I-NAPA Holds Successful Strategic Planning Retreat

I-NAPA leaders gathered on June 7, at the Santa Clara Water Valley District offices in San Jose.

Every third Friday of the month, a dedicated group of Asian public administrators gets on the phone to discuss moving the momentum forward for the International Network of Asian Public Administrators (I-NAPA) ICMA affinity group. On June 7, a core representation of I-NAPA’s leadership team traveled from Dallas, Austin, metro Tacoma, Los Angeles, and across the Bay Area to converge in San Jose at the Santa Clara Water Valley District’s Offices for I-NAPA’s first in-person strategic planning retreat. Genesis Gavino, Ed Shikada, Rey Arellano, Hyun Kim, Anil Comelo, Yoko Igawa, and Monica Davis were the small and mighty group of thinkers dreaming up the goals and vision for the organization. I-NAPA Committee members Debbie Chiu, Elaine Wang, Paolo Beltran, Reyna Farrales, Charles Ozaki, and Lilly Simmering also contributed substantial work toward the establishment of the mission and direction in advance of the retreat. Magda Gonzalez, a well-respected city manager and leader in the profession, provided skilled facilitation and guidance through the process, adding in her lessons learned from Local Government Hispanic Network.

Inspire Inclusion: That’s I-NAPA’s new vision, and it is a call to action directed inclusive to everyone, not just to Asian public administrators.

Our goals include:

• Develop I-NAPA value proposition

• Increase membership

• Increase awareness of I-NAPA

• Become financially sustainable

• Refine organizational structure

The next I-NAPA next in person gathering will be at the ICMA Annual conference in Baltimore, Maryland. If you are interested in engaging at a deeper level with I-NAPA, please reach out to any of the directors.