Asians for Collective Liberation in Spokane (ACL Spokane) is a nonprofit organization that centers the power of Asians & Asian Americans to build a just, healthy, and thriving community for all. Our current work focuses on nurturing community belonging, improving community wellbeing, and amplifying community voice through our pillars: Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement, Health & Wellness, and Environmental Justice.
Our organization began as APIC Spokane, part of the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition in Washington (APIC WA) formed in 1996 to support marginalized communities after the Welfare Reform Act. created even more barriers for marginalized communities. Initially volunteer-led and sponsored by Asian Counseling and Referral Services in Seattle, our activities included participating in APIC WA Legislative Days and Asian American Heritage Month.
During COVID-19, we provided services such as vaccine clinics and education, while addressing the rise in anti-Asian hate. In 2021, we became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and rebranded to Asians for Collective Liberation in 2022 to better represent our diverse communities. This came with a call to disaggregate Asian/Asian American(A/AA) and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NH/PI) communities as many social determinants of health and long, complex histories exposed the vast need for differentiation. Our new name has been well-received, and we remain focused on legislative advocacy to overcome barriers facing our communities.