We Will Not Be Erased: Remembering, Documenting, and Taking Action
Sunday, September 27 to Saturday, October 3, 2026
This year, AANAPISI Week takes place Sunday, September 27 to Saturday, October 3, 2026 and celebrates the vital role of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI)—a federal designation established by Congress on September 27, 2007. These institutions are committed to expanding access to higher education and improving outcomes for low-income, first-generation Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students.
This annual week of recognition honors the impacts and achievements AANAPISIs have had in providing a powerful platform for organizations, institutions, and communities to uplift and support historically underserved AANHPI students.
This year we aim to:
- Raise awareness and reflect on the impacts of AANAPISIs;
- Keep fighting the fight: Strengthen our national network of supporters, advocates, and champions;
- Support federal policy leaders who are pushing for sustained investment in AANAPISIs and their students.
As we shine a spotlight on the transformative work of AANAPISIs, we invite our partners to learn, share, amplify, and join us in continuing to support our AANHPI students. Help spread the word about AANAPISI Week and inspire others to join the movement for equitable access and success in higher education for AANHPI communities.
Download the Community Action Guide!
(Formally the Social Media Toolkit)
“AANAPISIs bring people together and create opportunities for everyone as a whole. Now I try to give back to the community. Carrying what I had learned with me along the way. Making sure that their will and message gets passed on towards the next person or student.”
—Alumni, San Diego Mesa College
AANAPISI Week 2026 Webinar
When: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
12:00 PM PT / 1:00 PM MT / 3:00 PM ET
Description: This session offers an unvarnished accounting of how recent federal funding cancellations have impacted AANAPISIs. While highlighting actionable strategies to safeguard student equity, the panel bridges the sobering institutional realities facing our colleges with a forward-looking commitment to policy advocacy, resourcefulness, and community resilience.
Where: Virtual via Zoom
Registration: tinyurl.com/aanapisi26-panel
Panel Participants:
Moderator – Dr. Kirin Macapugay, Vice Chair, California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA) & Professor, San Diego City College
Panelist – Dr. John Hernandez, President, Irvine Valley College
Panelist – Duy Tran, Senior Director, Center for Access and Campus Engagement, University of Colorado Denver
Panelist – Ana Bordallo, Esq., Alumna, Mt. San Antonio College
Panelist – Dr. Natalie Truong, Assistant Director for Education Policy, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
Highlighting Voices from Our AANAPISI Community
San Diego Mesa College
San Diego Mesa College is proud to be the first institution in San Diego County to receive an AANAPISI grant. This investment has allowed us to strengthen connections between our campus and the broader community by honoring the past, acknowledging the present, and supporting the future…
Over the course of the grant, we have seen AAPI student enrollment grow while building a campus environment where students feel welcomed, represented, supported, and empowered to succeed…
I would contribute a lot of my success as a student to the services and impact that AANAPISI provides to all students here at San Diego Mesa College.
—Leland Simpliciano, AANAPISI & Interim HSI STEM Director
AANAPISI support has been the forefront of my community college experience. Ever since having to chance upon the opportunity to be able to join what they could provide: programs, events and activities.
I wouldn’t be a well-rounded, well-versed, and knowledgeable student that I am today. As a first generation immigrant. It’s hard to navigate a new educational system but with continued support from the community and counselors or staff, my journey became a whole lot easier.
It’s easy to become displaced in a sea full of people from across the world gathering in one state and country. I was one of them.
AANAPISIs bring people together and create opportunities for everyone as a whole. Now I try to give back to the community. Carrying what I had learned with me along the way. Making sure that their will and message gets passed on towards the next person or student.
—Alumni, San Diego Mesa College
University of Illinois Chicago
We are proud that the University of Illinois Chicago was the first and longest funded Midwest AANAPISI from 2010-2026 with four grants totaling over $7.1 million. AANAPISI funding has strengthened the capacity of UIC to support students to thrive academically, personally, and professionally by enhancing the curricular and co-curricular programs…
In this way, the campus truly offers the curricular, cultural, and academic support through innovative culturally responsive programs and services that students have advocated for and deserve…
AANAPISI has helped to ensure that UIC effectively serves the Asian American, Pacific Islander, low-income, and English-language learner students attending the largest public urban research university in the Chicago metropolitan area.”
