Grassroots Chinese American Organizations Build Movement

June 2, 2008

This past weekend, API Movement Building helped coordinate a Bay Area meeting between groups organizing low income Chinese communities. Dozens of staff, youth, and constituents of Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), the Chinatown Justice Project of CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities, and the Chinese Progressive Associations of Boston (CPA Boston), San Francisco (CPASF) and San Gabriel Valley (CPASGV) took significant steps in building national unity in their work.

Each group have different histories and approaches to organizing, creating an environment that stimulated new ideas. CPA San Francisco for example works with many tenants in single room occupancy buildings while CPA Boston has engaged tenants and other residents in community planning exercises. Groups such as APEN and CAAAV work in several ethnic Asian communities while the CPA’s focus on the Chinese American communities. The Meeting discussed broad issues such as organizing strategies and the “Right to the City” campaign's analysis of urban environments. It also discussed the specific work areas of youth, tenants, and immigrant workers.

For the participants, it was an inspiring event. They described the need to see themselves as part of a larger effort facing similar issues and were encouraged by the many individuals who overcame great challenges in common work. The success and richness of the gathering made them determined to continue coming together despite many challenges in putting on the event. CPASF, the host, provided trilingual translation for the many immigrant workers, constituents, and youth alongside staff, some of whom only spoke English. The organizations had to raise their own funds for travel and food. The organizations also assumed responsibility for the planning and logistics, while API Movement only provided support for communication and support.

The organizations see building movement as a process and have planned periodic meetings as well as intervening communications. There is also the long-term intent of developing a more common analysis and strategy. Another gathering is initially projected to be held within a year.

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