263. NAPAWF on the AAPI community and reproductive justice

The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) is the only organization focused on building power with AAPI women and girls to influence critical decisions that affect AAPI lives, families, and communities. Using a reproductive justice framework, they elevate AAPI women and girls to impact policy and drive systemic change in the United States. I had the pleasure of speaking with three incredible women from the Florida Chapter of NAPAWF. Prianca Jyotishi, Seri Lee, and May Thach. Prianca Jyotishi, who shares her story of growing up as an Indian American in a small Florida town and how NAPAWF gave her a safe and inclusive home. (pronounced pree-ahn-kah joe-tee-shee) Seri Lee is the National Campaign & Membership Director of NAPAWF who helps lead the organization’s national organizing work, including its expansion into Florida and Texas. May Thach is an Organizer for the NAPAWF FL Chapter and enjoys her work alongside other passionate AAPI women to build a space for other AAPI women to collaborate and build collective power in the state. Prianca, Seri, and May share openly and candidly about their experiences. One of the biggest challenges is combating misinformation and I am grateful to my guests today for helping educate me and my only request is that you listen with an open mind. I’m loving these conversations and hope you are too. If you are, please rate my podcast on your platform of choice and share it with others! If you would like to support with a donation to help keep this podcast going, you can become a patron of the show by visiting my website or Patreon.com/sifumimichan For comments or suggestions, please reach out on social media @sifumimichan Learn more about NAPAWF and join a monthly chapter meeting! The next one is Thursday, December 9th from 7-8pm EST > Link to register  All AAPI women and gender-expansive individuals are welcome to join. ABOUT THE GUESTS Prianca Jyotishi Member, NAPAWF FL Chapter Prianca Jyotishi (she/her) is located in Deland, Florida. Her family immigrated to the United States in the 70s and she was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She joined NAPAWF because it was the first organization she came across that is open to all Asians and has a diverse representation of people from all over Asia. Growing up, she didn’t feel accepted in the Asian community and was always forced to compete with other Asian students and colleagues to be “the best” – to be the perfect model minority. Being a part of NAPAWF has allowed her to make real genuine connections with other AAPI women who have had similar experiences as her. She is excited to be a part of the AAPI space with the Florida Chapter and to build power within our community. Seri Lee National Campaign & Membership Director Seri Lee (they/she) is a community organizer, movement worker, and queer child of the Korean diaspora. Born and raised in Chicago, they grew up in a working-class mixed-status household, experiencing personally and within their family many of the issues they’re working to structurally transform: gender-based violence, healthcare inequity, housing insecurity, economic injustice, and the military/prison-industrial complex. As the National Campaign and Membership Director at NAPAWF, they lead the organization’s national organizing work, including its expansion into Florida and Texas. May Thach Organizer, NAPAWF FL Chapter May Thach (she/her) is a community organizer, international development learner, and practitioner.