interested high school and college students.

VNA has accepted and trained qualified non-Asian Pacific American applicants in our program as well. Our selection of intern finalists is based on qualifications, not ethnic background.

There is however a need for VNA's services for Asian Pacific American youths.

Asian Pacific Americans are severely underrepresented in the greater community and government in this country. We must dedicate resources to develop this group so that Asian Pacific Americans can become significant contributors to our country.

In 1978, there were only 120 APA elected officials in key local, state, and federal offices. By 2002, there were 310. There are 12 million Asian Americans in the US while there are only six Asian Pacific American federal elected officials in 2004. The under-representation of Asian Pacific Americans in government and politics will have negative impacts on many communities.

VNA's various civic education and leadership development and our Public Policy Internship integrate a comprehensive experience for our interns by enabling them to learn, work, and lead in a diverse society and community.

VNA hopes to serve all qualified youth. In the past three years VNA turned down 50­60 percent of our qualified internship applicants, a majority of whom were APA students, due to lack of funding and financial resources.

All of the operation funds and scholarships of VNA's programs come from generous donations and gifts of dedicated leaders from the South Bay communities.

Iris Wang

Director, Vision New America