The Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) is a left-of-center advocacy group based in California that organizes get-out-the-vote campaigns to drive voter turnout among Asian American populations in California with a particular focus on the Los Angeles area.

The organization also hosts leadership development programs and an annual gala. The group works with other left-of-center organizations on its voting initiatives including Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (AAAJ-LA), the Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF), and Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote). ¹

Background

The Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) was founded in 1993 and is focused on promoting “civic and political participation” within Asian American and Pacific Islander populations in the greater Los Angeles area, while also conducting some statewide efforts with the same end. The organization prioritizes “voter registration and education, community outreach, and leadership development.” ²

The organization also hosts an annual gala and raises funds through a variety of sources to fund its activity. The group operates a Leadership Council and Network that provides networking opportunities for “emerging leaders” in the Asian American community and consists of employees from Los Angeles-area law firms, SoCalGas, the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottles, and the San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District. ³

Election Activity

The Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment’s (CAUSE) primary focus area is operating get-out-the-vote campaigns in order to drive voter turnout among Asian American populations in California with a particular focus on voting initiatives within the greater Los Angeles area. The organization distributes resources to voters, including the “CAUSE the VOTE CA APA Voter Resource List” that provides voting information, voter guides “created by or backed by APA organizations,” and language accessibility guides and helpline information. ⁴

In 2020, the group hosted an event called “’Make Us Count’: a conversation with then-California Secretary of State Alex Padilla (D) and Asian pacific American leaders about the November 3rd election and voter resources.” ⁵

Affiliated Groups

The Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE) works in conjunction with other left-of-center groups such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (AAAJ-LA), Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF), Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), Asian Law Alliance, Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement (APIFM), Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON), California State Student Association (CSSA), Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP), Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC), Orange County Asian Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA), Pacific Islander Health Partnership (PIHP), Pasifika Vote, Pilipino Workers Center (PWC), South Asian Network (SAN), and the Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC). ⁶

People

As of 2023, Charlie Woo was the board chairman for the Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment (CAUSE). Woo is the CEO and co-founder of Megatoys, an international toy manufacturing company headquartered in Los Angeles with manufacturing facilities in Shenzhen, China, and in Commerce, California. Woo is also the former chair of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. ⁷

Nancy Yap is the executive director of CAUSE. She previously worked as vice president of development for Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP). ⁸

1. “Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 31, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-asian-americans-united-for-self-empowerment/posts/?feedView=all
2. “Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment.” LinkedIn. Accessed March 31, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-asian-americans-united-for-self-empowerment/posts/?feedView=all
3. “Leadership Council & Network.” Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment. Accessed via wayback machine March 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20201229223154/https://www.causeusa.org/leadership-council-network
4. “Vote Initiatives.” Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment. Accessed via wayback machine March 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20201229223154/https://www.causeusa.org/vote-initiatives
5. “Vote Initiatives.” Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment. Accessed via wayback machine March 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20201229223154/https://www.causeusa.org/vote-initiatives
6. “Vote Initiatives.” Center for Asian Americans United for Self-Empowerment. Accessed via wayback machine March 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20201229223154/https://www.causeusa.org/vote-initiatives
7. “Charlie Woo.” Committee of 100. Accessed March 31, 2023. https://www.committee100.org/member/charliewoo/
8. “Nancy Yap.” LinkedIn Profile. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-yap-275b996/details/experience/