—Karen Su, Ph.D., Principal Investigator and Project Director, UIC AANAPISI Initiative, Clinical Associate Professor, Global Asian Studies Program
“The event was a collaboration coordinated by the Asian American Resource and Cultural Center with the UIC Heritage Garden project and was an educational trip to the Shedd Aquarium. The event focused on language around invasive species (plant, insect, and fish) and how it parallels language around immigration” —Alyson Kung, staff at the Asian American Resource & Cultural Center
“I learned a lot with the AARCC about harmful naming practices surrounding species and how they perpetuate hate towards people. I also learned about how we can reframe our language and thinking in a positive way to not only respect people and geographic origin, but to continue protecting the land from invasive species.” —AnaBelle
“Thankful for the field trip and the guest speaker! It was a really insightful presentation by him and the resources he plugged in.” —Danny
“Liked how they made the comparison about what the invasive species and what is happening with ICE, it was a good parallel, it was great dialogue.“ —Jojo
“The Asian American Resource center was very kind for allowing us to learn about the importance of language in scientific research, as some language can intentionally alienate voices and experiences. Thanks to this week, I am more informed on racist rhetoric against Asian people.” —Jaymie
The Asian American Student Academic Program at the University of Illinois Chicago, the first AANAPISI institution in the Midwest…
In our second year, we increased the number of students utilizing our opt-in services by over 2,000% and served 65% of the Fall 2025 cohort of Asian students, measured through their recruitment, retention and persistence…
Students are craving the kinds of services that AANAPISI funds have been used to support culturally relevant academic advising, career development and financial education programs that help students to be prepared to thrive in school and become contributing community members beyond campus.
—Viraj Patel, Ed.D., Director, Asian American Student Academic Program
I was greatly supported by AANAPISI at UIC and the dedicated AANAPISI team. I honestly am forever grateful for the existence of AANAPISI and the immense supports that I was able to receive, one of my most cherished being having the opportunity to connect with other Pacific Islander and Native students at UIC.
I felt more connected to my roots because of AANAPISI, and had opportunities to grow in my academic and professional endeavors because of AANAPISI.
It is because of these supports that I was able to prevail, there were many times that I struggled, and felt very alone. So thank you to the AANAPISI team for helping me feel less alone, and supporting me in believing that my academic endeavors and dreams were possible. I will never forget the support I received for the rest of my days.
—Destiny Bryant, MSW, LSW, Alumni, University of Illinois Chicago
IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGE
In the 2025-2026 academic year, Irvine Valley College celebrated 10 years of being an AANAPISI designated institution…
It provided our students outlets to ensure their stories were told and their voices were heard. It also afforded the college the opportunity to implement impactful, student-responsive programming and targeted initiatives designed to; remove barriers, increase enrollment, strengthen retention, and promote student success.
AANAPISI has significantly increased the visibility of our AAPI student population. It collectively fostered a stronger sense of inclusion, belonging, and overall feeling of pride across our campus community at IVC.
—Deejay R. Santiago, Ed.D., Director, Student Success Initiatives
Quotes from Students and Alumni
“AANAPISI helps students use their voices to share the power of the community”
“AANAPISIs help students use our voices to tell our stories and help to empower others who maybe share the same experiences and maybe challenges”
“IVC being an AANAPISI has improved my mental health a lot. I’m very grateful for the ELEVATE program and feel supported”
“AANAPISI has made an impact of belonging to our culture and being able to build connections. Students feel welcome and supported in programs like ELEVATE”
NORTHERN MARIANAS COLLEGE
As a first-generation, single mom working three jobs while attending college full-time, I was welcomed into a space that embraced and celebrated Pacific Islander culture through education and activities. I started as a participant, then became a college mentor, and was eventually hired full-time under Project PROA (Project Promotion Retention Opportunities Advancement).
I found my place — I found where I belonged. Nine years later, AANAPISI week reminds me why I started working at Project PROA, and why I choose to stay – because every student who walks through our doors deserves that same connection and sense of belonging.
—Malyssa Castro, Director, Project PROA