At APIs CAN, equity means recognizing and addressing the systemic barriers that disproportionately impact marginalized AAPI communities — especially working-class, immigrant, refugee, and limited-English-speaking populations. Equity is not about treating everyone the same, but about ensuring communities have the specific resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. It requires intentional redistribution of power and resources to those most impacted by injustice, and a long-term commitment to dismantling the root causes of disparity — including classism, xenophobia, and economic exploitation.

Racial justice is both a vision and a practice of building a Massachusetts where all communities — particularly Black, Indigenous, and people of color — can live with dignity, safety, and power. For APIs CAN, this means centering the voices of the most marginalized within the AAPI community, while working in solidarity across racial lines to confront white supremacy, colonialism, and anti-Blackness. Racial justice is not only about ending discrimination — it’s about transforming policies, institutions, and cultural narratives to reflect shared liberation, collective healing, and true self-determination for all.

We believe in the power of a unified AAPI voice that honors the diversity within our communities — across ethnicity, language, culture, religion, immigration status, and class. Uniting a pan-Asian identity means fostering solidarity across East, Southeast, South Asian, West Asian, and Pacific Islander communities, while building collective political power and shared purpose.

We center those who are often pushed to the margins — including immigrants, limited-English speakers, workers, refugees, working class, and queer and trans AAPI individuals. Their lived experiences and leadership are essential to shaping policies, campaigns, and narratives that create meaningful, lasting change.