Asian American and Pacific Islander

Resource Guide to Harvard

and (hopefully) some aspects of life

2014 - 2015
1

Dear Class of 2019,

Welcome to Harvard! We are excited to welcome you into a vibrant community of
students, thinkers, dreamers, and friends. As you get ready to make the most of these
next four years, we want to make sure you have all the resources you need at your
fingertips. Harvard is wonderful, but sometimes Harvard and life are hard in specific
ways for
Asian American and
Pacific Islanders (APIs). The API community has unique
and widely differing experiences of race and belonging in this country. Though the first
Asian Americans (Filipino sailors on board a Spanish galleon ship) set foot in California
as early as 1587, APIs are still often perceived as perpetual foreigners and not quite
real Americans. And, despite the wide range of experiences and socioeconomic
circumstances of the API community, the model minority myth continues to be
exploited to erase the real issues that our communities face and to drive a wedge
between our communities and those of Latino and black folks.
Weve compiled here resources that have made our lives better at Harvard and specific
information about API identity that we are aware of. This is by no means a
comprehensive list, but we hope that this guide will be of some assistance to you in the
next four years and beyond. Please enjoy and send this doc along to
friends/roommates/etc. who you think would benefit from the knowledge compiled
here.

In solidarity,
PAPIA (Progressive Asian Pacific Islander Alliance)
a collective of cool people thinking about and doing! racial organizing in the Asian Pacific Islander
community at Harvard and beyond

Table of Contents
4

Faculty/Staff

Courses

Cultural/Ethnic Organizations

11

Religious Organizations

12

Arts Organizations

13

Support Organizations

13

Service Opportunities

16

Chaplains

17

Incomplete Guide to Financial Aid

and Class Affairs at Harvard

17

Favorite Hangouts

17

Support Services

19

Boston Area/Massachusetts Orgs

20

National API Organizations

22

Restaurants

24

Grocery Stores

24

Cheap Haircuts

25

API Media
(
News Sources
,
Important
Articles
,
Books
,
TV Shows
,
Movies
,
Music
,
Comedy
,
Spoken Word
,
Tumblr Blogs and Online
Communities
)

API Faculty/Staff
The highest concentration of API Faculty/Staff are in the
East Asian Languages and Civilizations
,
South
Asian Studies
, and the
Harvard-Yenching Library
. Notice that Harvard does not offer Asian American Studies
or Southeast Asian Studies.
PROFESSOR

AFFILIATION

EMAIL

DETAILS

Afsaneh Najmabadi

Studies of Women,
Gender, and Sexuality

najmabad@fas.harvard.edu

Gender and sexuality in Iran and the

Middle East

Ajantha Subramanian

Anthropology

subram@fas.harvard.edu

South Asian diaspora; Anthro 1815:

Empire, Nation, Diaspora; Asians in
the US

Allan Lumba

Charles Warren Center

for Studies in
American History

lumba@fas.harvard.edu

Southeast Asian history, Asian

American and Ethnic studies, U.S.
in the World, and Comparative
World history

Christine Yano

Anthropology

syano@fas.harvard.edu

Visiting Fellow, Japanese Studies;

Anthro 1606: Being Asian
American: Representations and
Realities

Danielle Li

HBS

danielle-li@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Associate Professor of Business

Administration

Emelyn de la Pena

Office of Student Life

emelyn_delapena@harvard.edu

Assistant Dean of Student Life for

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Eugene Kwan

Chemistry

ekwan@fas.harvard.edu

Postdoctoral lecture fellow in

Chemistry, teaches course on NMR
and usually leads Chem 135:
Organic Synthesis Lab

Fan Liu

Chemistry

fanliu@fas.harvard.edu

Graduate student in the Andrew

Myers Lab

Genevieve Clutario

History/History &
Literature

clutario@fas.harvard.edu

Cultural historian who specializes

in interdisciplinary and
transnational feminist approaches
to gender, race, and colonialism.
Im interested in the Philippines,
Filipino diaspora, U.S. Empire,
nationalism, and politics of fashion
and beauty

Grace Yuen

Immunology

gyuen@fas.harvard.edu

Graduate student in Immunology,

TF for MCB 169: Immunology

Greeshma Shetty

Medicine

gshetty@bidmc.harvard.edu

Diabetes in South Asian Americans

Homi Bhabha

Mahindra Center for

the Humanities,
English

hbhabha@fas.harvard.edu

postcolonial theory, cultural change

and power, and cosmopolitanism

Hue-Tam Ho Tai

History

hhtai@fas.harvard.edu

Public memory and public history;

the famine of 1945 in northern
Vietnam as experience and
memory; telling lives: biography and
autobiography

Janet Gyatso

Divinity School,
Committee on Inner
Asian and Altaic
Studies

janet_gyatso@harvard.edu

Buddhist history, ritual, and ideas,

with a focus on Tibetan literature
and practice

Jenny Pham

Organismic and
Evolutionary Biology

jpham@fas.harvard.edu

Grad student, TF for SLS 12

John Park

North Korea/HKS

johnpark@harvard.edu

Fellowship Tutor at Kirkland House

Josephine Kim

Ed School

josephine_kim@gse.harvard.edu

Asian American mental health

Ju Yon Kim

English

juyonkim@fas.harvard.edu

Asian American literature; Her first

book, The Racial Mundane: Asian
American Performance and the
Embodied Everyday, is under
contract with NYU Press

Kim Truong

HGSE

ktruong@fas.harvard.edu

Adjunct Lecturer on Education,

Harvard Administrative Fellow for
the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion;
Higher education and students of
color

Paul Y. Chang

Sociology

paulchang@fas.harvard.edu

Social movements, Family, Korean

studies

Ryuichi Abe

EALC

rabe@fas.harvard.edu

Buddhism and visual culture,

Buddhism and literature, Buddhist
theory of language, history of
Japanese esoteric Buddhism,
Shinto-Buddhist interaction, and
Buddhism and gender

Shiv Pillai

Immunology

pillai@helix.mgh.harvard.edu

Immunologist at Massachusetts
General Hospital Cancer Center,
teaches MCB 169: Immunology

Sindhumathi Revuluri

Music (but also WGS)

revuluri@fas.harvard.edu

Musicology, racial diversity in

music

Suerie Moon

Public Health/HKS

smoon@hsph.harvard.edu

Global governance and health

Varsha Ghosh

Public Service
Network

vghosh@fas.harvard.edu

Director of the Public Service

Network; Great resource for social
justice education tools

Yu-Wen Hsu

Math

yuwenhsu@math.harvard.edu

TF for Math Department

API Identity-related Courses

Title

Professor

Term

English 181a: Asian American Literature

Ju Yon Kim

Fall 2014

Anthropology 1606: Being Asian American:

Representations and Realities

Christine Yano

Fall 2014

Folklore and Mythology 153: South Asian

Folklore

Leah Lowthrop

Fall 2014

History 1991: Asian America in the World

Allan Edward Lumba

Spring 2015

History 76c: Major Themes in World History:

Colonialism, Imperialism & Post-Colonialism

Hue-Tam Ho Tai

Spring 2015

Hist-Lit 90bg: Colonialism, Globalization, and

Culture in Asian Diaspora(s)

Genevieve Clutario

Spring 2015

API Language Courses

Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations

Department of South Asian Studies

Chinese (Mandarin, some advanced Cantonese)

Japanese
Korean
Vietnamese
Manchu
Mongolian
Uyghur

Bahasa Indonesia
Bengali
Hindi-Urdu
Nepali
Sanskrit
Tamil
Thai
Tibetan

Cultural/Ethnic Organizations
The mission statements below are taken from organization websites and/or the Harvard Office of Student
Life. They are ordered alphabetically by name, excluding the words Harvard, Radcliffe, and College.

Harvard Radcliffe Asian American Association | AAA

http://www.hraaa.org
One of the largest student-run ethnic organizations at Harvard College, the Asian American Association is dedicated
to creating a diverse and nurturing community of Asian American undergraduates at Harvard University. AAA
organizes a large variety of educational-political, cultural, outreach, and social events throughout the year.

