Grant Programming, Institutionalization, Legacy, and Impact

OUR MISSION:

The AANAPISI Center is a centralized gathering space where Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and other underserved students, receive high quality and culturally-relevant programs and services. The AANAPISI Center exists to collaboratively strengthen and sustain an inclusive campus to foster academic success.

South became one of the first six recipients in the country, among two-year and four-year institutions, to receive the AANAPISI designation. In October 2008, $2.4 million in grant funding was awarded to South to improve the retention, progression, and graduation of Asian American and Pacific Islander Students (AAPI). This was the first time in US history that legislative intent was used to address issues relative to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) student success. In October 2011, South received a second AANAPISI grant for $2 million across 5 years. South’s AAPI students make up the largest population of students of color at South Seattle College.

In 2011, the AANAPISI designation became officially recognized as a type of Minority Serving Institution (MSI), opening up opportunities to other funding resources for South. South is dedicated to serving its diverse student populations. The AAPI-targeted programs and services developed under the AANAPISI program, which support the college’s mission and college priorities, were (and continue to be) open to all students, and improved the success of all student populations.

In January 2013, the AANAPISI Center opened its doors at South Seattle College and became the hub for AANAPISI programming.

In 2021, South received another 5-year AANAPISI grant in the amount of $300,000/year to focus on increasing AA&PI student voices in the classroom and student services.

Beyond the Model Minority Myth: Asian/Pacific Islander Success in Higher Education

The focus of South’s first AANAPISI grant was to build South’s capacity to improve the transition, retention, progression, transfer and graduation rates of underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students. Grant strategies focused on: (1) increasing AAPI English Language Learner (ELL) transitions to college level courses and programs; (2) strengthening AAPI first year experiences; (3) Increasing transition from ESL classes to college courses; (3) Improving AAPI retention, intervention strategies, and outreach; and (4) Developing AAPI transfer pathways to four year colleges and universities.

A partial list of continuing programs developed under this grant include:

  • Transition Portfolios
  • Financial Aid Education
  • Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Study Group
  • VOICES (Vision, Opportunity, Inclusion, Collaboration, Equity and Social Justice) and Lunch & Learn
  • Asian American Pacific Islander Higher Education Resource Center (AAPIHERC)
  • Associate of Arts degree with an API Studies emphasis
  • Talk Story: Mobilizing Pacific Islanders in Higher Education
  • Increase students’ sense of belonging, satisfaction, and engagement at South as a way to increase retention and completion
  • Elevate student voice opportunities in order to influence relevant programming, student services, and curriculum content
  • Offer a faculty and student services leadership series and other professional development opportunities for identity-based courses and service approach

For a full list of programs developed under the first AANAPISI grant, please see the AANAPISI 2008-2011 Initiatives.

Fulfilling Our Promise to AAPI Students: "Start Here, Go Anywhere"

In October 2011, South was awarded a second AANAPISI development grant. This grant built upon the lessons learned from the first grant in strengthening South’s ability to serve low-income, under-served students with AAPI-targeted strategies. This project focused on providing: (1) services; and (2) creating a culturally responsive learning environment here at South.

The AANAPISI Center is the hub for AANAPISI programming. Our mission:

The AANAPISI Center is a centralized gathering space where Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and other underserved students, receive high quality and culturally-relevant programs and services. The AANAPISI Center exists to collaboratively strengthen and sustain an inclusive campus to foster academic success.

The AANAPISI Center, originally located on the second floor of the Library, was built with the intent to provide structured holistic support for AA&PI students, including culturally-relevant pro-active academic advising and educational planning, mentoring, tutoring, identity, leadership development, and building community. The Center also hosted faculty and staff professional development on understanding, working with, and engaging AA&PI students and connection to the larger AA&PI community.

Other major initiatives include:

  • Online Learner Orientation
  • Cultural Role Models
  • Community Service Learning
  • Financial Literacy, Funding Assistance, and Scholarships
  • South’s Transfer Advocate Program (TAP)
  • Individual Progression Portfolios
  • VOICES (Vision Opportunity Inclusion Collaboration Equity and Social Justice) professional development learning community
  • Engaging in Promising Practices Conference (February 6-7, 2015)
  • Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI)

South Seattle College institutionalized the AANAPISI Center and sustained programming and activities that continue to serve the campus and community.

