It is my honor to serve as the 2019-2020 President of the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), along with our Vice President Candice Mack and the other amazing members of the APALA Executive Board. I have been an APALA member since I was a student in graduate school. I call it my home. This year, I hope to empower our members to get involved through my Presidential theme, Strength in Solidarity.
APALA was founded by librarians of diverse Asian and Pacific ancestries committed to working together toward a common goal: to create an organization that would address the needs of Asian and Pacific American librarians and those who serve Asian and Pacific American communities. We are immigrants, refugees, of mixed heritage, hailing from dozens of Asian, Native, and Pacific Islander heritages. Our members have varied socioeconomic and disability statuses and represent a multitude of sexual orientations and gender identities and gender expressions.
Strength in Solidarity builds on the core APALA values of community, advocacy, diversity, social justice, collaboration, mentorship, and leadership. We hold that “the power of many” creates social change. As a community that encompasses a large and diverse group of ethnicities, backgrounds, and experiences, we must continue to build solidarity within our own APA community, and to be more inclusive of Southeast Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander, and other underrepresented APA struggles, voices, and issues. As an organization with a strong commitment to social justice and intersectionality, we must continue to build solidarity with other communities of color–Latinx, Black, Indigenous–and deepen our understanding of the systems that pit us against each other to maintain white supremacy. We must make space for our queer and trans* members to speak their truth and build bridges with LGBT communities through our commitment to fight homophobia and transphobia. I look forward to working with all of you through Strength in Solidarity, a vital, important initiative.
Many thanks to our 2018-2019 Executive Board who ensured that the past year was filled with incredible accomplishments. APALA had record attendance at the Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) 2018, with many programs and posters presented by APALA members. At ALA Midwinter, the APALA Literature Awards were announced for the first time at the Youth Media Awards. At ALA Annual 2019 in Washington, D.C., we held a successful Presidential Program featuring four APALA members, hosted over 70 people who attended the Annual APALA Literature Awards dinner, including George Takei’s co-writers and illustrator from They Called Us Enemy who shared their thoughts on the creative process at the APALA membership meeting. This past September, APALA also co-wrote a joint statement with ALA, AILA, BCALA, CALA, JCLC, Inc. and REFORMA to decry the uptick in racially fueled violence bigotry, and abuse in U.S. communities and to offer support and funding to the libraries and communities that are on the front lines of defending equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Thanks to the work of our 2019-2020 Executive Board and our Committee Chairs and members, this year we have many exciting projects underway! We are continuing Talk Story through our Family Literacy Focus committee, making progress on this year’s mentoring program, planning the ALA Midwinter social gathering, and finalizing the stellar APALA sessions that are in the works for ALA Annual 2020. The Board and Committee Chairs also hope to increase membership, offer an additional travel grant, and deepen our fundraising capacity. Author interviews, member highlights, and our quarterly newsletter continue to engage both new and future members. The Executive Board and I will continue to seek out projects and programs that will benefit our members and welcome suggestions! We will also be celebrating our 40th Anniversary as an organization at Annual in 2020, so please keep your eyes open for future events!
Finally, in order for APALA to be successful, we need all of you. I encourage you to participate and get involved. I look forward to continuing to grow our organization together over the next year!
In solidarity,
Alanna Aiko Moore
APALA President 2019-2020