May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

In this Amplify InBetween, we will share about three Asian American and Pacific Islander amplifiers who made, and continue to make, an impact on the lives of others, and how their influence has positively impacted the way we view activism, art, and storytelling.

The Advocate: Thanushka (Thanu) Yakupitiyage

Yakupitiyage is a Sri Lankan–born, Thailand-raised immigration and climate change activist who is the US Communications Manager for 350. org, an international climate campaign organization started in 2008 that has coordinated over 20,000 climate rallies in more than 180 countries. She co-organized the largest climate march in history, the People’s Climate March. Yakupitiyage believes that climate and immigration justice go hand in hand. The US does not currently have a policy for allowing people fleeing countries affected by climate disasters to receive refugee or asylum status. Yakupitiyage advocates for better immigration and asylum policies, including for those seeking asylum due to natural disasters and the impact of climate change in their homelands. She continues to push the Biden-Harris administration to see the intersection between climate change and immigration, the health effects of climate disasters on people fleeing their countries, and the importance of developing a pathway to asylum status for those affected by climate disasters.

Community Reads

• Asian American Women, edited by Linda Trinh Vo; Marian Sciachitano, speaks on the challenges faced by Asian American women in political and social landscapes.

• The Asian American Movement by William Wei analyzes the Asian American movement beginning in the 1960s and includes tales of the activism of Asian American women.

• But Still, Like Air, I’ll Rise: New Asian American Plays, edited by Velina Hasu Houston, explores eleven plays surrounding Asian American experiences, including themes of identity and sexuality.

• Our Voices, Our Histories: Asian American and Pacific Islander Women, edited by Shirley Hune and Gail M. Nomura, brings together thirty-five Asian American and Pacific Islander authors in a single volume to explore the historical experiences, perspectives, and actions of Asian American and Pacific Islander women in the United States and beyond.

The Speaker: Maxine Kahaulelio

Native Hawaiian activist Maxine Kahaulelio spent most of her life speaking about and protecting cultural sites in Hawaii. Since the 1970s, she’s been active in the demilitarization movement. She also fought against evictions in Oahu’s Chinatown and Waiāhole communities.

Community Organizing

• Check out how South Asian Activism is shaping the Bay Area.

• Have you ever heard of the #ImReady Movement? It’s an organization led by AAPI Women Lead that aims to strengthen the progressive political and social platforms of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the US. Check out their projects and how the organization is challenging racial discrimination and amplifying the voices of AAPI women.

• Check out 88million rising, a women-led Asian American Digital Community Platform that aims to connect resistance and political movements to Asian Americans in the diaspora. They created a zine, Unmasking Yellow Peril, to showcase levels of unchecked hate and violence against Asian Americans.

The Story Keeper: Dorothy Cordova

The “Keeper of History” might be a more appropriate title, as Dorothy Cordova has been spending most of her time since the 1950s fighting for and preserving the history of activism of Filipino Americans. Cordova and her husband, Fred, began showcasing the influence Filipino Americans had on American culture and Filipino identity through student publications and organizations at their alma mater, Seattle University. In 1957, they formed Filipino Youth Activities (FYA), with activities ranging from soccer to folk dancing and parade marching. Even at age ninety, Cordova continues to preserve the legacy of Filipino Americans by archiving and transcribing stories and experiences, stories that can be found at the Filipino American National Historical Society.

Community Art

• Check out House of Chow, which explores the complexities of the Asian Identity through artwork and photographs.

Asian American Women Artists

• Activist Ruth Asawa is known for her wire sculptures and activism in education. Check out a virtual tour of her work that opened last November in San Francisco.

• Artist Cece Carpio incorporates social justice and grief into her art. She was a part of Asian American Women Artists Association (AAWAA) artists who took part in the 2015 Mural Muses project. The project honors the history and experiences of Asian American Women artists.

• Community activist and artist Tomie Arai specialize in multimedia art pieces that focus on community, gender, and racial identity.

• Mequitta Ahuja is a contemporary feminist painter of African American and South Asian descent who creates self-portraiture that combines her multicultural identity and experiences. Check out her exhibition, as well as a video explanation of her painting Parade.

Why We Amplify

We amplify these women for being the keepers, movers, challengers, and voices in every aspect of community organizing. Along with other Asian American and Pacific Islander organizers, they have made it their mission to advocate for civil rights and climate change, keep their history and experiences alive, and find ways of expressing their struggles and triumphs.

Joycelyn lives in Cypress, Texas. She’s the daughter of immigrants and did not go to law school, but she received three degrees (BA, MA, MPH) and is happily freelancing and working in the nonprofit world. She enjoys writing about healthcare recruitment and even worked as a Healthcare Organizer. When she’s not writing, she’s transcribing, developing community toolkits, and researching womxn’s history. Which is why she’s excited about writing for AMPLIFY. On her off days, she spends her time on Twitter, reminding everyone to drink water and enabling others to watch more dramas. Follow her on Twitter: @jg_humanitarian