API Equality-LA’s 2022 Year-in-Review

Thank you to Anissa Amalia for designing and creating API Equality-LA’s 2022 Year-In-Review! See more of Anissa’s work at: https://www.anissaamalia.com/

Image Descriptions
All slide images include the same abstract background: rich and saturated colors of orange, magenta, periwinkle, pink, and chartreuse. Each slide also includes a cream-colored text box with rust-colored body text. There are nine images total. For the purposes of these image descriptions, each image is titled below as “Slide” followed by the order number.

Slide 1
The API Equality-LA logo is at the top and center of the image. the logo is an abstracted symbol of two people in an embrace. It is enclosed in an open circle. “API Equality-LA” is part of the logo, placed underneath the circle. The title at the center of the image reads: 2022 Year-In-Review. “2022” is magenta and “Year-In-Review” is in orange.

The body reads: API Equality-LA is an LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice organization that builds grassroots power in Asian and Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ communities in the Greater Los Angeles Area through organizing, advocacy, and public education. API Equality-LA is a 501(c)(3) organization as of July 2022.

Slide 2
The title of at the top left corner of the image reads: 2022 Reflections. Two sets of three periwinkle dots separate three sections of text. The text reads:

Our staff completed Vision Change Win’s 9-month Community Safety and Security School, increasing our skills to address the various conflicts and potential threats our community and organization faces.

In partnership with Viet Rainbow of Orange County (VROC), we launched Transforming Horizons: Stories from the QTAPI Community. 20 QTAPIs shared their vision of community safety based on their experiences of white supremacist and/or gender-based violence. In return, we provided mental health subsidies, a self-care package, and resources to support their well-being. Check it out at!: www.transforminghorizons.org/

API Equality-LA is undergoing a Values Realignment with current and former volunteers, staff, and Board members to determine how we can best serve the QTAPI community. We have conducted 4 focus groups and an internal assessment survey to ask about our strengths, challenges, and potential growth as an organization. Our goal is to establish a cohesive framework that will inform our programs, policy advocacy, and leadership development model to carry out our mission.

Slide 3

The bright green title on the upper left hand corner reads: Staff Updates.

Underneath the title includes graphic portrait illustrations of API Equality-LA’s new Lead Organizer, Nora (she/they) and the previous Lead Organizer, Jess (they/them). The portrait illustrations of them are placed side by side. Nora’s portrait is illustrated with her hair in a half pony tail, and is wearing a green collared shirt. She is smiling with her mouth closed. She is wearing nose jewelry and ear piercings. A closed yellow circle with their name written in white is layered behind them. Jess’s portrait is illustrated with their long dark hair down. They are wearing a navy t-shirt and have a toothy smile. A closed orange circle with their name written in white is layered behind them. The circles look akin to halos.

Underneath their portraits include the text. One set of three magenta dots separate two sections of text. The text reads:
Our Lead Organizer, Jess Baker, will transition from staff to Board Member in 2023. Thank you, Jess, for your dedication to API Equality-LA! From establishing the volunteer committees, offering fun and chaotic check-ins questions, and creating affirming and supportive spaces that make our members feel seen and confident in their own abilities - we’re going to miss you so much!

We’re so excited to welcome Nora Fujita-Yuhas, our incoming Lead Organizer, to the team! Please visit our website to learn more about Nora.

Slide 4

The bright green title on the upper left hand corner reads: Board Updates. One set of three magenta dots separate two sections of text. The text reads:

We’re delighted to introduce two new Board Members: Jasmine Mao and Josephine Young! We are grateful to have their leadership take our organization to new heights.

We also bid farewell to two of our longest serving board members, Marcus Tran Degnan and Fay Fay Ye, who held the roles of Board Chair and Secretary. We thank you for your service to the organization.

Slide 5

The bright blue title on the upper left hand corner reads: Deepening Our Values.

The text underneath the title reads: Sustainability and Interdependence are core to Disability Justice, Healing Justice, and Transformative Justice practices. As we deepen into these values, the more we unlearn white supremacy culture together.

There are two sections on this image. The first section title read: Sustainability and the first section sub-title reads: Our Productivity =/= Our Worth.

