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Michelle Wong

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Michelle Wong
September 4, 2024

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COVID-19 Emergency Fund

apicouncil

The trusted, unified voice of SF’s API communities. We’re a coalition of 50 SF nonprofits that ensure the needs and priorities of APIs are addressed.

From Chinatown to cocktail champion, Derrick Li’

From Chinatown to cocktail champion, Derrick Li’s story shows what’s possible when our communities have access to workforce programs that meet them where they are.

Ashley Cheng @sfmons @sfccsc , Executive Director of Charity Cultural Services Center and API Council member, shared how cultural differences and language barriers often delay access to stable careers for immigrants. That’s why programs like CCSC’s Hospitality Initiative are so important. They provide a pathway to skills, confidence, and economic opportunity.

Read the full SF Examiner story: https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/the-city/sf-bartender-derrick-li-had-unlikely-rise-to-cocktail-glory/article_6921afb2-8d55-45d5-8a64-1de70a9a8bed.html

API Council stands with our immigrant communities.

API Council stands with our immigrant communities.

The recent ICE raids targeted immigrant neighborhoods, causing fear and trauma, even for U.S. citizens. These actions are not about safety. They are about control and intimidation.

In this moment, we want you to know: you are not alone.

For help in the SF Area: Call API Legal Outreach (415.567.6255), CAA (415.274.6750), or the 24/7 Rapid Response Hotline (415.200.1548) for more information.

Last week, API Council proudly hosted our annual c

Last week, API Council proudly hosted our annual convening with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi @speakerpelosi , an event that continues to bring together the voices of our community to spotlight urgent issues and shared solutions.

This year’s panel discussion focused on health equity in the face of growing federal cuts, and also explored intersecting challenges around housing and education for our API communities.

We were honored to be joined by a powerhouse panel of leaders:
—Lance Toma, CEO San Francisco Community Health Center @lancetoma @sfchc_community_engagement
—Dr. Jian Zhang, CEO, Chinese Hospital @chinesehospitalsf
—Jon Osaki, Executive Director, Japanese Community Youth Council @jtosaki @jcycsf
—Tammy Hung, Director of Programs and Community Engagement, Chinatown Community Development Center @chinatowncdc
—Luisa Antonio, Executive Director, Bayanihan Equity Center @weez621 @bayanihanequity
—Judy Young, Executive Director, Southeast Asian Development Center @judyminh @seadcsf
Moderated by: Cally Wong, Executive Director, API Council of San Francisco @callybwally

The event was hosted at JCYC and attended by API Council member organizations. Thank you to all who joined us in advancing a healthier, more equitable future for our API communities.

Photos provided by JCYC.

Critical federal funding for AAPI nonprofits is un

Critical federal funding for AAPI nonprofits is under attack. From college access programs to elder tech training and anti-hate work, life-changing services across the Bay Area are on the chopping block under the federal proposed budget. Leaders warn this could cause a system collapse for our communities.

Organizations like JCYC, Stop AAPI Hate, and the Chinese Culture Center are already facing devastating cuts, jeopardizing programs that uplift thousands.

We stand with the frontline nonprofits fighting to keep vital services alive.

Read more via @sfchronicle: https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/trump-budget-cuts-threaten-aapi-nonprofits-in-sf-20337211.php

@jtosaki @jcycsf @cccsanfrancisco

A powerful new exhibit at the Chinese Historical S

A powerful new exhibit at the Chinese Historical Society of America opens May 10th, honoring the untold legacy of Chinese laundries and exposing the anti-immigrant policies that tried to erase our history. “Challenging a whitewashed history” uplifts the resilience of Chinese immigrants and connects past discrimination to today’s ongoing fight for belonging.

Exhibit: Chinese Historical Society of America, 965 Clay St, SF (Free on opening day - May 10th)

Read more about the exhibit at The Mission Local “Stopping the ‘anti-immigrant spin cycle’: Chinese laundry exhibit opens in Chinatown”: bit.ly/3H4NmxL

@chsamuseum

We have exciting news for San Francisco’s AAPI c

We have exciting news for San Francisco’s AAPI community. Last week, District 11 Supervisor @chyannechensf welcomed APA Family Support Services (APAFSS) to their new permanent home at 4377–4379 Mission Street. APAFSS has long uplifted immigrant and under-resourced families through culturally responsive, in-language services. With this new site, they will deepen their impact by offering parenting workshops, case management, behavioral health access, early childhood support, and more through the Asian and Pacific Islander Family Resources Network (APIFRN).

