Journeys to Victory
Originally shared May 2021
This AAPI History Month, we are hosting a virtual celebration uplifting AAPI organizing and movement builders. On May 14th @ 5PM, AAPI FORCE-EF member and partner organizations will share their victories from political and community campaigns. We will also uplift community artists and cultural workers who breathe life into our movements
The first few months of 2021 brought us new yet familiar hardships. We’ve struggled through anti-Asian violence manifesting in both interpersonal and systemic forms; however, when we look at our AAPI history and heritage, we understand without a doubt that our people are resilient survivors, and continue to fight fearlessly for justice and equity every day!
Art by Natalie P. Bui
Featured Community Organizations
Chinese Progressive Association educates, organizes and empowers the low income and working class immigrant Chinese community in San Francisco to build collective power with other oppressed communities to demand better living and working conditions and justice for all people.
Empowering Pacific Islander Communities promotes social justice by engaging Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities through culturally relevant advocacy, research, and leadership development.
Filipino Advocates for Justice builds a strong and empowered Filipino community by organizing constituents, developing leaders, providing services, and advocating for policies that promote social and economic justice and equity.
Khmer Girls in Action builds a progressive and sustainable Long Beach community that works for gender, racial and economic justice led by Southeast Asian young women.
Pilipino Workers Center secures the dignity and safety of the Pilipinx community in Southern California and builds labor leaders in the domestic worker industry.
South Bay Youth Changemakers unlocks young people’s leadership potential with holistic leadership development centered on political education, healing spaces, and skills-building.
Performing Artists
DJ RODEL
DJ RODEL is a Filipino American DJ who was born in Fremont, CA and raised in East Bay’s Hayward, CA. He’s always had a passion for music, whether it be making playlists or curating sets. Whether performing for his peers at his school, to bars/clubs in the Bay Area, to live-streaming on Twitch, DJ RODEL hopes to inspire others to go against the grain. He’s all about the energy and hopes it translates well to the world through music. His sound transcends from various genres: bounce, hip hop, soul, and RnB to EDM sub-genres that include house, trap, and future bass.
DJ Rodel’s newest mix PISCES TENDENCIES is now out on SoundCloud. You can find all his mixes at soundcloud.com/itsrodel.
SPULU
SPULU is a creative mover, storyteller, dance maker, body historian, fashion designer, and interdisciplinary performing artist from Chochenyo, Ohlone land (Oakland, California) . Their work has been showcased all over the world in response to all the social issues facing Pacific Islanders worldwide. About Spulunism: “a means to sum up everything that I do and am passionate about. I like to think of myself as someone who is always hungry for knowledge”
Tanvi
“Hello! My name is Tanvi (she/her) and I’m a singer-songwriter from the Bay Area. I like to write, sing, and produce songs about my experience moving through the world as a first generation Indian-American. I am also a student who is passionate about social justice and using the power of our collective voices to make tangible changes in society — which is why I joined the South Bay Youth Changemakers (SBYC) in the summer of 2020. As a part of SBYC, I have been able to work for a future that is fair, equitable, and sustainable.
I currently have two singles out on all platforms: one is titled “Nasheeb” and the other is “Last Summer.” You can check me out on Spotify and Apple Music”
