April 8, 2024
Los Angeles, CA
In a striking effort to champion the rights and stories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) released its legislative bill package for 2024 titled “Our Untold Stories.” Informed by narratives woven from AAPI lived experiences, this campaign is not merely about creating laws, it is about telling the stories of those whose voices have long been unheard and unrecognized in mainstream discourse. Once told, these stories are a tool to identify the pressing needs within our community that have yet to be addressed by policymakers.
Last year, AJSOCAL shattered barriers for AAPI visibility through a series of policy and education initiatives, marking an important milestone in addressing the invisibility of the AAPI community. The “Our Untold Stories” campaign will serve to elevate our advocacy by centering stories that amplify the unique challenges that AAPI communities encounter in labor, education, and public safety.
“The untold stories of the AAPI community hold the power to drive legislative change, amplify voices, and create an equitable society. As we continue into the second year of this legislative cycle, I am thrilled to introduce the continuation of our Combatting Asian Invisibility policy campaign, Our Untold Stories. This year, we are highlighting the forgotten perspectives of AAPIs in some of our community’s most urgent challenges. Our four new legislative priorities include the lack of in-language labor rights education, undervaluing of language skills without fair financial compensation, the pressing need for human trafficking data, and the disparities caused by college legacy admissions.” said Connie Chung Joe, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California
In a snapshot, the stories behind this year’s legislative packet and bill priorities include:
- Justice in Beauty (AB 2444): Authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, this bill mandates the California Department of Industrial Relations and Board of Barbering and Cosmetology to inform manicurists and other cosmetology workers about their labor rights in multiple languages, empowering workers with knowledge and protections.
- Legacy Admissions Ban (AB 1780): Authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting, this legislation proposes to eliminate legacy admissions at private universities, ensuring fairer educational opportunities for all students, irrespective of their background.
- Bilingual Oriented Social Equity Services (BOSES) Grant Program (AB 2155): Also authored by Assemblymember Ting, BOSES seeks to ensure fair compensation for bilingual workers, acknowledging their critical role in supporting LEP individuals, especially amidst the surging Asian migrant population at the Southern border.
- Trafficking Research and Analysis to Counter Exploitation (TRACE): Championed by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, TRACE is a budget request for $3.25 million to support a comprehensive study on human trafficking in Los Angeles and Alameda County, highlighting the involvement of survivor experiences to shape future policy.
On Friday, April 5, 2024, AJSOCAL hosted a legislative briefing at the California State Capitol. The briefing served to introduce our legislative bill priorities while engaging with legislative staff members and the broader AAPI community. The AJSOCAL team galvanized support among attendees to ensure a unified effort towards addressing the challenges faced by the AAPI community.
Join us as we celebrate the multifaceted stories of the AAPI community. To learn more about AJSOCAL’s 2024 legislative package, visit our policy page. Engage with us, contribute to the narrative, and help us continue the fight to combat Asian invisibility. Visit our advocacy page!
