The Localized History Project

The Localized History Project is a New York State-funded Youth Participatory Action Research project investigating the extent to which AANHPI history is taught in K-12 history classrooms in NY State, and presenting youth-driven curriculum alternatives to test-driven curricula. Localized History is committed to a community-centered approach to historical learning and teaching. This community archive represents possibilities of what history curriculum can look like when it is collectively built by teachers, students, families, and community organizations.

In the words of our first cohort,

"History classrooms should inspire students to reflect on the world around them and empower them to rise to the occasion when faced with injustice. An inclusive and accurate curriculum not only reflects the diverse experiences within the AANHPI community but also highlights the interconnectedness of our struggles with other marginalized groups. We seek to counteract harmful narratives by promoting a curriculum that fosters solidarity, emphasizes the need for cross-community support, and challenges divisive misconceptions that pit our community against other marginalized groups. Nuanced and accurate portrayals are critical in the acknowledgment of contributions the AANHPI community continues to make to America, and promoting a deeper understanding of who the AANHPI diaspora is both as a collective and our unique backgrounds. By integrating AANHPI history into New York State’s K-12 education, our curriculum aims to lay the foundation for a better future and cultivate informed leaders."

2024-2025 Highlights

• We conceptualized and executed the Youth Action Board (YAB) and the Professional Advisory Board (PAB), two models of ensuring community leadership in the Localized History project.
• In our Youth Action Board, young people in high school and early years of college across New York State convened monthly to discuss the changes necessary to the existing (or lack thereof) AANHPI curriculum in NY State.
• Now, in Fall of 2024, we have three Youth Action Boards located in Westchester, New York City, and Long Island, comprised of 30 total members, and a Statewide leadership team of 13 members ages 16-22.