May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and The San Francisco Bay Area has several phenomenal and helpful local organizations to uplift, unify, and provide empowering educational resources to our large AAPI community here.
With the Covid outbreak came a 140% uptick in racially motivated hate crimes and xenophobic violent attacks towards the Pan-Asian community in 2021, as according to a report by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, signaling a need for greater solidarity, awareness, and advocacy.
In no particular order, here are ten AAPI nonprofits and organizations you can amplify and support, donate to, or get involved with, not only for AAPI Heritage month, but any time with their many active community events throughout the year.
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17 Walter U Lum Pl; 1600 Holloway Ave (SFSU Asian American Studies Department) / Website
Started by the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University and the advocacy organization Chinese for Affirmative Action, Stop AAPI Hate is a reseource to report, track, and respond to discriminatory hate crimes, harassment, and more.
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490 Lake Park Ave / Website
At the intersection of women's rights and AAPI empowerment, this organization hosts many educational seminars and events to strengthen political and social platforms which uplifts the intersectional female AAPI community.
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66 Raymond Ave / Website
APACC thoroughly assists in providing resources and education for immigrant families of low or moderate income in San Francisco.
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Various locations / Website
This collective originally began as a fundraiser in 2020 and has now flourished as a major supporter for all things local- businesses, activists, artists, and more. They also provide extremely helpfl and elucidating inforgraphics to better cultural exchange and awareness.
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1121 Mission St; 310 8th St, Suite 305 / Website
For over 45 years, this non-profit has strived to deliver proper legal representation and other complete social services to marginalized individuals all over the Bay Area.
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1525 Grant Avenue / Website
Achieving affordable housing for all in the Chinatown neighborhood is the Chinatown Community Development Center's main mission, yet they are also prolific at planning and supporting other Chinatown community events, festivals, and gatherings.
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1010 Mission St Suite C / Website
Historically an equity center for the large Filipino population in San Francisco, the BEC is now a trusted location benefitting all those underserved, from senior citizens, to those unhoused, previously incarcerated, low-income, and much more.
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1362 Post St / Website
The Korean Center provides several wonderful cultural enrichment programs and language-learning workshops to educate the youth and everyone in engaging, amusing, and relevant ways, always hosting fun heritage festivities and more.
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101 8th Street, Suite 100 / Website
Since 1974, Asian Health Services all around in several Bay Area hospitals and locations has been dedicated to ensuring there are proper services that cater to AAPI related mental health, nutrition, dental care and more, regardless of income, immigration or insurance status.
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388 Ninth Street / Website
This center in Oakland was founded in 1984 by a coalition who realized there needs to be greater visibility and support for AAPI art and creative programs. With their official facility opened soon after 1996, the Cultural Center is now an artistic and innovate hub that boasts unique exhibitions, tailored classes, educational tours, outstanding cultural performances, and more.
Photography by: Jason Leung/Unsplash
