The UCLA Asian American Studies Center (AASC) launched its Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Policy Initiative in the midst of the pandemic in 2021. We build on our long history as a recognized leader in Asian American Studies with a track record of excellence in applied policy research, publications, and leadership development.
The aim of the AAPI Policy Initiative is to support and produce research in collaboration with nonprofit advocacy organizations and policy makers to uplift AAPI perspectives in civic life and public decision-making in California and across the nation. As a nonpartisan research entity housed under AASC, the AAPI Policy Initiative will conduct applied research, develop and disseminate research reports and policy briefs, collaborate with stakeholders in policy formulation, conduct implementation and policy evaluation, and facilitate engagement between stakeholders, policy makers, and government decision-makers.
State funds were allocated to 15 policy research projects to inform COVID recovery efforts in California. Our faculty, staff, and their students have been conducting research and formulating recommendations for advocacy and policy change related to health, housing, the economy, immigration, arts, AANHPI data equity, and addressing anti-Asian hate.
AANHPI Data Equity and Disaggregation
Closing the Care Gap: Understanding Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Youth At-Risk for Suicide in Los Angeles County
Principal Investigator: Anna Lau, Professor, Psychology, UCLA College of Life Sciences
Author(s): Belinda C. Chen, Joyce H. L. Lui, Lisa A. Benson, Yen-Jui R. Lin, Ninez A. Ponce, Anna S. Lau
Filipino American Essential & Frontline Workers Battling Multiple Crises: COVID-19, Economic Inequality, and Racism
Principal Investigator: Cindy Sangalang, Assistant Professor, Social Welfare, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Author(s): Cindy C. Sangalang, Marisa Montoya, Samantha R. Macam, Audrey Chan, Madonna P. Cadiz, Romeo Hebron, Jr.
Unmasking COVID-19 in the Pacific: Funding Equity for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Community-Based Organizations and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Principal Investigator: Keith Camacho, Professor, Asian American Studies, UCLA College of Letters & Science; Kevin Escudero, Assistant Professor, Brown University
Author(s): 'Alisi T. Tulua, Savenaca Vakatawa Gasaiwai, Rev. Pausa Kaio "PK" Thompson, Audrey Aofia Kawaiopua Alo, Christopher Kodiak Alvord, Kevin Escudero
Unmasking COVID-19 in the Pacific: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities Require Language Translation Resources and Services to Mitigate Their Status as the Most Affected Population by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Principal Investigator: Keith Camacho, Professor, Asian American Studies, UCLA College of Letters & Science; Kevin Escudero, Assistant Professor, Brown University
Author(s): Neritha Kelani Silk, Heidi Chargualaf Quenga, Kiana M.K. Keli'i, Tia Aga Tevaseu, Karla B. Thomas, Keith L. Camacho
Unmasking COVID-19 in the Pacific: Standardizing Disaggregated Racial and Ethnic Data Collection and Reporting Practices to Ensure Equity and to Accurately Reflect California's Diversity
Principal Investigator: Keith Camacho, Professor, Asian American Studies, UCLA College of Letters & Science; Kevin Escudero, Assistant Professor, Brown University
Author(s): Richard Calvin Chang, Kawika Liu, Corina S. Penaia, Nikki M.S. Wong
California's Low-Income Asian Americans and Calfresh: Enrollment Surge and Persistent Gap during the Pandemic
Principal Investigator: May Wang, Professor, Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Food Insecurity among Asian Americans in California: Increased Risk among Older Adults
Principal Investigator: May Wang, Professor, Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Author(s): Lilly A. Nhan, May C. Wang
The California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) COVID-19 Dashboard: Examining the Impact of the Pandemic on Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
Principal Investigator: Ninez Ponce, Professor, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Community-led Disaster Relief for Excluded Immigrant Workers: Addressing Policy Gaps and Strengthening Community Infrastructure
Principal Investigators: Jennifer Chun, Associate Professor, Asian American Studies, UCLA College of Letters & Science and International Institute; AJ Kim, Associate Professor, San Diego State University
Author(s): AJ Kim, Jennifer Jihye Chun
COVID-19 Pandemic Employment Impacts on Asian Americans
Principal Investigator: Paul Ong, Professor Emeritus, Urban Planning, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Author(s): Paul Ong, Chhandara Pech, Darlene Medrano
COVID-19 Pandemic Housing Impacts on Disadvantaged Asian Americans
Principal Investigator: Paul Ong, Professor Emeritus, Urban Planning, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Author(s): Paul Ong, Chhandara Pech
The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Korean American Small Businesses
Principal Investigator: Kyeyoung Park, Professor, Anthropology and Asian American Studies, UCLA College of Letters & Science
Author(s): Kyeyoung Park
Anti-AAPI Racism in Immigration and Criminal Law
Principal Investigator: Hiroshi Motomura, Professor, UCLA School of Law
Author(s): Hiroshi Motomura, Astghik Hairapetian
The State of Undocumented Young Adults in California: The Health, Social, and Economic Impacts of COVID-19 between 2020-2022
Principal Investigator: May Sudhinaraset, Associate Professor, Community Health Sciences, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Author(s): May Sudhinaraset, Hye Young Choi, Ezinne Nwankwo, Michelle Kao Nakphong, Annie Ro
Support Asian American Theatres and Reach Thousands of Constituents
Principal Investigator: Sean Metzger, Professor, Theater and Performance Studies, UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
Author(s): Sean Metzger, Janine Sun Rogers
Impact of COVID-19 Closures on Asian American and Pacific Islander Theatre Practitioners and Theatres in California (Forthcoming)
Principal Investigator: Lucy Burns, Associate Professor, Asian American Studies, UCLA College of Letters & Science
Author(s): Hannah Joo, Lucy Burns
Longitudinal Trends of Hate Crimes Targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County, 2012-2020
Principal Investigator: Karen Umemoto, Professor, Urban Planning, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and Asian American Studies, UCLA College of Letters & Science
Author(s): Maggie Seay, Karen Umemoto
A Racial Reckoning: Anti-Asian Racism and Exclusion in Higher Education
Principal Investigator: Robert Teranishi, Professor, Social Science and Comparative Education, UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences
Mapping Asian American Political Potential (MAAPP) Website Tool
Principal Investigator: Natalie Masuoka, Associate Professor, Political Science and Asian American Studies, UCLA College of Letters & Science
Three creative projects, led by UCLA faculty to combat anti-Asian racism, were also provided funding and include the following:
May 19 solidarity project media campaign videos 
Principal Investigator: Renee Tajima-Pena, Professor, Asian American Studies, UCLA College of Letters & Science
Macroaggression: Anti-Asian violence during COVID-19 (Temporary Exhibition, 2022)
Principal Investigator: Gina Kim, Professor, UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television
Vanessa Unmuted: A Storybook for Grades 4-12
Principal Investigator: Karen Umemoto, Professor, Urban Planning, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and Asian American Studies, UCLA College of Letters & Science
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