Dearest UniPro Family, both old and new:
I’m immensely grateful for your support and hard work over this last year. UniPro New York has matured into an organization that the Filipino American community considers a resource and platform for youth. We’ve steadily increased our visibility within the Tri-State Area through our civic engagement and professional development work, all of which wouldn’t have been possible without the efforts and knowledge of our fearless volunteers and staff members.
And it’s not just our team that’s growing. For the New York Chapter, we’ve been incredibly excited to see our sister chapters grow on the West Coast and Midwest, and to hear how interest in UniPro’s work and mission has grown nationally. Summit 2016 was eye-opening for us, teaching us the nuances between our community and our kasamas in Seattle. The diversity of Pilipino America inspires us to find strength in our differences and unite in our shared values.
UniPro is also looking beyond just the Pilipino American community, working alongside our fellow communities of color and local government for movement building. We’re oftentimes the only ones in the room representing our community’s perspectives and needs. Through our coalition work with APA VOICE, we’ve built relationships with other Asian American organizations throughout New York City while educating Pilipino Americans about their voting rights. Only by working together will FilAms see the progress we’re seeking.
For those of you already involved: thank you! Our work continues because you’re building the movement with us. UniPro NY is stronger because you were out there door knocking, registering voters, giving speeches, and mentoring college students. We find inspiration in your words, thoughts, and actions; I do this work because of you.
If you’re looking to dive deeper in your involvement with UniPro: do it! There’s always opportunities to get engaged, whether that be through mentorship, phone banking, workshops, or book clubs. We’re here to help you find your niche and develop your skills. Join us to discover what that means for you.
If you don’t have time to give, please consider donating. Not only is it tax-deductible, but every contribution helps us deliver the programming and resources our community needs to be a more unified and engaged Pilipino America. You can contribute to our year-end fundraising on our Generosity page.
On behalf of everyone we serve, thank you again for your generous support. Here’s to even greater growth and action in 2017!
Maraming salamat,
Stephanie Chrispin
President, 2016-2017
Pilipino American Unity for Progress, Inc. (UniPro), New York Chapter