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Pacific Islanders

Too often, the PI in AAPI is ignored, and the AAPI Commission is proud to uplift and support Pacific Islander communities throughout Massachusetts. While the AAPIC was originally founded as the Asian American Commission, its name was officially changed in 2021 to the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission to recognize the vibrant history, culture, and contributions of both Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout the Commonwealth.

 

The AAPIC hired its first Pacific Islander Coordinator in 2023, dedicated to reaching and connecting with Pacific Islanders throughout Massachusetts. Since then, the Pacific Islander Coordinator has worked with numerous communities, organizations, and businesses. You can reach the Pacific Islander Coordinator at [email protected].

Programming

In April 2023, the AAPIC held its first listening session with the Tongan community in Framingham, which helped link the community with resources and elected officials, while also sharing some of their culture with the Commission. You can read more about our listening session with the Tongan community in Framingham here.

The Commission’s work with Pacific Islander communities did not end with that listening session or our continued conversations. We are advocating for policies that would benefit Pacific Islander communities, including data disaggregation, language access, and proper recognition of Pacific Islanders in Massachusetts.

In addition to countless resources for the entire AAPI community, there are federal and state resources specific to the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities available. You can find anti-hate resources here.

Want to connect with the Pacific Islander community? Head over to our Community Organizations page, where you can sort by demographic to find different groups throughout the state.