Underneath the sub-title are three graphic images. The first images is of a tree with a bench next to it. Text underneath this image reads: Implemented Quarterly Breaks. The second image is of a calendar with a clock layered over it. Text underneath this image reads: Adjusted deadlines and workloads to fit the capacity of staff, volunteers, and members. The third image is of two individuals giving each other a high-five. Text under this image reads: Continued to regularly practice affirmations.

The second section sub-title reads: Staff-Centered Care.

Underneath the sub-title are two graphic images. The first image is of a heart shape with a plus sign on it. Two hands are placed underneath the heart as if to hold it. Text underneath this image reads: Provided fully covered health insurance to all staff. Instituted unlimited paid Health Days. The second image is of a calendar with a plus sign on it. Text underneath this image reds: Instituted unlimited paid Health Days.

Slide 6

The bright blue title on the upper left hand corner reads: Deepening Our Values.

There are two sections on this image. The text underneath the title reads: Interdependence and the first section sub-title reads: Collective Capacity.

Underneath the sub-title are three graphic images. The first image is of two hands holding in the shape of a heart. Text underneath this image reads: Strengthened our relationships to increase trust in the face of conflict. The second image is of an individual with a speaking bubble above it. Text underneath this image reads: Practiced stating our needs and boundaries without apology. The third image is of four hands layered over one another in a diamond shape. Text underneath this image reads: Worked together to honor each other’s boundary and support asks.

The second section sub-title reds: Scaling Care.

Underneath the sub-title are three graphic images. The first image is of a hand holding a lit-up heart. Text underneath this image reads: Offered emotional and strategic support to those with low capacity. The second image is of a task last and pencil. Text underneath this image reads: Compiled the Community Mental Health Resource List with VROC as part of Transforming Horizons. The third image is of of a clip board with a checked task list. Text underneath this image reads: Launched a Community Mental Health Survey to assess the mental health needs of QTAPIs in Southern California.

Slide 7

The bright blue title on the upper left hand corner reads: Deepening Our Values. The text underneath the title reads: Interdependence and the first section sub-title reads: Build Power, Create Change. The body of the text reads: As part of CPEHN’s Behavioral Health Equity Collaborative and Having Our Say coalition, we helped to pass the following bills:

  • AB 4 (Arambula) & SB 56 (Durazo): Health4All

  • SB 1019 (Gonzalez): Mental Health Services Access and Awareness

  • AB 2134 (Wicks): The CA Abortion and Reproductive Equity Act

  • AB 2586 (C. Garcia): Reproductive and Sexual Health Work Group

  • SB 1142 (Caballero): Abortion Services

Slide 8

The title on the on the upper left hand corner reads: Looking Ahead in 2024. “Looking Ahead In” is in lilac. “2024” is in orange. Three sets of green dots separate the following sections of text:

  • We will conclude our Values Realignment and aim to share the outcomes in early 2024.

  • We aim to release a report highlighting the results of our Community Mental Health Survey.

  • API Equality-LA will begin to develop core programming informed by our Survey and Values Realignment.

  • The Community Building Committee is creating a Discord channel for QTAPIs to connect and build relationships.

Slide 9

The magenta title on the upper left hand corner reads: Thank Your to Our Donors & Funders. Text underneath the title reads: API Equality-LA would like to send our deepest gratitude to our amazing donors and funders for committing to our work and sustaining our organization in 2022.
There are two sections. The first section dedicated to donors reads: Foundation for Our Future - A special thank you is extended to our Foundation for Our Future donors who completed their three year pledges back in 2020!

  • Mentors

    • Doreena Wong and Jenny Pizer

    • Justin Tandingan

    • Lingquan Wang

    • Marshall Wong

    • Roberta A. Conroy

    • Stacia Kato

  • Champions

    • Adam Sun

    • Eileen Ma

    • Michael Chiu

    • Sanjay Chhugani

    • Yogi-Carroll Fund of Horizons Foundation

  • Sustainers

    • Katie Wang

    • William Daley

The section dedicated to funders reads: Special Thanks to Our Funders! With the exception of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, funder logos are included in this section for: Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Asian Pacific Community Fund, Equality California, David Bohnett Foundation, and California Pan-Ethnic Health Network.