Asian Immigrant Women Advocates Inc

ASIAN IMMIGRANT WOMEN ADVOCATES EMPOWERS LOW-INCOME, LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKING IMMIGRANT WOMEN AND YOUTH THROUGH EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION PROGRAMS.

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS:LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS AT AIWA INCLUDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS, EVENT PLANNING, COMMITTEE INVOLVEMENT, PUBLIC SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND INTENSIVE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND WOMEN TO BUILD THEIR SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE, WHILE REINVESTING THEIR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS BACK INTO THE LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANT AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES. IN 2021, WOMEN PEER LEADERS TRAINED OVER 200 OTHER WORKERS COVID WORKPLACE HEALTH AND SAFETY. IN LIGHT OF HEIGHTENED ASSAULTS AND HATE AGAINST ASIANS, WE HAVE DEVELOPED TRAINING MATERIALS ON ANTIASIAN HATE, BLACK LIVES MATTER AND ASIAN BLACK SOLIDARITY TO BUILD SOLIDARITY WITH BLACKS AND OTHER DISADVANTAGED IN ORDER TO CHALLENGE THE CURRENT RACIST SENTIMENTS AND POLICIES. YOUTH LEADERS CONDUCTED TEN WEEKLY LEADERSHIP SESSIONS TO TRAIN IMMIGRANT YOUTHS CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES AFFECTING THEM. THE LEADERS ALSO COLLECTED OVER100 SURVEYS TO ASSESS THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF REMOTE CLASS LEARNING AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THE UNMET NEEDS OF ENGLISH LEARNERS.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE ENGLISH LITERACY CLASSES, THEMATIC WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS, AND AFTER SCHOOL GENERAL MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS FOR YOUTH. IN 2021, MANY OF AIWAS IN-PERSON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS WERE STILL DETERRED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, BUT AIWA WOMEN HONED THEIR DIGITAL LITERACY SKILLS TO CHALLENGE IT. AIWA WOMEN LEADERS REACHED OUT TO THEIR COWORKERS, FRIENDS, AND FAMILY MEMBERS VIA PHONE, WECHAT, AND TEXTING FOR BASIC ZOOM TRAINING. IN THEIR ENGLISH LITERACY CLASSES, HOME CARE WORKERS STUDIED HOW TO ADDRESS EMERGENCY CARE FOR THEIR CLIENTS, IN ADDITION TO DEVELOPING THEIR ENGLISH SKILLS FOR DAILY SURVIVAL. THEY ALSO LEARNED AND DISCUSSED, FACING ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES, HOW TO RESPOND TO RACISM.AIWA NEPALI LEADERS HELD WEEKLY COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS TO ASSESS COMMUNITY NEEDS AND ORGANIZED WORKSHOPS PROVIDING ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ABOUT COVID HEALTH AND SAFETY, VACCINES, STRESS MANAGEMENT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES: CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECTS ADDRESS THE SURVEYED NEEDS OF LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANT WOMEN AND YOUTH. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ISSUE IDENTIFICATION AND EDUCATION, SELF-ADVOCACY, AND NETWORKING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. AS ESSENTIAL WORKERS, HOME CARE WORKERS HAVE RISKED THEIR LIVES AS THEY CONTINUE TO CARE FOR THE ELDERLY AND SICK DURING THE PANDEMIC. DESPITE THEIR HARD WORK, THEIR LIVES ARE PRECARIOUS AFTER THEIR RETIREMENT LEARNING THAT ALAMEDA COUNTY IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES STAFF, EXCEPT ITS HOME CARE WORKERS, ENJOYS RETIREMENT BENEFITS FROM ALAMEDA COUNTY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION, AIWA HOME CARE WORKER COMMITTEE MEMBERS DECIDED TO DEMAND THE SAME BENEFITS FOR HOME CARE WORKERS.WITH THE ESCALATION OF ANTI-ASIAN HATE CRIMES AND VIOLENCE, AIWA LEADERS PROPOSED A CAMPAIGN TO DISCOURAGE CASH TRANSACTIONS AMONG CHINATOWN BUSINESSES WHICH WOULD REDUCE ROBBERY AND MAKE OAKLAND CHINATOWN SAFER AND WELCOMING.