How To Support LA’s AAPI Community Right Now

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and we’re going to be celebrating with essays, product recommendations, guides to LA’s Asian-Owned cafes, bakeries, vegan restaurants, as well as guides to Kang Kang Food Court, and much more. But first, we want to talk about how you can support LA’s Asian Community right now.

Since the onset of the Covid outbreak in early 2020, hate crimes and violence towards our country’s AAPI communities have devastatingly spiked. According to NBC, a recent report released by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino found that LA saw an 80% increase in racially motivated attacks against Asian folks in 2021.

You can find organizations, charities, businesses, restaurants, and other ways to support the AAPI community as a whole, below. And be sure to check out resources from Thrillist and DoLA as well.

Donate

If you’re interested in local organizations that could use some financial support right now, check out these groups:

• The Korean American Coalition Los Angeles

• Chinatown Community For Equitable Development

• Southeast Asian Community Alliance Los Angeles

• Little Tokyo Service Center

• Chinatown Service Center

National Organizations Supporting Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander Communities (That Accept Donations)

• Red Canary Song: This international organizing group works with Asian and other migrant sex workers on labor rights and mutual aid. In addition to fighting for labor rights, they seek to abolish police raids and the deportation and criminalization of sex workers.

• National Asian Pacific American Women’s Foundation, Atlanta Chapter: NAPAWF advocates for the movement for social, political, and structural change for Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls, by fighting for reproductive and immigrant rights, closing the wage gap, and more.

• AAPI Women Lead

• Asian American’s Advancing Justice

• Filipino American National Historical Society.

• The Progressive Vietnamese American Organization

• You can find more national organizations to donate to here.

Volunteer

• Compassion In SGV is an organization that sets up chaperone services for vulnerable members of the SGV community. This includes walking people to their car, bus, or local destination, and accompanying folks as they close down their businesses for the day. Check out Noharmktla, which offers similar services in Koreatown.

• Get involved with Red Canary Song, a grassroots coalition that helps to protect sex workers in cases of violence and fights increased policing and immigration control within the industry.

• Report any hate crimes you might witness to Stop AAPI Hate using this link. Stop AAPI Hate also has an extensive resource list of safety tips for those experiencing or witnessing hate.

Keep Showing Up for Your Favorite Asian-Owned Restaurants

• Order a meal from Mama Los Angeles. This restaurant pop-up/charity initiative/delivery platform is currently doing a meal match program, where for every meal you buy from one of their featured restaurants, they donate one to feed seniors in Chinatown.

• Continue to support Asian-owned restaurants by either ordering takeout or dining outside. Specific guides to use include: The Chinatown Takeout & Delivery Guide, The Koreatown Takeout & Delivery Guide, The Best Places To Eat In The San Gabriel Valley, The Best Restaurants In Little Saigon, and Where To Get Chinese Delivery & Takeout In LA.

Buy Some Asian Food-Inspired Art & Decor

• Whether you want to buy a couple durian stickers for a friend or a print whose proceeds go to Stop AAPI Hate, check out Senior Art Director Emily Ng’s 16 picks.

• Many Asian American food and kitchen companies are also donating sales to charities as well. Here’s a list of national brands to support now and always.

• Buy one of these Glow Recipe designed t-shirts from Asian American Girl Club. All of the proceeds go to Act to Change, a non-profit organization addressing bullying against AAPI youth.

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