We are a FORCE for Political Change in California

Casey's role recruits and builds up our volunteer base through our rapid response work, policy campaigns, and voter outreach.

This month, AAPI FORCE-EF will host a candlelight vigil outside the US Citizen and Immigration Services Sacramento Field Office to bring attention to ICE terror against Asian American immigrant and refugee communities; we will also host an online teach-in: California AAPIs Against Fascism. Our team and community partners will share lessons on history, hard-fought wins and losses, and calls to action as we refuse fascism.

Trump is using his executive powers to violently attack undocumented immigrants and pro-immigrant protestors using ICE, the FBI, the National Guard, and the Marines. Trump’s orders violate the rights granted to non-citizens by the U.S. Constitution and spit in the face of the First Amendment right to protest. Thousands of Californians are taking to the streets to make it clear that immigrants belong and that we want ICE out of our state. Fascism thrives on fear and grows in silence. We must be loud and brave.

Shania, our Communications Coordinator, reflects on how becoming (Asian) American meant inheriting strong values of anti-fascism and anti-imperialism. They write about how organizing shows us that another world is possible, and that Asian Americans have a decisive role to play in bringing about that world. "Asian Americans have to get organized to defeat fascism."

Our Digital Manager, Ashley writes about the impact of Taiwan's "White Terror" on her parents. She makes parallels between martial law in Taiwan and how Trump's abuses of power are designed to make all of us feel frightened, alone, and powerless. "For me, silence is not an option; I do not want to live in fear and repeat generational patterns. We have the right to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to petition the government. And now is the time to use it."

International Workers’ Day falls on the start of AAPI History Month. As fascist rhetoric fuels new and intensified anti-immigrant policies, state-mandated kidnappings of pro-Palestinian activists, and mass layoffs of federal workers, we must strengthen our movement by learning from the solidarity, strength, and resolve of the multi-racial coalitions that fought and won against those who sought to put profit over people.

This year, Tax Day falls on Thai, Lao, and Khmer New Year and the 50th anniversary of the Cambodian Genocide. As we commemorate this important date for Southeast Asian communities in the United States, we cannot help but make connections to how American taxpayers were weaponized to fund the bombing campaigns in Southeast Asia five decades ago, and how taxes still pay for war and genocide today.

Our Volunteer Leadership Development Series is a series of 3 trainings that focuses on building grassroots power to defeat fascism. Trainings will help 15 activists understand what we're facing under Trump and build skills to take back our government and defend our communities.

The federal budget should reflect the needs of all Americans, not only benefit the ultra-wealthy. It is our government’s job to provide people with services that help our communities thrive. California must fight against Trump’s fascist agenda. We refuse to allow Trump and his billionaire friends to continue to line their pockets while attacking immigrant communities.

This year of the Wood Snake, we will face many challenges on all fronts, because the personal is political. However, we will not let political systems disable us from mobilizing and refusing fascism. Repelling evil, snakes represent strength and power.

Wildfires driven by climate change have ravaged Los Angeles County. The damage has been devastating and thousands of families have been displaced. These climate disasters are compounded by corporations and the super rich burning our planet for higher profits at everyone else’s expense.

We end this year with appreciation for our network organizations doing the work with our communities on the ground throughout California. We also extend our gratitude to the organizers working across the country and around the world who fight for justice for all.

The re-election of Donald Trump poses deep challenges for our values and our vision of democracy. Our work is more essential than ever. Now, we take care of each other and find strength in the face of fear — and we’re ready to fight alongside you.

California voters will decide on ten statewide ballot measures in the November 2024 elections. These ballot measures include policy proposals on crime, healthcare, rent control, and taxes

Shine's role implements research projects to better understand the opinions, motivations, and demographics of AAPI community members and voters.

Our five fellows will help our team advance our progressive AAPI statewide policy agenda, build our media capacity, and run a large-scale voter mobilization campaign in the Fall. Meet Alyssa, Christina, Justin, Rose, and Silayan.

Threatened by the power of our progressive movement, corporations spent at least $70 million to undo our democratically passed policy victories, by putting their own corporate-friendly initiatives on the 2024 November statewide ballot. However, some of their attempts to undermine California’s democracy failed.

