SOCIAL POLICY RESEARCH

A S S O C I A T E S

Reframing the Frame: Towards a More

Inclusive Racial Equity Framework
A Racial Equity Framework for Asian Americans, Native
Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders

March 9, 2015

Co-Authored by:
Rachel Estrella, PhD
Traci Endo Inouye

Prepared for:
Asian & Pacific Islander American
Health Forum (APIAHF)
450 Sutter Street, Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94108
Project No. 4487

1333 Broadway, Suite 310

Oakland, CA 94612
Tel: (510) 763-1499
Fax: (510) 763-1599
www.spra.com

SocialPolicyResearchAssociateswouldliketothankthestaffoftheAsian&PacificIslander
AmericanHealthForumandthepartnersoftheRacialEquityInitiativefortheircriticalracial
equityworkthatservesasthefoundationoftheAAandNHPIRacialEquityFramework.
CaliforniaREIPartners

BangladeshiAmericanPublicAffairsCommittee
MichiganAsianPacificAmericanAffairs
Commission

EmpoweringPacificIslanderCommunities(EPIC)

TonganCommunityServiceCenter(TCSC)
PacificIslandersCenterforEconomic
MississippiREIPartners
Development(PICED)
TonganAmericanYouthFoundation(TAYF)
MississippiStepsCoalition
TOAInstitute
MississippiCenterforJustice
NationalPacificIslandersEducatorsNetwork
HijraHouseAssociation
(NPIEN)
MSCoalitionforVietnameseAmericanFisher
PacificIslandersEducationandRetentionCenter
FolksandFamilies
(PIER)
BoatPeopleSOSBiloxiBayouLaBatre
HawaiiREIPartners
NewOrleansREIPartners
PacificAmericanFoundation
MQVNCommunityDevelopmentCorporation
AssociationofHawaiianCivicClubs
VEGGIFarmersCooperative
CouncilforNativeHawaiianAdvancement
JapaneseAmericanCitizensLeague
AIMHIYouthAdvisoryCouncil
VietnameseAmericanYoungLeadersAssociation
MichiganREIPartners
ofNewOrleans(VAYLA)
KidsRethinkNewOrleansSchools
APIAVoteMichigan
SupportingUrbanAgriculture(SUA)
MaiFamilyServices

Aspecialthankstothefollowingindividualsfortheirspecific
contributionsasparticipantsintheTeaTalkseries:
AlisiTulua,EmpoweringPacificIslander
Communities
VanessaTuione,TonganCommunityService
Center
HerbLee,PacificAmericanFoundation
HelenTupai,PacificAmericanFoundation
RepresentativeKarenAwana,HawaiiState
Legislature
SouleeStroud,AssociationofHawaiianCivic
Clubs
DanielNguyen,VEGGIFarmersCooperative

TuanNguyen,MQVNCommunity
DevelopmentCorporation
RobertaAvila,MississippiStepsCoalition
ThaoVu,MississippiStepsCoalition
YaSinShabazz,HijraHouseAssociation
LeKeishaCotten,MississippiStepsCoalition
TheresaTran,APIAVote,Michigan
SanaKhan,APIAVote,Michigan
AzizKhandker,BangladeshiAmericanPublic
AffairsCommittee

Representingthefastestgrowingracialgroupatalmost19million,AsianAmericans,NativeHawaiians
andPacificIslanders(AAsandNHPIs)currentlycompriseapproximately6%oftheU.S.population.While
theirgrowingpresenceaddstotherichmulticulturallandscapeofthecountry,thestarkrealityisthat,in
manycommunitiesacrossthecountry,AAsandNHPIsalsofacesignificantsystemicbarriersthatleadto
growinginequitiesintermsofeducational,economicandhealthoutcomesforthispopulation.
Inresponsetothischallenge,theAsian&PacificIslanderAmericanHealthForum(APIAHF)withSocial
PolicyResearchAssociates(SPR)astheevaluationandlearningpartnerlaunchedatwoyearRacial
EquityInitiative(REI).FundedfromwithintheW.K.KelloggFoundationsracialequityportfolio,five
localcollaborativesweresupportedfromacrossthecountrytoadvancepolicy,systems,and
environmentalchangesthataddressracialinequitiesfacingtheirrespectiveAAandNHPIcommunities.
Givendecadesofworkintheircommunities,eachfundedREIpartnerknewintuitivelyhowtoapproach
andnavigatethechallengesofaddressingeducational,healthandeconomicdisparitiesfacingAAand
NHPIs.Atthesametime,duringearlyevaluationinterviews,itwasclear
OurAAandNHPIhistories,
thatpartnerswerestrugglingwithsensemakingaroundracialequity
experiencesandstrugglesinAmerica
asaframeworkfortheirworkandinsomecases,asenseofdisconnect
arejustbeginningtogainvisibility
withsomeoftheracialequity/healingterminologyintroducedwithin
withindiscussionsaboutracismand
theirgrant.APIAHFstaffsharedthiswasnotsurprising,sinceonthe
racialequity..
nationalfront,racialequitydiscussionshavenottraditionallybeen
inclusiveofAAandNHPIs.Staffexplained,Ourhistories,experiences
andstrugglesinAmericaarejustbeginningtogainvisibilitywithindiscussionsaboutracismandracial
equity.Further,becausetermslikeracialhealingandracialequityarenotinourcommunitieslexicon,
ithasmadeitchallengingforAAandNHPIstofindtheonrampintothesediscussions.
Recognizingthechallengeandopportunitypresentingitself,theAPIAHFmadeadecisiontoinvestina
processbywhichREIpartnerscouldcollectivelymakemeaningofracialequityandhealingwithintheAA
andNHPIcontext,andultimatelysurfaceanAAandNHPIRacialEquityframeworknotexternally
imposeduponthecommunitybutorganicallyderivedfromtheuniqueAAandNHPIexperience.The
frameworkthatculminatedfromthisprocessisthefocusofthispaper.

