Image description: On right, mini people are arranged into the formation of a tree. On left, text reads “#GROWAPIENC, grow ourselves, our communities, our movements. 30 Days to raise $15,000!”

grow: ourselves, our communities, our movements. #GROWAPIENC towards $15,000!

October 31, 2017 — By M Lin
Image description: On right, mini people are arranged into the formation of a tree. On left, text reads "#GROWAPIENC, grow ourselves, our communities, our movements. 30 Days to raise $15,000!"
Image description: On right, mini people are arranged into the formation of a tree. On left, text reads “#GROWAPIENC, grow ourselves, our communities, our movements. 30 Days to raise $15,000!”

In this political moment we’re fighting isolation, burn-out, and increased attacks on our communities. We know our continued work towards safety and liberation will take stretching and growing in bold ways–in ways we cannot yet anticipate. APIENC is a home for folks to be and grow into their full selves, as we collectively grow towards full, abundant, and interdependent movements. This is why, for our annual fall fundraising campaign, which was launched October 19th and runs through November 19th, we’ve chosen the theme “grow: ourselves, our communities, our movements.” 

Since APIENC was started, we’ve moved from being a coalition that included transgender, queer, and allied API people, to a TGNC and queer-led organization. We’ve also moved from 90% foundation funding to over 60% individual donations. These shifts required specific and intentional changes over time. Some of these changes include: moving away from SF Pride and putting our energies into organizing for Trans March; creating volunteer-led committees for young people, TGNC people, and queer folks to strategize and build programs; hiring TGNC staff; and cultivating partnerships with strong movement organizations! We have become a training hub for young people, a reflection space for activists of all ages, and a convener of LGBTQ API folks working to build a new and intersectional world. In just our past year, we’ve seen how the average attendance at our events has gone from ~25 to ~70! You can see even more updates at this link.

This fall, we have 30 days to raise $15,000 to ensure our work continues. Will you grow with us? Donate at bit.ly/growAPIENCnow (make sure to choose “API Equality – Northern California” in the drop-down menu)

Thank you for uplifting our work, being in community, and growing with us! Please join us for our annual Community Brunch on Sun. 11/19 to celebrate and appreciate our volunteers. In addition, we’ll be closing out our fall fundraising campaign. You can RSVP here for further details and to let us know you’re coming.