This panel explores innovative approaches in Asian American Studies, focusing on collaborative initiatives between the East and West Coasts of the United States. Through a series of interconnected papers, we examine the transformative impact of community-engaged pedagogy, student-led initiatives, and cross-institutional partnerships in addressing the evolving needs of Asian American students and communities.

The first paper introduces the Pin@y Educational Partnerships (PEP) and its collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston). It highlights PEP's Community Action Praxis (CAP) framework and its possibilities with UMass Boston's Asian American Studies Program, demonstrating how this partnership can address institutional challenges with community-based solutions.

The second paper focuses on UMass Boston's innovative "Rise Up! Asian American Leadership and Social Change" course. It explores how this writing seminar integrates critical literacy with activism, responding to urgent issues such as educational equity, COVID-19 impacts, and anti-Asian hate. The paper also discusses how the tragic death of a student, Arif Sayed Faisal, influenced the course's evolution and emphasized the need for culturally responsive support for immigrant and refugee students; inclusive of Muslim, Middle Eastern, and South Asian experiences.

The third paper examines the Filipino American Experience (FAE) initiative at UMass Boston. It traces the development of this student-led project from its inception as an experiential learning opportunity to its current goal of establishing a Filipino American Studies course. The paper highlights how FAE addresses the critical need for Filipino American representation in the curriculum and its potential to foster a broader understanding of collective liberation.

The final paper presents an autoethnographic account of a first-generation Filipino American student's journey from Boston to the San Francisco Bay Area. It explores the personal and professional growth facilitated by cross-coastal collaborations and emphasizes the importance of nurturing connections between Asian American studies programs across the United States.

Collectively, these papers demonstrate the power of innovative pedagogical approaches, student activism, and cross-institutional collaborations in expanding the scope and relevance of Asian American Studies. By centering diverse Asian American voices and experiences, particularly those of Filipina/x/o communities, this panel contributes to the ongoing dialogue about the role of Ethnic Studies in combating systemic oppression and fostering social change.

The roundtable aims to inspire further collaboration between Asian American Studies programs nationwide, emphasizing the importance of community engagement, critical pedagogy, and student empowerment in shaping the future of the field. It underscores the potential of these approaches to address contemporary challenges faced by Asian American communities while honoring ancestral legacies and paving the way for future generations committed to social justice and liberation.