THIS
IS OUR MISSION

we believe in the power of stories to transform communities

Our mission is to empower Asian Americans, build empathy for multiple generations of immigrant communities, and foster solidarity to address hate and intolerance. 

At the Immigrant History Initiative (IHI), we use history to empower Asian Americans to see ourselves as the heroes and leaders of our own stories. ​We aim to be the first to reach rapidly growing, first-generation immigrant enclaves at the grassroots level. 

WHAT IS OUR MODEL?

external: narrative change

We forge partnerships with key agents of change, such as schools, museums, and other institutions to:

• Design innovative anti-racist curricula & educational resources to teach the stories of the Asian diaspora
• Provide high-quality professional development for educators on bringing Asian American histories into the classroom
• Advocate for ground-breaking new policy to value and teach these narratives across the across the country

internal: capacity building

We work with trusted cultural networks, such as heritage language schools, religious spaces, and family services, to create spaces specifically for Asian American communities:

• Leadership development workshops for 1st and 2nd generation immigrants
• In-language & culturally competent facilitation
• Oral history, deep dialogue, and mutual understanding across generations

Learn About our Work

WHAT SETS US APART?

we transform the present by teaching the past.

​We use history, storytelling, and identity exploration to incubate the next generation of leaders of color in political engagement, community action, and participatory democracy. Our academic council includes leading historians and scholars in the field.

we go where the ​need is greatest.

​We are often the first to serve new, rapidly growing Asian American communities who are outside of historic enclaves, lack access to supportive services and infrastructure for Asian American families, and have never had the opportunity to learn their own histories. 

we reach immigrant communities through trusted cultural networks.

We target recently arrived, monolingual immigrant communities that other organizations are unable to reach.  Our programs in community empowerment, oral history, and civic engagement are implemented through scaleable, grassroots cultural networks

a note on why "Immigrant History Initiative"?

We are often asked why we call ourselves the Immigrant History Initiative when so much of our current work is centered on the Asian American experience.
​
We intentionally named our organization Immigrant History Initiative because as an organization we focus on immigration, its policies, its effects, and its history, as a throughline of the Asian American experience. Our name also reflects our goal to use our shared history through migration and diaspora experiences to build community and nurture leaders. Our current focus is on Asian American history & narratives, with a priority of moving beyond East Asian American narratives.

Read our statements on cross-racial solidarity

If you are interested in connecting with IHI or learning more, please email us at [email protected]!