The APIAVote-GLEO Electronic Town Hall allows APIAs from across America to participate in discussion forums on major issues impacting APIA communities such as health care, the economy, education, the war in Iraq, and immigration. The goal of this project is not only to educate our younger voters about particular issues, but most importantly, to show America that APIA issues America’s issues as well.

WWW.APIATOWNHALL.COM was developed by a group of educators who founded Global Leadership Experiences Online (www.gleo.us), a leadership and civic engagement program to develop young leaders. Michael Matsuda, co-founder of GLEO, states "we wanted to build an electronic town hall forum which would allow thousands of participants nationally to dissect and discuss the major issues: economy, Iraq war, education, human/civil rights, health care, climate change."
 
Pairing professional filmmakers with high school students and partnering with nonprofits, GLEO facilitated the production of short videos around each issue, which essentially are the “entry points” to the discussion forums.
 
The APIAVote-GLEO Electronic Town Hall supports the APIAVote Presidential Town Hall at UCIrvine, California, on Saturday, May 17th at which the presidential candidates are invited to speak directly to APIAs about our issues. Vida Benavides, executive director of APIAVote, states “I am thrilled that GLEO has created such a valuable resource for our community, and that we can have informed discussions about the various issues that are so important to our communities. APIAVote encourages participation in the Electronic Town Hall, and supports other projects like this that serve to increase the numbers of an informed APIA electorate.”

Matsuda adds, "The townhall forum is simple to use. Just register and enroll in any subject you want more information about. Once in, we encourage you to make comments in the discussion forum sections. And best of all, it's absolutely free."

For more information about GLEO, go to www.gleo.us, or contact us at gleo@gleo.us. For more information about APIAVote & the Presidential Town Hall, please visit www.apiavote.org, or email townhall@apiavote.org.