The Asian American Organizing Project is a left-of-center critical race theory-aligned grantmaking and advocacy organization focused on LGBT and women’s issues in Minnesota Asian communities. ^{1 2}

Background

The Asian American Organizing Project was established in 2016 as a nonprofit foundation focused on LGBT and women’s issues in the Minnesota Asian community. In a document outlining its values and principals, the organization espouses far-left critical race theory-aligned concepts, such as “racial equity” and claims that there exists a “system of oppression.” ^{3 4}

The organization claims on its website to have been founded in 2016; however, elsewhere on its website it mentions efforts undertaken by the organization in 2015. ^{5 6}

Activity

Asian American Organizing Project has four work areas: voter engagement efforts, abortion advocacy, environmentalist advocacy, and political education. However, as of August 2024, the Asian American Organizing Project lists no information on its website about abortion and environmentalist advocacy. ^{7 8 9 10}

It’s voter engagement efforts consist of organizing with and financially supporting aligned organizations. ¹¹

Through its political education and advocacy activity, the organization publishes a digital magazine (“zine”) titled Demystifying Politics, which features information on aligned Asian politicians, activists, artists, resources, and organizations. For instance, in the second edition of the publication, the organization published a biography of vice president of the St. Paul, Minnesota, City Council Hwa Jeong Kim, a link to the “Asian American Racial Justice Toolkit,” and information about the Asian American Arts Alliance. ^{12 13}    

Grantees

The Asian American Organizing Project has given grants to organizations including the Association of Nepalis in Minnesota, Filipinx for Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice Minnesota, India Association of Minnesota, Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment, Siengkane Lao of Minnesota, Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, Church of St. Columba, Minnesota 8, SEWA-Asian Indian Family Wellness, Wat Promawachirayan, Chinese Social Services of Minnesota, Center for Hmong Arts and Talent, National Association of Asian American Professionals, Hmong Women Achieving Together, and the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress. ¹⁴

Funding

The Asian American Organizing Project has received grants from aligned organizations including the Third Wave Fund, Headwaters Foundation for Justice, Minneapolis Foundation, and the Saint Paul Foundation (an affiliate organization of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners). ¹⁵

The organization accepts donations through the Action Network, an online tool for left-of-center outlets to organize and fundraise. ¹⁶

Leadership

Linda Lelis-Her is a cofounder and the executive director of the Asian American Organizing Project. ¹⁷

Zong Vue is the associate director of the Asian American Organizing Project as well as a yoga instructor. Previously, Vue worked as the organizing manager of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum; the manager of strategy, policy, and evaluation at Ignite Afterschool; the manager of program operations at ACE; the program director at the Benjamin E. Mays I.B. World School; and as an education liaison with the State of Minnesota. ^{18 19}

1. “Where it All Started…” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/history/
2. “Values and Principles.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/AAOP-Principles.pdf
3. “Where it All Started…” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/history/
4. “Values and Principles.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/AAOP-Principles.pdf
5. “Where it All Started…” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/history/
6. “Election Organizing with AAOP.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/voter-ed-2/
7. “DEMYSTIFYING POLITICS ZINE SERIES.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/zines/
8. “Climate Justice.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/climate-justice/
9. “Election Organizing with AAOP.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/voter-ed-2/
10. “Reproductive Justice.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/reproductive-justice/
11. “Election Organizing with AAOP.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/voter-ed-2/
12. Demystifying Politics: AANHPI Heritage Month. Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DEMYSTIFYING-POLITICS-AANHPI-HERITAGE-MONTH.pdf
13. “DEMYSTIFYING POLITICS ZINE SERIES.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/zines/
14. “Our Grantees.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/grantees/
15. “Our Funders.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/funders/
16. “Donate.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024.  https://aaopmn.org/support-building-young-asian-leaders/
17. “Staff.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/staff/
18. “Zong Vue.” Datanyze. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://www.datanyze.com/people/Zong-Vue/10126701980
19. “Staff.” Asian American Organizing Project. Accessed August 12, 2024. https://aaopmn.org/staff/