Asian American Brotherhood | AAB

http://harvardaab.com/
Founded in 1999, the Asian American Brotherhood seeks to promote intercultural understanding and social activism
at Harvard and beyond. The values of our organization stand upon three pillars: Service, Activism, and Brotherhood.
Throughout the years, AAB has been a force of collaborative and positive change in our community, a tradition of
which we are proud and hope to carry on for years to come.

Asian American Womens Association | AAWA

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~aawa/
The Asian American Womens Association (AAWA) recognizes the need for a supportive, vocal community for Asian
American women at Harvard. AAWA strives to address these needs through biweekly general discussions,
campus-wide events, and mentorship programs. By generating discussion about and spreading awareness of issues
that affect Asian American women, AAWA seeks to promote the prominence and concerns of Harvards female Asian
American population in a way that is accessible and pertinent to the greater Harvard community.

Harvard College Chinese International Student Society

Harvard College Chinese International Students Society aims to promote understanding and appreciation of traditional
and current Chinese culture, including literature, history, philosophy, art and politics, in an academic atmosphere. This
organization, consisting primarily of international students from China and other Chinese nationals fluent and willing
to use the Chinese language in discussing issues related to China, is open to all with serious interests in Chinese
culture in a deeper level beyond its development, economic opportunities, and relationship to the United States:
Chinese International Students Society sees China as is--as a nation, as a cultural sphere, and as a continuation of its
manifold traditions. It will engage its members in serious academic discussions on various topics related to China, the
root to many of its members and an area of special concern to others. In addition, it will host social events to foster a
sense of community for Chinese nationals studying in Harvard and those interested in joining this community.
Furthermore, it also seeks cooperation with similar student organizations from other universities and colleges to
enhance the communications among Chinese students across the United States.

Harvard Radcliffe Chinese Students Association | HRCSA

http://www.harvardcsa.org/

Founded in 1969, the Harvard-Radcliffe Chinese Students Association (CSA) is one of the largest and most active
student organizations at Harvard. As a home to Harvard's Chinese and Chinese-American community, CSA serves as a
forum for social, cultural, and educational/political interaction among students of all backgrounds. CSA hosts nearly
80 events each year, including general meetings, speaker series on culture and politics, holiday festivals, dim sum runs
to Chinatown, parties, and more
.

Harvard College Half-Asian Peoples Association | HAPA

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/harvardhapa/

The purpose of Hapa is to provide a forum at Harvard for students to come together to discuss issues of
mixed-ethnicity, especially mixed-Asian ethnicities. The club hopes foster community through social meetings, as well
as sponsor educational and awareness-building events. HAPA shall provide a space for its members to voice their
opinions and comfortably explore their culture, identity, and individuality.

Holoimua o Hawaii
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hawaii/
Holoimua O Hawaii aims to serve both the community of Hawaiian students attending Harvard College and the
general student community at large by practicing and promoting the unique island culture on campus.

Harvard Hong Kong Society

http://www.hhks.org
Welcoming students of all backgrounds, Harvard Hong Kong Society is dedicated to promoting the unique aspects of
Hong Kong culture and fostering a stronger community among Harvard students interested in Hong Kong.

Harvard College Iranian Association

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/hcia/
HCIA aims to bridge the gap between Iranian and non-Iranian students in the Harvard community by promoting
cross-cultural understanding.

Harvard Japanese Society

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/js/
The purpose of the Harvard Japan Society is to foster interest in Japanese culture through Japan-related events on
campus, and to provide a space where American and Japanese students can interact.

Harvard Korean Association | HKA

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~ka
The Korean Association leads the undergraduate Korean-American community's efforts to teach and learn about
Korean culture and political issues. The KA additionally provides a social outlet for Korean-American students who are
interested in meeting others with a shared heritage and common interests.

Harvard College Korean International Student Association

harvardkisa@gmail.com
HCKISA is concerned with the social and cultural issues regarding Korea and Koreans in this society. The organization
seeks to: a) promote an understanding and appreciation of Korean culture, and b) actively act as a liaison between
organizations and institutions in Korea and the Korean international student community at Harvard.

Organization of Asian American Sisters in Service | OAASIS

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~oaasis/
The mission of the Organization of Asian American Sisters in Service (OAASIS) is to foster a culture of strength,
passion, and community amongst Asian American women at Harvard. By providing an opportunity for Asian American
women to take ownership of public service, educational, political and community discussions and initiatives, OAASIS
produces strong and confident leaders who make positive contributions to the Harvard community and to society at
large.

Harvard College Pakistan Students Association

8

http://www.hcpsa.org
The HCPSA wishes to increase interest in and promote awareness of Pakistani culture and current affairs in Pakistan
within the Harvard undergraduate community. Through events that bring Pakistan to the fore and stimulate further
dialogue, HCPSA aims to cater to a diverse community interested in developing an understanding of Pakistan: its
culture, affairs and issues. HCPSA also hopes to serve as a platform for members of the Harvard Community to work
together on initiatives that provide solutions to intractable problems that the region may face. We seek to adopt many
lenses in order to further the Harvard community's understanding of Pakistan and its diverse peoples: 1)Cultural
2)Anthropological/Sociological 3)Economic/Geographic 4)Political/Governmental.

Harvard Philippine Forum | HPF

http://harvardphilippineforum.weebly.com/
The Harvard Philippine Forum (HPF) is a close-knit family of Filipinos, Filipino-Americans, and friends that celebrates
and shares the vitality of Philippine culture and tradition with the Harvard community. Through activities from
traditional dance performances to food samplings, HPF offers the campus community with a glimpse of Filipino
culture. With its social and educational events and the camaraderie it offers, it provides its members with a uniquely
Filipino Harvard experience.

Progressive Asian Pacific Islander Alliance | PAPIA

PAPIA is an informal collective of cool people to come and talk to about racial organizing in the Asian American
Pacific Islander community at Harvard and beyond. We meet weekly to try and navigate identity, politics, community, &
the intercultural communication between communities of color & in dialogue with power. Request to join the email list
we use to talk/plan/organize here:
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/harvard-api-movement
.

Harvard South Asian Mens Collective

http://harvardsamc.org/index.phtml
SAMC will provide all interested members of the Harvard community with an outlet for addressing issues of social
justice, poverty alleviation, and economic development in South Asia. SAMC will present opportunities for direct
involvement in addressing said concerns that yield tangible results. A critical core value of the Collective will be to
instill in members a commitment to service and giving back to the South Asian community that has contributed so
much to our lives. SAMC will also work to strengthen a sense of brotherhood between members and create a
supportive arena for dialogue and discussion. The SAMC community will provide members with mentors, peers, and
friends. Furthermore, the Collective will seek to build a multi-ethnic network of service-oriented students on campus,
thereby empowering members with both an internal sense of brotherhood and a larger sense of solidarity with other
groups to which they might not otherwise be exposed. Additionally, SAMC is concerned with the political, social, and
cultural issues regarding South Asian men on Harvard University's campus and in the larger community. The group will
seek to further greater awareness and understanding of these issues in the Harvard community by appropriate means
such as social events, meetings, seminars, fundraisers and other activities. SAMC will provide an outlet for members
of the Harvard community, particularly South Asian males, to address concerns of the dichotomy between identity and
heritage; the interrelationship amongst men and women in the community; and of masculinity as challenged in the
American landscape.

Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia Association

harvardsiama@gmail.com
The Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia Association (SIAMA) is the undergraduate student organization at Harvard
that aims to represent the unique cultures of these three countries of similar heritage on campus. It also serves to
promote an understanding of our cultures within the wider University community and helps to network Singaporean,
Indonesian and Malaysian undergraduates at the University. The organization was founded in the late 1980s and
currently has an active membership of around 25 undergraduates. Membership in the organization is open to all
students in good standing currently enrolled at Harvard College. Membership is not required to participate in our
activities. These activities include socials, cultural movie screenings, regular cook-outs, trips in and around boston and
cultural performances.

Harvard South Asian Association

http://www.harvardsaa.org

Since 1986, the South Asian Association (SAA) has served Harvard as a vehicle for students, faculty, and community
members to engage with South Asia and its Diaspora through academic, political, outreach, social, and cultural
initiatives. Recognizing the unique role college students can play in development and community-building, we help
SAA members serve the communities within the Subcontinent and Diaspora through fundraising, placements in
internships with NGOs, and other efforts. Every year we seek to bring members of the SAA community closer together
with a variety of social activities, including dances and study breaks, allowing members to develop bonds that will last
long beyond their time at Harvard.

