About Us
A look into APC's story, from our student organizing roots, to our current goals and orientation as an organization.
Our History
The Asian Pacific Coalition at UCLA was founded in 1975 amongst a thriving antiwar movement, the emergence of Third World consciousness and solidarity, and Asian American identity. Originally called Asian Coalition, it gave a political voice to many second- and third-generation Asian students, who were beginning to identify themselves as not just Asian and not just American, but as the newly coined term "Asian-American."
The organization was formed as part of the Third World Liberation front (now called Mother Organizations Coalition, or MO Coalition), which united organizations representing Black, Latine, Pacific Islander, and Asian students, amongst others. The Third World Liberation Front was responsible for the successful campaign to establish ethnic studies programs, including Asian American Studies!
Today, APC unites over 19 Asian American and Pacific Islander clubs at UCLA, and organizes alongside coalitions like UC Divest, Southeast Asian Coalition, and Mother Organizations in order to advocate for the uplifting and empowerment of all oppressed communities.
Mission Statement
A strong, united AAPI community that continuously strives for the uplifting and empowerment of all its members, addresses community issues within UCLA and beyond, represents and preserves the AAPI voice, and promotes equity through sustainable leadership.
Vision Statement
We, the Asian Pacific Coalition at UCLA, dedicate ourselves to the conscious pursuit of collective liberation*, through coalition-building* efforts within and beyond the AAPI* (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community. As a collective of UCLA-based AAPI organizations, we unite around our commitment to dismantling systems of oppression, strengthening collective-based knowledge, and activating the political power of our communities. We ground our collective vision in the practices of radical optimism* and radical love.*​
*collective liberation: an ideology recognizing the interconnectedness of marginalized groups' struggles and actively opposing system of oppression
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*coalition building: the continuous process of building and maintaining an alliance of groups with similar interests and values in order to achieve a common purpose together
*APC wants to acknowledge our use of AAPI as opposed to APIDA; the distinction of Desi American in the acronym enforces the idea that South Asians are not included in the greater Asian American community. Furthermore, Desi American is not inclusive of the entire South Asian diaspora. Thus, APC will henceforth use AAPI in our language and programming.
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*revolutionary optimism: adopted by many anti-imperialist organizers and revolutionaries, this concept divests from nihilist stances of the future and focuses on the possibility that the oppressed and working class can change the conditions of capitalism to better the world.​
*radical love: the revolutionary idea that politics and actions must be rooted in compassion for humanity, wherein caring for others unconditionally is a profound act of defiance against an individualistic economic and social order
Our Organizational Structure
Internally, the Asian Pacific Coalition* is made up of 19 UCLA-based, AAPI student organizations, or "member organizations." Click on the logos to explore our member organizations!
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*"Coalition" in this context refers to a specific political organizing strategy rooted in organized, collective action, wherein multiple people or groups come together to achieve a common goal.
Externally, we are connected to various organizations both on and beyond the UCLA campus. APC's political organizing and community actions often happen through affiliation channels.
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UCLA-based affiliations include the various coalitions of which APC is a member organization, UC Divest Coalition, Southeast Asian Coalition, and Mother Organizations Coalition). Unlike APC's member organizations, these affiliated organizations are not within APC's coalition. However, APC may be a member of their coalitions.
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Non-UCLA-based affiliations include the local community-based organization, Chinatown for Equitable Development (CCED).
