AAU exists so that people of Asian ancestry in Philadelphia exercise leadership to build their communities and unite to challenge oppression.
AAU supports youth to become individually, socially, and politically aware; to exercise their voice; and to participate in active struggles for justice.
AAU fights for time and space to honor, celebrate, and remember so that our communities will have roots, embrace memories and know the power of passing on traditions.
“Building community strengthens our capacity to fight for justice. When we create a street festival, teach folk arts, grow a community garden, or build a school – we create connections among people, honor the knowledge of the elders in our communities, activate people, and value our own cultures. This work is fundamental to social justice work.”
— Ellen Somekawa
Hi AAU family! From 1/16-1/24 anyone who donates to AAU will be able to get 10% off their order total at Bubblefish Tea & Sushi or Ginza restaurant. Supporting our community organization and local restaurants! We love that for you🤩
Donate here:
aaunited.org/donate/
This entry is from Jessica Feng, who worked with us as a Community Action Project Intern in 2015 and is now a teacher. Thank you so much for sharing this sweet message, we love you Jessica!
Hi AAU Fam! Just under a week away from our 35th anniversary virtual celebration! This year we will be hosting a very special intergenerational conversation between AAU elder, Ed Nakawatase and AAU youth programs coordinator, Grace Fan. Ed is a movement elder whose social justice experience includes being one of very few Asian members of SNCC in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s, three decades of work as the AFSC National Representative for Native American Affairs, as well as decades of work with Asian Americans United and local and national Japanese American organizing work.
If you would like to join us this Saturday (01/16) from 1 PM to 2:15 PM please RSVP through this link: paimmigrant.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIocuyrrDMpG9LP3xJ9iQuwjLGHmRDyVgRM
We can't wait to see you all there!
Thank you for everyone who has filled out our form so far! This is from Linda, a former youth leader and volunteer. We love you Linda!
Lookout for more stories this week 😊
Questions about DACA? Project Libertad and Immigrant Rights Action are hosting a DACA info session on Tuesday 1/12 at 7pm via Zoom!
Hi AAU family! This year, as a way to celebrate our anniversary, we are looking back at 35 years of making change. A big part of our history is YOU! We'd like to hear and share your AAU stories/experiences. If you would like to share with us, please fill out the Google form below. We will be featuring your stories on our Instagram and Facebook pages, leading up to our celebration on January 16th. The form will be open until January 15th.
tinyurl.com/y5xlfllh
Tell us about your AAU Experience!
tinyurl.com
This year, as a way to celebrate our anniversary, we are looking back at 35 years of making change. A big part of our history is YOU! We'd like to hear and share your AAU stories/experiences. Please a...Happy New Year AAU Family! The team has been taking some time to reflect on 2020 and we'd like to share some of our accomplishments with you all. Thank you to all of you who worked hand-in-hand with us in our fight for change and in supporting our communities. Have a wonderful week everyone!
Hi everyone, the event page for our 35th anniversary is now up and running! You can find the link to register and the Zoom information on the page. We can't wait to reconnect, reflect, and celebrate with all of you!
Please join us TODAY Thursday December 10th (Human Rights International Day) for a chanting and candlelight vigil to demand the liberation of all people detained at York Detention Center. During a pandemic, all of the people detained are more vulnerable to contracting COVID due to the lack of the most basic hygiene measures to avoid contagion and spread. Our families deserve a chance to survive the letal virus and to be with their families. The vigil will take place outside York Detention Center from 4-5 PM (EST) Please join us!
Hi friends! Join us on Saturday January 16, 2021 at 1 PM for a virtual celebration of AAU's 35th anniversary! We are so thankful to have been able to work alongside all of you in igniting change and supporting our communities for so many years. We hope to see you there!
We will be sharing more information soon!
Please join us on Thursday December 10th (Human Rights International Day) for a chanting and candlelight vigil to demand the liberation of all people detained at York Detention Center. During a pandemic, all of the people detained are more vulnerable to contracting COVID due to the lack of the most basic hygiene measures to avoid contagion and spread. Our families deserve a chance to survive the letal virus and to be with their families. The vigil will take place outside York Detention Center from 4-5 PM (EST) Please join us!