Harvard South Asian Mens Collective

http://harvardsamc.org/index.phtml
SAMC will provide all interested members of the Harvard community with an outlet for addressing issues of social
justice, poverty alleviation, and economic development in South Asia. SAMC will present opportunities for direct
involvement in addressing said concerns that yield tangible results. A critical core value of the Collective will be to
instill in members a commitment to service and giving back to the South Asian community that has contributed so
much to our lives. SAMC will also work to strengthen a sense of brotherhood between members and create a
supportive arena for dialogue and discussion. The SAMC community will provide members with mentors, peers, and
friends. Furthermore, the Collective will seek to build a multi-ethnic network of service-oriented students on campus,
thereby empowering members with both an internal sense of brotherhood and a larger sense of solidarity with other
groups to which they might not otherwise be exposed. Additionally, SAMC is concerned with the political, social, and
cultural issues regarding South Asian men on Harvard University's campus and in the larger community. The group will
seek to further greater awareness and understanding of these issues in the Harvard community by appropriate means
such as social events, meetings, seminars, fundraisers and other activities. SAMC will provide an outlet for members
of the Harvard community, particularly South Asian males, to address concerns of the dichotomy between identity and
heritage; the interrelationship amongst men and women in the community; and of masculinity as challenged in the
American landscape.

Harvard College Students for Bangladesh

hcs4bd@hcs.harvard.edu
To provide a forum for Harvard College students and Harvard affiliates interested in Bangladesh to come together to
form a community and collaborate on social, political, and cultural initiatives in or related to Bangladesh.

Harvard Thai Society

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~thai/new/
Harvard Thai Society's mission is to create a better understanding of Thailand through cultural performances,
informational services, and discussions. The members are Thai undergraduate and graduate students of Harvard
College and other Schools. We hope to bring people with similar backgrounds together to share experiences, as well
as welcoming anyone who wishes to learn more about our society.

Harvard Taiwanese Cultural Society

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/taiwan
TCS is a student organization at Harvard University dedicated to promoting the culture and heritage of Taiwan and
Taiwanese-Americans. From cultural workshops such as our annual Nightmarket to historical events like our 228
commemoration, our goal is to enhance awareness of Taiwanese culture and provide a place for those interested in
learning about Taiwan to meet and discuss their interests.

Harvard College Turkish Society

harvardcollegeturks@gmail.com
Harvard College Turkish Student Association is an undergraduate organization that aims to foster the interaction of
Turkish students and students with an interest in Turkey. It aims to introduce Harvard community-at-large to the wide
array of social, historical and cultural values of Turkey. In doing that it will also contribute to the international
awareness on campus. Another objective of this club is to establish an intercultural bridge between Turkey and other
countries through social events such as dinners and movie screenings.

10

Harvard Vietnamese Association | HVA

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hva/
The Harvard Vietnamese Association is dedicated to fostering an awareness of Vietnamese culture on campus and
within the Greater Boston area, and promoting the interests of the Vietnamese student body at Harvard.

Religious Organizations
Asian American Christian Fellowship | AACF
http://hraacf.org/

The mission of AACF is to know God, and to make God known. The vision for the AACF is to engage the unreached
Asian American population, to both affirm and challenge the Asian American culture from a Biblical perspective, and
to develop future leaders for the Asian American church.

Asian Baptist Student Koinonia | ABSK

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~absk/
ABSK is concerned with the religious, social, and cultural issues regarding Christianity and Asians. The group seeks to
promote greater awareness and understanding of these issues in the Harvard community through Bible studies, small
group meetings, and fellowship events.

Dharma
harvarddharma@gmail.com
Dharma, Harvard's Hindu Student Association, provides Harvard students with the opportunity to learn about and
participate in Hindu festivals and traditions on campus within a close-knit community of fellow students. We celebrate
Diwali, Holi, and many other holidays in a student-run, student-oriented fashion that brings our community together.
Additionally, Dharma serves as a forum in which Harvard students learn about the Hindu religion and the culture
associated with it. Our frequent discussions and speaker events serve students of all backgrounds and knowledge in
an open format. Dharma also makes available information about Hinduism, offers students a forum to express their
views on the Hindu religion and how it affects their lives, and most importantly acts as a springboard for any other
Hinduism-related activities that its members might want to pursue. In recent times, these activities have included a
Garba Team and Swadharma, a Hinduism journal. Most importantly, Dharma is an organization open to everyone with
the ultimate aim to create a supportive community for students.

Harvard Islamic Society

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/his/
The Islamic Society's goals are: (1) to provide an Islamic environment for members to practice Islam as a way of life;
(2) to assist the broader community at Harvard university with their spiritual, social and intellectual endeavors; and (3)
to provide a better understanding of Islam to the University community.

SACH: Harvards Sikh Student Association

harvardsach@gmail.com

11

Arts Organizations
The mission statements below are taken from organization websites and/or the Harvard Office of Student
Life.

Harvard Asian-American Dance Troupe

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~aadt/
For over twenty years, the Asian American Dance Troupe (AADT) has sought to spread an appreciation and awareness
of Asian culture through the medium of dance. Our repertoire includes a diverse range of dance forms including
traditional, ethnic minority, fusion, martial arts, modern, and hip hop. Our pieces are student choreographed/arranged
and feature both undergraduate and graduate school students of all races and ethnicities. Through our troupe, we
hope to allow students of all ethnic descent to participate in dance (hence our no-audition, all are welcome policy). We
hope to encourage vibrant interaction and cooperation between AADT and other dance troupes, thus exposing Asian
dance to those who might not otherwise have a chance to experience it.

Harvard Chinese Music Ensemble

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~hcme/

The purpose of the HCME is to foster the awareness and appreciation of Chinese traditional music among the Harvard
community and the general public through performances, music workshops, and instrumental demonstrations.

Harvard Mirch
https://www.facebook.com/HarvardMirch/
Harvard Mirch is a co-ed South Asian a capella aiming to bring together the best of South Asian and western pop
music.

Harvard College Sangeet

http://www.harvardsangeet.org
Founded in response to the steadily growing number of remarkable South Asian musical talents and enthusiasts on
campus, Sangeet serves to usher South Asian music to its deserved place among the other cultural and artistic
establishments at Harvard, and to forge a legacy at the intercollegiate and global levels, establishing Harvard as the
premier seat of South Asian musical leadership, prominence and excellence. Sangeets activities are devoted to all
aspects of South Asian musical performance and scholarship. They are aimed at increasing the exposure and
appreciation of South Asian music, providing a forum for teaching and learning, and encouraging performance at the
highest levels. Sangeets commitment to variety and breadth ensures that there is an event for every type of
music-lover. Enjoy informal Antaksharis, study breaks, bhajan workshops, and karaoke nights, or join aficionados for
concert field trips, themed jam sessions, fusion opportunities and campus-wide performances, or take advantage of
Sangeets one-of-a-kind lecture-demonstrations with visiting maestros, intercollegiate conferences and more. Sangeet
is also proud to offer a music school through which members of the Harvard community can pursue vocal,
instrumental and percussion lessons in the various genres of South Asian music.

Renegade Magazine
http://www.renegade-mag.com
/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Renegade-Magazine/1581850642063610?fref=ts
We are Renegade, an art and advocacy collective of Harvard student artists, writers, musicians, poets, activists, and
thinkers who have come together in solidarity as people of color. Choosing not to forget is our first and most radical
act. We are rediscovering our identities as people of color on this campus by remembering our ancestors courageous
stories and by dismantling the regimes of colonization and oppression still present at this university. Through
creativity and collaboration, we empower individual voices and minds and place our expression at the center of
campus discourse.

South Asian Dance Company

https://www.facebook.com/HarvardSADC

12

The South Asian Dance Company (SADC), as a dance team, aims to encourage creative expression through fusion of
classical, folk, Bollywood, and modern South Asian dance styles with Western styles such as hip-hop and modern
dance and to educate the community through workshops in these different areas. We usually perform medleys of
shorter pieces which, when put together, bring together the passion, grace, and beauty of these vastly different dance
styles to make something completely new, unique, and lovely. This year, the student group will continue a series of
dance workshops leading to performance opportunities while strengthening and expanding the existing dance troupe.
In October, the Company holds its annual intercollegiate charity dance showcase, RAUNAK, which will include
student-choreographed pieces from fusion dance groups around the New England area. Additionally, SADC performs
at events on campus throughout the year. All interested in dance are welcome to join!