Congratulations to the APAFSS team and all partners who made this milestone possible! @apa_family_support_services

Last week, the API Council hosted a meet-and-greet

Last week, the API Council hosted a meet-and-greet with District 11 Supervisor @chyannechensf at APA Family Support Services!

Thank you to Supervisor Chen for taking the time to meet with API Council and hear directly from our coalition of community-based organizations serving our communities. We look forward to continuing to build stronger partnerships and solutions together.

Join API Council at #CAAMFest on May 10th at 4pm a

Join API Council at #CAAMFest on May 10th at 4pm at the Kabuki for the screening of Making Waves, a timely and thought-provoking documentary about the power of Asian American Studies to inspire activism, build community, and fight for justice.

Directed by Bay Area filmmakers Jon Osaki and Josh Chuck, the film follows a group of youth advocating for AAPI curriculum in the Texas state capitol—carrying forward the legacy of the 1960s ethnic studies movement rooted in the Bay Area.

Directors will be in attendance for a post-film Q&A moderated by Don Young, Director of Programs at CAAM.

This is a must-see for anyone passionate about education, representation, and community power.

Reserve your tickets: caamfest.com/2025/movies/making-waves/

May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage

May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month across San Francisco with performances, food, films & more.

⭐ 100+ events across SF libraries, cinemas, museums, parks & more
⭐ May 1–31, 2025
⭐ Get your AAPI Events Guide at apasf.org

🌱 Join us at Rooted & Rising on Friday, May 9 — a powerful evening celebrating AAPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month through the lens of entrepreneurship, wellness, and community empowerment!Expect inspiring speakers, AAPI vendors, and conversations that matter. Come connect, celebrate, and rise with us 💬🌸

🌱 Rooted & Rising: AAPI Heritage, Entrepreneurship & Mental Health
🗓️ Friday, May 9 | 5:30–8:30 PM
📍 INSEAD SF Hub | 🕠 5:30–8:30 PM
🎟️ Get your tickets now: https://tinyurl.com/rootednrising

Presented by @asianinc_ @asianleadersalliance @insead @asianhustlenetwork

This week, the US District Court for Northern Cali

This week, the US District Court for Northern California will hear powerful oral arguments against the Trump Administration's attacks on sanctuary jurisdictions across the nation. @sfcityattorney, Santa Clara County, and other communities nationwide have filed a lawsuit and sought a preliminary injunction to immediately stop the Trump Administration's attempts to cut funding to sanctuary jurisdictions. You can learn more about the lawsuit via the links on our bio and watch the oral arguments for the preliminary injunction on Wednesday 4/23 at 2pm.

With 76% of clients served by API Council member organizations being immigrants, recent federal decisions around immigration have deepened fears around safety, basic rights, and access to services in our communities. You can learn more about what the API council is doing to respond in our most recent newsletter - link in our bio!

(Photo credit: San Francisco City Attorney's Office. Taken at the original press conference for this lawsuit in February 2025.)

Celebrate the vibrant legacy and future of the Asi

Celebrate the vibrant legacy and future of the Asian American & Pacific Islander community at the APA Heritage Awards & Gala Reception! Join the AAPI community for an unforgettable evening spotlighting the power of youth leadership and cultural pride as we honor the theme: “Energizing The Next Generation.” You can RSVP for both events at apasf.org!

APA Heritage Awards Ceremony
🕒 Time: 5:30 p.m. (Doors open at 5p.m.)
📍 Location: Herbst Theater, 401 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
✅ Free Event – RSVP Required
What to Expect:
- Mayor’s Proclamation Signing Ceremony
- APA Heritage Awards Presentation – Honoring community organizations for milestone achievements and youth change makers for outstanding community impact.
- Cultural Procession – Enjoy a vibrant cultural parade and dance performance.

APA Gala Reception
🕒 Time: 7:00 p.m. (Immediately following the Awards Ceremony)
📍 Location: San Francisco City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
🎟️ Tickets: $10
🔔 RSVP Required for Both Events – Capacity is limited!
👗 Attire: Ethnic Festive
What to Enjoy:
- Diverse Asian Cuisine
- Cultural Performances
- Community Exhibits

The Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco @cccsf

The Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco @cccsf and Edge on the Square @edgeonthesquare co-present the 2nd Chinatown Pride 2025: We are Immortal!—a powerful evening-long festival that transforms our neighborhood into a bold celebration of resistance through art, dance, and storytelling, opening with a first-ever Chinatown Pride procession and culminating in an exhilarating silent disco!

