AA CARES

Asian American Collective Action for Racial Equity and Solidarity at San Francisco State University

Internships

 Between Summer 2022 and Fall 2023, Stop AAPI Hate and Asian American Collective Action for Racial Equity and Solidarity (AA CARES) at San Francisco State University led four impactful internships, engaging students in addressing critical issues affecting Asian and Asian American communities. The 2023 AA CARES internship involved high school students creating social media campaigns on topics like Korean-Black solidarity, Central Asian cuisine, WWII Japanese internment, medical racism, and achievements in STEAM. The Summer 2023 internships co-facilitated by The Institute for Good Government and Inclusion (IGGI) and Stop AAPI Hate focused on addressing bullying in the San Francisco-Bay Area and the 16 participants showed significant learning in public policy and social justice. The Summer 2022 internship revealed strong youth interest in Ethnic Studies and its potential to address and reduce racial discrimination in schools. These internships collectively empowered students, enhanced their understanding of social justice, and promoted educational equity.

Between Summer 2022 and Fall 2023, Stop AAPI Hate and Asian American Collective Action for Racial Equity and Solidarity (AA CARES) at San Francisco State University led four impactful internships, engaging students in addressing critical issues affecting Asian and Asian American communities. 

The Fall 2023 internship program involved the development of impactful social media campaigns on a range of chosen topics, reflecting college interns' interests and perspectives on pressing social issues. Interns were organized into subgroups and tasked with creating and presenting social media campaigns on the following topics:

1. Korean-Black Tensions and Solidarity (1990s to Present Day): An exploration of historical and contemporary dynamics between Korean and Black communities to promote understanding and solidarity.

2. Central Asian Foods and Diaspora: A celebration of Central Asian culinary traditions and the cultural impact of Central Asian diaspora communities.

3. Japanese Incarceration in WWII: An examination of Japanese American internment during World War II and its ongoing relevance.

4. Medical Racism: Addressing systemic biases and disparities in healthcare experienced by Asian Americans.

5. Advancements by Asian American Men in STEAM: Highlighting the achievements and contributions of Asian American men in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics fields.

These campaigns aimed to educate, raise awareness, and challenge stereotypes about Asians and Asian Americans, utilizing social media platforms to engage a broad audience and foster meaningful dialogue.

Summer 2023 Internship 

During the Summer of 2023, the IGGI and Stop AAPI Hate @SFSU internship involved 16 participants from high school to graduate levels. The focus was on addressing bullying of Asian and Asian American high school students in the San Francisco-Bay Area. Evaluations conducted at the midpoint and conclusion of the internship revealed significant learning gains and positive experiences:

Mid-Internship Evaluation:

  •  83% of interns reported high satisfaction with their learning experiences.

  •  58.3% engaged with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the California Public Records Act (CPRA) for the first time.

  •  83.3% strongly agreed that they were learning about public policy.

  •  91.7% strongly agreed that they were learning about social justice as it relates to public policy.