Sunday Workshop: APIDA

All Sunday Workshops take place from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on October 2^nd.

Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDA) are an integral part of US history. Beginning with immigration in the 1800s, their contributions in labor activism, fighting for school integration, and citizenship continue to resonate with us today. The increasing anti-Asian hate in the past two years as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic raised the need for visibility of APIDA history in K-12 classrooms to teach about how these historical events connect to our current racial climate. With 24 million Asian Americans, they are the fastest growing racial group in the US, and the west coast being home to the majority of the population. Yet they are underrepresented in California K-12 curriculum (US Census, 2022). The Asian American Education Project fills this need through a focus on APIDA history for K-12+ educators. This 3 hour, interactive workshop will explore three areas within APIDA history:

1. Examining the role of pertinent figures who have influenced laws pertaining to citizenship rights and race.
2. Analyzing the cross-cultural solidarity of Black, Latinx, Native Americans, and Asian Americans in civil rights and labor activism.
3. Challenging the ways APIDA identity and perception is shaped by the media and has perpetuated stereotypes.

The workshop will provide paired, small group, and whole group activities to keep educators engaged. Participants will leave with an understanding of how to scaffold Asian American history lessons for varying proficiency levels of  K-12 English learners and navigate The Asian American Education Project website. For LAUSD educators to receive hours towards their salary point, attendance will be taken and a reflection must be completed at the end of the workshop.

L. Erika Saito, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor & Academic Program Director of the Masters of Education in Inspired Teaching in Learning at National University, Sanford College of Education. She also serves on the university’s Inclusive Excellence Council. She is a California credentialed teacher with a background in K-12 that includes over 15 years as a classroom teacher and English Language Development/Sheltered Programs Department Chair.

Dr. Saito is the West Coast Regional Manager for The Asian American Education Project, working directly with K-12 teachers, districts, and organizations across the west to support and build awareness for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history.

Her research centers largely on Asian American history, co-ethnic communities, ethnic identity, social and emotional learning, and societal reception. Dr. Saito’s works have been published in Teachers College Record, School Community Journal, The Family Journal, and Berkeley Review of Education. She is currently the K-12 Level Chair for CATESOL, Secretary for AERA’s SEL special interest group, and Vice-President for California Association for Asian Pacific American Education (CAAPAE) and editorial roles for Issues in Teacher Education, and Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education.