Asian Pacific Islander Desi Topics

The mission of the Asian Resource Center (ARC) is to educate, promote, and encourage the interaction and dialogue among the diverse ethnic groups within the Asian American community at UCSB. The Center provides a supportive environment for students, staff, faculty, and community members to develop an appreciation for one's identity and to affirm an institutional commitment that recognizes one's community.  

Resources from the Center: Asian Resource Center - COVID-19 Resource Guide

The National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Developmentis the first national advocacy organization dedicated to addressing the community development, organizing and advocacy needs of the diverse and rapidly growing Asian-American and Pacific-Islander communities nationwide

The Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund is the first legal rights organization on the East Coast serving Asian Americans. It was founded by a group of lawyers, law students and community activists who believed that the law should be used as a tool to achieve social and economic justice for Asian Americans and all Americans.

SAALT is a national nonprofit that addresses the social justice needs of South Asian Americans. SAALT holds a National South Asian Summit biannually to connect activists from various South Asian backgrounds and to address the diverse range of issues facing the community. April's gathering focused on "the rise in hate violence, xenophobic rhetoric, and anti-immigrant sentiment that have escalated to unprecedented levels." SAALT also coordinates the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations, a network of community-based organizations that work to strengthen voices on a local and national level.

The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (formerly The Asian Pacific American Women's Leadership Institute) is the only national, nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing and enriching leadership skills for Asian-American and Pacific-Islander women leaders. Its mission is to address the challenges facing Asian-American and Pacific-Islander women and to nurture trusteeship within their communities by expanding leadership capacity, fostering awareness of Asian-American and Pacific-Island issues, creating a supportive network of Asian-American and Pacific-Island women and strengthening community.

API Equality-LA organizes community members to take action on a variety of issues that affect the API LGBTQ community. Through our campaigns, we work to educate the public, change institutional policies and practices, and transform our communities. Our current campaign focuses on mental health and community wellness. We seek to transform community care by increasing access to LGBTQ affirming and culturally responsive mental healthcare, promoting holistic community wellness, and creating supportive and affirming community spaces for API LGBTQ people.

API Chaya empowers survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking to gain safety, connection, and wellness.  We build power by educating and mobilizing South Asian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and all immigrant communities to end exploitation, creating a world where all people can heal and thrive.

The Sikh Coalition began as a volunteer organization that addressed the wave of hate crimes targeted against the Sikh community in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Since then, it's grown into a national network with offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The nonprofit has a Legal Program that litigates matters addressing discrimination, as well as a community development program that focuses on civic engagement.