Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI) 2026 Symposium
The New Asian NYC: Mobilization, Grassroots Power, and Pluralistic Futures
Friday, May 15, 2026
Borough of Manhattan Community College/CUNY
The Asian American / Asian Research Institute (AAARI), of the City University of New York (CUNY), invites scholars, activists, community-based organizations (CBOs), artists, students, and organizers to submit proposals for our upcoming 2026 symposium.
The recent election of Zohran Mamdani—the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor—marks a historic shift in New York City’s political landscape. This victory stands not only as a milestone for AAPI and Muslim representation but as a testament to the power of grassroots, working-class organizing. While often characterized as the “Mamdani Moment,” this campaign’s trajectory from just 3% in early polling offers a profound case study in the collective “social technology” of door-to-door engagement and the merging of diverse identities. This moment serves as our entry point to explore a broader conversation. We seek to investigate what these victories reveal about the future of Asian American identity, the intersection of class and race, and the evolving strategies of civic engagement in an increasingly polarized era.
Themes for Submission
- Grassroots & Class Politics: The role of working-class organizations and “one-at-a-time” door-knocking in achieving electoral upsets.
- Gendered Labor & Field Operations: Highlighting the pivotal role of women—including the “aunties” within South Asian and broader AAPI communities—who served as the backbone of field operations and community mobilization.
- Intergenerational Solidarity: Analyzing the dynamics of young people mobilizing parents and grandparents, navigating linguistic hospitality at the polls, and bridging generational political divides.
- The Pluralistic Diaspora: Navigating multiple identities (South Asian, Muslim, mixed diaspora, and “multiple migrants”) and the complexities of racial labeling.
- Social Technology & Media: The use of digital “social technology” and social media strategies that defined the campaign’s reach.
- Art, Music, & Young People: How cultural production and youth engagement are reshaping political movements.
- New York City Futures: Analyzing the co-mingling of ideologies and the “mixing” of voter bases across traditional party lines.
- The Context of Resistance: Organizing within the broader national political climate and the impact of federal administrations on local mobilization.
How to Submit
To ensure a bridge between the academic and the public, we invite submissions from:
- Scholars & Students: Academic papers or research posters regarding political science, sociology, ethnic studies, and humanities.
- Organizers & CBOs: “Reports from the field” or workshops on community engagement and campaign strategy.
- Artists: Literary, visual or performing arts submissions that reflect on identity, visibility, and New York City’s cultural currents.
Note: All presentations will take place in-person.
Please submit your proposal through this Google Form by Friday, March 27, 2026.
Notifications of acceptance will be sent out by Monday, April 16, 2026.
Questions? Please contact, info@aaari.info.
Symposium Committee
John J. Chin, Payal Doctor, Chaumtoli Huq & Sokunthary Svay
Co-Sponsors (In Formation)
Department of Ethnic and Race Studies at BMCC
