Forward Party to Launch Member Committee for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

The Forward Party will launch a new member committee for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders later this month, adding to a list of representative groups already organized within the party.

The virtual launch event for the Forward Party’s new AAPI Committee is scheduled for May 20 at 8:30p ET during AAPI Heritage Month. The event will include guest remarks from Forward Party co-chair Andrew Yang and other special guests yet to be identified. It is open to the public, with participation details to be sent to those who register in advance.

The term “AAPI” is an abbreviation for Asian American and Pacific Islander and is commonly used to refer to people in the United States of Asian and Pacific Islander descent from East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

According to details from the party, the new committee is intended to represent and advocate for the interests of AAPI members while building “a robust bridge between national politics and the unique needs” of the community. The committee’s stated mission includes encouraging political engagement, identifying and supporting AAPI candidates who promote the party’s values, advocating for policies that address community concerns, and generally promoting representation within the Forward Party.

The party is also inviting members to submit stories of their own personal experiences through an “AAPI Community Voices” section connected to the committee.

While the Forward Party has not yet said who will formally serve on the committee, it named Keoni Aricayos as the contact person for the launch event. Aricayos was an early party organizer in Massachusetts and served as the founding chair of the Massachusetts Forward Party through its inaugural convention in 2025. He is also an advisor with Good Party, a nonpartisan organization that provides campaign tools and resources to independents and candidates working outside the two-party system.

The new group will join other representative bodies already organized by the national Forward Party for its members, including committees for youth, women, veterans and active military, and Black members.