Support Organizations
The mission statements below are taken from organization websites and/or the Harvard Office of Student
Life.

Association of Harvard Asian and Asian American Faculty and Staff | AHAAAFS
http://ahaaafs.com/
AHAAAFS was established to provide opportunities for networking, career development, awareness, and support for
Asian and Asian American faculty and staff. It also serves as a resource for the larger Asian and Asian American
community at Harvard.

Harvard College First Generation Student Union

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/firstgen/
|
harvard-first-gen@googlegroups.com
The Harvard College First Gen Student Union is concerned with the welfare and community representation of first
generation students at Harvard College. For the purposes of the organization, a first generation undergraduate student
shall be defined as one whose parents or guardians have not completed a course of study at an accredited four-year
undergraduate institution, or an equivalent and recognized qualification abroad. HC-FSGU has three main objectives:
(1) To facilitate the transition to college for first generation students through initiatives such as providing mentorship
networks and sharing academic and social resources among members; (2) To build a community among first
generation Harvard students; and (3) To provide the first generation student community a platform to express its
voice and to advocate for themselves. Additionally, HC-FGSU will seek to build more opportunities of learning for
non-first generation college students, in the belief that it is important for the broader Harvard community to
understand the first generation student experience. By communicating with non-first generation students, HC-FGSU
will strive to dispel any stigma or stereotype associated with the first generation identity.

Harvard Asian American Alumni Alliance

http://www.haaaa.net
HAAAAs stated mission is: To promote, expand, and maintain a network of Harvard Asian American alumni; To
improve the understanding of our common heritage and culture as Asian Americans, and thereby improve political and
social cohesion within the group; To enhance the visibility and promote the advancement of Harvard Asian American
alumni in the broader Asian American, Asian, and American communities; To develop a sense of community among
alumni, faculty, staff, students, and Asian Americans; To encourage alumni involvement in University affairs that affect
Asian American communities within the University; To increase alumni participation with and investment in
undergraduate and graduate Asian American student communities; To assist the University in recruitment and
retention of Asian American candidates for undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as faculty and
administrative positions. Please note that Asian American is broadly defined here, encompassing all people of Asian
descent with any American life experience. This ipso facto includes any Harvard University alumni or staff, such as
Asians who came to Harvard for school but have returned to Asia upon graduation.

Service Opportunities
Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) Extension
BRYEextension@pbha.org

13

All classes focus on improving English and reading skills with the older two classes also incorporating quantitative
enrichment through interactive experiments and activities. The program runs from 4:00 to 5:30 on Friday afternoons
on site in Dorchester. You dont need to speak Vietnamese to join, only a smile, some creativity, and lots of
enthusiasm are necessary! BRYE Extension offers its participants a chance to have a safe, validating environment on
Friday afternoons that many would not otherwise have. We are on a mission to make education fun, engaging, and
encourage our students to follow an academic path of success.
*PBHAs BRYE Extension runs on Friday.

BRYE Tutoring
BRYEtutoring@pbha.org
PBHAs BRYE Tutoring program, founded in 1987, strives to give children of immigrants from various countries (such
as Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Cape Verde) a foothold in America through instruction in the English
language. By fostering a close, mentoring relationship between tutor and tutee, BRYE Tutoring is dedicated to bridging
the cultural barrier not only through knowledge of language, but also by inspiring confidence and increasing
self-esteem through a solid friendship. Tutors do not have to know any foreign languages or have previous experience
in ESL tutoring to be in the program. BRYEs application process chooses highly dedicated, outstanding tutors who
devote one day a week from 3:30-6:00 pm (including travel time), to tutoring. Tutors create their own
curriculum tailored to their individual student, ages 6-12. BRYE Tutoring also takes two field trips per semester.
*PBHAs BRYE Tutoring runs on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

BRYE 1-2-1
BRYE121@pbha.org
PBHAs BRYE 1-2-1 is a big sibling program for children who already have a working knowledge of English and would
benefit from a one-on-one mentoring relationship. Through this program, we seek to help them experience parts of
American culture they might otherwise miss, give them role models to look up to, and make friendships that endure.
Volunteers meet with their little siblings once a week on Saturdays, sometimes spending time one- on-one and other
times taking part in organized group field trips (for example, to the Boston Childrens Museum, the Ringling Brothers
Barnum and Baileys Circus, ice skating lessons, etc.)

BRYE Summer Program

BRYE@pbha.org
PBHAs BRYE Summer has provided academic and emotional support to refugee children and their families since
1987. This summer we will serve about 90 Vietnamese, Latino, Cape Verdean, African, and Haitian children ages six to
thirteen in Dorchester. BRYE Summer prioritizes ESL instruction, but Senior Counselors (SCs) design their own
curriculum. They work with students and families of amazing strength, often developing long-term relationships and
assisting them with many of the challenges recent immigrant families face. Beyond integrating themselves in
American life, issues concerning BRYE youth include neighborhood violence and racial tensions between the diverse
ethnic groups in Boston.

BRYE Teen
PBHAs BRYE Teen is a program for 12-17 year-old multi-ethnic immigrant youth in Dorchester. Teen has a different
focusnot just academics or mentoring, but also youth development and empowerment/diversity training. We meet
every Saturday from 3-5 in Dorchester, and we do lots of discussion groups, enrichment activities, and the like with the
goal of fostering self-expression and confidence. Last year, we explored the themes of art, community, and biography
through various projects, including a service project at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter. Each semester, we like
to bring something unique to our mentees. Our volunteers build long-lasting relationships with the
teens, and also gain facilitation skills, as we take turns leading the discussion groups and activities. Your talents, ideas
and creativity are an important part of the program!

Chinatown After School Program

14

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~chtnasp/
For 30 years, our mission has been to provide a free and impactful afterschool program to kids in Chinatown's public
schools. Each week from Monday to Thursday from 4 to 6PM, our counselors head out to Chinatown to mentor
elementary school kids with homework help and enrichment projects. Each counselor comes once a week and we
have vans from Harvard and Wellesley. For m
ore information, please contac
t
chinatownafterschool@pbha.org
or
chtnasp@hcs.harvard.edu.

Chinatown Big Sib

PBHAs Big Sibling Program strives to establish positive relationships between young adults and school-aged children
(mostly 7-12 years old) from families in Chinatown. Through one-on-one interaction, big sibs provide both mentorship
and companionship, seek to bolster their little sibs and establish unique relationships that offer new experiences
possible only in a one-to-one setting. For more information, contact
ChinatownBigSib@pbha.org
. *PBHAs Chinatown
Big Sib runs on Saturday or Sunday.

Chinatown ESL
http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~chtnesl/
Were an organization of volunteer ESL teachers serving Chinese-speaking immigrants in greater Boston.
Currently based at Harvard University, we have been providing free English language instruction for over 20 years. For
more information, please contact
chinatownesl@pbha.org
.

Chinatown Teen
chinatownteen@pbha.org.
PBHAs Chinatown Teen program mentors high school students in Bostons Chinatown. As a Chinatown Teen
counselor, you will have the opportunity to be a positive influence on a teenagers life through interacting with them in
a group environment. Teens are encouraged to develop relationships with both the teens and their fellow counselors
through a weekly two-hour program, as well as various field trips throughout the semester. Regular program consists
of a mixture of homework time and a fun, skill-building project designed to foster maturity, creativity, leadership,
teamwork, and responsibility. The time commitment is two to three hours per week. *PBHAs Chinatown Teen runs on
Tuesday or Thursday.

Chinatown Citizenship Tutoring

http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~ccitizen/calendar.php
Chinatown Citizenship is a naturalization assistance program that serves the Boston Chinatown community. We
promote social and political empowerment for Chinatown immigrants through supporting them in the naturalization
process for U.S. Citizenship. Our services include courses in U.S. history and government, mock interviews,
translations, and resources such as practice audio CDs. We are always happy to answer general inquiries about the
naturalization process.

