ALBANY, NEW YORK— On Tuesday, October 8, Make Us Visible New York (MUV NY), a non-profit organization working to integrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history into K-12 schools in NY, released a letter signed by over 125 AANHPI-serving organizations from across the state. This diverse coalition –  representing a wide range of ethnicities, religions, missions, and beliefs – calls on legislators to require the inclusion of AANHPI history in all classrooms from Kindergarten to 12th grade.

“This letter is a clear reflection of our communities’ deep desire to be seen and recognized in our educational system,” said Helen Suh Singson, co-director of Make Us Visible NY and mother of two elementary school children on Long Island. “We want our children to understand and be proud that Asian Americans have been integral to this country’s history and have made significant contributions. Our struggles and stories have been left out for far too long.”

"In New York, Asian Americans make up the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group, at least 10.8% of the State population. As our community now includes over 2.1 million people,  AANHPI histories are essential to New York and our nation's rich history.” says Andrew Sta. Ana, Deputy Director of Research and Policy, Asian American Federation. “Implementing AANHPI inclusive education is a unique opportunity to celebrate our diverse community, to increase the visibility of our stories, and, importantly, to also support the prevention of Anti-Asian violence and bullying. The Asian American Federation believes that AANHPI inclusive education will profoundly impact our schools and communities."  

Looking ahead, this coalition of organizations is eager to collaborate with key stakeholders, including teachers unions, school administrators, and policymakers, to develop legislation and provide support systems that ensure teachers feel empowered to bring AANHPI history to life in their classrooms. The next phase of this initiative will focus on developing and strengthening collaborative partnerships that ensure long-term success and sustainability with the hopes of enriching the education experience for all students across New York. 

Quotes:

"New York boasts nearly three times the number of Asian American students compared to five major U.S. cities combined. By implementing policies that mandate AAPI history in the curriculum, we can enhance cross-cultural understanding among K-12 students. At Apex, inclusivity and empathy are core values that drive our mission, making this initiative essential to us. We believe that vital education fosters empathy and creates an environment where everyone feels valued. Apex proudly supports our partners in advocating for this significant and transformative change," 

- Jiyoon Chung, Executive Director, Apex for Youth

 “Asian American and Pacific Islander histories are a crucial component of American history. Our students need to learn to appreciate the struggles and contributions of our fastest growing ethnic group in America. A mandate will facilitate this process of learning and appreciating our full history.” 

- Stewart Kwoh, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of The Asian American Education Project

“We, India Center of Westchester, along with hundreds of other organizations, believe that implementation of a law about teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific American history in our school's K-12 curriculum will help children of all races and genders learn and respect one another early in their lives and enrich everyone by collaborating and assimilating sooner than later, eventually building our nation as more caring, connected and united.” 

- Siddhartha Basu, Trustees Chair and Committee Member of the India Center of Westchester, Inc.

“As advocates for the understanding, preservation, and education of our history and culture, we emphasize the importance of sharing the diverse contributions and experiences of Filipino Americans alongside those of other Asian American communities. Our rich histories deserve to be heard and reflected upon in classrooms across the nation as the valuable lessons that can be drawn from the resilience of Asian Americans can only lead to a more promising future for our country."

- John and Danika Sapida, Co-Presidents, Filipino American National Historical Society, Metro New York Chapter

“We’ve reached an important time in AANHPI history, and Make Us Visible is the perfect organization to spearhead a sustainable presence that we can continue to build upon for generations. Hālāwai NYC and the Pacific Island Film Festival of NYC are proud to be supporters of Make Us Visible, and are honored to see how Make Us Visible has included Hawaiian history within their curriculum.”

- Stacey Young, Board Member of Hālāwai NYC and Founder and Executive Director of Pacific Island Film Festival

“I hope to see this initiative empower communities to create inclusive curricula that give every student a sense of belonging. For Herricks Muslim Families, this work is vital for fostering empathy and ensuring all students feel seen, valued, and connected to our diverse American story.”

-Anila Rizvi-Khan, Co-President, Herricks Muslim Families

“As a coalition of AAPI churches in NYC, we support this effort to advocate for the inclusion of AANHPI history in our state’s K-12 classrooms. As we work with others for the flourishing of all who live and work in our communities, we see this as a proactive approach to raise awareness and educate about the legacy and contributions of the AANHPI community, encouraging productive discourse and engagement with diverse neighbors from an early age. In the face of bullying, hate, and violence, this is a concrete step towards hopeful and life-giving interaction as a civic community.”

- Grace Choi, Co-director, NY Coalition of AAPI Churches (NY CAAPIC)

"AAPI education is vital in the U.S. school system because it ensures a fuller, more accurate understanding of our shared history. BASCO believes learning about these AAPI contributions helps foster inclusivity, dismantles stereotypes, and gives every student the representation they deserve. Ultimately, it’s about building a future where every voice is acknowledged and appreciated"  

- Anwar Chowdhury, Bangladeshi American Social & Cultural Organization of WNY (BASCO)

“We want to see our children learn the history of America in the making, which includes the teaching of AANHPI  history in our school’s curriculum. The teaching of this history is important for our future generations, allowing them to learn about their roots and the stories and immigrant histories of our country. As a grassroots community-based organization, KSB strives to teach Karen Literacy, cultural dances, and folklores in its afterschool program to students. This is to encourage awareness and knowledge of Karen cultural heritage.”

- Faustina Palmatier, Executive Director, Karen Society of Buffalo