Collaborative initiatives and events include:

2016-17

2018-2021

Increasing AA&PI student voices in the classroom and student services

South received another 5-year AANAPISI grant in the amount of $300,000/year to continue building our college’s capacity to improve the enrollment, satisfaction and engagement, retention, progression, and graduation rates of underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA&PI) students, as well as establishing a method for disaggregating South’s data on AA&PI students. Grant strategies focused on: (1) orientation and onboarding; (2) proactive advising; (3) peer mentoring and tutoring; (4) faculty leadership series for identity-based courses and student services; (5) development of an AA&PI course; and (6) cultural graduation.

A partial list of continuing programs to be developed under this grant include:

  • Increase students’ sense of belonging, satisfaction, and engagement at South as a way to increase retention and completion
  • Elevate student voice opportunities in order to influence relevant programming, student services, and curriculum content
  • Offer a faculty and student services leadership series and other professional development opportunities for identity-based courses and service approach
  • Reopen the AANAPISI Center in a brand new campus location in Robert Smith Building (RSB 12) that is more visible / accessible and continues to be inclusive and welcoming to all

2021-2022

2022-2023

2023-2024

2024-2025

2025-2026

  • Karaoke Event (October 2025): More student engagement and community building.
  • Intertwined with One Another: Mexican and Filipino Americans (October 2025): collaboration with the Latinx Affinity Group and ACO; inviting the campus community to learn the historical and cultural similarities and differences (Co-presented by Libby Dumanjug).
  • Collage and Poetry Workshop (October 2025): collaboration with the Art Gallery; more student engagement and community building.
  • Wellness Week (December 2025): Supporting students to focus on wellness during the last week of the quarter in preparation for finals.
  • AANAPISI Open House (Winter Quarter 2026).
  • Sari-Sari Cart / Tricycle AANAPISI pop-ups (Winter 2026 – present) – Meeting our students where they are around campus to engage, connect, encourage, and motivate!
  • Rise Together, Advocate for Each Other: Black History Month (February 2026): collaboration with ACO; inviting the campus community to discuss the history and present-day practices of community organizing and advocacy between AANHPI and Black communities (Co-presented by Libby Dumanjug).
  • Lunar New Year Celebration (February 2026) - hosted by AANAPISI, ACO, and the Southeast Asian Association Club
  • Film Screening and Discussion: “The Tengu Club” - Japanese American Day of Remembrance (February 2026) – with filmmaker Hilary Hutcheson, a film about heritage, identity, and experiences with the oldest salmon fishing club in the United States and its impact for thousands of Japanese American families in the aftermath of World War II.
  • Wellness Week (March 2026): Supporting students to focus on wellness during the last week of the quarter in preparation for finals.
  • AANAPISI x Seattle Promise Block Party (April 2026) – Supporting all South students with connection, community, information, and a SMART Goals Workshop to focus on Spring Quarter success and beyond!
  • Solar New Year Celebration (April 2026) - hosted by AANAPISI and the Southeast Asian Association Club
  • AANAPISI Presentation to South President’s Cabinet, April 2026 (Presented by Rachel Navarro, Rita Manalastas, Julie Chamvong, Kat Coelho, and Libby Dumanjug).
  • Boba and Spring Rolls (April 2026) – soft launch into May for AA&NHPI Heritage Month, offering connection and community as we promote our upcoming programming.
  • Hōʻike Kākou Panel Series (May 2026) -- In the Hawaiian language, Hōʻike Kākou means, “Let us show/share.” The Hōʻike Kākou panel will consist of staff and faculty members answering questions about their experiences navigating intersecting identities in the AAPI community.
  • Community Crafting Sessions: AANAPISI Legacy Art (May 2026) – supported and co-hosted by South’s Art Gallery, gathering community to craft and contribute to an upcoming AANAPISI art installation.
  • Lunch & Talk with Counseling (May 2026) – co-hosted by South Counseling on a selected topic for Mental Health Awareness Month.
  • “Our Impact and Legacy Since 2008” AANAPISI-South Presentation to the SCD Board of Trustees, May 2026 (Presented by Rachel Navarro, Rita Manalastas, Julie Chamvong, Kat Coelho, and Libby Dumanjug).
  • AA&NHPI Heritage Month Showcase (May 2026) – sharing the stories, talents, interests, passions, and many more from our South students, together in community.
  • AANAPISI Presentation to the South Student Services Division / FUSS Meeting, May 2026 (Presented by Rachel Navarro, Rita Manalastas, Julie Chamvong, Kat Coelho, and Libby Dumanjug).
  • Wellness Week (June 2026): Supporting students to focus on wellness during the last week of the quarter in preparation for finals.
  • AANAPISI Legacy Art Installation Reveal and End of Year Event (June 2026) – supported and co-hosted by South’s Art Gallery, revealing the AANAPISI Legacy community artwork.