Coalition for Asian Pacific American Youth

CONTACT:

100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125
617-287-5658
www.capaymovement.net

Tri Quach, Coordinator

DESCRIPTION:

CAPAY is run by and for youth — philanthropists helping themselves as well as others. In 1992 a Chinese-American student was bullied in school and adult authorities failed to step in; the students decided to organize, and in 1993 held a symposium attended by 700 high school students from over 50 schools — the largest gathering of APA youth ever in the US. CAPAY resulted, incorporated the following May (1994) to help APA teens to become effective democratic citizens. CAPAY offers workshops in APA history, an annual Leadership Symposium, and many programs connecting them with their communities. And they’re good at it; in 1999 CAPAY was one of 12 organizations cited by the Ford Foundation for innovative and exemplary programs in youth development and civic activism. This is important work: APAs comprise 9% of the student population in Boston, 21% in Malden and 26% in Quincy; from 1990 to 2000 they had the fastest growth-rate (68%) of any racial group in Massachusetts; and though often considered the “Model Minority,” in fact they are polarized — exceeding rates at both high and low ends of the scale for income and education, compared with other minorities. You can help them help themselves help us — that’s how “commonwealth” works.

(2004: HUMAN SERVICES: Children and Youth: General)