May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, and to celebrate the Symba way, we wanted to highlight workforce development programs that are focused on supporting the AANHPI community. The theme for the past couple of years for AANHPI Heritage Month has been “Advancing Leaders.” Workforce development programs do just that; they foster and advance talent to become leaders. Here are 10 organizations with workforce development programs that serve the AANHPI community:
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA)
Whereas many workforce development programs focus on youth and young adults, NAPCA offers programs that help older individuals 55+ gain job skills and experience, and improve their employability. NAPCA’s Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) provides 1200 seniors annually with on-the-job training at non-profits, community-based organizations, or government agencies with the goal of providing community service while empowering them to find unsubsidized employment.
The Senior Environmental Employment (SEE) Program pairs professionals 55 and up with opportunities in admin and support positions, including clerical, scientific, and field, at federal, state, and local agencies. During the program, participants gain new skills and job experiences while supporting environmental projects.
Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA)
Established in 2004 as a summer program, APAPA’s National Internship Program now has cohorts year-round. The summer program places college students in local, state, and federal legislatures across the nation where there are APAPA chapters. The Winter program, during which interns work directly with APAPA-HQ staff, is virtual, and the in-person Spring program is based in Sacramento, where interns are hosted by legislators and public officials at the California State Capitol.
As an intern, individuals get exposure to leadership and advocacy initiatives. For example, APAPA interns played a vital role in the Unity Against Hate rallies and petition, and have registered thousands of voters throughout the country.
Asian Counseling And Referral Service (ACRS)
ACRS empowers individuals to achieve financial independence by providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in the job market. Through skills training, job placement, and retention services, ACRS aims to connect job-seekers with employment opportunities that offer competitive wages and career growth potential in industries like hospitality, food service, and more.
They also have Supported Employment (SE) specialists, who help individuals living with mental illness lead a financially fulfilling life, and a Ready to Work (RTW) program that helps people learn English and develop digital literacy.
Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL)
CAPAL offers an internship program that places both undergraduates and graduates into public sector positions in the Spring, Summer, and Fall. Interns work on a variety of projects, including policy research, law, communications, and more, and get access to 1:1 mentoring, roundtables, and social events. The organization also provides financial assistance and awards scholarships to unpaid interns who are working full-time in public service internships.
US-Asia Institute (USAI)
USAI works with several organizations and embassies to offer a variety of professional development and internship programs, including the Thai American National Internship Program (TANIP), IMPACT! Program for Filipino-Americans, and Mongolian-U.S. National Civic Engagement Program (MUNCEP). These opportunities give underrepresented AANHPI individuals an insider experience of how the government and political systems work, and encourage civic and political participation.
The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW)
CAPAW hosts the Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute (APAWLI), which is an intensive leadership development program for AANHPI women in both the public and private sectors. During the program, women learn skills for workplace advancement, how their culture affects their leadership and relationships, and develop and implement an impact project.
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO
APALA was founded in 1992 as the first (and is still the only) national organization of AANHPI workers, most of whom are union members. The organization serves as a “bridge between the broader labor movement and the AAPI community,” and advocates for fair labor practices and civil and human rights.
In 2012, APALA formed its Young Leaders Council (YLC), which invests in the next generation of AANHPI workers through foundational training on unions and the labor movement. They’ve organized summits, conventions, and workshops with the goal of “continuous identification, development, support, mentorship education and empowerment of new, young, and diverse leadership.”
Gold House
Gold House is one of the more well-known AANHPI-focused organizations. Their Gold Gala gathers AANHPI actors, musicians, entrepreneurs, and other creatives and community leaders in celebration of cross-industry excellence.
Gold House supports the development of AANHPI talent and businesses through its Futures Accelerators, which includes the Future Gold Film Fellowship, Music Accelerator, and The Gold Rush Accelerator for entrepreneurs. They also award prizes to artists and organizations ensuring the AANHPI community is “seen, heard, empowered, and united.”
Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE)
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) aims to develop and prepare AANHPI college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the community in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. They focus on four main areas of development: AANHPI Issues, Civic Engagement, Leadership Development, and Networking, and interns have the opportunity to make a difference with their community impact project. Since its inception, there have been 30 cohorts, many of whom have “run for political office, and have become leaders in politics, business, and nonprofits.”
Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP)
LEAP is a nonprofit that serves the AANHPI community with a variety of services from research and resources to leadership development programs and workshops. Their programs include: Pathways for companies looking to “increase the success of their Asian and Pacific Islander staff,” Exceed which seeks to increase AANHPI representation in executive and director roles at F1000 companies, Emerge, an internship for college students, Advance for higher education professionals, and Impact for nonprofits.
This list is by no means exhaustive or ranked. If you think another organization that promotes AANHPI workforce development should be on this list, please let us know at ellen@symba.io! Send over a blurb of the organization, info about the work they do, and provide a link to their website.