City Council wants to go back on its promises to amend the tax abatement. We can’t wait until 2022 for these abatement reforms and the construction tax. Our schools are toxic and require repairs to make it safe for students to learn and for teachers to educate. While young children are being poisoned by lead and asbestos in their school buildings, developers are getting rich from the city’s giveaways. We need change NOW.
Drop into the Zoom (link in graphic) from 3-5pm to demand the City Council to vote NO to 200366, Bobby Henon’s bill that would delay the tax abatement reform for another year. #KillBobbysBill #EndTheAbatement
@vietlead
@ourcityourschools
END THE 10 YEAR TAX ABATEMENT! Tomorrow, Dec 1, City Council will have a hearing about DELAYING the amendments to the 10 Year Tax Abatement that we won last year. Delaying the changes for another year is preventing our schools from getting funds that they desperately need to fix toxic school buildings, provide adequate school supplies, and even supply toilet paper to school bathrooms. PLEASE EMAIL/CALL/TAG your council members today to ask them to VOTE NO on Bill No. 200366
Tomorrow at 12pm! Please share!
Essex County Correctional Facility is a hotbed for COVID-19 and endangers the lives of its detainees, like refugee Hieu Huynh. We demand that .@ICEgov Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris #FreeThemAll4PublicHealth in time to be #homefortheholidays.
📍Check out the toolkit: bit.ly/BRINGHIEUHOME
📍Sign the petition: bit.ly/BringHieuHomePetition
Join us to hear what AAPI leaders are celebrating and what’s ahead with Woori Center 우리센터 FAAP Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh Asian Americans United, CAIR - Philadelphia Chapter VietLead
🗳️ ✊🏽 Follow Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance on FB for their KITCHEN TABLE FACEBOOK LIVE on Tuesday, Nov 17th, 7-8pm
www.facebook.com/apipennsylvania/videos/863538214414311
SIGN AND SHARE: bit.ly/BringHieuHomePetition
We’ve shown that when we actually invest in reaching AAPI voters -- parents and grandparents, college students, people with low-English proficiency, small business owners, workers -- in language and culturally accessible ways, we can channel political power in elections and longterm for the issues that matter most to us: healthcare for all, just immigration policies that keep families together, well-paying union jobs, and ending racial discrimination and state violence. Join us to hear what AAPI leaders are celebrating and what’s ahead with Woori Center 우리센터, FAAP Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh, Asian Americans United, CAIR - Philadelphia Chapter, VietLead.
🗳️ ✊🏽 Follow Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance on FB for their KITCHEN TABLE FACEBOOK LIVE on Tuesday, Nov 17th, 7-8pm 🗳️ ✊🏽Join us on Tuesday, November 17th at 7pm for our second Kitchen Table Talk: Election Victory Edition! on Facebook Live! Leaders of AAPI organizations across the state with Asian Americans United Woori Center 우리센터 CAIR - Philadelphia Chapter VietLead and FAAP Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh will talk about how they mobilized historic turnout this election year and the road ahead to ensure all our communities have what we need to thrive.
Today we celebrate the millions of Black, Indigenous, Latinx and Asian American and Pacific Islander voters and organizers who turned out and mobilized in record numbers to choose and fight for a future rooted in justice and equity – a future where we all can thrive. We knew that all eyes would be on Pennsylvania this year. And we showed up and showed out. #blackandbrownwave
📖 Read the Open Letter here: www.pennsylvaniavoice.org/open-letter
"Asian Voices Count" with Woori Center 우리센터, Modero & Company Pejuang - Indonesian Coalition for Social Justice , VietLead, CAIR - Philadelphia Chapter APALA Philly Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance - APIPA
#AsianVotesCount #OurVotesCount #AsianVoicesCount #每张选票都算数
Join AAU this Saturday at a rally to Count Every Vote. If you would like to attend with our group, please email aau@aaunited.org for our meet up location. See you then!