TowardaSharedFramework:TheTeaTalkProcess
Inapproachingframeworkdevelopment,limitedtravelresourcesandthenationalscopeoftheREI
necessitatedacreativeapproachtobridgedistance.Ultimately,theAPIAHFandSPRcofacilitateda
seriesoffivemonthlyconferencecallsmadeupofrepresentativesfromeachofthefiveREIpartners.
CalledTeaTalks,thesecallsweredescribedasawayforpartnerstocometogethermonthlyarounda
virtualcupofteatoexploreissuesofracialequityintheirwork.
Althougheachofthepartnershadmeteachotherpreviously,thediversityofthecohortandthe
sensitivityofthesubjectmattercompoundedbyalackofsharedlanguagegoinginmadeit
imperativefortheteamtoconsiderhowtocreateastructureforthesetalksthatwouldfosterhonest
andproductivedialogue.Creatingafeelingofsafetywasessential,butnoteasy,giventhatthese
dialogueswerebeingheldinavirtualspace.Ultimately,adoptingagranteedriventalkstorytonea
1

conversationamongstfriendsfocusedonpersonalandcommunityhistoriesandexperienceallowed
forauthenticandorganicdialogue.
Thetextboxbelowprovidesanoverviewofthetopicscoveredoverthesixmonthperiod.WhentheTea
Talkseriesbegan,participantsweretentativeintheirspeech,withdiscussionsaroundrace,equity,and
healingtakingonacautioustoneandrequiringagreatdealofthoughtfulfacilitationandadaptationto
createsafespacesfordifficultdialogue.Asthetalksprogressed,theconversationsmovedmorefreely
andtheparticipantstooktheleadindirectingtheconversations.Astheevaluationpartner,SPR
graphicallyrecordedtheconversations,continuouslysummarizingandreflectingbackwhatwasbeing
shared,withtheTeaTalksculminatinginaninpersonopportunitytodiscussandfinetunetheemerging
frameworktoensurethattheframeworkcapturedauthenticcommunityvoiceandperspective.
Reflectingontheresultingframeworkpresentednext,REIpartnersexpressedpleasureinthefactthat
theyfinallyhadaracialframeworkinwhichtheycouldseethemselves,andprideinthefactthattheir
voicesdroveitsdevelopment.Asoneparticipantshared,Weallcontributedtothisframework.Thisis
ours,versuslettingothersmakechoicesforus.Thisisselfdeterminationversusdeterminism.

OverviewoftheTeaTalkSeries
1. UnderstandingOurSharedExperience:TheStoryofOur
Communities.ThisinitialTeaTalkwasaimedatgivingREIpartnersa
spacetogettoknowoneanother,theworkthateachwasengagedin,
andasenseoftheculturalandgeographiccontextsthatinfluenced
inequitiesintheirrespectivecommunities.
2. UnpackingAAandNHPIStories:OurComplexIdentities.Byrequest
ofREIpartners,thissecondTeaTalkdelvedmoredeeplyintohow
contextplayedacentralroleinidentityformationacrossthedifferent
communities,aswellasacrossthedifferentethnicsubgroups,
generations,religions,migrationhistories,experiencesofcolonization,
class,etc.withinthosecommunities.
3. CommunitiesofLearners:SearchforUnderstanding.Givenadesirefor
evendeeperexploration,REIpartnersoptedtopairuptoholdmorein
depthMiniTeaTalkswithjustoneotherregion,theresultsofwhich
theydiscussedinthisthirdTalk.
4. UnderstandingourNarrative:OurPlaceintheCurrentLandscape.By
thispoint,REIpartnersfeltreadytotalkabouttherelevanceofTeaTalk
discussionstotheirprogramwork.Theysharedhowtheywereapplying
theirlearningintotheirprograms,aswellastheirstruggleswith
translatinglearningsinwaysthatmadesensetotheircommunity.
5.

UnderstandingtheStrengthofOurDiversity:OurCommunity,Our
UnitedStatesofAmerica!InthisfinalTeaTalk,partnersdiscussedwhat
theyfeltracismandhealinglookedlikeintheircommunities,what
successwouldlooklike,andhowtheyknowtheyhavemadeanimpact
intheirRacialEquityInitiativework.
2

THEAAandNHPIRACIALEQUITYFRAMEWORK
Ultimately,theTeaTalkprocessresultedinanAAandNHPIframeworkthatnotonlyservesasan
organizingframeworkforREIpartnersracialequitywork,butalsoembedsthisworkwithinadistinct
theoryofchangethatleadsdirectlyfromtheuniqueAAandNHPIexperiencetolongtermoutcomesof
equityfortheircommunities.Whiletheframeworkwasnotintendedtorepresenttheentiretyofthe
AAandNHPIexperience,itprovidesusefulstartingpointfordeeperconversationswiththeir
communitiesandanunprecedentedentreforAAandNHPIgroups,nonAAandNHPIracialequityallies,
andracialequityfunderstodirectlyconsiderapproachesforbestsupportingeffortstoachieveequitable
outcomesforAAandNHPIchildrenandfamilies.
Showninfullbelowanddescribedinthefollowingpages,bystartingwithfirsthandstories,theAAand
NHPIRacialEquityframeworkisgroundedinasharedcontextfromwhichSPRwasabletodistillkey
themesthatbridgedtoarangeofREIpartnersstrategiestiedtoracialequityoutcomes.

