AAPIP Blog

Kent Wong, UCLA Labor Center

The September 2011 convening in San Francisco was the first AAPIP gathering I had attended, and I was impressed by the spirit and scope of the work.  I had the opportunity to bring three leaders of the Dream Act movement to present to the group, and they were so gratified to receive such a warm and supportive reception.  It was especially meaningful for them to speak before a national gathering of Asian American community leaders, and to be welcomed by their own community.

As someone who has worked with philanthropy over the years, I was so heartened to learn more about AAPIP’s advancement of democratic philanthropy.  The world of philanthropy is filled with contradictions.  To many Asian American community and non-profit organizations, philanthropy is an alienating and frustrating labyrinth of unwritten rules and bureaucratic regulations.

Yet, the power of community philanthropy and the giving circle movement that AAPIP has been a part of nurturing is that it promotes grassroots, democratic philanthropy that is controlled not by foundation presidents hidden away in their marble and steel towers, but by anyone who has a few friends and a commitment to make a difference.  The giving circle movement draws on the tradition of many Asian immigrant communities that have pulled their limited financial resources together for mutual support and survival, and who have learned through their own experience the power of collective support and collective action.

Giving circles are doing great work all over the country.  They are building community, identifying important grassroots causes and organizations, and pooling together resources to make a difference.  But they are inherently limited in their scope and reach.  So the opportunity to bring giving circles from around the country to learn from one another, to build on best practices, and to be challenged collectively to be part of this growing movement is an exciting process.

In my work with the Dream Act movement, I have been inspired by a new generation of leaders and activists who represent the hope and future of our society.  With virtually no paid staff, no lobbyists, no fancy buildings, travel budgets and expense accounts, they have built a powerful movement through sheer courage and determination.

But I also realize that they can’t build this movement alone.  They need allies who can support them with scholarships and internships, who can access the media and reach policy makers, and who can provide financial support to grow their movement.  With encouragement and support, the Dream Act students will change the direction of this country.  They are my heroes, and I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with them.

Kent Wong & DREAM Activist, Catherine Eusebio

Kent Wong is the Director of the Center for Labor Research and Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also a Trustee of The New World Foundation.

Why do we stand?  At the plenary session at AAPIP’s leadership gathering, we stood in applause for so many things.  San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee received a standing ovation for being a multicultural, as well as Asian American, elected official.  Eugene Cho, of One Day’s Wages, had us on our feet for a world of abundance—today—not one of scarcity and fear.  And we stood with three inspiring DREAMers, David Cho, Catherine Eusebio and Ju Hong, and their mentor, Kent Wong, who are continuing the legacy of 1960s civil rights freedom riders in their struggle to become all they can be, and who society needs them to be.  One DREAMer asked us to remember why we came to do the work we do, whether in community or philanthropy.  You, us, this…that’s what I was thinking in response.

As a new AAPIP board member, I could not have been more impressed by the chapter leaders, giving circle organizers, board colleagues and community activists that I met that weekend.  Even as I blinked back tears during some moments of the plenary, I could clearly see our collective strength and generous spirit when we choose to stand together as an AAPIP community.

Suk Rhee is the Vice President of Planning and Operations at the Northwest Health Foundation, based in Portland, Oregon. She was elected to the AAPIP Board of Directors in April 2011.

by Allistair Mallillin

Last weekend, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) convened giving circles from around the country in San Francisco. Being a relative newcomer to AAPIP, I thought I had signed up for a free weekend trip with amazing food, not knowing what kind of content would be in store. The quality of food surpassed expectations, but what really resonated was the quality of people.

In particular, two things really stuck out for me during the weekend.

One came from Eugene Cho, founder of One Day’s Wages, who said that a fundamental aspect of leadership is being willing to do what you are asking others to do. If you cannot, you are simply a salesman without integrity. This has a lot of meaning in the context of building a giving circle movement. During the weekend, we were asked how we can help grow the number of giving circles to 50, and the real answer is that we have to care about the root values of the giving circle. We need to show integrity, as Eugene would put it. As we continue to grow the giving circle movement, our paths are much easier when we have a deep connection to an issue. Throughout the weekend, all of the participants displayed that strong connection, as well as the energy and enthusiasm to help make this campaign a reality.

