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About Us

STUDENT COALITION FOR ASIAN PACIFIC EMPOWERMENT

The Student Coalition for Asian Pacific Empowerment, also known as SCAPE, is a student organization at the University of Southern California that advocates for the Asian Pacific American community within and outside the university. SCAPE is dedicated to educating ourselves and other USC students about Asian Pacific American issues through community involvement and advocacy.

HISTORY

Originally started in 1978, the Asian Pacific-Islander Student Outreach (APSO) was aimed to advocate for the Asian Pacific American students on the USC Campus. Through the efforts of APSO, the Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS) and Asian Pacific American Student Assembly (APASA) developed and became an integral part of the USC community. In 2006, APSO became defunct and ceased to exist as it once did.

In 2009, a group of students involved with the Critical Issues in Race, Class, and Leadership Education (CIRCLE) Program saw the need for a student organization whos main goal was to advocate for the APA community both at USC and around Southern California. The goal was to create an organization aimed at implementing activism at the most basic level, beginning with ourselves. And using APSO as a template, SCAPE was born.

MISSION AND PURPOSE STATEMENTS

SCAPE, as one of the only Asian Pacific American advocacy organization at USC, sees the development of the Asian Pacific American community at USC by:

  • Creating entertaining and effective programming targeted at bringing awareness of the issues that Asian Pacific American are facing today.
  • Developing long term relationships with collegiate and community based organizations in order to have a stronger voice within and outside of USC.
  • Fostering a creative and exciting organization for USC student to enjoy and feel rewarded in their time spent at USC.

VISION STATEMENT

  • To promote and educate members about the Asian Pacific American communities and other pertinent issues facing Asian Pacific Americans for developing future community leaders.
  • To advocate for issues facing the Asian Pacific American and other underrepresented communities on the USC campus to bring awareness for all issues facing USC students.
  • To become an open space for the Asian Pacific American community fellow allied communities at the USC campus in order for a more unified campus.