GroundedinAAandNHPIContext
Whilerecognizingthereisnosingular,definingAsianPacific
Americanexperience,inREIpartnerTeaTalks,common
themesemergedaboutthewaysinwhichkeyaspectsof
culture,identity,andplacehaveimplicationsforhowto
understandtheAAandNHPIexperienceintheUnitedStates,
particularlyasitpertainstostructuralinequities,thecapacityto
effectivelycalloutracismandsystemicinequity,andtheability
todrawontheirculturalcontextstoshapestrategiestoeffect
change.
Capturedonthelefthandsidetheframework,REIpartners
wereabletodistillkeyaspectsoftheirsharedexperiencethat
rangedfromtheextremediversitywithintheAAandNHPI
umbrella,tohowsmallnumbersresultinlimitedattentionand
resourceswithintheirrespectivecommunities,towrestlingwith
ahostofissuesrelatedtobeingarelativelynewracialgroup
includingchallengesofeconomicinsecurity,limitedpolitical
representation,andacclimationtoanewlanguageandculture.
REIpartnersalsofoundcommongroundinarichsharingof
whattheyholdmostdear,astheysharedelementsoftheir
culturesandcommunitiesthatfosterasenseofresilienceand
strength.Thoughtherewerenuancesacrosscultures,these
assetsincludebeingfamilyandcommunitycentered,relying
onandrespectingthewisdomofelders,acknowledgingand
capitalizingonthehopeandpromiseofyouth,andleaningon
faithasaunifyingandconnectingforce.
SharedexperiencewasalsofoundinhowdifferentAAandNHPI
communitiesrelationalhistorieswiththeUnitedStateshave
complexandsometimepainfulbearingonboththeirexperience
asracializedpeopleintheUnitedStatesandtheirneedfor
healing.Inparticular,granteesnotedthathowgroupsof
peopleintheAAandNHPIcommunitycametotheU.S.playsa
significantroleintheirlevelofaffinitytotheU.S,their
experiencehere,andtheirdesiretoembraceanAmericanor
bicultural(ormulticultural)identity.Forexample,immigrants
fromeconomicallystablecountriesthathaveestablished
communitiesintheU.S.andwhowillinglyandlegallymigrateto
theU.S.toseekoutgreatereconomicopportunitiesmay
experienceadifferentAmericathanthosewhoarrivehereas
4

eitherrefugeesorundocumentedimmigrants,andhavingfledwar,violence,orextremepovertyfrom
theirhomelands.TheymayalsoexperienceadifferentAmericathanthosewhoarehereasaresultof
imperialismorcolonization,asisthecasewiththeNativeHawaiiancommunity,whoseoverthrowof
theirmonarchywassorecentthatitremainsanopenandpainfulwoundformanyinthatcommunity.
ManyAAandNHPIethnicgroupsbringhistoriesofconflictandstrugglewitheachotherthatcanresult
individeswithinandacrosscommunities,ashomelandconflictscontinuetohaveanimpacton
relationshipshereinthestates.Oldercommunitymembersstrugglewithasenseoflossoftheirhome
countryandtraditionalways,andyoungergenerationsseektofindbalanceinabiculturalidentityanda
pathtosuccessastheynavigatemultipleworlds
Finally,REIgranteessharedtensionsaroundculturalvaluesandassetsthatservedaskeystrengthsin
theircommunities,butthatalsocomplicatedeffortsatforwardmovement,ascommunitymembers
grappledwithhowtoensureprogresswithoutinadvertentlyencouragingculturalerosionor
sacrificingculturaldignityandhonor.Thoughallgranteesacknowledgedthecomplexityandpainthis
sometimescauses,allalsoemphasizedtheirdeepcommitmenttotheirculturalvaluesandarecognition
thatthesevalues,andtheopportunitytowrestlewiththebiculturalchallengestheypresent,hasa
placeintheirjourneyandultimatelymakesforaresilientcommunityacommunitythatis
resourcefulandfindssolutionsfromwithin.

AAandNHPIRacialEquityThemesandStrategies
Throughthepowerfulprocessofsharingcommunitystoriesandcontext,theracialequityframework
thatemergedcenteredonsixkeythemes,representedbythewhitecirclesintheframeworkshownon
page3.ThesethemesechoedthegranteesstoriesoftheirAAandNHPIcontext,servedasan
organizingframeworkfortheworktakingplaceinREIcommunities,andofferedaclearthroughline
fromtheAAandNHPIcontexttoultimategoalsofequalityandjusticeonbehalfofAAandNHPI
communities.Byvirtueofthecommonthreadsofhistoricaloppressionandstructuralracismthatbind
theexperiencesofallcommunitiesofcolor,naturally,thesethemeswereconceptuallyconnectedto
broaderracialequityworkofotherracialgroupsthroughoutthecountry.However,becausetheywere
organicallybornedirectlyoutofadiscussionoftheAAandNHPIcontext,theyalsoservedtoarticulate
theuniquenessofAAandNHPIapproachestowardaddressingracialequityonbehalfoftheir
community.
TheframeworkpresentedinthispaperincludesexamplesofAPIAHFREIpartnervoices,aswelltheir
strategieswithineachofthesesixthemes.However,partnersagreedthatspecificapproachesthat
otherAAandNHPIcommunitiesmighttakeinaddressingracialequitythroughthesethemesmightlook
different,dependingontheirspecificcommunityissues,history,andcommunityinfrastructure.