Chinatown Adventure (CHAD)

CHAD@pbha.org
CHAD seeks to enrich and improve the quality of life for low-income youth between ages 6-13 in Bostons Chinatown.
As such, it is committed to the academic, social, and personal development of youth by promoting personal growth
among its campers and creating opportunities for developing fundamental social skills, healthy self-identities, high
self-esteem, cross-cultural awareness, and social consciousness. The majority of CHADs 75 campers come from
low-income backgrounds that afford few opportunities for summer educational enrichment and employment. At a
cost of $125 per camper, CHAD is one of the most affordable summer youth enrichment programs based in Boston.

15

For less than $4 per day per camper, CHAD offers Chinatowns youth a safe and wholly enriching summer complete
with fully furnished facilities (e.g., gym, dance studio, pool, classrooms), academic enrichment, classroom supplies,
and field trips and camping trips to places beyond Chinatown.

Harvard China Care

Harvard China Care is a student-run organization at Harvard College that brings together a team of dedicated
undergraduates determined to help build brighter futures for abandoned, orphaned, and special-needs children in
China. Since the fall of 2003, HCC has sent over 90 volunteers to Chinas orphanages, raised over $250,000 to fund
surgeries, cover operational costs of children's homes, and build a school for visually impaired orphans. Back on
campus, we have grown from a handful of students hovered around a breakfast table to a large organization that has
overseen more than 70 Dumplings playgroups and successfully fostered over 70 mentor-mentee relationships.

Refugee Youth Summer Enrichment (RYSE)

RYSE@pbha.org
RYSE today serves more than 100 students from various Greater Boston communities. The mission of RYSE is to
create a small yet intimate environment to provide affordable ESL instruction to high-school refugee and immigrant
students. As a seven-week intensive summer program that runs five nights a week (Monday through Friday), three
hours each night (4:30-7:30), RYSE provides ESL instruction in the context of a cultural exchange. We hope to provide
a concrete and cultural understanding of the language by utilizing both formal and hands-on teaching methods, and by
incorporating community service projects and educational field trips into the curriculum. RYSE
continues to support the educational development of its students, not only through classroom instruction, but also
through enriching field trips and our annual College and Career Fair.

Team HBV
Team HBV at Harvard College is part of a nationwide initiative to combat Hepatitis B, a liver disease that affects 1 in
12 Asians Americans. HBV is completely preventable and treatable, yet 350 MILLION people today are still chronically
infected worldwide and 600,000 people die every year. It is one of the BIGGEST ethnic health disparities between
Asians and the rest of the world. One of Team HBVs main goals is to increase awareness and understanding about
Hepatitis B in the Boston community via grassroots community outreach.

Chaplains
Name

Affiliation

Email

Phone

Mako Nagasawa

InterVarsity Christian
Fellowship

mako.nagasawa@gmail.com

(857) 212-6691

Reverend Raymond
Kahng

Harvard Korean
Mission Church

rkahng@post.harvard.edu

(617) 576-5572
(617) 441-5211

Peaceful reunification
of Koreas, global
mission, service,
hungry/homeless
population
Rebekah Kim

Baptist Southern

rebekah_kim@harvard.edu

(617) 455-9179

Daryush Mehta

Zoroastrian
Association

daryush.mehta@gmail.com

(617) 599-0328
zagba.org

16

Lama Migmar Tseten

Buddhist Chaplaincy

lamamigmar@me.com

(617) 256-3904

Swami Tyaganada

Vedanta Society
(Hindu)

swami_tyagananda@harvard.edu

(617) 536-5320

Interfaith
understanding,
meditation practices,
museums and art
galleries

Vedanta Society, 58 Deerfield

Street, Boston, MA 02215

An Incomplete Guide to Financial Aid &

Class Affairs at Harvard
Friends and allies Yesenia Ortiz 17 and Ilian Meza-Pena 17 put together a few resources that might be
useful for navigating financial aid and class at Harvard that we have adapted for you here. We acknowledge
and want to remind you all that this is a super incomplete list and by no means the only resources available.
If you have any questions regarding any of the information in it, or have edits/suggestions please let us
know.

Favorite Hangouts
Womens Center
Located in the basement of Canaday under B-entryway, the Womens Center is a cozy space with lots of couches,
cushions, and free tea and hot chocolate. All genders and identities are welcome!

Prayer Space
Next to the Womens Center in Canaday basement, this space is managed by Harvard Dharma and is open for prayer.
Quiet, comfortable. Please take off your shoes!

Caf Gato Rojo

Another basement hangout! Underneath Lehman Hall - the mysterious white building between Grays and Matthews the Gato Rojo is super popular with graduate students and offers your cheapest alternative to dining hall coffee. A
great spot to do work between classes, if ya can stake out a spot.

Cabot Caf
Okay, seriously, why are all our favorite campus spots in basements? A cozy quad caf in Cabot House.

Phillips Brooks House Common Room

Also in a basement lol. Newly renovated student space in the center of service programs at Harvard has whiteboard
walls for your artistic/brainstorming/meeting pleasure, a television, couches, and computers.

Support Services
Bureau of Study* Counsel
The BSC has counselors and resources targeted at helping students navigate everything to do with academic life and
beyond. They offer student tutoring services, a reading and study strategy course, and plenty of useful handouts on
how to keep your shit together. Most importantly, you can sign up to talk to a counselor about whatevers on your
mind. The trouble here is that you cant just drop in - most likely youll have to make an appointment a week or two out.

17

[Recommendations for culturally competent folks here]

Good experience with
Aurora Sanfeliz
Niti Seth!

Counseling and Mental Health Services*

The mental health arm of University Health Services. If you call their appointment hotline (617-495-2042), they will
schedule a 15-minute screening phone call with you anywhere from that day to a few days later. The counselor
conducting the screening will ask you about your concerns and personal history before making a recommendation for
a course of action and setting up an appointment. If you do not express that your situation is urgent, it may be a week
or two before you can see a counselor.
24-hour urgent care is also available through UHS Urgent Care Clinic, which is in the basement of the Smith Center.
You can also call the Urgent Care Clinic at 617-495-5711.
[Can anyone recommend a person there who is culturally competent?]
Good experience with Michelle Chen, LICSW
*We are actively seeking recommendations for culturally competent counselors at the BSC and CAMS. By this, we mean
counselors who have a strong understanding of the way cultural and racial identities shape our lived experiences of mental
health and our individual concerns. If you have had or know of someone who has had a positive experience with a counselor in
this regard, please add their name here.

Office of Sexual Assault, Prevention, and Response

The Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response promotes the compassionate and just treatment of student
survivors, their friends, and significant others. Their staff has expanded for the first time since 2003, and now includes
a specialized survivor advocate and education and prevention specialists.
The 24-hour OSAPR hotline offers information and support at 617-495-9100. Their office is located at 731 Smith
Campus Center and is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.

Tutors
Race Relations Tutors
http://harvardfoundation.fas.harvard.edu/people/affiliation/race-relations-tutorsproctors

BGLTQ Tutors
http://bgltq.fas.harvard.edu/people/taxonomy/term/17481
Also Out at Harvard has profiles of BGLTQ folks at Harvard:
http://bgltq.fas.harvard.edu/people/person-role/out-harvard

Wellness Tutors
http://cw.uhs.harvard.edu/community/tutorsproctors.html

SASH Tutors
These tutors support survivors of sexual assault and sexual harrassment
http://osapr.harvard.edu/people/people-taxonomy/sash-advisers

Peer Counseling Services

Please note that all of the peer counseling organizations listed below are open to and competent in addressing any
concerns you might have.

ECHO - Eating Concerns Hotline and Outreach

Focuses on concerns related to eating, body image and self esteem.
Quincy House, F-Entry Basement
617-495-8200
Hotline hours: Nightly, 8 pm8 am Drop-in hours: Sun.Thu., 811 pm

18

Room 13
No particular focus, open to all concerns.
Thayer Hall Basement
617-495-4969 Hotline and Drop-in hours: Nightly, 7 pm7 am

Response
Focuses on issues of intimate violence, rape, abuse, and harassment.
Lowell House Basement E 13
617-495-9600
Hotline hours: Nightly, 9 pm8 am Drop-in hours: Sun.Thu., 9 pmmidnight
For 24-hour assistance: contact the Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (OSAPR) 24-hour Hotline at
617-495-9100.

