California AAPI Power Snapshot Funder Briefing - Session 2

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

In partnership with AAPI for Civic Empowerment, OC Action and the Fresno Civic Engagement Table, AAF & Activate CA will host a two-part statewide briefing to provide funders with a roadmap heading into the 2024 election (and beyond) based on learnings and insights from Asian American and Pacific Islander community organizers that are at the forefront of mobilizing the AAPI electorate in California. 

By understanding the AAPI community’s participation during the 2022 elections, funders will gain a better understanding about how critical investments in AAPI power building can play a critical role in deciding outcomes for elections and shape how dominant narratives are formed. With the 2024 elections just around the corner, this briefing will help funders better where to invest if they are interested in helping advance a powerful AAPI majority.

Goals

• Increase awareness about the diversity within the AAPI community and the unique challenges that different organizations face in their respective geographies.
• Share insights and best practices on how to effectively engage the AAPI community in political campaigns and advocacy efforts in different geographies throughout the state.
• Identify key narratives & issues that resonate with the AAPI electorate
• Identify pitfalls to anticipate heading into 2024
• Increase awareness about the organizing and base building strategies being deployed in key regions of the state to mobilize the AAPI electorate
• Build relationships and connections between funders and AAPI-led organizations to strengthen support for AAPI power building efforts.

Background

​​The Asian American voting bloc has been growing in size and influence in recent years. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of eligible Asian American voters increased by 139% between 2000 and 2020, making it the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group of eligible voters in the country. In California, AAPI voters play a critical role in deciding elections at every level of governance including shaping the outcome of statewide propositions and majorities in Congress. 

At the forefront of building a new AAPI majority are power building community based organizations deploying community organizing strategies to engage, educate and activate AAPI constituencies often ignored by the existing political ecosystem. Combating xenophobia, race baiting, growing extremism, disinformation–AAPI power building organizations efforts led to historic turnout among base and core constituencies.