Community Organizing and Activism 

Concept Cue

Attend one public demonstration (protest, march, sit-in, etc.), what did you observe? Was it an issue that you agree with? What action or challenge did they invite you to do, if any? Did you think the demonstration was effective respective to the organizer’s objectives? Any other comments regarding the demonstration? Please upload appropriate multimedia onto your e-portfolio along with your responses. 

I attended a "die-in" and protest contesting the Gaza Genocide at the Capitol and was proud to stand in solidarity with those who are seeking immediate intervention. I observed over 100 community members crying, screaming, singing, and chanting together from the steps of our city's capitol and throughout the streets. The "die-in" was an especially heart wrenching experience. I couldn't fight back the silent tears streaming down my face onto the cold stone floor of the capitol building as I, and dozens of others, lied in the center of the foyer, still as the dead, covered in fake blood while some of our Palestinian neighbors read out over 1,000 names of dead Palestinian children--some of which were their own family members. It was a profoundly transformative experience for me because of the way it personalized the deaths of so many which we've become desensitized to. Although I don't know how much of an effect we had on the officials who are complicit in this genocide, there was a powerful sense of belonging and commiseration that I think was just as fruitful. In the face of this depth of human suffering it was beneficial in and of itself to find solace in those who are pursuing the same fight for liberation. 

This assignment encourages you to familiarize yourself with one community organization pertaining to the one of the Stanford Pathways.

Be sure to answer the following questions:

1. What is the name of the community organization?

Asian Association of Utah (AAU)

2. What is the organization's mission? 

Mission Statement: Our community is a unique intersection of two groups: Asian Americans in Utah, representing our heritage community, and marginalized refugees, refugee youth, and human trafficking victims, representing the community we serve. 

3. What societal issues are they providing resources to?

AAU is a non-profit committed to refugee aid, combatting human trafficking, domestic violence awareness, housing to the unsheltered community and more. As someone who works for Volunteers of America, our clientele often overlaps with AAU, and we have had the pleasure of collaborating with them several times on education/training for our staff. 

4. The pathway for this module is Community Organizing and Activism; how is this approach explored by the community organization?

AAU is a big proponent of activism, and they play an important role in organizing resources for some of the most vulnerable in our community. They have multiple volunteer opportunities that I would love to participate in--especially their English education program because it is a goal of mine to teach English abroad.