Theme1:VisibilityofOurCommunity&OurIssues
ThefirstthemecentersonAAandNHPIcommunitystrugglestobeseen.Thechallengeofvisibilityis,
inpart,relatedtosmallnumbersofAAandNHPIsrelativetothelargerpopulation,particularlyin
regionsofthecountryoutsideofCalifornia,Hawaii,andtheEastCoast.
ThischallengeisfurtherexacerbatedbytheextremediversityoftheAA
andNHPIpopulation,whichencompassesmultitudesofpeoplefrom
differentnations,whospeakoverahundreddifferentlanguagesand
Thecityhasthismentalityofleavingus
dialects,practiceavarietyoffaiths,havevariedlevelsofeducation,and
aloneormaybeevenforgettingabout
fallunderawiderangeofincomelevels.BecauseAAsandNHPIsare
usinNewOrleansEastbecausewe'rea
predominantlyminoritycommunity
typicallylumpedtogetherintoonebroadcategory,thesocioeconomic

challengesmanyofthemfaceareoftenmasked,renderingthesubgroups
Idontthinkthat[theschool]thinks
withinthiscommunityandtheirissuesevenlessvisible.Moreover,
therearechallengeswithintheSouth
theeverpersistentmodelminoritymyth,whichimpliesthatallpeopleof
Asianpopulation.Theydontsee[the
Asiandescentarefaringwell,addsadditionallayersofcomplication.REI
foodbullyingissue]almost,becausein
thisarea,mostoftheSouthAsianskids
partnerssharedthattheyareconstantlyfacingsocietalperceptionsthat
doprettywellacademically.Theyare
educational,health,andeconomicdisparitiesaresimplynotapartofthe
kindofthemodelminoritiesinthis
AAandNHPIexperience.
area,sotheydontthinkthattheres
anyissuesthatneedtobedealtwith.
ThischallengesetstheAAandNHPIexperienceapartfromotherracial
groups.Namely,priortoevenbeginningtoengagelocaldecisionmakers
aboutstructuralracismorequitablepolicies,thereisawholelayerof
investmentthatAAandNHPIcommunitiesaremaking,justtoletitbe
knownthatwearehereanddisparitiesexistthataffectus.
Tocounteractthischallenge,acrossthecountry,REIpartnersaretellingtheircommunitystory,through
researchanddata,ormorecreatively,throughstoryandart.Forexample,REIpartnersinMichigan
conductedacommunityneedsassessmenttosurfaceandshareSouthAsianparentconcernsrelatedto
foodbullyingintheHamtramckareaofthestate.SouthernCaliforniapartnersfromEPIC(Empowering
PacificIslanderCommunities)partneredwithotherstoproducethefirsteverdatabooksummarizing
theeducational,economic,andhealthstatusofNativeHawaiianandPacificIslandersintheU.S.Young
peoplefrommanyREIpartnersengagedinsocialmediacampaigns,spokenwordpoetry,andvideo
narrativetoliftuptheirvoicesandraisevisibilityaroundtheirconcernsandissues.
AcknowledginglongheldstereotypesofAsiansasoutsidersorforeigners,partnersemphasizedthe
importanceofnotjustbroadlyraisingcommunityvisibility,butmakingpersonalheartconnections
withindividuals.InMississippi,REIpartnersinvitedfunders,partners,andeventuallyresearchersand
policymakerstoshrimpboattourstohavethemwalkadayinourshoes.Thefocuswastoraisethe
visibilityofVietnamesecommunityandtohumanizetheirexperiencebyprovidinginvitedguestswithan
understandingoftheinherentchallengesofthefishingindustry,aswellasthedeepsenseofprideand
skilltheVietnamesefisherfolkcommunitybringtotheirwork,andthedevastationwroughtby
HurricaneKatrinaandtheBPOilspillintheregion.

Theme2:CultureasFoundational
AsecondthemeacknowledgesthecentralroleofthekeyculturalvaluesandtraditionsthatfortifyAA
andNHIcommunities,makingthemstrongandresilient.TheseculturalstrengthshaveundergirdedAA
andNHPIcommunitiesforcenturies,enablingthemtopersevereinthefaceofinequityandinjustice,to
enduresignificanthardshipwithacertainlevelofgrace,andtocontinuetoworktowardsthecollective
bettermentoftheircommunities.
Thus,intheirwork,REIpartnershavepurposefullyandcreativelyembeddedbiculturalconsiderations
throughouttheirprogrammaticandadvocacystrategiestoaddressinjusticeandinequity.REIpartners
inCaliforniaandHawaiihaveeachrootedtheiryouthleadershipdevelopmentprogramsinPacific
Islanderhistoryandtraditionasameansofensuringthatthenextgenerationofleadersdrawfrom
centuriesofindigenouswisdomandsharedvalues.InNewOrleans,REIpartnershavedrawnfroma
longfarmingtraditiontocreateanintergenerationaleconomiccooperativemodelthatcapitalizesupon
thetraditionalwisdomofVietnameseeldersandentrepreneurshipofyouth.Bydesign,REI
collaborativepartnermeetingsacrossthecountryincludeceremonies,stories,language,andcultural
speakthatkeepparticipantsrootedintheAAandNHPIcommunities
thattheyrepresentandserve.
Allofourworkisrootedin
understandingwherewecome
Afocusonlanguagewasinfusedthroughouttheworkofmultiple
from,ourhistory,andbuilding
collaboratives,whichgranteesdescribedasacorestrengthinAAand
opportunitiesforouryoungpeople,
NHPIculture,avehiclethatunlocksalotofthemeaninginculture.
ournextgeneration.
Whileaddressinglanguageaccesswasacommonstrategyacross

Mostofourhistoryistranslated
multiplegrantees,languagepreservationalsoemergedasan
orally.Inthewesternworld,the
importantfocus.ThiswasespeciallytrueinHawaii,whereconcerns
writtenisvalidated.Butmostofour
aboutdestructionanderosionofHawaiianlanguageandcultureled
historyiscapturedinourlanguage,
topoliciesandprogramsaimedspecificallyatculturalpreservation.1
inourdances,inthewayswetalk
MembersoftheHawaiicollaborativenotedakindofspiritual
toeachother.
connectiontolanguage,highlightingtheconnectionsbetween
languageandland,languageandculture,languageandwaysof
knowing.Theyvoicedconcernsaboutlanguagelossandhowthatequatestoanerosionofculture,anda
lossofwaysofbeingandwaysofknowing.Thus,asthecollaborativeworkstobuildleadershipand
advocacyskillsinHawaiianyouth,theyincludeafocusonlanguagepreservationandincorporatethe
spiritandlanguageoftheHawaiiancultureintheirworkwiththeirpartners.Asonepartnernoted,the
workisrootedinthepoweroflove,thepowerofAlohaKamanaokeAloha.