A Force For Change illustrates how greedy corporations have created terrible conditions in California AND how our network of grassroots Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations are working to transform our government into one that cares more about people than profit. This comic book is a political education tool for people of all ages.

California is our home. But billionaires and corporations wreck our home by polluting the environment, exploiting workers, and making the cost of living too damn expensive. They use their wealth to buy greedy politicians to pass harmful statewide propositions to avoid paying taxes and to continue wrecking California.

The School prepared Asian American and Pacific Islander organizers for the November 2024 elections, trained up new and existing leaders on Integrated Voter Engagement strategies, and explored what it takes to build and win governing power for our communities.

Applications are open for our 2024 Fellowship. We are also recruiting volunteers to join us in our next upcoming event in Long Beach on May 5th-May 8th

A majority of canvassed voters (65%) agree California should have stricter rules to prevent corporations and billionaires from using their wealth to avoid paying their fair share in taxes.

Amy's role strengthens our network’s capacity in running effective field and organizing campaigns through training and curriculum development.

Why can’t eligible Californian voters be automatically registered to vote? Have you ever wondered why Californians must register to vote and what makes people eligible to participate in our state’s democracy? Our state’s history of racism continues to put the burden of registering and eligibility to vote on the individual.

As Californians continue to take to the streets and fill the halls of government calling for ceasefire in Palestine, we also vote as a FORCE this election year to demand change.

Voting and holding our elected officials accountable are important steps in exercising our power. Since October 7, 2023, tens of thousands of Californians have taken to the streets calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.⁠

We are working with Audrey through May 2024 on a much needed intervention, that big corporations have and will keep putting profits over everyday Californians and that AAPI-led grassroots organizations build people power in our multiracial democracy!

Authored by Phil Hawkins and Jim Costa and signed into law by Pete Wilson, the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (1995) killed local rent control measures. Corrupt politicians have made it easier for greedy real estate corporations to drive up housing costs and unfairly evict tenants. ⁠

This paid internship was designed for activists, social justice advocates, and current movement leaders to deepen and sharpen their practice in civic engagement organizing. Our hybrid internship required a commitment of 20–25 hours per week for 8 weeks, with room for extension based on performance and project needs.

Our phone bankers spoke with 1,887 Asian American and Pacific Islander voters in Orange County. 1,032 of them agree that our elected leaders need to do more to stop corporate interests from driving up the cost of housing and pushing people into homelessness.

California is home to 4.7 million unregistered but eligible voters. This group is disproportionately made up of Asian American, Black, and Latinx citizens. Secure Automatic Voter Registration (SAVR) will increase the state’s voter registration, creating a California electorate that reflects our state’s diverse population and providing a path to a true, inclusive democracy for all.

This AAPI History Month, we reflect on the hard fought battles that working-class Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California have taken on against corporate villains who put profit over people. Many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders moved to California after US military occupation and expansion in our homelands. And yet, our homes here are constantly being threatened by the greed of corporate landlords and developers. ⁠

Currently, 4 million eligible Californians are not registered to vote. That’s about 10% of CA residents.⁠ California’s front-end Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) system was supposed to make voter registration at the DMV easier.

To celebrate the work that AAPI FORCE-EF and our partners did this year, we prepared a 2022 End of Year Zine which you can download and print at home. The zine features photos from events throughout the year; roundups of our Primary and Midterm election campaigns; celebrations of our Communications and Grassroots work; and interactive pages for coloring, crossword puzzles, and a mini-zine.

Join AAPI FORCE-EF volunteers as we explore how AAPI organizations, activists, and community members are Making Waves across California. In this 5-episode podcast series, we highlight long histories of pro-people organizing and resistance against injustice.

Over the course of eight weeks, Ripples of Change fellows learned fundamental skills in digital and electoral organizing through social media outreach, voter engagement, and get-out-the-vote tactics. We are hopeful our fellows will make waves in our movements for social justice and build lasting power for progressive change.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community organizations reached and mobilized thousands of AAPIs to vote in the September 14 special election.

From July 8 to August 26, 2020, a coalition of partner organizations coordinated by AAPIs for Civic Empowerment Education Fund fielded a survey in five California suburban regions with high Chinese American immigrant voter density.