SHARC - Sexual Health and Relationship Counseling

Focuses on sex, relationships, and sexual health. Formerly the Peer Contraceptive Counselors.
Harvard University Health Services 5th floor
617-495-7561
Hotline and drop-in hours: Nightly, 7 pmmidnight

Contact
Focuses on sex and relationships of all kinds, with a strong emphasis on the LGBTQ community.
Thayer Basement
617-495-8111
Hotline and drop-in hours: Thu.Sun., 8 pm1 am

Boston/Cambridge Area API Community

Organizations
We included several prominent organizations below, but there are more compiled by Boston University here:
https://www.bu.edu/bhlp/Resources/boston/cultural_communities/asian.html

Asian American Civic Association | AACA

aaca-boston.org
The Asian American Civic Association provides limited English speaking and economically disadvantaged people with
education, occupational training and social services enabling them to realize lasting economic self-sufficiency. AACA
has served and advocated for the needs of immigrants and other economically disadvantaged people since 1967.
Today AACA serves clients from over 80 countries. Focused on economic self-sufficiency and participation in
American society, AACA provides a range of services, including English classes, social services, job training, college
preparation and a post-graduate retention program.

Asian Community Development Corporation | Asian CDC

www.asiancdc.org
Asian Community Development Corporation is committed to high standards of performance and integrity in serving
the Asian American community of Greater Boston, with an emphasis on preserving and revitalizing Boston's
Chinatown. Asian CDC develops physical community assets, including affordable housing for rental and ownership;
promotes economic development; fosters leadership development; builds capacity within the community, and
advocates on behalf of the community.

Asian American Resource Workshop | AARW

www.aarw.org

19

The mission of the Asian American Resource Workshop is to work for the empowerment of the Asian Pacific
American community to achieve its full participation in U.S. society

ASPIRE (Asian Sisters Participating in Reaching Excellence)

www.girlsaspire.org
ASPIREs mission is to engage, educate, and empower Asian American girls and women to become effective life-long
leaders.

Boston Asian American Film Festival

www.baaff.org
The Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian
American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community. BAAFF is a
production of the Asian American Resource Workshop and is the largest Asian American film festival in New England.

Chinese Progressive Association | CPA

www.cpaboston.org
The Chinese Progressive Association is a grassroots community organization which works for full equality and
empowerment of the Chinese community in the Greater Boston area and beyond. Our activities seek to improve the
living and working conditions of Chinese Americans and to involve ordinary community members in making decisions
that affect our lives.

East Meets West Bookstore

Site of East Meets Words, the longest running Asian American open mic night series in the country,
http://emwbookstore.com/blog/events/east-meets-words/
(2nd Friday of month, 8 pm)

Genki Spark
www.thegenkispark.org
The Genki Spark is a multi-generational, pan-Asian women's arts and advocacy organization that uses Japanese taiko
drumming, personal stories, and creativity to build community, develop leadership, and advocate
respect for all
.

Massachusetts Area South Asian Lambda Association

|
MASALA
http://bostonmasala.wordpress.com/

Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance

http://qapa.org/
QAPA is committed to providing a supportive social, political, and educational environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
trans*, and questioning people of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage in the Boston and New England area.

National API Organizations

Asian Americans Advancing Justice
The mission of Asian Americans Advancing Justice is to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for
civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities.

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

|

AALDEF

Founded in 1974, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) is a national organization that
protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and
organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.
AALDEF focuses on critical issues affecting Asian Americans, including immigrant rights, civic participation and

20

voting rights, economic justice for workers, language access to services, educational equity, housing and
environmental justice, and the elimination of anti-Asian violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking.

Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies

| APAICS
The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) is a national non-partisan, nonprofit
501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting Asian Pacific American participation and representation at all levels of
the political process, from community service to elected office. APAICS programs focus on developing leadership,
building public policy knowledge, and filling the political pipeline for Asian Pacific Americans to pursue public office at
the local, state, and federal levels.

Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum

| APIAHF

Asian Americans (AA), Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) are the fastest growing population in the US.
Yet, many AAs and NHPIs still do not have access to high quality services, strong community infrastructure, or a
recognized policy voice. The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) works with communities to
mobilize in order to influence policy and to strengthen their community-based organizations to achieve health equity
for AAs and NHPIs across the country.

ChangeLab
ChangeLab is a grassroots political lab that explores how U.S. demographic change is affecting racial justice politics,
with a strategic focus on Asian American identity. Through research and cross-sector convening, we seek to revitalize
a contemporary Asian American politics grounded in multiracial solidarity. We also provide communications platforms
to highlight the damage that racial ideas about Asian Americans have done to the broader racial justice movement
by reinforcing anti-black racism, justifying U.S. Empire, and marginalizing Asian American struggles.

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

| CAPAC

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and
Pacific Islander descent and members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian
American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been
addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994. CAPAC is
non-partisan and bi-cameral.

Empowering Pacific Islander Communities

| EPIC

Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) was founded in 2009 by a group of young Native Hawaiian and
Pacific Islander professionals based in Southern California. EPIC serves the community through its empowerment of
leaders through civic engagement and leadership development; its search for research opportunities that generates
data voicing the needs in the NHPI communities; and its development of advocates and advocacy tools and continued
advocacy at the local and national level.

Japanese American Citizens League

| JACL
Founded in 1929, the JACL is the oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization in the United States. The
JACL monitors and responds to issues that enhance or threaten the civil and human rights of all Americans and
implements strategies to effect positive social change, particularly to the Asian Pacific American community.

Organization of Chinese Americans

|

OCA

OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates is a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political, and
economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans.

To fulfill its mission, OCA has established the following goals:

to advocate for social justice, equal opportunity and fair treatment;
to promote civic participation, education, and leadership;
to advance coalitions and community building; and
to foster cultural heritage.

National Asian Pacific American Womens Forum

|

NAPAWF

21

NAPAWF is the only national, multi-issue Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) womens organization in the
country. The founding sisters of NAPAWF identified six issue areas to serve as the platform and foundation for
NAPAWFs work:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Civil Rights
Economic Justice
Educational Access
Ending Violence Against Women
Health
Immigrant and Refugee Rights

National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development

|

National
CAPACD
The National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) is the first national
advocacy organization dedicated to addressing the housing, community and economic development needs of diverse
and growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

National Queer Asian and Pacific Islander Association

|

NQAPIA

The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance is a federation of LGBTQ Asian American, South Asian, Southeast
Asian and Pacific Islander organizations. NQAPIA seeks to build the capacity of local LGBT AAPI organizations,
invigorate grassroots organizing, develop leadership, and challenge homophobia, racism, and anti-immigrant bias.
NQAPIA is an independent non-profit organization.

Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund

| SALDEF
SALDEF is a national Sikh American media, policy, and education organization. Our mission is to empower Sikh
Americans by building dialogue, deepening understanding, promoting civic and political participation, and upholding
social justice and religious freedom for all Americans. We are grounded in our values of optimism (chardi kala),
humility (nimrata) and service (seva), inspired by the community (sangat) for the benefit of all (sarbat da bhalla).

South Asian Americans Leading Together

| SAALT
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit organization that elevates the
voices and perspectives of South Asian individuals and organizations to build a more just and inclusive society in the
United States.

Southeast Asia Resource Action Center

| SEARAC
SEARAC is a national organization that advances the interests of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans by
empowering communities through advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building to create a socially just
and equitable society. We envision a socially, politically and economically just society for all communities to enjoy for
all generations.

White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

| WHIAAPI
On October 14, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the
Executive Order
reestablishing the White House Initiative on
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (Initiative). The Initiative, chaired by
U.S. Department of Education Secretary
Arne Duncan
and led by
Executive Director Kiran Ahuja
, is housed within the U.S. Department of Education. The
Initiative works to improve the quality of life and opportunities for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by
facilitating increased access to and participation in federal programs where they remain underserved.

Restaurants
Punjabi Dhaba (Inman Sq, Cambridge)
be ready to wait like 30 min, but to receive a thali of the most delicious food + masala chai

Bon Chon
Chicken wings, chicken wings, chicken wings. + bibimbap.