HawaiiistheonlystateintheunionthathastwoofficiallanguagesHawaiianandEnglish.

Theme3:BuildingCapacityforChange
Alladvocacygroupspartneringwithvulnerablecommunitiestypicallyinvestinbuildingcapacityofthose
communitymemberstohaveameaningfulvoiceinchangeefforts.REIpartners,however,emphasized
specificnuancesaroundhowtodothiseffectivelywithintheAA
andNHPIcontexteducatingnewimmigrantswhohavealackof
familiaritywiththeAmericanpolicyprocess,wrestlingwitha
Theressomuchthatwetakefor
culturalreticencetoraiseonesvoiceinsomecases,orbridging
grantedwhenwetalkinEnglish
languagegapsthroughinterpretationinothercases.AlackofAA
abouthistoriesofoppression
andNHPIpoliticalrepresentationandlimitedcommunity
howdoyouevenbeginto
infrastructuretopromoteongoingchannelsofpolitical
translatetheconceptoffood
deserts intoVietnamese?Weve
engagementfurtherserveasbarrierstocommunitydrivenchange.
essentiallybeenlivingthiswhole

foodjusticemovementwithoutthat
Thiscontexthasgivenrisetoawiderangeofeducation,
kindofterminology.
engagementandempowermentstrategiesamongREIpartners,all
tailoredfortheuniqueexperiencesofthosewithwhomtheyare
Therearentthatmanyofuswith
theframeworkofunderstanding
partnering.InHawaii,REIpartnershavebeenworkingshoulder
injustices.Thatiswhyweare
toshoulderwithcohortsofvulnerableyouthtodevelopan
reachingouttofosterabaseof
experientialcurriculumthatempowersyouthleaderstodrive
youngemergingleaders.
policychange.Leveragingopportunitiestoexplorecurrentissues
innontraditionalways(i.e.,throughspokenwordworkshops,
muraltours),spendingtimeatthestatelegislature,holding
conversationswithlegislatorsandotherpolicyleaders,utilizingonairopportunitiestoshareviewson
localpublicaccesstelevision,andfosteringintergenerationalopportunitiestohearandbeheard,youth
sharetheyarefindingtheirvoice.Inpreparationforthe2015legislativesession,severalparticipatedin
legislativecaucusmeetingswhereintheydiscussedprioritizingyouthrelatedissuesfortheupcoming
session.

InMississippi,REIpartnershavebeenfocusedonbuildingcapacityoftheVietnamesefisherfolk
communitytohaveavoiceinadvocacyrelatedtoequitabledistributionofreparationdollarsinthe
aftermathofHurricaneKatrinaandtheBPOilSpill.Although80percentofcommercialfishinglicenses
intheGulfStatesbelongtomembersoftheAAandNHPIcommunity,amajorityarefirstgeneration
immigrantsthatfacelanguagebarriers.Accordingtopartners,Mississippihasbeenslowto
acknowledgethelanguageissue,resultinginasenseofdisenfranchisementandexclusionbythe
Vietnamesefisherfolkcommunity.Collaborativepartnersarethereforenotonlyfocusedonensuring
translationofpublicmeetingsandmaterials,butalsoplacingastrongfocusonciviceducationsothat
theircommunitiesarefullyinformedabouttheirrightsandunderstandprocessesandprocedures
relatedtoaccessingresources.

Theme4:InterconnectednessandSharedOwnership

Thiscentralthemeisderivedfromthechallengeandpromiseassociatedwithbeingcategorizedunder
theAsianAmerican,NativeHawaiian,andPacificIslanderlabel,
particularlygiventheextremediversityencompassedwithinit.
Thisracialgroupencompassesover50distinctethnicgroups,
[Thereason]whywevehadalot
eachofwhichhaveadifferentlevelofaffinityto(orcomfort
ofdifficultyalotofSouthAsians
dontnecessarilyseethemselvesas
with)thebroaderAAandNHPIlabel,foravarietyofreasons.
partoftheAsianAmerican
MoreestablishedethnicsubgroupsthathavebeenintheU.S.for
identity.Theyidentifymore
multiplegenerationscametogetheraspartofthecivilrights
specificallytotheirethnicidentity.
movementtoclaimtheAsianAmericanlabeltobuildcollective
Thatsbeenespecially[true
powerandvoice.Newerimmigrantgroupswhodonothavethis
among]firstgeneration
immigrants.
sharedhistoryofidentityreclamationinsteadhavehadtheracial
labelexternallyimposeduponthem.Insomecases,ethnic
Themorethatweunderstandeach
groupsarestillcomingtotermswithpriorhistoriesofconflict
othershistoryasAAandNHPIs,
anddominationwithotherAAandNHPIethnicgroups,orcurrent
thestrongerwewillbe.
politicaltensionamongAsiancountriesorPacificIslands.