CA’s history reveals that time and again certain politicians and special interest groups continue to use cynicism and fear to divide and distract us. But just as they have launched attacks on our communities, we have successfully come together to push back against racism, homophobia, and to push forward their anti-immigrant agenda.

Pacific Islander Leaders of Tomorrow is an eight-week internship program hosted by Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, Pacific Islander Initiative at UC Berkeley, and AAPIs for Civic Empowerment Education Fund. We have been deeply inspired by the cohort of young leaders, who individually and collectively took a deep political education dive into intersectional topics that centered their Pacific Islander identities.

AAPI FORCE-EF partners joined the Healthy Future California campaign efforts with California Calls to ensure that Asian American and Pacific Islander communities throughout the state have the information, assistance, and access to get vaccination appointments.

This year, Californians will draw new district maps for state and local representatives using updated information from the 2020 census. This is our chance to make sure that our system of representation is fair, to keep our communities whole, and to expand community power in the political process.

This AAPI History Month, we are hosting a virtual celebration uplifting AAPI organizing and movement builders. On May 14th @ 5PM, AAPI FORCE-EF member and partner organizations will share their victories from political and community campaigns.

Our people have been holding refineries accountable for endangering working-class communities, fighting for NHPI self-determination and indigenous management of environments, and advancing policies to ensure that future generations will live in healthy environments.

As a statewide organization serving working-class Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the state of California, we call for further action to aid in our communities’ recovery from COVID-19.

Our 8-week fellowship was in collaboration with Empowering Pacific Islander Communities. Seven fellows planned and facilitated 2 phone banks, attended by 27 volunteers, making 864 phone calls and 6688 text messages, outreaching specifically to Pacific Islander households.

Our chance to restore $12 billion back into our schools and communities and build a more equitable future for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, AAPI, and working-class communities in California.

To inspire and mobilize the AAPI community to rise up, resist, and vote, AAPI FORCE-EF is collaborating with dynamic AAPI artists to host a Night of Cultural Resistance. We have an incredible line up of community members ready to share creative conversations about AAPI civic engagement.

Dismantling myths about Proposition 16 and Affirmative Action in the Asian American community.

We’re teaming up with progressive AAPI organizations across the state to discuss how civic engagement strategy can complement grassroots organizing and to learn about the racial and economic justice initiatives that are on the California ballot this year.

A limited podcast series featuring stories from deeply rooted California community members and what their community means to them. By working together to pass the Schools and Communities First Act, we can sustain our culture, provide stability for our families and build a future where all Californians have access to quality health care and education we deserve.

Social change requires collaborative action on all levels, from the people in the streets to Capitol Hill. I wanted to explore organizing in a sphere that was more connected to institutional change, and interning with AAPI FORCE-EF was the perfect opportunity for me to grow my skills in civic engagement and electoral organizing.

Today, we want to commemorate civil rights icon John Lewis and his contributions towards the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which celebrates its fifty-fifth anniversary today.

Today, on tax day, as all working class and middle class Californians are submitting our taxes, I want to talk about who’s not paying their share of taxes and how that impacts the rest of us.

Schools and Communities First is an initiative on the November 2020 ballot that will revolutionize funding for our communities. We will end shady tax loophole schemes so that corporations pay their fair share of property taxes to fund our local schools and community programs.

We are continuing this legacy of building AAPI power by uniting to support the Schools & Communities First campaign to close corporate tax loopholes and reclaim $12 billion for public schools and critical local services.

By sharing these stories of interdependence and solidarity, we can get through this crisis and come out stronger by celebrating our #AAPIsAgainstCOVID leaders.

As we’re facing a once-in-a-generation crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important now than ever to center human connections and be a part of a movement for community care. This means that while we are experiencing physical distance from our communities, the compassion and love we have for each other remains strong.

AAPI populations have the highest number of community members who don’t fill out the census, which means a loss of resources and political power. We need your help to change that. With COVID-19, community organizations are unable to knock on doors or host in-person events to have conversations with community members about the Census.

To find out which candidate best suits your values, you can go to their websites, contact local community groups that you trust to see if they’ve endorsed anyone, or in some cases, even request to speak with the candidate yourself!