It's not too late to submit your mail-in ballot! Find your ballot-return location at VotesPa.com/Voating-in-PA. Please note that to be counted, you must drop off your ballot at the ballot-return location before 8 P.M. on November 3rd. You can also bring your ballot to a polling place to have it voided, if you'd like to vote in person instead.
Hi everyone, our Chinatown Vote team have shared a tutorial on utilizing ExpressVote XL. The videos have been translated into Mandarin, Cantonese and Bahasa Indonesia. Please feel free to share with you friends and family who may need it!
Hi everyone, our Chinatown Vote team have shared a tutorial on utilizing ExpressVote XL. The videos have been translated into Mandarin, Cantonese and Bahasa Indonesia. Please feel free to share with you friends and family who may need it!
Hi everyone, our Chinatown Vote team have shared a tutorial on utilizing ExpressVote XL. The videos have been translated into Mandarin, Cantonese and Bahasa Indonesia. Please feel free to share with you friends and family who may need it!
We're one day away from election day! If you are unsure of where to vote tomorrow, visit VotesPA.com/PollingPlace to find your polling location.
Hi everyone, we're officially less than a week away from election day! AAU's Chinatown Vote team have shared a tutorial on utilizing the voting machines. The videos can be found on Youtube (tinyurl.com/y3jnyjng) and have been translated into Mandarin, Cantonese and Bahasa Indonesia. Please feel free to share with you friends and family who may need it.
Now more than ever - when many lives depend on it - AAU youth join with youth across Philadelphia, parents, teachers and others to ask the School District to ensure that we get to attend school in safe conditions! No toxic schools! We need safe buildings! We need to be sure protected from Covid-19 infection. We need adequate school support for language access, mental health, physical safety, and more - for all!
⚡Read and sign the petition here in English: bit.ly/safephillyschools
In Spanish: bit.ly/escuelassegurasfiladelfia
You like boba tea and believe in civic empowerment? Join hotpot! Philly, AAPI PA Power Caucus, Asian Americans United, Asian Mosaic Fund, Philadelphia Student Union and VietLead for a Get Out the Vote phone banking event—aka GOTV Boba Bank—on Sunday, October 25 from 2pm to 5pm. Bring your awesome self (virtually) and drinks are on us!
REGISTER (via VietLead volunteer form) HERE: bit.ly/bobabank
Our goal is Black and Asian solidarity and to encourage young voters (especially BIPOC, immigrants, and folks with limited English proficiency) to exercise their right to vote this November. We also believe in satiating thirst and supporting local businesses while we dial. Please join us and bring your friends!
Please share!!
Bit.ly/phamisnotfamily
Stand with movement leaders who have been and continue to speak out against the atrocities enacted by ICE on immigrant, refugee, and poor Black and Brown people. Sign-on and circulate the national statement demanding the retaliatory charges by ICE Director, Tony Pham, for the September 8th protest, be dropped. Call on the Henrico County Commonwealth Attorney, Shannon Taylor, to drop the charges and stand with community leaders and groups fighting who are fighting for justice and holding ICE accountable for the violence they are inflicting on communities. And donate and circulate the fundraising effort to your networks to support the organizers fight their legal case.
#phamsnightmare9 #fine9 #uprisingagainstice #AbolishICE #phamisnotfamily #AbolishPolice #DropTheChargesShannon
Nancy Nguyen, the Executive Director at VietLead, has finally been released to her kids and family after 21 hours in detention by the Philadelphia Police Department on trumped up charges at the 8th and Race Roundhouse, at the threat of being extradited to Virginia. She was handcuffed while changing her 1-year-old’s diaper.
Nancy was targeted for speaking out publicly against ICE Director Tony Pham for using his Viet refugee status to spearhead their detentions and deportations campaign against immigrant and refugee communities. As City Council Member Kendra Brooks just stated “Make no mistake about this, her arrest was to send a message to all our sister, brothers, cousins in the immigrant communities and activists throughout Philadelphia.”
The news of her release came after a nationally organized call storm and media campaign to #FreeNancy. The Philadelphia Police Department repeatedly and purposefully obscured, withheld, and gave the public misleading and false information to deter our efforts. Many, many comrades, youth and beloved local and national community worked tirelessly to make sure that Nancy came home.
