Program areas at APEN
Richmond & Oakland - APEN maintained deep relationships through ongoing engagement with its grassroots poor and working class Asian immigrant and refugee members. APEN completed two virtual APEN Academy series, and provided one-on-one leadership development support. Staff provided culturally competent outreach, language access, and practical support to leaders and residents to participate in decision-making. APENs members helped secure campaign wins for Just Transition at the local and state levels to stop the bad (refinery pollution), build the new (climate resilience hubs, grassroots leadership development), and move the money (climate resilience and community investments in prevention).
Network & Communications - APEN had over 900 media hits globally on topics including climate change, sea level rise and pollution threats, equitable energy policy, and advocating for investments in prevention and restorative justice and healing for communities of color instead of reinforcing racial divisions. 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. Co-hosted (with cross-racial partners) community healing and reimaging public safety events in response to violence, with over 2,000 attendees and 16,000+ online viewers. Created a temporary volunteer community strolling initiative in Oaklands Chinatown and supported establishment of ongoing ambassadors programs by allies.
State, Policy & Civic Engagement - APEN provided leadership and support to state and national alliances including: California Green New Deal Coalition (CA GND), California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA), Asian American Pacific Islanders for Civic Empowerment (AAPI ForCE), and Million Voters Project. For the CA GND, APEN organized and expanded the steering committeerecruiting seventeen new cross-sectoral organizations. The coalition set short and long term campaign priorities and researched and analyzed emerging climate justice policy issues. The coalition assessed the state budget for climate justice implications, including government investments in community resilience centers across the state where frontline communities can access services and connect with each other before, during, and after disaster strikes.