REIpartnersrecognizedthat,inordertomakemeaningful
progressonasharedracialequityagenda,theyneededtofosterasenseofcollectiveidentityand
interconnectednesswithotherethnicgroupsandothercommunitiesofcolor.Tothisend,intheirwork,
REIpartnersplacedastrongemphasisonknowingeachothersstoryasameansforbreakingdown
ethnic,geographic,andintergenerationalsilosintheirwork.Throughsharingstories,thegoalhasbeen
tofindconnectionswitheachother,insomecasesworkthroughpainfulhistories,andultimately
recognizetheinterconnectednessofexperiencewhenengaginginracialequitywork.Atarecent
meetingofpartners,theyemphasizedthisaspectoftheirworkthroughaceremony,whereindividual
cupsofwaterwereblessedtorepresentthehopesanddreamsoftheirowncommunityandthen
pouredintoalargerbowltorepresenthow,bysharingonesstory,itbecomesforeverinterconnected
withthestoriesofotherswithinthelargercollective.
Inalloftheirrespectivecommunities,REIpartnersfocusedonmakingconnectionswithinandoutside
theirlocalAAandNHPIcommunities.Forexample,intheirworkwithintheBangladeshicommunity,
MichiganREIpartnershaveinvestedinfosteringabetterunderstandingofwhatitmeanstobepartofa
larger,panethnicidentitytohelpcommunitymemberstolocateanddefinetheirspacewithinthat
identity,incorporatetheirvoicesintoadvocacyefforts,andtakebetteradvantageofthecollective
powerofthegroup.Insodoing,theyhavebeennavigatingintergenerationaldifferencesinBangladeshi
affinitytoanAsianlabel,explainingthatfirstgenerationBangladeshisperceivetheAsianorAPIlabelas
aculturaldesignationwhereassecondgenerationBangladeshisaremoreinclinedtoviewitasa
separate,politicalidentity.BecauseoftheimportanceoffaithintheBangladeshicommunity,partners
havealsofocusedonbeingmindfulofthecommunitysdeeperconnectiontoanethnicandreligious
identitythanapanethnicidentity.

IntheGulfCoast,REIpartnersdrewfromacommonsenseofheartbreakandlossinthewakeof
HurricaneKatrinaandtheBPOilspilltofosterpartnershipbetweentheVietnamesefisherfolkandthe
AfricanAmericancommunitytoaddressthewaysinwhichtheywerebothharmedandneglectedinthe
aftermathoftheenvironmentaldisasters.Toaccomplishthis,theyengagedthesupportoftheWilliam
WinterInstituteforRacialReconciliationtobrokerfracturedgrouprelationshipsandintroducea
WelcomeTableprocessacommunityprocesstofosterrelationaltrust,unity,teamwork,and
cohesiveness.MovedbythewayinwhichthehumanizingprocessoftheWelcomeTabletransformed
theircollaborative,thegroupbroughttheprocessoutward,tothefishingdocks.There,theybrought
fisherfolk,collaborativepartners,andscientiststogethertosharetheirstoriesabouttheroleoffishing
andfisherfolkinthecommunity,theirconnectiontothewater,andtheimpactofthedisastersontheir
wayoflife.BybringingtheWelcomeTableexperiencetothedocks,theMississippicollaborativeaimed
tobridgethegapbetweenfisherfolkandscientists,sothatasscientistsmoveforwardwithrestoration
efforts,theycouldholdthesestoriescloseandincludethemintheirbroaderunderstandingoftherole
thattheGulfplaysinthelivesofmultiplecommunities.
Theme5:TowardsSelfDetermination
Intheirprogrammaticwork,allREIpartnersremainedacutelyawareoftheeducational,economic,and
healthdisparitiesfacingtheirrespectivecommunities.Collaborativepartnersalsorecognizedthe
importanceofaddressingthesedisparitiesinwaysthatenabled
theircommunitiestomaintainasenseofdignity,rootedin
culturalvaluesofselfrelianceandselfdetermination.Thus,for
TheVietnameseAmerican
thesecommunities,theworkwasnotjustaboutgainingaccessto
communityhereinNewOrleans
resourcesoropportunities,buttounderstandtheirrolein
East,we'vealwayshadthis
mentalitythatweliveinthislittle
shapingtheseresourcesandopportunitiesasameanstorectify
bubble,andsowedontaskfor
inequitiesandtoachievegreatercommunitywellbeing,as
help,wedontaskforassistance,
opposedtoahandout.Tothatend,theirfocuswasalsoin
andwedontgobeyondwhatwe
ensuringthattheseresourceswereusedtosupportprograms
needorwhatthecommunityis
andprojectsthatwererootedinculturalvaluesandpracticesto
alreadydoing
ensurethattheircommunitiescouldthrive.
Manyofthecommon

challengesstemfromadapting
TheVEGGIFarmersCooperative,aprojectsupportedthroughthe
[toa]newculture,structure,
NewOrleansREIcollaborative,servesasastrongexampleof
andgoverning.thishas
promotionofAAandNHPIcommunityselfdeterminationand
preventedmanyimmigrant
communityresilience.Foodaccess,forexample,isachallenge
generationfamiliesfrom
accessingequalfootingfor
formanywholosttheirlivelihoodinthewakeoftheBPoilspill
opportunitiesasother
andHurricaneKatrina,andREIpartnersareapproachingthe
establishedcommunities.
challengethroughthoughtfulandstrategiceffortstobuildfood
sovereigntybytakingcontroloftheirfoodsupply.Utilizingan
intergenerationalapproachtoaquaponics2andtraditional

Aquaponicsisasustainablefarmingpracticethatsimultaneouslygrowsfishandproducebyusingrecirculating
water.

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farming,theyensurethatthefoodeatenbytheircommunitiesisfresh,organic,andhealthy,andis
grownwiththekindofcare,skill,andlovepasseddownthroughtheircommunityelderstoageneration
ofyoungerfarmers.VEGGIseffortsattransformativeactionandselfdeterminationarerootedinideals
aroundfoodjustice,whichincludesvisualizinghowtheireffortswillimpacttheninthgenerationaswell
astheirlocalcommunity.Thus,theirworkincludesinstillinginyoungpeoplealoveforfarminganda
greaterunderstandingabouttheconnectionbetweentheland,thefoodtheyeat,andtheirhealth.It
alsoincludesensuringthattheirbountynotonlygoestolocalrestaurants,butthatitalsoisofferedat
reducedcostintheLowerNinthWardfarmersmarketorsharedingivingcirclesandinmealsofferedat
theirmonthlyfoodbankevent.Theyvisualizetheirworkasanefforttobuildasustainablesolidarity
economycreatingquality,sustainablejobsandsharingthefruitsoftheirlaborwithother
communitiestowidenthecircleofsocialgood.

