Founding Voices & History

The Office of APINH Affairs and the $45 million APINH Center are the culmination of a 40-year intergenerational vision in Albuquerque. From the first Korean-led organizing in 1984 to the APINH Center Steering Committee and the City of Albuquerque’s partnership with FUSE to launch the first centralized population office for APINH in New Mexico, this timeline honors the community-led advocacy that turned data invisibility into institutional power.

Built upon the Project BRIDGE data sovereignty framework, this page serves as a comprehensive resource that institutionalizes knowledge and documents how the APINH community and allies have transformed historical invisibility into civic power, ensuring our APINH diaspora is recognized as a permanent pillar of New Mexico’s future.

Breaking the Tricultural Myth

Definition: The Tricultural Myth is a legacy narrative in New Mexico that recognizes only three primary groups—Indigenous, Hispanic, and Anglo—as the pillars of the state's identity. This framework has historically created a "Visibility Gap" for the APINH community, which has been in New Mexico since the 1800s. The Office of APINH Affairs was established under Mayor Tim Keller specifically to dismantle this myth, ensuring that the 74 regions of the APINH diaspora are recognized as an essential fourth pillar of Albuquerque’s civic and economic fabric.

The Timeline of Persistence (1984–Present)

• 1984: The Korean Community Vision
  • The first documented attempt to establish an Asian Cultural Center in Albuquerque, led by Korean community leaders. This sparked the initial dream of a permanent cultural home.
• 2000–2007: The 999 Market & Racino Negotiations
  • Community leaders negotiated for land near the 999 Market under the Chavez administration. Later, advocacy shifted toward the site at Central Ave SE and Louisiana Blvd (now the Racino), though land swaps ultimately fell through.
• 2010–2018: The State Funding "Reabsorption" Cycles
  • Initial state funding was allocated by Senator Keller and Representative Stapleton, but was reabsorbed when the city was unable to proceed. This period highlighted the critical need for a dedicated municipal Office to steward these funds.
• 2019: Securing the Planning Mandate
  • A successful lobbying effort by the NM Asian Family Center and City Councilor Davis secured state funding to finally begin formal planning.
• 2020: The Global Pandemic "Hold"
  • The City of Albuquerque initiated the planning process for the APINH Center, but the effort was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This resulted in a second reabsorption of allocated funds by the State of New Mexico, highlighting the need for a permanent municipal anchor to protect community vision.
• 2023: The Modern Era & Visioning Restart
  • July 2023: The process officially restarts as a community-led visioning project convened by Anthropopulus Design + Planning and the City of Albuquerque. The scope includes determining the APINH Center's physical shape, programming, and strategic location.
• 2025: The Architecture of Sovereignty
  • May 2025: Through a FUSE non-profit partnership, the City embeds private-sector executive Jacky So as an Executive Fellow. Jacky So architects and launches the Project BRIDGE framework, providing the systems design necessary for data sovereignty and accelerated center realization.
  • June 2025: Carlo James Aragón joins the City as the Inaugural Liaison for APINH Affairs, serving as the central point of contact for the APINH Center Steering Committee. FBT Architects releases the Architectural Programming Diagram and cost estimates, while the Albuquerque Community Foundation establishes an independent fiduciary portal for project donations.
  • October 2025: Official public launch of the Office of APINH Affairs under Mayor Tim Keller’s Administration. The launch includes a new municipal digital ecosystem and the first issue of HONOR Magazine.
  • December 2025: APINH "Progress and Trust" scores for the City of Albuquerque show a significant shift, rising from 1.6 to 3.1 on a 5-point scale.
• 2026: The Recommitment & Future Expansion
  • February 2026: The APINH Center Steering Committee convenes at the New Mexico State Capitol (Santa Fe Roundhouse) to advocate for a legislative recommitment of funds, ensuring the $45 million APINH Center remains a top priority for the APINH community–the fastest growing population in Albuquerque with a 33.8% growth rate.

Founding Leadership & Strategic Champions

• Mayor Tim Keller: Visionary leader and community ally who institutionalized a permanent home for APINH Affairs to help break the "tricultural myth".
• Jacky So (FUSE Executive Fellow): The Strategic Architect of the Project BRIDGE framework and the Office's "Zero-to-One" systems design.
• Carlo James Aragón: The Inaugural Liaison whose commitment to Querencia and community service turned the vision into a daily reality.

The APINH Center Steering Committee

A community-led coalition stewarding the $45 million vision

• Lan Sena: Civic Trailblazer and Policy Reformer.
• Kristelle Siarza Moon: Economic Advocate and Asian Business Collaborative (ABC) Leader.
• Sachi Watase: Cultural Strategist and Community Guardian.
• Kay Bounkeua: Policy Catalyst and Strategic Advisor.

Institutional Stewardship

Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI)

We extend our deepest gratitude to the leadership at the Office of Equity & Inclusion, specifically Deputy Directors Dr. Nina Cooper and Dillon Shije. Their institutional stewardship provided the critical scaffolding necessary to dismantle legacy 'tricultural' frameworks. By championing the creation of a dedicated space for APINH Affairs, they have ensured that our community’s visibility is not just a temporary initiative, but a permanent standard of excellence for the City of Albuquerque.

Help Us Refine the Record

Our history is a collective intelligence. While we have documented 40 years of advocacy, we know there are stories, names, and milestones still waiting to be recorded–particularly from the organizing efforts of the 1990s.

If you have information, photos, or documents to share, please contribute to our Shared Intelligence Layer. Your input ensures that the full legacy of the APINH diaspora is preserved for future generations.

APINH Record Refining Form