Each month, the Columbus Chamber will spotlight a local young professional or professional organization to showcase what they offer, how to get involved and when to check out their next event. For the month of February, the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Columbus is featured.
When and why was NAAAP Columbus started?
Nationally, NAAAP was started in 1982 in New York City. NAAAP has since expanded to more than 25 metropolitan cities in the United States and Canada. NAAAP Columbus was started in late 2006 because the founders believed that Central Ohio needed an organization that cultivates, supports, and promotes Asian American leaders. NAAAP Columbus offers professional development opportunities on the local and national level, engages its membership in community service, and organizes professional networking events. Through NAAAP Columbus, members work together to enhance leadership in their careers and communities.
Why should I become a member?
By becoming a member of NAAAP Columbus, you join the largest and fastest growing Asian American professional organization in North America. NAAAP Columbus provides its members with the tools and resources to further career advancements and empower Asian Americans to become great leaders and reliable employees. Members make connections on a local and national level, with individuals who look to help their fellow Asian professional. These connections are done through networking events, professional seminars, career fairs, community service projects and national conferences. NAAAP also has a national career web site where, as a member, your resume is placed at the beginning of searches for companies and recruiters.
How do I become a member?
You can become a member by visiting our website, NAAAPColumbus.org. A single membership is $25 and a family membership is $45. We also have a student rate of $20. You can also become a member by downloading and filling out our membership form on our web site and mailing in a check payable to NAAAP Columbus.
Tell me about your upcoming event(s).
We are working with various groups ranging from the Asian American Bar Association to the Asian American Commerce group on joint networking events. Our networking events will be bimonthly and the location will change each time. Please visit our web site, Facebook page or follow us on Twitter for further updates. We will also have various seminars and speakers ranging in topics from "Resume Writing and Interview Skills" to "Asian Issues and Personal Branding."
Along with our professional development and networking events, we will also participate in local community events such as "March with AACS" and "GenerAsian Next" to support the efforts of AACS and their services.
What are some successes or cool facts about NAAAP Columbus?
It has been a slow process, but NAAAP Columbus has been working with various Asian organizations to forge strong and hopefully long lasting relationships that Central Ohio Asian organizations have been sorely lacking. We are working more with the Asian Festival committee to hopefully bring to Columbus a Dragon Boat festival as well as an Asian American Career Fair. We are also collaborating with the Asian American Community Services to help their efforts in creating a "March with AACS" event that will help raise funds that support AACS' unique services. In addition to "March with AACS," we are also helping AACS plan for their yearly "GenerAsian Next" conference that will focus on teen violence and drug abuse issues within the Asian American Youth across Ohio.
Where can I go to learn more information?
You can visit NAAAPColumbus.org to learn more about upcoming events nationally and locally within the NAAAP Community. Also, you can become a fan of our Facebook fan page, join our LinkedIn group, or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/naaapcolumbus.
To learn about nearly 60 other local YP and professional organizations, view the Columbus Chamber's directory of YP and professional organizations.
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