REIpartnersalsofosteredselfdeterminationinmorediscreteways,ascommunitymemberstookthe
leadinaddressingstructuralracismbyinsistingthatsystemsacknowledgetheirhistoriesandcultures.
InMichigan,thisincludedhavingconversationswithschoolofficialstoeducatethemaboutthe
importancehalalfoodintheMuslimfaithandthedeeperimplicationsoffoodbullyingintheir
schools.InHawaii,REIpartnershaveemphasizedtheimportanceofstudyingandsharingtheirhistory
inordertounderstandtheimpactofcolonizationandhowitaffectstheirlivestoday.Itwasimportant
fortheircommunitiestotakechargeofthiseducationprocess,giventhelimitedandnarrowwaysin
whichhistoryistypicallytaughtinschools.AsonePacificIslanderyouthfromCalifornianoted,Just
becauseourstoryistoldpostcolonialism,thatdoesntmeantthatswhereitstarted.

Theme6:BreakingSilenceandReclaimingOurNarrative
Finally,likeotherracialgroups,thepainofoppressionisapresentthemeinAAandNHPIracialequity
work.Throughcandidandsometimespainfuldiscussion,however,heretoowesawdistinctaspectsof
howthismanifestswithintheAAandNHPIcontext.AccordingtoREIpartners,workwithinthistheme
hasbeenthemostchallengingand,twoyearsintothework,anareawheretheyfelttheyhadthemost
workyettodo.

Partofthechallengehasbeenasenseofdiscomfortwithsimplyacknowledgingoppressionand
structuralracismintheircommunities.Yetdespitetheirdiscomfort,allREIpartnerscouldshare
examplesofthemanywaysinwhichitmanifestedintheircommunities.ForPacificIslanderyouthin
California,forexample,itwasinthewaytheyquietlyenduredrepeatedracialprofiling.Or,forthose
whowereincollege,howthepervasiveassumptionbystudentsandfacultythattheyonlyreasonthey
madeittotheuniversitywasthroughafootballscholarship,startedtoerodetheirconfidenceeven
forthosePacificIslanderandNativeHawaiiancollegestudentswhowerenotfootballplayers.Forthe

11

fisherfolkinMississippi,itwasthewayinwhichtheirsenseof
dignityandprideintheireconomicselfsufficiencymadethem
initiallyreticenttoseeksupport.InMichigan,itwasinthe
choicesmadebyBangladeshiparentstoincorporateunhealthy
foodsintheirchildrenslunchestomakethemmoreAmerican
andlessBangladeshi,inanefforttostopfoodbullyingandhelp
theirchildrenfitin.Itwasalsointhewayinwhichrampant
antiblackracisminMichiganandfearofbecomingthechosen
nexttarget(orsomehowinadvertentlytakingontheroleofthe
oppressor)inhibitsthecommunityfrommakingmore
purposefuleffortsatcrossracialcollaborationand
advocacy.Acrossallcollaboratives,itwasseeninthedesirenot
tomakewavesorcausetrouble,resultinginasilencethat
reinforcedtheircommunitiesinvisibility.

Perhapsthemostchallengingtopicthegroupexploredwas
aroundthewaysinwhichculturalstrengthsornormscanalso
inadvertentlyserveasanadditionalsourceof
oppression.Participantssharedthetensiontheyfeltaround
culturaltraitsthattheydeeplyvalued(e.g.humility,respectful
deferencetoageandauthority,prioritizingcommunity)andthe
waysinwhichthosesametraitsmadeitchallengingtosucceed
intheU.S.,whereassertiveness(andsometimesaggression),a
competitivespirit,selfadvocacy,andindividualityarepositedas
keyfactorsforsuccess.ForTeaTalkparticipants,simplynaming
thistensionanditsassociatedoutcomesfeltuncomfortableand
somewhatcontroversial.Somespokefreelyabouthowthis

Learningmoreabouttheir
history,issuesofcommunityand
theirplaceinithashelpedour
studentstoacceptandbemore
confidentaboutbeingaPacific
Islander.ForoneofourSamoan
youth,hesaiditwasthefirsttime
hefullyacceptedandfelt
confidentaboutbeingayoung
Samoanman.Hefeelshecannow
bealeadertootherPacific
Islanderyouth.

tensionledtoakindofinternalizedoppressionorselfhate,
whileothersfeltvehementlyopposedtousingtheterm
internalizedoppression,findingiteitherdemeaningor
discordantwithhowtheyperceivethemselves.

Intheirprogrammaticworkwithyouth,REIpartnersprioritized
identityexplorationasakeystrategyforaddressingthesepainful
realities,breakingthesilence,andreclaimingtheirnarratives.For
NativeHawaiianandPacificIslanderyouthinCalifornia,this
includedfocusedattentiononexploringnotonlytheaspectsof
theirculturesthatmadethempowerful,butalsonaming,
acknowledging,andaddressingthenegativestereotypesthat
causepsychologicalharmandlimitopportunitiesfortheseyouth.
Partnersfostersafespacefortheyouthtobevulnerableasthey
12

Sometimesweloseperspective
ofouridentityThereisalso
thatclashofcultures(American
versusPacificIslanderculture
versusfaithculture)thataffects
howweexpressouridentitiesin
public,inprivate,andwithinthe
PacificIslanderonly
community.

AsianAmericansinthisarea
dontwanttotalkaboutrace
becausethereisfearthatthey
willbecometargetedinthe
samewaythatBlack
communitieshavebeen
targeted.

