By Kenneth Tang, Oakland Organizing Director, Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)
At Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), our roots run deep in the Bay Area. We started organizing in Richmond 30 years ago, and about 25 years ago, we expanded to Oakland. We identified an urgent need to build power with working-class Chinese immigrants in Oakland’s Chinatown. We began by door-knocking and reaching out to individuals on voter contact lists. Time and again, we found that many people in our community shared similar concerns – particularly about displacement and affordable housing, which remains a top priority for many.
Our partnership with Akonadi has been powerful. They’ve helped us build capacity and deepen our base-building work in Oakland. Their support has enabled us to develop leadership, foster dialogue, and increase our presence in Chinatown.
My own journey with APEN began unexpectedly. I was running the Oakland Marathon and saw an APEN table where seniors were handing out water to runners. I stopped, learned a little bit, and did my own research. Eventually, I reached out to volunteer and spent the next two years helping with events and driving members home. Over time, I became a member myself. I didn’t come in with movement knowledge or formal training, I just wanted to support my community. My supervisors recruited me, hired me, and taught me how to organize. That was ten years ago.
Since then, I’ve learned so much about direct actions, canvassing, and bearing witness to powerful stories from immigrant communities, stories we rarely see reflected in mainstream narratives. I’ve grown through staff development and leadership opportunities, and what’s stayed consistent throughout is APEN’s deep commitment to organizing in a way that is culturally grounded, relevant, and accessible.
Our base-building work centers on Asian immigrant communities and meets people where they are. It’s not just about translating content into other languages; it’s about making the issues meaningful and relatable. We connect everyday struggles, like housing or pollution, to a larger vision for a progressive Oakland. And we equip our members with the skills and confidence to speak up, organize their neighbors, and drive real change.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our team shifted quickly to meet the moment. We ran an emergency stabilization fund that raised and distributed tens of thousands of dollars to working-class immigrant families to help with basic needs, such as rent and groceries. We also provided PPE, masks, and hand sanitizer. People saw firsthand that APEN wasn’t just pushing a political agenda; we were taking care of one another. Our care-based organizing approach built deep trust and helped us retain and grow our base even in challenging times.
Today, our communities continue to face urgent threats. Disinformation is a considerable challenge, especially right-wing narratives targeting Chinese immigrants, so we’ve doubled down on media literacy workshops and critical thinking tools to create space for real dialogue and reflection. We’re also organizing around ballot measures and budget threats, making sure our members understand how policies like Medi-Cal or Medicaid impact their lives.
Our work around housing has continued, too. In Chinatown, we’re engaging our base in conversations around shelter, mental health, and what it really means to have a safe and inclusive neighborhood. This means pushing back on punitive policies and investing in community-rooted solutions to support our unhoused neighbors.
Cross-racial solidarity remains essential to our vision. We know the systems harming our communities are interconnected, and we believe our fights are stronger when we stand together. That’s why we work in coalitions and build power with others who are impacted, even when we’re all under pressure. As part of our commitment to a multiracial democracy where everyone can thrive, APEN has organized alongside Black and Brown communities in Oakland to win Just Cause eviction protections and secure multiple agreements requiring developers to build affordable housing that serves us all.
We want to see alternatives to “tough on crime” narratives, and instead, advocate for real resources for unhoused folks and those living with mental health challenges. We want our people to feel empowered to shape decisions in their communities, not feel disillusioned or disconnected from the political process. That starts with civic education and relationship-building with elected officials, and it grows when our base starts to see themselves as part of the change.
Our partnership with Akonadi has been powerful. They’ve helped us build capacity and deepen our base-building work in Oakland. Their support has enabled us to develop leadership, foster dialogue, and increase our presence in Chinatown.
If there’s one thing I want philanthropy and decision-makers to take from this moment, it’s that our communities are under immense pressure, and that makes organizing even more important. We have an opportunity to offer hope and belonging in the midst of crisis. APEN isn’t going anywhere. We’re continuing to hold the line and build strength. We just need partners who are willing to hold the line with us.
