好色先生TV

For 好色先生TV alumna Vivian Chang, life so far has been a series of unexpected intersections.

While a Sciences and Humanities Scholar, she couldn鈥檛 choose between biological physics and Hispanic studies. So she didn鈥檛, instead connecting the two unlikely paired subjects as a dual degree in Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Science and Mellon College of Science.

Her experience as a member in organizations like Alpha Phi Omega and Circle K highlighted another unexpected crossover鈥攈er love of learning and intense interest in community building.

鈥淢y path has always been a zigzag, and I didn鈥檛 know that community service could morph into a profession,鈥� says Vivian, who graduated in 2013. 鈥淚 began to realize that I spent more time thinking about my volunteer work than my homework.鈥�

Now, her volunteer work is her career.

As the civic engagement and racial justice director at the (APALA), she oversees programs on voting, redistricting, immigration advocacy and political engagement.

鈥淧eople are realizing that they suddenly have the power to reimagine a better workplace for themselves and their coworkers,鈥� she says.

Finding Purpose

Vivian began community organizing as a career after earning a master鈥檚 degree in environmental policy from Princeton University in 2017. After graduation, she worked with the Union of Concerned Scientists in Washington, D.C., and then pivoted to election engagement during the 2018 midterm elections. Soon afterward, she joined a fellows program with the APALA, focusing on and succeeding in increased voter registration and voter turnout.

鈥淲hen I started as a fellow, I didn鈥檛 even know my current job existed,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know you could specifically work on AAPI outreach, let alone for an AAPI labor organization.鈥�

Founded in 1992, APALA is the first and only national organization of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers. Its national headquarters is located in the nation鈥檚 capital; the organization maintains with more in the pipeline.

APALA is not a union per se but rather a labor constituency group. Membership is open to anyone in the labor movement: union members, workers who lack access to unions, and anyone who supports workers鈥� rights.

鈥淲e are broad-based,鈥� Vivian says. 鈥淧art of our job is to address many misconceptions head-on. We have to overcome the lack of education about unions while simultaneously confronting the purposeful miseducation about unions. Everyone says APALA is small and mighty. One day, we鈥檒l be large and mighty, and everyone will know us.鈥�

鈥淚nvisibilized鈥� Communities

On the job, Vivian learned the vast history of AAPI people and enjoys listening to others' personal stories. What brings excitement to her civic engagement work is learning from a marginalized, somewhat hidden population. The term 鈥渋nvisibilized鈥� is commonly used in the AAPI community referring to how little representation and how much erasure occurs.

鈥淏efore I worked here, I didn鈥檛 know the detailed history of the [the longtime ban on Chinese laborers immigrating to the U.S],鈥� Vivian says. 鈥淚 learned that the Immigration Act of 1965 [the law enforcing immigration regulation then and now] truly ended Chinese exclusion, and in turn, allowed my parents to come to America. I was born here and without that legislation, I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today.鈥�

Voter outreach revealed to her that people intensely desire recognition by others who care. She regularly witnesses the profound difference it makes to talk to communities who have never been heard or feel left out.

鈥淲hen knocking on doors of AAPI households, you will probably hear either 鈥榊ou鈥檙e the first person who has ever talked to me about this!鈥� or 鈥業鈥檝e always wanted to talk to someone about this issue!鈥� It鈥檚 so meaningful for people to talk to and be heard by someone who looks like them,鈥� Vivian says.

An Inspiring Resurgence

At Carnegie Mellon, one class solidified her ideas about racial solidarity and transnational movements: Professor of History Nico Slate鈥檚 course The Civil Rights Movement and the World.

During the class, she learned the histories of marginalized people, like Indian social reformer Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, who rose up and fought for change. These histories impacted her deeply and led her toward the path of labor and worker organizing.

Slate is thrilled his course helped Vivian find a fulfilling career.

"It's so wonderful to see all that Vivian has done and is doing with her knowledge and many talents,鈥� Slate says. 鈥淚'm so happy for her and am deeply moved by her commitment to fighting for a better, more just, and more equitable country."

What Vivian loves about the work鈥攁nd about organizing as a career鈥攊s that it鈥檚 creative. She cites vaccine sign-ups and virtual fundraising cook-a-longs with AAPI chefs as examples.

In the four years she鈥檚 been involved with civic engagement work, Vivian has seen improvements in workers鈥� conditions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great time to be in this field. I feel lucky to see a resurgence in the success of workers,鈥� Vivian says. 鈥淧eople are making headlines talking about class disparity and class consciousness. Policy change often opens a door, but what pushes people through the door is seeing the news of effective change.鈥