Program areas at APEN
Network:APEN provided leadership to national and local networks including Climate Justice Alliance, Grassroots Asians Rising, Richmond Our Power Coalition, Oakland Rising, and moreto advance Just Transition to a regenerative economy and stable affordable housing.The California Green New Deal Coalition (CAGNDC) co-convened a strategy workshop series on Healthy Homes and Resilient Communities and created a committee to carry forward the work, with a focus on equitable building decarbonization and community renewables. CAGNDC has established itself as a thought leader in the area of equitable implementation, and has built important momentum for these efforts, ahead of an expected inflow of infrastructure funding.The I-Center project is in the formative development phase with a goal of having at least 10 organizing centers in different parts of the state to offer support and programming for grassroots organizationsIn addition, APEN regranted monies to local community resilience hub projects, land trust and affordable housing efforts, worker organizing efforts, and local and state Just Transition coalition work.
Comms + LA:In partnership with the California Environmental Justice Alliance, APEN led the development of framing and messaging which was widely adopted in media coverage of the California Air Resources Board scoping plan. APEN also helped raise public awareness of the 10th anniversary of the Chevron refinery fire in Richmond, Calif. with our partners at the Richmond Our Power Coalition. In the Los Angeles area, APEN laid the groundwork for a new local organizing project in Wilmington and San Pedro, identifying over 1,000 residents who are concerned about environmental justice issues through phonebanking, door-knocking, and administering surveys. APENs Los Angeles organizing project will hold a formal public launch event in May 2023.
Richmond, Oakland, State, Policy + CE: APEN maintained deep relationships through ongoing engagement with its working class Asian immigrant and refugee members, and provided culturally competent outreach, language access, and practical support to leaders and residents, and engaged them in Just Transition efforts at the local and state levels. APEN ran Civic Engagement Programs in Oakland, Richmond, and Los Angeles County, coordinating phonebanks to gauge voter interest in fossil fuel phaseout. APEN identified 220 contacts that supported setting an end date to fossil fuels and expressed interest in being engaged in this issue.APEN provided leadership and support to state and national alliances including: California Green New Deal Coalition, California Environmental Justice Alliance, Asian American Pacific Islanders for Civic Empowerment, and Million Voters Project.