22

Spice Thai
A Harvard Classic: be aware, white people abound.

9 Tastes
Thai in the basement - right across from Staples and so delicious

Gourmet Dumpling House (Chinatown)

so good (soup dumplings!) but long line; right next to Ho Yuen Bakery, where you can get Chinese pastries and things
while waiting

Dumpling House (In Between Harvard Square and Central Square)

owned by same people as Gourmet Dumpling House, same beautiful food and just down Mass Ave =)

Best Little Restaurant (Chinatown)

the name says it all

Taiwan Cafe (Chinatown)

One of the best restaurants in Chinatown, hands-down.

Mays Cake House (Chinatown)

All the steamed buns and Chinese desserts you could possibly imagine

JoJo Taipei (Allston)

Brunch here is the sh**. Youtiao (
fried dough sticks
) + savory soy milk included.

Blue Asia Cafe

Best milk tea/Boba on this side of town and located right across the street from JoJo Teipei

Yenching
Another Harvard Classic: wonton soup till kingdom come; Owner gives Chinese students free soup and is generally
adorable

Chutneys
A fast-food version of Indian food in the Garage. Convenient, but controversial.

Boston T Stop
dont miss the thai milk tea with boba and bring cash!

Dado Tea
conveniently located on Church Street, dado offers tea (including chai and boba) as well as bibimbap.

Maharaja
especially the garlic naan; have it with everything

Harvest of India (in Central, lunch buffet like 7.95 or 8.95)

In an indian (masala) pinch, itll do.

Mulan (by MIT)

never been here but I think this is the place my mom told me to eat at when she was still freaking out about my not
having good food away from home

Hong Kong
conveniently open until 3 AM and delivers!

23

O Sushi
Lets just say that O stands for something ;-) (read: foodgasm)

Les
Please teach all your white friends how to pronounce pho properly.

Kaju Tofu House

Korean and Japanese food. Dont bother with the sushi, do inhale the tofu soups. The location in Allston is generally
better than the one in Harvard Sq.

Wagamama
Need a noodle? Have a noodle. Long white tables, mildly sterile, average delicious.

Dosa Factory (Central Sq, Cambridge)

Less of the factory, more of the delicious South Indian pancake life.

All the restaurants in H-Mart (including Sapporo Ramen)

Cafe Mami (Porter Square)
Yamato (Brighton)
all you can eat sushi. nuff said.

Grocery Stores
H Mart
Somewhat bougie & overpriced Korean-American grocery chain that probably has the shrimp chips you grew up with.
Central Square location. Also has a food court with ramen and a Paris Baguette.

C Mart
One of the major grocery stores in Chinatown, focused on Chinese products. Theres also a South End location.

Super 88 / Hong Kong Supermarket

Enormous grocery store in Allston, with plentiful food court options, including Pikaichi (a fantastic ramen place!), JMP
Fine Indian Cuisine, and a Lollicup.

Cheap Haircuts
Hair International (Davis Square)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hair-international-cambridge

Les Beauty Salon (Chinatown)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/les-beauty-salon-boston?osq=haircut

Unique 8 Hair Place (Chinatown)

http://www.yelp.com/biz/unique-8-hair-place-boston?osq=haircut

24

API Media
News Sources
18 Million Rising
http://18millionrising.org

Angry Asian Man

http://blog.angryasianman.com/

Hyphen Magazine
http://www.hyphenmagazine.com

Informed Comment: Thoughts on the Middle East, History, and Religion

http://www.juancole.com/

Reappropriate
reappropriate.co

API Movement
http://www.apimovement.com/

KoreAm Journal
http://iamkoream.com/

Race Files
http://www.racefiles.com/
Our main focus is Asian Americans, and much that you find here is for and about us. We are a group about which we
believe a lot needs to be said, both concerning our experience of anti-Asian racism, and about the particular role
Asians play in the racial hierarchy. We are also a group for whom we believe educational resources are needed if we
are to play a positive role as the fastest growing racial minority group at a time when racial demographics in the U.S.
are shifting in favor of people of color. We invite you to talk back to us, share your own thoughts, and to use what you
find useful here to advance the dialogue about race and racism.

AAPI Voices
http://aapivoices.com/
Develops and features data-inspired writing and provocative short pieces relating to AAPI communities and AAPI
experiences. The goal is to harness both the power of compelling data and the storytelling talent of the vibrant AAPI
journalist, blogger and academic communities, to inspire more news coverage and public understanding of key
aspects and features of our rapidly growing and changing AAPI populations.

Colorlines
http://colorlines.com/

Racialicious
http://www.racialicious.com/
Racialicious is a blog about the intersection of race and pop culture.

Kollaboration
http://kollaboration.org/

25

Kollaborations mission is build bridges, out-create negative stereotypes, and promote diversity. Kollaboration is a
global platform to discover, empower and connect the next generation of artists and leaders to mainstream media
prominence and change culture.

Important Articles

The Culture Canard of the Model Minority Myth: how racial gaps in academics arent due to cultural
pathology
, Jenn Fang: Debunking the model minority myth

When You Become the Oppressive Ally

, Alex Quan-Pham: On allyship and fighting racism

Youre the Model Minority until Youre Not

, David Shih: On model minority myth, police brutality, Asian
American history and how they apply to the case of Officer Peter Liang, who was indicted for killing Akai
Gurley on February 10, 2015.

I Was A Hairy Brown Girl; There Was Nothing Wrong with Me Then and There is Nothing Wrong with Me
Now
, Sabah Choudrey: On being a trans person of color in a Western society

A Genocide of Genealogy: For Those Who Refuse to Be Silenced

, Vanessa Teck: On Khmer Rouge,
American military violence, historical erasure, and telling our own stories.

For Asian Undocumented Immigrants, a Life of Secrecy

, Zi Heng Lim: On one DREAMers story of being
undocumented after immigrating from South Korea and the
1.5 million Asian undocumented immigrants
who remain largely invisible.

Top Ten Differences between a White Terrorists and Others

, Juan Cole: Why white people are almost never
called terrorists. Read more
here
.

Bill of Rights for People of Mixed Heritage

, Maria Root: I have the right not to justify my existence in this
world.
Indiana Has Charged Two Asian American Women with Feticide
, Jennifer Chowdhury: On the vulnerability of
Asian American womens health and reproductive justice. Also see
NAPAWFs report on the use of
sex-selective abortion bans
to further pro-life agendas through the stigmatization of women of color.

Whats R(ace) Got To Do With It?: White Privilege & (A)sexuality

, Alok Vaid-Menon: On the racial politics of
asexuality and embracing asexual identities as a person of color.

A Sharp White Background

, Kimiko Matsuda-Lawrence: how I learned what race feels like

List of 12 Asian Girls

, Moses Kim: A response to the FungBros 18 Types of Asian Girls Video

Harvard Time
, Natalie Chang: On being the remainder.

Left Unheard in the Debate

, Kirin Gupta, Bernadette Lim, and Eva Shang: On Harvard and the role that
Asian Americans play in the affirmative action debate
Two part piece on gentrification in Bostons Chinatown
, Shannon Vavra: Historical background and current
context for Bostons historically Asian neighborhood.
Here
is more information about current efforts to
combat gentrification.

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What Does a Model Minority Mutiny Require?

Soya Jung: Reflections on the modern civil rights battle and
what Asian Americans can do to stand up to white supremacy.

