An Invitation from AAPI Equity Alliance’s Board of Directors
On behalf of the Board of Directors, I warmly invite you to become a member of AAPI Equity Alliance. Since 1976, AAPI Equity Alliance has been the most influential and strongest collaborative voice for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in Los Angeles County. Becoming a member will give you an opportunity to be part of the process that defines and prioritizes the direction of AAPI Equity Alliance to best serve our diverse ethnic enclaves.
Who we are?
Established in 1976, AAPI Equity Alliance is a coalition of over 40 agencies as well as individual supporters who advocate for the rights and services of the AAPI community in the greater Los Angeles region. AAPI Equity Alliance’s work is carried out through committees and task forces whose purpose is to initiate action of major policy and planning issues in many areas such as health, human service, education, and culture. It serves as a voice, convener and clearinghouse for the AAPI communities with an emphasis on the needs and rights of immigrants, low-income families, and other disadvantaged populations. AAPI Equity Alliance is a space for both older and emerging AAPI community organizations to influence governmental policies and facilitate collaborative work among the agencies.
What have we done?
Health Equity
We collaborated with nearly two dozen AAPI community-based organizations which deployed nearly 100 Community Health Workers to reach over 270,000 AAPI’s in LA County with COVID-19 outreach and vaccination information.
Racial Justice
As co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, we have led the national conversation on making visible over 11,000 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents over the past three years. We are also leading on dismantling structural racism through civil rights policy
Rapid Response
We recently participated in the community response to the tragedies in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay. We were able to quickly establish a victims fund campaign and also develop an emergency resource guide for those impacted.
Civic Engagement
We helped co-lead a cross-racial consortium to participate in the redistricting process locally and statewide.
Ending Domestic Violence in Asian American Communities
With support from the Blue Shield of California Foundation, and in partnership with Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF), we conducted two studies to understand, address and prevent DV violence in Asian American communities and developed curricula for community members.
Los Angeles County Teach-in Series
We created a teach-in series, comprising of five sessions, which garnered high engagement with over 300 total attendees. It received positive feedback as well as numerous requests for the series to continue and expand its content. The enthusiasm serves as a testament to the importance and effectiveness of the series. Community organizing demanded a multitude of tools and resources, and we take great pride in equipping our members with the necessary knowledge to navigate these processes.
AAPI Representation in Government
There is a need for more AAPI representation within the government. To bridge this gap, we launched the AAPI Resume Bank, a resource aimed at building a robust pool of talented AAPI individuals. Together, we released a joint statement, urging elected officials to prioritize diverse representation by utilizing the AAPI Resume Bank when hiring staff. Our message gained significant traction, receiving coverage from media outlets such as AsAmNews, LAist, NextShark, and The Rafu Shimpo, effectively amplifying our call to action.
Driving Voter Participation and Turnout
In 2022, with the establishment of the AAPI Equity Civic Engagement Task Force, we received the coalition’s support to create an expanded voter guide, along with a one page flier, specifically tailored for the General Election. The impact of the voter guide was substantial, with over 1,300 visits and becoming the most clicked link on our website leading up to the Election.
How does this benefit you?
You can expect your membership to include…
- Technical/logistical support for collaborative advocacy efforts
- Networking, collaboration, and partnership opportunities
- Access to elected officials’ offices and government agencies or departments
- Invitations to many community events such as receptions to meet key policymakers
- Free or discounted access to AAPI Equity Alliance signature events including: meetings with corporate sponsors and foundation program officers, capacity building trainings in social media, mixers with AAPI legislative aides
- Free access to AAPI Equity Alliance’s information database, listserv, and tech media so you can share information on your events, activities, and job offerings
- Free newsletters
- Letters of support for agencies and/or issues when appropriate
- Leadership roles in AAPI Equity Alliance committees
I hope you will apply for membership at the individual or organizational level. Please complete our membership form, and our review committee will be in contact with you.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for your interest.
Regards,
Rachelle Arizmendi, President of AAPI Equity Alliance Board of Directors
Shakeel Syed, Treasurer of AAPI Equity Alliance Board of Directors
