APARRI History

APARRI is the largest and longest running interdisciplinary conference series in the United States addressing issues of religion and race in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Since 1999, APARRI gatherings have provided opportunities for scholars and community leaders involved in work on Asian American and Pacific Islander religion to share research, exchange ideas, and build collaborative relationships.

Over the past two decades, APARRI has hosted twelve conferences, four leadership workshops, and a Wabash-linked workshop at UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley, Pacific School of Religion, Northwestern University, Claremont McKenna College, McCormick Theological Seminary, and Claremont School of Theology. Funding and in-kind services were provided through these institutions and with additional support from Pomona College (Pacific Basin Institute), UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center, UCLA’s Institute of American Cultures, and local church groups. During the mid-2010s, APARRI maintained its presence and continued to build its network through panels, meetings, and events at annual professional conferences: American Academy of Religion (AAR) and Association for Asian American Studies (AAAS).