Join us in celebrating five years of GROW — Generating and Reclaiming Our Wisdoms — a collaborative project that has taken root to nurture and preserve the rich history of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) activism at UC San Diego. 

The seed for GROW, a student-led initiative, was first planted in Winter 2021 when a group gathered via Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic to learn together about AAPI activism at UC San Diego by conducting oral histories and archival research, and engaging with alumni and guest speakers. The course has since been taught in the Winter quarter in History, Ethnic Studies, and this year, in Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies. Like a carefully tended garden, it has grown through five cohorts of dedicated participants to create a thriving ecosystem of collective learning.

This exhibit showcases how students, faculty, staff, and librarians have cross-pollinated ideas and experiences to document the untold stories behind the creation of UC San Diego’s AAPI Studies Program in Fall 2020, a history that can be traced back to the 1980s. The process of archiving fosters new growth amplifying AAPI stories, empowering change, and inspiring further engagement.

Visit lib.ucsd.edu/grow to view the timeline and listen to oral histories that highlight AAPI contributions at UC San Diego. The digital collection includes personal narratives and historical insights that document momentous events and capture the student experience, the history of student organizations, and common themes of identity, belonging, resilience, and community building that have shaped the AAPI experience on campus and beyond. This exhibit creates space for stories often overlooked in mainstream narratives, celebrating the resilience, wisdom, and vibrant cultural heritage of the AAPI community at UC San Diego.