Asian American Political Activation (AAPA) Program

6 people wearing masks inside a clear plastic tent looking towards the camera behind a table with a tablecloth that reads "APASD

Sowing Seeds, Harvesting Hope Year End Celebration, Spring 23

Students sitting outside on a wooden bench making kokedamas

Wellness "Kokedama with Mama" workshop, Spring '22

Screenshot of 7 people on a zoom call

AAPA meeting with Prof. Harvey Dong, Spring '22

8 people posing for the camera, with two people wearing SEA cultural attire

Group picture at 1st Annual Southeast Asian Culture Festival, Spring '22

Image of an Asian American Political Alliance Newsletter from 1969

Newsletter from the Asian American Political Alliance

Photo of presentation in the Multicultural Community Center with the 1969 demands of TWLF behind the presenters

Panel discussion on Asian American Organizing, Fall '22

Photo of students on lawn holding lights

Southeast Asian Student Mixer, Fall '22

The AAPA Program

About AAPA

The term "Asian American" was first coined by Nancy Gee  and Yuji Ichioka at UC Berkeley in 1968, through the founding of the Asian American Political Alliance, to develop a unified and politicized identity for diasporic communities from Asia.

In response to the challenges and contradictions that arose in Asian American communities during shelter-in-place, the Asian American Political Activation Program, a nod to the Asian American Political Alliance, was launched in 2021 and housed in the Asian Pacific American Student Development (APASD) office. By connecting these histories and futurities, this program seeks to to ground current Asian American students in the legacy of the Third World Liberation Front and the Asian American Movement as well as activate them in contemporary struggles to empower the next generation of Asian American organizers. 

To bring our students closer to APASD's vision of collective liberation, the Asian American Political Activation (AAPA) Program offers internships, events, and programs to grow Asian American students’ political consciousness around Asian American, Pacific Islander, and South Asian, Southwest Asian, and North African experiences, history, and community issues both on and off campus. We are excited to connect and grow with you all!

You can connect with us via 
email, Instagram (link is external), and Facebook!

Our '24- '24 AAPA Intern and Staff Team

Group photo of AAPA interns standing with ocean view behind them and holding a small banner

Stay Connected

If you would like to schedule one on one time with AAPA Staff to learn more about the program or what services and resources are availbe to you, please make an appointment via calendly. 
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Email us at  aapa@berkeley.edu

Interested in voluntering with us? Complete an interest form