Mission

The Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) believes that all people have a right to a clean and healthy environment where they live, work, learn, play and thrive. Towards this vision, APEN was founded in 1993 to bring together a collective voice among the diverse and unique histories and cultures of native-born, immigrant and refugee Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the United States. Through a strategy which combines grassroots community organizing, building a network among our communities and collaborating with other environmental justice networks, APEN is part of a broad, multi-racial movement for environmental, social and economic justice.

Issues

Toxics, Health, Community organizing, Environmental racism, Worker safety, Housing, Youth Organizing, Young women's development, Education

Activities

Technical assistance, Report preparation, Proposal/grant writing, Computer training, Health surveys, Media/press campaign, Fund raising, Workshops/conferences, Organizing, Advocacy, Public education, Mapping/GIS

Programs/
Projects

APEN's programs include direct organizing, network building and building a movement. The Laotian Organizing Project emphasizes the leadership role of young Laotian women in organizing to fight against the extreme toxic impact of heavily concentrated industry in Richmond, CA. Currently this project is focused on three campaigns: affordable housing, a multi-lingual warning system, and improvement of school counseling services for Laotian girls. APEN's new direct organizing project in East Oakland is called Power in Asians Organizing (PAO), and it is currently focused on affordable housing issues. APEN works statewide and nationally on alliance building, through collaborations on the Environmental Justice Fund and on multi-cultural networking.

Constitutency

Asian/Pacific Islander

Geographical Focus

City, Statewide, National

Staff

15

Volunteers

5-10

Membership Base

Low income, Asian/Pacific Islander, Urban, People of Color, Grassroots, Youth

Publications

Yearly newsletter and quarterly updates

Annuual Budget

$500,000-1,000,000

Year Founded

1993