AAU is grateful to work alongside @VietLead every day in Philadelphia and for the tireless leadership of @NancyNguyen. THANK YOU for showing up in the face of state violence and intimidation and for showing them the love that we are made of. Please donate to help support her legal costs that are not finished yet by donating here:
tinyurl.com/y24vyo9y
Help us keep Nancy Nguyen Home - Support the Legal Defense Fund
tinyurl.com
Please support the legal defense fund for longtime community advocate and beloved comrade, Nancy Nguyen. She was unjustly arrested by Philadelphia Police in collaboration with federal law enforcement ...Please share widely and make calls to demand Nancy's release now!!!
Today at 6pm!!
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival Everyone! Wishing you and your family warmth, health and prosperity.
Just a reminder that if you missed our program last week, you can still watch the recording on Youtube and here on Facebook (more information at tinyurl.com/aau2020)!
P.S. Our scavenger hunt has been extended, so get your entries in while you still can!
【Help us to get the work out】We only have 3 days away from the 2020 Census deadline, make sure you, your families and friends, getting count into #2020Census.
#apia42020census #apiacount #2020年人口普查
【Help us to get the work out】We only have 3 days away from the 2020 Census deadline, make sure you, your families and friends, getting count into #2020Census.
VietLead Woori Center 우리센터 Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia (CAGP) CAIR - Philadelphia Chapter Asian Arts Initiative Northeast Philadelphia Development Corporation- 費城東北區發展會 Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation Pan-Asian American Community House (PAACH) Laos in town Seamaac, Inc. Children's Village Penn Asian Senior Services (PASSi) Cambodian American Girls Empowering Asian Bank Chineseinusorg-费城华人在美东 Chinatown Learning Center
#apia42020census #apiacount #2020年人口普查 #phillycount #phillyapiacount
This year, Asian Americans United is celebrating 25 years of hosting Philadelphia Chinatown’s Mid-Autumn Festival!
AAU’s Mid-Autumn Festival, however, will be a bit different this year. We recognize the need and the power of bringing people together to honor, celebrate and remember our communities especially during these unprecedented times. However, for the health and safety of our volunteers and participants of the festival, we have decided to transform the festival into a live virtual celebration.
We are teaming up with Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) to celebrate #NationalVoterRegistrationDay on September 22nd! Let’s have the largest AAPI turnout in election history this November. Check to see if you’re #VoteReady and register to vote now! → Rock.vote/aau
#AAPI2020 #NationalVoterRegistrationDay #VoteReady
2020 National Voter Registration Day with Asian Americans United, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, Northeast Philadelphia Development Corporation- 費城東北區發展會 @华人在美东-费城 @费城Live
Mid-Autumn Festival is just 2 weeks away! This week, we'll be showing our love for the Chinatown businesses that have supported Mid-Autumn Festival during the past five years. During the pandemic, it is especially important to support small businesses and follow COVID-19 guidelines to keep ourselves and our communities safe and healthy.
Today, #Congress rejects the racist #antiAsian rhetoric that has resulted in Asian Americans being verbally & physically attacked. We stand for inclusion, diversity, respect & tolerance. #HRes908 #COVID19
//
Today, Rep. Grace Meng's (NY) bill, H. Res. 908 Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19 was officially passed by the House of Representatives on a 243-164 and one present vote! Check out NCAPA's press release here: https://www.ncapaonline.org/condemning-anti-asian-sentiment-house-resolution/
📖 Read more:
➡️https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/09/17/covid-19-house-vote-condemn-anti-asian-discrimination/5806530002/
➡️https://www.adl.org/blog/reports-of-anti-asian-assaults-harassment-and-hate-crimes-rise-as-coronavirus-spreads
➡️http://www.asianpacificpolicyandplanningcouncil.org/stop-aapi-hate/
#HRes908 #AntiAsianHate #RejectRacism #AAPI2020
Join Philadelphia’s immigrant community leaders, voting rights advocates, and election officials as we discuss the power of the immigrant vote and showcase voter guides in 12 languages.