Books
Asian American Studies/History
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Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans by Ronald Takaki

Yellow: Race beyond Black and White by Frank Wu
Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People by Helen Zia
Yell-Oh Girls!: Emerging Voices Explore Culture, Identity, and Growing Up Asian American by Vickie Nam
Up Against Whiteness: School and Immigrant Youth by Stacey J. Lee
Afro Asia: Revolutionary Political and Cultural Connections between African Americans and Asian Americans
This Bridge Called My Back: Radical Writings by Radical Women of Color
Hip Hop Desis: South Asian Americans, Blackness, and a Global Race Consciousness by Nitasha Sharma
Bengali Harlem and the Lost Histories of South Asian America by Vivek Bald
Indivisible: An Anthology of Contemporary South Asian American Poetry
Impossible Desires: Queer Diasporas and South Asian Public Cultures by Gayatri Gopinath

Novels with Perspectives from Asian Americans

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I Love Yous are For White People by Lac Su

The Latehomecomer by Kao Kalia Yang
We Should Never Meet by Aimee Phan
Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (and all her other works!)
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures
by Anne Fadiman
Aiiieeeee!: An Anthology of Asian American Writers by Jeffrey Paul Chan, Frank Chin, Lawson Fusao Inada
Warrior Woman by Maxine Hong Kingston
Born Confused by Tanjua Desai
Everything by Khaled Hosseini
Bodies in Motion by MaryAnne Mohanraj
American Born Chinese; Boxers & Saints; The Shadow Hero by Gene Luen
Joy Luck Club; Bonesetters Daughter by Amy Tan
Chinese in America by Iris Chang
A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri
Blue Boy by Rakesh Satyal
M Butterfly by David Henry Hwang
A Gesture LIfe by Chang-rae Lee
Rolling the Rs by R. Zomora Linmakr
Dictee by Theresa Cha
Bitter in the Mouth by Monique Truong

Funny People
Aamer Rahman
Reverse Racism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw_mRaIHb-M

Ana Akana
https://www.youtube.com/user/AnnaAkana

Aziz Ansari
DLo
Fung Bros
Can be fairly misogynist. See Moses Kims
beautiful response
to their video, 18 Types of Asian Girls.

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Hari Kondabolu
My English Relationship
,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIxutnYm6Tg
Female President,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMa1TaVmb9U

Kristina Wong

Reparations for Yellow Fever

, hilarious episode where she fucks with white guys with yellow fever while on dates
with them

UCLA Asian Pacific Islander Graduation Commencement Speech

, commentary on Asian American identity,
masculinity, womanhood, queerness, etc. = love

Margaret Cho, comedian

Read or Watch Im The One That I Want

Mindy Kaling
Russell Peters

People with Beautiful Words

Alok Vaid Menon
www.returnthegayze.com/

bxk, Harvard College 14

Tea Drinkers Manifesto:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jq_iCsDAF5Q
Part of the pairing About That Elephant:
aboutthatelephant.wix.com/poetry#!videos/cja3

Bao Phi
Beau Sia
Franny Choi
Janani Balasubramaniam
Jason Chu
Colorblind:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd4X8r2bIdc
Red Lines (cw: self harm):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT1tXPVPnLM

Leah Piepzna-Samarasinha
Rachel Rostad
"A Letter to JK Rowling from Cho Chang":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFPWwx96Kew
Response to Critiques of A Letter to JK Rowling from Cho Chang:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04qQ1eNGJwM
Names":
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfexOa8-h44

Staceyann Chin
My First Period:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGk3-OJX7KE

YaliniDream
Yellow Rage
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Listen Asshole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXSyP545gtc

Television
Fresh Off the Boat
Selfie
The Mindy Project
Elementary
All American Girl
Battlestar Galactica
Hawaii 5-O
Gilmore Girls

Movies
Slaying the Dragon
, documentary film on the history of Asian American actresses in Hollywood
American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs (
http://americanrevolutionaryfilm.com
)
Vincent Who?
Who Killed Vincent Chin?

Music
Awkwafina
Her vag doe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z726OPwCnjE

Blue Scholars
Spitting grievance for a living until theres nothing left to say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4y9z3eIFLk#t=117

Chee Malabar
CHOPS
Asian-American producer who also used to be a member of the hip-hop group Mountain Brothers. Recently put out an
awesome Asian-American hip-hop project on Kickstarter, featuring Dumbfoundead, Rocky Rivera, Baiyu, etc.:
http://strengthnum.tumblr.com/post/77066845225/digital-copy-of-the-strength-in-numbers-album-is
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/228373745/strength-in-numbers-asian-american-urban-music-pro

Humble the Poet

Mandeep Sethi
Parker, a.k.a. Dumbfoundead
http://dumbfoundead.com/
KHipHop from Koreatown, LA.

Far East Movement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxpMk3pvz44

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Ih Tsetn
The Inner Mongolian ensemble offers a selection of traditional music showcasing the
morin khuur
(horse-head fiddle),
topshuur
(two-stringed plucked instrument), and khoomei throat-singing and long song.

M.I.A.
https://www.facebook.com/miauk?rf=114600568552888
|
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x95i8s_grammy-performances-2009-t-i-m-i-a_music

Tasha (Yoon Mi Rae)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5OSQXa92Cg

Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down

http://thaoandthegetdownstaydown.com/
|

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35ForwE2zEo

The 1shanti
Yo Yo Honey Singh
These people:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/tanyachen/asian-american-musicians-you-need-to-get-behind-right-now#2iv1jp

Local Artists who perform in Diaspora Traditions

Boston Bhangra
http://www.bostonbhangra.com/BBInc/

Genki Spark (Taiko)

http://www.thegenkispark.org/

Dark Matter Rage (Spoken Word)

darkmatterrage.com/videos/

Social Media (Tumblr & Facebook)

Angry Asian Girls United
angryasiangirlsunited.tumblr.com/
Angry Asian Girls United is a safe space created for non-white people from all Asian countries who identify
themselves as girls/women and/or are trans. We love, support and welcome mixed race Angry Asian Girls. In here,
they will always have their voices heard and listened to.

Asian American United Feminists

https://www.facebook.com/groups/asianamericanunitedfeminists/969043129781565/
This group is a resource, a community, a family, a job board, and a discussion space. To foster supportive discussion
and personal growth, this group endeavours to be as safe a space as possible for the many people who identify with
and who ally with AAPI feminism.

Asian History
asianhistory.tumblr.com/
Everything about Asian history.

Asians Not Studying

asiansnotstudying.tumblr.com/
Adorable. This blog was created by several students at McGill - apparently where all the 'White' kids go - in response
to this asinine article from Maclean's Magazine:
"Too Asian?".
It was beautifully inspired by the lovely blog,
Pictures of

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Muslims Wearing Things

.
Submit
your photos and videos of Asians not studying (not limited to celebs!), and we'll post
them!

Angry Taiwanese Girls United

http://angrytaiwanesegirlsunited.tumblr.com/
This blog is for Angry Taiwanese Girls and other PoC to unite together to point out the ridiculous racism and sexism
that is going on. This is a place for you to be understood and not feel like you have to explain yourself to people who
really dont get it or could care less.

Fascinasians
fascinasiansblog.com/
Blog of Julie Shen, Arizona raised, New York grown. Sorority-Girl Asian American Feminist, She has an awesome
Asian American Studies Reading List
and generally has cool resources on her blog about politics, activism, and
racism.

Fuck Fetishization
http://not-your-cute-little-asian-girl.tumblr.com/
A space created for Asian women to vent, rant, promote feminism, submit photos, and support other Asian women
without fearing sexualization or fetishization. This blog is a space of empowerment for Asian women, not a resource
for white people.

Medieval POC
medievalpoc.tumblr.com/
The focus of this blog is to showcase works of art from European history that feature People of Color. All too often,
these works go unseen in museums, Art History classes, online galleries, and other venues because of retroactive
whitewashing of Medieval Europe, Scandinavia, and Asia...My purpose in creating this blog is to address common
misconceptions that People of Color did not exist in Europe before the Enlightenment, and to emphasize the cognitive
dissonance in the way this is reflected in media produced today.

Mochi Magazine
http://www.mochimag.com/
Mochi Magazine is an online magazine dedicated to young Asian American women, and is run entirely by an amazing
group of volunteers. Any profit, whether via advertising or donations, goes directly into website costs.

New York Botanical Garden

nybg.tumblr.com
Calming gifs/pictures of plants and shit from the New York Botanical Garden. Just for the heck of it.

This is Not China

thisisnotchina.tumblr.com/
This blog functions primarily as a place to tackle issues like cultural appropriation, Orientalism, and anti-Asian racism.
We also act as a safe space for people of Chinese descent (and Asians more generally) to vent about their
experiences dealing with racism.

This is Not Hawaiian

http://this-is-not-hawaiian.tumblr.com/
Hawaiian girl who will no longer put up with people appropriating and making a joke of my culture. I find almost all
these things in the hawaiian, luau, beach, etc tag. If any followers find that I've wrongly judged a photo let me know.

This is Not Japan

http://thisisnotjapan.tumblr.com/
Japanese American anti-racist blog

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