The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW)

Home
United States
San Francisco, CA
The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW)

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

"While it may not be possible to save the entire world, one can do her part to take care of her corner of it."

The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (The Center) is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to the enhancement and enrichment of leadership skills for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women through education, networking, and mentorship. For over 20 years, the Center has provided a variety of professional development programs – from one day regional conferences to national leadership summits to intensive training institutes – to address the specific needs of AAPI women across the country. The Center’s vision is to develop ethical and compassionate AAPI women to take leadership roles in the private and public sectors.

08/25/2026

Coming full circle at CAPAW.

We’re thrilled to welcome APAWLI Alumna Emily Wasek as facilitator for our 2026–2027 APAWLI cohort.

Emily has experienced firsthand the community, reflection, and growth that make APAWLI more than a leadership program.

“CAPAW feels like coming home to the warm embrace of sisterhood. The APAWLI program empowered me to dream bigger, lead bolder, and shine brighter than I ever imagined.”

Now Emily will help guide our next cohort as they deepen their leadership, strengthen their voices, and build lasting connections.

There is something powerful about seeing an alumna return to invest in the women coming behind her. That is leadership coming full circle.

08/17/2026

Sometimes making a difference doesn’t mean changing everything.

Sometimes, it means changing something for one person.

CAPAW’s starfish logo was inspired by the Starfish Story and its simple reminder:

“It made a difference to that one.”

That idea continues to shape how we think about leadership and impact.

One woman encouraged.
One voice strengthened.
One connection made.
One opportunity opened.

We believe everyone has strengths and the potential to create meaningful change in the lives of others.

Who has been a “starfish person” in your life someone whose encouragement or support made a difference for you?

08/14/2026

Friday Leadership Reflection

Sometimes the people who shape us most are not the ones who give us the answers.

They are the ones who ask the harder questions. Who see possibility when we are still unsure. Who share what experience has taught them, challenge us to grow, and give us room to find our own way.

That is the power of a good mentor.

Over time, those relationships can help us build confidence, trust our own judgment, and recognize potential we may not have seen in ourselves yet.

At CAPAW, we believe growth happens through connection—and that trusted relationships can change the course of a woman’s leadership journey.

Who helped shape your path, and what is one thing they taught you that has stayed with you?

Tag them below and share the lesson. Your story may be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.

08/10/2026

Have you ever almost talked yourself out of an opportunity because you didn’t think you were qualified?

Kara Eusebio Higdon almost did.

When Kara applied to APAWLI, she wasn’t certain she belonged. She took the chance anyway.

What followed was more than leadership training. She found connection, candid conversations, new ways of thinking about her career and well-being, and a community of women who challenged one another to grow.

Her story is one of the reasons we believe so deeply in creating spaces where women can explore not only how they lead — but who they are becoming.

Sometimes the decision that changes your path starts with one small act:

Apply. Raise your hand. Say yes. Take the chance.

We’d love to hear from you:

What is something you once felt “not ready” for that you’re grateful you did anyway?

And if Kara’s story sounds a little like yours, APAWLI applications are open through August 21. https://form.jotform.com/252824555580159

08/07/2026

Sometimes the permission we need most is the one we’re least willing to give ourselves.

So this Friday, choose one:

1 — Ask for help
2 — Change your mind
3 — Take up space
4 — Rest without earning it
5 — Lead before you feel completely ready

Which one are you giving yourself today?

Drop your number below and share this with a woman who might need the same reminder.

08/05/2026

Join us for the final CAPAW Book Club gathering of 2026.

On September 17, APAWLI alumna Emily Wasek will guide a thoughtful conversation about Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner.

Through reflections on family, identity, grief, culture, and food, Zauner’s memoir invites us to consider what we carry from the people who raised us and how we stay connected to our stories when life changes.

You are welcome whether you read the entire book, only a few chapters, or simply want to join the conversation. CAPAW Book Club is a space for honest reflection, connection, and community—not a test of how many pages you completed.

Thursday, September 17, 2026
8:00–9:00 PM ET
Interactive and virtual

This will be our final selection of 2026, but the conversation will continue. CAPAW Book Club will return in 2027 with an exciting list of books and special guests.

Join the conversation on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88446743139?pwd=mlaxTrWoAayu8t0vNiPGF3nnnCm0Dv.1

08/03/2026

Sometimes the most powerful thing a woman can do is give herself permission to grow.

For Rose Situ, joining APAWLI was an investment in her own leadership, confidence, and future. That experience helped her step more fully into who she was becoming and later inspired The Uplifting You Journal, a daily practice designed to help women live with greater clarity and trust themselves more deeply.

Rose’s story is a reminder that investing in yourself does not end with you. It can become something that encourages and uplifts others.

Applications for the 2026–2027 APAWLI cohort are open through August 21.

Apply today: https://form.jotform.com/252824555580159

07/31/2026

Friday Leadership Reflection

None of us arrive fully formed.

Juliet Beezley’s APAWLI journey began as faculty, but becoming a Fellow in the Class of 2000 changed her life in a deeper way. Through the experience, she grew as a leader, connected more deeply with her heritage, and found a lasting sisterhood.

Her story is a reminder that leadership asks us to keep learning, trust the unknown, and invest in who we are still becoming.

“With APAWLI, you will never journey alone.”
— Juliet Beezley, APAWLI Class of 2000

Read more about Juliet’s journey here:
https://www.capaw.org/news/my-28-year-journey-with-apawli-juliet-beezley/

APAWLI applications are open through August 21.
https://form.jotform.com/252824555580159

07/29/2026

The APAWLI application deadline has been extended to August 21, 2026.

APAWLI is a transformational leadership experience designed for women of color who are ready to lead with greater purpose, confidence, and impact.

Through interactive virtual sessions, participants strengthen their leadership voice, build meaningful relationships, and join a powerful community committed to creating lasting change together.

Program dates: September 16, 2026–June 23, 2027
Schedule: Every other Wednesday, 6:30–8:00 PM ET
Apply by August 21: https://form.jotform.com/252824555580159

Know someone who is ready for her next leadership step? Please share this opportunity or tag her below.

Address

San Francisco, CA
94111

Telephone

+13092876240

Website

https://linktr.ee/capaw

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW):

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization in San Francisco?