AsAPIAmericans,sometimes
ourcultureourownpersonal,
nativeidentitiesbecomebarriers
anditsakeyreasonwhywe
havethisinternalized
oppression.Thechallengeis
walkingaroundwithtwo
identities.Samoanidentityis
aboutus.Americanidentityis
aboutme.Ifeellikeitsabout
navigating,findingthebalance
acrossboth.

confrontthesepainfulrealitiesandworktowardsbuildingconfidencebyreclaimingandfindingstrength
intheiridentitiessothattheycouldbecomethoughtfulleadersthatwillbecomethoughtleaders.
CaliforniaREIpartnershavealsoextendedtheirconfrontationofstereotypesoutward,intothesocial
mediasphere,throughIamBeyond!asocialmediacampaignthatinvitedAAandNHPIyouthtopost
picturesofthemselvestosocialmediasites,holdingupapositivequote,message,orstatement
explaininghowtheyarelivingbeyondstereotypesorstigma.Throughtheirpowerfulandcandid
reflectionsofthewaystheyseethemselvesandthewaystheyareseen,theyouthareusingthis
campaigntoreclaimtheinjusticesenduredbyourancestors,reshapethenarrativethatistoldofour
journeys,andretellthestorieswithourownwords.3

TowardsRacialEquity:Outcomes
AsourTeaTalkseriescametoaclose,participantstalkedaboutthekindsofoutcomesthatthey
envisionedwouldemergeasaresultoftheirREIstrategies,andthatultimatelybookendedthe
strategieswithintheAAandNHPIracialequityframework.Theyarticulatedoutcomesthattheyhoped
toseebothwithintheirAAandNHPIcommunitiesandwithinthebroadercommunityinordertobuilda
foundationforracialequityfortheircommunities.Thecommunityleveloutcomeswerefocusedon
buildingempowermentandcommunitycapacityforchange.Theseincluded:

Developmentofacadreofbordercrossingleadersthatcouldadeptlyandsensitivelytraverse
multipleidentitiesandgenerations,enablingthemtohelpsurfaceandhealinterandintra
ethnicwoundsandserveasstrongambassadorsforchangewithinandbeyondtheir
communities;
Empowermentofcommunityleaders,parentsandyouthtoaskhardquestions(ofthemselves
andeachother,aswellasofdecisionmakers),andtofeelconfidentinvoicingtheirconcerns
andbecomingagentsforchange;
Agreatersenseofcommunitywillandagencyforjusticeandrestitution,ascommunity
membersgainagreaterunderstandingoftheirrightsandthewaysinwhichdisparitiesare
unfairlyaffectingthehealthandwellbeingoftheircommunities;
ResilientAAandNHPIcommunitieswithastrongsenseofidentitythatcanreadilyembrace
theirhistoriesandtheirfutures,andallthegloryandcomplicationstherein.

Inadditiontocommunityleveloutcomes,TeaTalkparticipantssharedbroaderoutcomesthatthey
hopedwouldemergeasaresultoftheireffortsatachievingracialequity.Theseoutcomeswerelargely
focusedaroundbuildingafoundationandinfrastructurethatwouldincreasebroaderawarenessand
deeperunderstandingofthecommunityandtheirissues,andeffectivelyaddresstheirneeds.They
includeincreasedvisibilityfortheAAandNHPIcommunitiesandtheirissues,greaterattentionand
resourcestoaddressdisparitiesintheircommunity,anincreaseinAAandNHPIleadersandnonAAand
NHPIchampionsatdecisionmakingtables,andthedevelopmentofcrossracialpartnershipsandjoint
advocacyefforts.

http://empoweredpi.org/iambeyond/

13

LookingAhead
Intheend,REIsharedthattheTeaTalkprocesscreatedameansofenhancingtheirrespectiveREIwork
becauseofitsfocusonexploringtheintersectionsofAAandNHPIethnichistorieswitheachotherand
withthehistoriesofotheroppressedracialgroups.Thestructuredspacetohavesafeconversations
allowedpartnerstochallengeeachotherandthemselveswithhardquestionsaboutthemeaningof
identity,andhowandwhethereachfitwithinanAAandNHPI
It[hasbeen]reallyimportanttohear
label.orunderanevenbroaderumbrellawithothercommunities
ofcolorengagedinastruggleforracialequity.Onepartnershared, notonlywherepeoplearecoming
frombutunderstandingholistically
It[hasbeen]reallyimportanttohearnotonlywherepeopleare
howweasagroupareformingthis
comingfrombutunderstandingholisticallyhowweasagroupare
sharednarrativethatwillhelpusto
formingthissharednarrativethatwillhelpustobetterrootour
betterrootourwork.
work.
Thegranteesagreedthatwhiletheframeworkcapturedtheir
particularcontexts,issues,andstrategieswell,itisimportanttounderscorethefactthatthisshouldnot
beseenasthevehicleforinterpretingorunderstandingtheAAandNHPIexperience.Rather,theysaw
theframeworkassomethingthatcouldnotonlyeducatebroadercommunitiesabouttheirconcernsand
theirefforts,butitcouldalsoserveasausefulstartingpointfordeeperconversationswiththeir
communities.Theyalsoagreedthattheframeworkshouldserveasakindoflivingdocument,onethat
couldandshouldbemodifiedasneededsoastobetterresonatewiththecultural,linguistic,
generational,andgeographiccontextsofthecommunitiesusingit.Movingforward,theysawthe
frameworkassupportingtheireffortstowardsachievingwhatwecametocalltheFourRsofthe
granteesworktoachieveracialequityandhealing:remediationandrestoration,toaddressinjustices
andsupporttheircommunitiesrecoveryfromthesewrongs,andtosupporttheireffortsinensuring
communityresilience.

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