Civic & Political Engagement

We advance workers', immigrant, and civil rights through our civic and political engagement program, like our program Every Vote Counts!

​Join the AAPI Civic Engagement Network!

Organizing & Leadership Development

We are building a pipeline of civically engaged, conscious and critical AAPI leaders who are leading progressive change in their communities.

APALA and our sister organization IAPALA established the National Fellowship for Civic Engagement where fellows have the opportunity to be paired with a mentor from any of the major APALA chapters, Central Labor Councils, or State Federation and political campaigns. By participating in field organizing and digital communication projects, individuals are able to engage in current AAPI and labor movements, election planning and campaigning, and the promotion of social justice and voter representation in the AAPI community. ​​​

Racial & Immigrant Justice

We shatter the model minority myth, show solidarity, and build power with all immigrants and  communities of color under oppression.

​Viewed as perpetual foreigners, the AAPI community is no stranger to racism and xenophobia in this country. We have seen firsthand the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act and the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. We have felt the pain of families torn apart with the increased deportations and criminalization of Southeast Asian community members. And we have witnessed hate violence against Muslim or perceived-to-be Muslim friends and family.

​Painted as the “model minority,” we are also pitted against other immigrants and communities of color. Marching for justice after the beating of Rodney King at our founding convention, APALA is proud of our deep roots of solidarity and resistance. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, APALA will keep fighting for all communities under oppression.

Economic & Worker Justice

We work to create stronger synergy in the larger AAPI community and labor movement by advocating for AAPI workers in the labor movement and building synergy with worker centers.

​AAPIs work hard to support our dreams, our families, and our communities. Like all workers, we face stagnant wage, rising cost of living, growing income inequality, and degrading worker rights. Moreover, as immigrants and minorities, we are especially susceptible to harassment, discrimination, and exploitation at work.

​Collective action and labor organizing greatly empower AAPIs. Banded together, AAPIs across the nation bring home better pay, win great benefits, have better immigrant protections, and help close racial and gender pay gaps. Not only does APALA seek to ensure AAPIs’ full participation and representation, but also we strive to connect unique challenges AAPI workers face with the broader labor movement.