What are the unique challenges and opportunities of an Asian and Pacific Islander Affinity Group? What are ways we can better address the needs of this group in our schools?
AsEA 2017 API Affinity Group Challenges and Opportunities
1. AsEA Conference 2017
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
Seattle Girls’ School
Challenges and Opportunities for
API Affinity Groups
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
3. Agenda
Basic Definitions
What We’ve Tried and What
Happened
Challenges
Opportunities
Resources
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
4. Basic Definitions
The term affinity group is used as a
bringing together of people who have an
identifier in common, e.g. race, gender,
religion, family status, etc. Affinity groups
are for individuals who identify as members
of the group and can speak to the
experience of being a member of the group
from the “I” perspective.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
5. Basic Definitions
The term alliance group is used as a
bringing together of people who have a
common commitment to an identifier group,
e.g. race, gender, religion, family status,
etc. Alliance groups are for individuals who
identify as members of the group and/or as
people who support and stand in solidarity
with that group.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
6. Basic Definitions
The term interest group is used as a
bringing together of people who want to
learn about, share, and engage in a special
interest, e.g. hobby, skill, topic, etc.
Interest groups are for individuals who want
to gather to teach, learn, and share.
Membership can be fluid and changing.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
7. What We’ve Tried and
How It’s Going
Please work in groups of 3
and introduce yourselves.
Describe where your school
is in the process of
launching or implementing
API affinity groups. What
are some of the success
and challenges you’ve
experienced?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
8. Why Affinity Groups Are Great
Safety and Comfort to be
Authentic
Affirmation
Critical Mass
Identity Socialization
Building Resilience
Preparing to Engage
Deeply with Other Groups
Empowerment Toward
Action
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
9. Unique Challenges of
API Affinity Groups
Varying Racial/Ethnic
Identification
Lack of Racial Cohesiveness
Racial Oppression Model for
Affinity Groups
Ranking of Oppressions
Cultural Barriers
High Numbers in Our Schools
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
13. Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
An Artificial Construct
14. The Story of Asian Pacific America
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
15. Excerpts of Asian Pacific American History
1763 Filipinos settle Saint Malo
1778 Chinese sailors land in Hawaii
1820s Chinese immigration begins in earnest
1865 The Central Pacific Railroad Co. recruits Chinese
workers for the transcontinental railroad
1878 Chinese are ruled ineligible for naturalized
citizenship
1882 Chinese Exclusion Act is passed
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
16. 1941 Japan air force attacked Pearl Harbor; FBI arrests
pro-Japanese community leaders
1941-45 Filipino resistance movement, working closely
with U.S. Army, fights the Japanese invaders
1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Executive
Order 9066 on February 19, uprooting 100,000 people of
Japanese descent on the west coast to be sent to
Internment camps.
1943-1945 Japanese Americans volunteer for the US
Army’s 442nd Regimental Combat Team and becomes
the highest decorated military unit in US history
1946, the Luce–Celler Act of 1946 grants naturalization
opportunities to Filipino Americans and Indian Americans
(which included present-day Pakistanis and Bangladeshis)
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Excerpts of Asian Pacific American History
17. Excerpts of Asian Pacific American History
1968 Term “Asian American” is coined as a part of the
Asian American Movement, a radical movement for
social justice (Red Guard)
1975 More than 130,000 refugees enter the U.S. from
Vietnam, Kampuchea, and Laos as Communist
governments are established there following the end of
the Indochina War.
1982 Vincent Chin is accused of being a Japanese
(being blamed for loss of jobs) and beaten to death.
1987 First formal signing of the Proclamation of Asian
Pacific American Heritage Week by the White House
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
18. Emergent Themes
The Perpetual Immigrant
The Worker Not Owner
Black or White or Neither?
Weak as a Socio-Political Group
Ethnically Separated
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
19. Myth of the Model Minority
Overly Hard Working and Tireless
Will Work Under Extreme Circumstances
Quiet and Cooperative
Serene, Smart, Resilient
Doesn’t Seek the Limelight
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
20. Legacy of the Myth
Outsourcing of Cheap Labor
Orientalism in Health Care
Tokenism and Minimalization
Stress of Achievement
Funneling into STEM Fields
Where Are You From?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
21. Recent Influx of Asian Pacific Americans
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
22. Recent Influx
in Our Schools
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Source: Department of Homeland Security, The Wall Street Journal
23. Recent Emergent Themes
Highly Educated
Socioeconomically Well Off
Not Really People of Color
Weak as a Socio-Political Group
Ethnically Separated
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
24. Recent Model Minority Incarnation
Overly Hard Working and Tireless
Quiet and Cooperative
Serene, Smart, Resilient
Doesn’t Seek the Limelight
Driven by “Tiger Moms”
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
25. What Kind of API Are Your Students?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
East Asian
Southeast Asian
South Asian
Pacific Islander
Multiracial
Transracially Adopted
International Student
3rd Generation or Later
Recent Immigrant
Refugee
And…
26. How Do the Obstacles Manifest?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
Varying Racial/Ethnic
Identification
Lack of Racial Cohesiveness
Racial Oppression Model for
Affinity Groups
Ranking of Oppressions
Cultural Barriers
High Numbers in Our Schools
Other?
27. Stage 1: Identify the Need
Gather data around the
school’s population
Gather research on the
challenges groups face
Gather research on the
benefit of affinity groups,
explicit conversations
Gather data around need
and desire
CONNECT TO YOUR
MISSION
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
28. Stage 2: Determine Format and
Definitions
Affinity, Alliance, or Interest?
Identities/Identifiers
Timing
Space
Facilitators
Group Goals or Mission
Statements
Curriculum
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
29. Stage 3: Communicate and Invite
Initial Communication from
Head
Communicate the Need, the
What, the How, and the Who
Communicate Definitions,
Goals, and Missions
FAQs
Faculty/Staff,
Parents/Guardians, Students
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
30. Stage 4: Facilitate Groups
Identity Pride
History
Positive Change and
Activism
Opportunities and
Challenges
Strategies for Success
Supporting Each Other
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
31. Stage 5: Wash, Rinse, Repeat
Assess Effectiveness
Make Improvements
Re-Launch Every Year
Utilize Student/Family Voice
United Front
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
32. Possible Affinity Group Curriculum
Culture Share
Celebrations of
Holidays/Events
Identity Exercises
Current Events
Movies
Field Trips
“What Do I Do If…”
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
33. Factors Leading to More Success
Pride > Struggle
Deflection of Blame
Inclusive of Full Spectrum
Who’s in the Room
Youth Driven Curricula
Opportunities to Share
Collective Action
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
34. Factors Leading to Less Success
Lack of Consistency
Lack of Budget
Lack of Curricula
Reinforcement of
Stereotypes
Chauvinism
Adult Agenda
Visitors and Gawkers
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
35. Reflection
What information was
new, useful, interesting,
worrisome, etc.? What
questions do you have?
What’s missing?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
36. Resources
Full resources, web links,
downloadable documents, and more can
be found at:
https://sites.google.com/a/sgs-
wa.org/sgsprofessionaloutreach/affinity-
group-resource-page
(or go to tiny.cc/rosettalee and scroll down for
“Affinity Group Resource Page” under
“Generally Used Sessions”)
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)
38. Presenter Information
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
6th Faculty and
Professional Outreach
Seattle Girls’ School
2706 S Jackson Street
Seattle WA 98144
(206) 805-6562
rlee@seattlegirlsschool.org
http://tiny.cc/rosettalee
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)