AAPI Multimedia Textbook: Championing Ethnic Studies Towards Solidarity

Ethnic Studies is an academic discipline that arose in the 1960s as a result of organizing from Black, Chicanx/Latinx, Asian American, and Native American students who worked in solidarity with each other. Since then, with the support of educators and activists, Ethnic Studies has spread nationwide to both college campuses and more recently to high schools.

Since the passing of California Assembly Bill 101 in 2021 that requires an Ethnic Studies graduation requirement, districts statewide have been working on implementing Ethnic Studies to be responsive to the diverse students and communities we serve.

In light of challenges facing Ethnic Studies such as book bans, the UCLA Asian American Studies Center has been hard at work to create Foundations and Futures: Asian American and Pacific Islander Multimedia Textbook, which will be the first open-access resource featuring Asian American and Pacific Islander histories, narratives, and lesson plans.

This Asian Pacific American History Month month, we invite grades 7-12 educators and community members to join us in conversation with AAPI leaders and educators to preview UCLA's Foundations and Futures! This event will offer a preview demo of the textbook (designed for grades 9-12), conversations with chapter authors, workshops, and a panel to contribute to the conversation about implementing Ethnic Studies in solidarity alongside other communities of color as we face ongoing challenges.

LAUSD teachers can receive a 3-hour certificate that can be used towards building salary credit.

Host or Publisher UCLA Asian American Studies Center