Collection Asian American Community Organizations
- Grade Level 3rd-5th Grade
Introduction
This lesson introduces students to Asian American community organizations, highlighting their roles, contributions, and impact on communities. Students will explore the concept of community, discuss the relationship between individual and collective responsibilities, and learn about organizations that support Asian Americans in Illinois.
LESSON PLAN
- Start with a discussion: Ask students to define “community” and discuss what it means to belong to one.
- Explore community organizations: Introduce Illinois-based Asian American organizations (e.g., Hana Center, Chinese American Service League) and their missions.
- Analyze community relationships: Discuss how people and organizations work together to improve the lives of community members.
- Activity: Create a “Community Map” for the classroom, comparing the roles of individuals and organizations in building a supportive community.
- Research: Assign small groups to research one Asian American organization and present its contributions to the class.
- Reflect: Discuss how learning about these organizations helps us understand the broader responsibilities of communities.
RESOURCES
Article: Historic election for Asian Americans in Illinois - Asian American Advancing Justice Chicago?
Example organizations in Illinois:
Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ-Chicago)
Asian American Caucus
Asian American Studies Program, Northwestern University
Cambodian Association of Illinois
Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts CIRCA-Pintig (CP)
Chicago Burmese Community Center
Chicago Desi Youth Rising
Chicago Japanese American Historical Society
Chinese American Museum of Chicago
Chinese American Service League (CASL)
Chinese Mutual Aid Association (CMAA)
Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC)
Global Asian Studies Program, University of Illinois Chicago
Hana Center
Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition
Indo-American Center (IAC)
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
Japanese American Service Committee (JASC-Chicago)
KAN-WIN (Formerly “Korean American Women in Need”)
Lao American Organization of Elgin
Lao American Community Services
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)
OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates (Formerly “Organization of Chinese Americans”)
OCA Chicago
South Asian American Policy and Research Institute (SAAPRI)
Vietnamese Association of Illinois (VAI)
Essential Questions
What is community? What are a person’s responsibilities to the community as well as the community’s responsibilities to that person? How do people change through their relationships with others in a community?