May 9: Expanding American history with landmark multimedia textbook on Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences

"Foundations and Futures" is a new multimedia textbook that places Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) experiences at the heart of the American story. Developed by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, it is the most comprehensive collection of its kind published online and is freely accessible to not only high school and college students, but the general public.

On Saturday, May 9, the center will host the public launch of the project at the UCLA Luskin Conference Center, unveiling 50 chapters written by leading scholars, journalists and community historians.

Released during Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the textbook highlights over 20 AAPI communities across the United States, its territories and the Pacific.

From Japanese American incarceration during WWII to Pacific Islander diasporas, from South Asian community organizing to the cultural contributions of Southeast Asian refugees, "Foundations and Futures" reveals how AAPI communities have shaped the United States - and why their stories are essential to a more just, inclusive democracy.

In October 2021, the Legislature passed, and Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law, Assembly Bill 101 - a historic bill that makes California the first state to require ethnic studies as a high school graduation requirement.

"Foundations and Futures" gives schools, districts and communities in California and across the country that are adopting ethnic studies and AAPI curriculum requirements a free, online, ready-to-use resource that is scholar-informed and classroom-tested.

With 1,500+ media assets and over 250 ready-to-use lesson plans for grades 9-14, it will be a critical resource for teaching AAPI history. Built on an innovative, ADA-compliant digital platform, the project also offers translation tools, reading supports and customizable display features to ensure access for learners of all abilities.

The public launch event "Reclaiming Our Narrative: Presenting Foundations and Futures" will be a celebratory gathering to acknowledge the collective contributions to this monumental educational resource. A selection of completed chapters will be unveiled at the event, with additional chapters published online as they are completed throughout the summer.

The program will include a keynote address by Dr. Maya Soetoro (Director of the Matsunaga Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa and adviser to the Obama Foundation), who will speak about the power of peace education in these divided times.

For more information, visit the Foundations and Futures website.

Get tickets for the event at: Reclaiming Our Narrative: Presenting Foundations and Futures.

WHEN

9 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026

WHERE

UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center, Centennial Ballroom
425 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095

WHO

Dr. Maya Soetoro will deliver the lunch keynote address.

Other speakers include:

· Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus/California Assemblymember Mike Fong

· California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi

· Karen Umemoto, director and professor, UCLA Asian American Studies Center

· Akemi Kochiyama, activist and granddaughter of civil rights leader Yuri Kochiyama

· Helen Zia, author, activist, journalist

Also available for interviews:

· Jeff Yang, contributing author, cultural critic, asian pop writer, journalist

· Renee Tajima-Peña, professor, filmmaker, director of UCLA Center for EthnoCommunications

· Robert Ku, managing editor of Foundations and Futures

MEDIA CONTACT

Melany De La Cruz-Viesca, deputy director of the UCLA Asian American Studies | [email protected]| 310-825-2974

Barbra Ramos, UCLA Media Relations | [email protected] | 310-844-3582

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