AAPI Book Fund for Brookline High School

Team fundraiser

Hsiu-Lan Chang and 7 others are organizing this fundraiser.

BAAFN - Building Our Community with Books

Help Build an Asian American & Pacific Islander Book Collection at Brookline High School!
Honor an Amazing Teacher, Ms. Lihua Zhang Shorter!
Celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Authors, Stories, History and Experiences!

The Brookline Asian American Family Network (BAAFN) asks for your contribution to the AAPI Book Fund to build a comprehensive collection of books by and about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Brookline High School students. These books will be dedicated to honoring our beloved Brookline High Chinese teacher, Lihua Zhang Shorter, upon her retirement this October. They will be housed in the BHS Library for all students and teachers to enjoy.

On May 3, 2022, student activists of the Asian Pacific American Club (APAC) at Brookline High School delivered a powerful presentation to school and district leaders highlighting the need for AAPI history, experiences, and stories to be included in the current curriculum. One student shared:

“As a graduating senior who hasn’t read a single book with an Asian character as a part of the English curriculum at BHS, I want better for my brother, a rising Freshman this year. I want him to be able to read a book with his class where he can relate to characters, feel comfortable discussing the book with his class, and see his story reflected. It took me and many others a while to realize that we didn’t feel seen AND why that was. Including us isn’t a big ask. But it will have big effects.”

To that end, students compiled a long list of book titles written by and about AAPI that they feel should be part of the school’s book collection. BAAFN mobilized and, with the help of the Brookline Booksmith, has purchased and gifted two copies of the first fifty titles on the list to BHS to begin what we hope to be a tremendous and growing AAPI book collection. We aim to raise $8,000 to ensure that every AAPI student can find their stories on bookshelves, in classrooms, and as part of everyday learning.

Please support the students, families and teachers at Brookline High School with a generous donation!

Gratefully,

Hsiu-Lan Chang, Chris Chanyasulkit, Alicia Hsu, Giles Li,

Linda Chinsen Louie, Grace Yung Watson and Chi Chi Wu

The BAAFN Steering Committee