API Movement Building Moves Forward

by Mike Liu
6/9/05

Efforts to strengthen social justice organizing are moving forward in three cities. Organizers in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Boston have initiated planning for a number of joint projects and for a national conference in 2006. The effort, API Movement Building, in which the Azine is a participant, attempts to strengthen participating groups’ work through mutual support, collaboration, and the creation of new projects and structures.

Though the goal is build this work nationally, currently, mutual support is being built locally. One area where groups are working together on is joint training. For ten years, Los Angeles API groups have organized a joint summer training program. Taking inspiration from that idea, Boston is planning a joint fall organizers weekend, and the Bay Area is also discussing a similar idea.

There are also specific joint projects – the Azine and Boston Progress, a spoken word group, are sharing a summer intern/staff person with the Azine providing a stipend while Boston Progress provides space.

Groups are working on the difficult ideas of political vision and strategy. Some areas began working on a mapping of current organizing or API non-profits. Others are working on evaluating the place of Asian Pacific Islander American communities in U.S. society and the world today. These analyses will contribute to a larger role for Asian Americans in mobilizing for social justice.

Interested individuals and groups may contact the Azine.