The second thing that stuck out came from the restaurant where we all had dinner. The restaurant had a quotation wall, and one from John Steinbeck spoke to the human mind as being the most valuable thing in the world.  As the giving circle campaign continues, it is important to note that each circle was envisioned by a few people—minds—wanting to make a difference. And the impact of that idea is something that can be taken to heart. As was brought up in discussion, giving circles do not have to exist forever, but can exist within certain timeframes. The longevity of a giving circle is measured not in years of existence, but in the impact of the funding distributed to Asian American organizations, and the awareness spread on behalf of building democratic philanthropy.

It was great to get away for a couple of days, and return to Boston re-energized, inspired, and grateful to have a nationwide network working towards the common goals of building democratic philanthropy and supporting Asian American organizations. Since the first giving circle was formed in Chicago (with the assistance of AAPIP), the giving circles have awarded over $800,000 to Asian American organizations nationwide. That is an amazing feat when you consider that these giving circles run solely on volunteer efforts. While it is important to keep progressing forward, I want us all to take a moment to reflect on the impact and support we have provided the Asian American population. One grant at a time, we are empowering our communities and working to change the institutional systems at play. Let’s continue to build the movement of change!

Allistair Mallillin is the Development Associate for United South End Settlements and a member of the Saffron Circle, a giving circle of multi-generational, multi-ethnic Asians committed to creating positive social change by pooling resources and sharing talents in the greater Boston Asian community.

-By Kristin Aldana-Taday

2011 National Giving Circle Convening. 40 people representing 15 circles from 9 regions across the country.

Two weeks ago, I headed to San Francisco for the weekend to co-represent one of Los Angeles’ three giving circles, The Circle of Change.  I joined members of 15 other giving circles from across the country to connect with other donor-activists, share our circle’s methodology and learn best practices from others, as part of AAPIP’s National Convening.  It was a weekend that reinvigorated my commitment to social justice and helped me carve out a path toward action—a path not just for me to follow myself, but one I can travel as part of a larger community.

AAPIP executed one of the most exciting and inspiring morning meetings ever to open a conference. The speakers included Eugene Cho of One Day’s Wages; DREAM Activists David Cho, Catherine Eusebio and Ju Hong; and even San Francisco’s first Asian mayor, Ed Lee.

I can still hear some of their and the other speakers’ words…

“We believe in the value of humanity, that every single person matters.”

“For undocumented students, the most basic form of civil disobedience is to get an education.

“Your activism protects our democracy.”

There were several standing ovations. There were also tears and laughter. The inspiring words set an assertive tone and called on us to take charge, take action and make change.  The audience of nearly 150 people were pumped as a cohort of giving circle leaders were reassembled in another room to learn about each others’ work.  Personally, I was ready.

Attendees were diverse, and included individuals from giving circles as different and far-flung as the Cherry Blossom Circle in Washington D.C., the Muslim Women’s Giving Circle in San Francisco, the Asian American Giving Circle of Greater Houston, and the Asian Mosaic Fund in Philadelphia.  Some members had been in their giving circles for ten years while others were just beginning their first day there at the conference and were still figuring out a name!

Our giving circles are addressing the challenges faced by Asian, Asian American, South Asian and Pacific Islander communities.  Right now, AAPI communities aren’t getting enough funding or attention from the government or foundations—and giving circles are working to fill that void.  Our circles are the beginning of a movement of democratic philanthropy. Eventually our 15 circles will grow to twenty, thirty, forty and fifty—our goal.

It was so clear to me that my individual giving was now part not only of a circle of giving, but also part of a larger circle of change. I am grateful for AAPIP being the catalyst for the giving circle gathering and for this movement.

Postscript: In the dozen or so days since the AAPIP conference, I’ve already signed a petition to prevent the deportation of a Dream Activist, donated a gift to One Day’s Wages and am preparing materials so I can ask our Circle of Change to consider giving to the group Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights through Education (ASPIRE).  And I can’t wait to do more!

Kristin Aldana-Taday is the Deputy Director of Donor Services for Liberty Hill Foundation and a member of the Circle of Change, a giving circle committed to creating positive social change in the Southern California AAPI community.