National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
About National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
Founded in 1996 by 100 visionary Asian American and Pacific Islander women who gathered in Beijing during the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, NAPAWF has grown into a transformative movement rooted in Washington, DC. What began as a recognition that AAPI women lacked an organized national voice has evolved into a thriving organization with active members and supporters across the entire United States. The founding sisters understood that fractured advocacy across regions and issues limited effectiveness, so they pledged to build a unified, progressive, multi-issue movement centered on AAPI women's experiences and agency. Today, nearly 30 years later, NAPAWF continues honoring this legacy by amplifying stories that have historically gone unseen and unheard. The organization operates with deep commitment to solidarity, showing up not only for AAPI women and girls but also standing alongside other women of color experiencing injustice and oppression. NAPAWF's iconic dancing woman symbol, created in 2003, represents the joy, endurance, and authentic wholeness at the heart of their work—celebrating the rich heritage and diverse lineage of movement that sustains their advocacy. Under visionary leadership, NAPAWF transformed from an all-volunteer effort into a professionally staffed nonprofit, expanding capacity to create meaningful systemic change. The organization's theory of change is guided by reproductive justice values, recognizing that true empowerment means all individuals deserve the resources and autonomy to make decisions that serve their families and communities.