Protecting Race-Explicit Programming Series: Situating Asian Americans in the Affirmative Action Debate

Series Description:

Following the Supreme Court’s landmark 2023 decision that effectively bans affirmative action and race-conscious admissions practices in higher education, there has been an onslaught of attacks to DEI programs, including over 100 legal challenges to programs related to internships, grantmaking, scholarships, and other policies. With the new administration in January 2025, we expect more challenges and bolder actions to undermine race-conscious programs and activities that strive to uplift or provide support for communities that have historically been underserved or underrepresented. 

In response to this continued fallout against affirmative action, including the lawsuit against the Fearless Fund, and in preparation for the incoming Trump administration, AAPIP is partnering with Chinese for Affirmative Action to launch a three-part Learning Series: Protecting Race-Explicit Programming. The series is intended to (re)situate Asian Americans within the broader conversations around civil rights, and affirmative action specifically; provide an overview of the current legal landscape with an emphasis on how race conscious programs can still thrive despite the Supreme Court decision; and develop tangible, collective actions to support an infrastructure within philanthropy and beyond for race-explicit grantmaking, programs, and policies. Above all, these advocacy conversations will be a reminder that this is the time to be brave, creative, and resilient.

Session 1 Webinar Description:

Asian Americans have long played a pivotal role in advancing civil rights and racial justice, including supporting and expanding affirmative action. View the webinar recording of our three-part series that will focus on the history of collective activism around these movements, the role of Asian Americans in racial solidarity work, and how the organizing landscape has shifted to date.

Speakers:

• Annie Lee, Managing Director of Policy, Chinese for Affirmative Action
• Nancy Xiong, Executive Director, Hmong Innovating Politics

Moderator:

• Courtney Chappell, Vice President of Programs, AAPIP

You can view the slidedeck from this webinar here.