️‍🌈 Chinatown Pride 2025: We are Immortal! 華埠驕傲2025: 我們不朽！

📅 Saturday, May 24 | 6-10 pm

📍 6 pm - Pride Procession and Dance Workshop starts: 800 Grant Ave (Edge on the Square)

📍 6-10 pm - Pride Program: 750 Kearny St - Third Floor (CCC)

🎟️ Tickets are available NOW

The events above are FREE to the public. Find out more on Chinese Culture Center and Edge on the Square's websites!
______

Pride will culminate with Chinatown’s first Silent Disco! Dance your heart out on the iconic Portsmouth Square Pedestrian Bridge as it transforms into the Immortal Dance Floor.

Chinatown's queerness transcends identity, embodying fierce defiance against racism, displacement, and erasure of cultural spaces. As LGBTQIA2S+ and immigrant rights are under attack, "We are Immortal!" declares our refusal to be anything but unapologetically alive. Chinatown’s legacy of resistance fuels our commitment to immortality—we will not be silenced or erased.

Join CCC, Edge, and our amazing queer artists as we kick off Queer Trans Asian Pacific Islander (QTAPI) Week and celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with events that uplift the vibrant intersections of our communities!

“All Mixed Up! A Mixer Celebrating Multi-Racial

“All Mixed Up! A Mixer Celebrating Multi-Racial Identity" is a mixer celebrating the diversity, creativity, and unique experiences of multiracial individuals in the AAPI community and beyond! This event will be on Friday 4/11/25 from 7:30-9:30pm at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and will feature a performance by Jamee of the band MICHELLE, live DJ sets by DJ Del, vendors, light food and drinks, and meaningful conversations centered on multiracial identity.

Get your tickets via the link in our bio! Please note that this is an age 21+ event.

This event is sponsored and facilitated by @oaklandasiancc and @asianinc_

Thank you @bilalmahmood for meeting with the API C

Thank you @bilalmahmood for meeting with the API Council at City Hall yesterday! We're grateful for your insights about the city's priorities and for your clear commitment to API residents in District 5. We truly appreciate the thoughtful dialogue on community safety, workforce development, budget, and more we were able to have with you yesterday.

The API Council looks forward to ongoing collaboration with you and your team to improve the quality of life for API residents in District 5 and across the city! With strong partnerships between city leaders and community organizations, we'll be able to ensure that every community in San Francisco has access to equitable resources for economic opportunity and prosperity.

The AAPI Heritage Celebration Committee is launchi

The AAPI Heritage Celebration Committee is launching the AAPI Youth Change Maker Awards to recognize one middle school student and one high school / college student for distinct impact achieved through community service!

Nomination is open to the public. To nominate, go to the AAPI Month celebration website at apasf.org or access through the QR Code on the flyer.

The winners will be selected in early April and publicly announced at the Mayor’s AAPI Heritage Month Kickoff Press Conference at the end of April. The awards presentation will take place at the APA Heritage Awards event on May 1 at Herbst Theater.

Nomination is open now through March 28 and everyone is welcome to submit nomination.

@kinmongakuen is hosting a rummage sale tomorrow,

@kinmongakuen is hosting a rummage sale tomorrow, Saturday March 15th! Come find Japanese treasures at affordable prices! Discover antique and traditional Japanese plates, dolls, toys, and more. All proceeds support the operations of the Kinmon Gakuen Japanese Language School.

Kinmon Gakuen is serves as a hub for Japanese language, culture, and community and is cornerstone of the Japanese American community in San Francisco. API Council helped secure funding to renovate Kinmon Gakuen through the API Equity Fund.

#sfjapantown
#japantownculturaldistrict
#japantowntaskforce.

This week, API Council members met with @dannysaut

This week, API Council members met with @dannysauterd3 to discuss his plans for addressing the needs of APIs and share our own priorities. We talked about everything from affordable housing and public transit to Chinatown’s future and the city’s budget.

Thank you Supervisor Sauter for meeting with us! We look forward to working with you and your staff to help APIs in both D3 and across the city thrive. The API Council will continue to be a trusted partner that builds relationships between city officials and community leaders.

(Shoutout to @selfhelpelderly for hosting us at their Lady Shaw Senior Center in Chinatown!)

Community Youth Center of San Francisco (@cyc_sf),

Thank you @danielluriesf for meeting with API Coun

Thank you @danielluriesf for meeting with API Council members yesterday to discuss key issues impacting San Francisco’s diverse API communities—community safety, worker’s rights, immigration, and equitable city resources. Your commitment to listening to community leaders who understand these challenges firsthand is deeply appreciated!

API Council remains dedicated to uplifting and empowering San Francisco's underserved API residents through convening community leaders and city officials. We look forward to continued collaboration with city leadership in making sure API needs are heard and taken into account.

(Special thanks to @cyc_sf for hosting us at their new Richmond HQ!)

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