Lotus

Lotus, Coastline’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (or AANHPI, pronounced "an-hippie") Student Achievement Program, is committed to the educational success, personal growth, and well-being of historically marginalized AANHPI and other interested students. We connect students with holistic support services and cultivate empowering spaces that affirm the diverse cultures, histories, and experiences of AANHPI communities.

"You can’t grow lotus flowers on marble. Without mud, there can be no lotus." — Thích Nhất Hạnh, No Mud, No Lotus

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Lotus Program Benefits

Joining the Lotus program gives you access to four core areas: communal wellness, academic success, leadership development, and change-making.

Communal Wellness

Lotus Lunches: Weekly community discussions w/ refreshments
Resources, including book vouchers, chromebooks, and Wifi hot spots
Early access to cultural/social events, field trips, and wellness programs

Academic Success

AANHPI-focused academic counselor
College Tours
Writing tutors specialized in ESL

Leadership Development

AANHPI Conferences
Student assistant positions
Skills-building workshops
Internship Connections

Change-making

Community engagement opportunities
Identity-exploration
Political Education
AANHPI narrative-change

Events

Lotus Open House — Thursday, September 4, 3:00 PM | Hybrid: Le-Jao Rm 226 (Student Resource Center) RSVP: https://crm.cccd.edu/register/ccc-lotus-open-house
Art with Impact — Tuesday, September 9 | Zoom
Mid-Autumn Festival — Thursday, October 2 | Le-Jao Courtyard
Rooted in Joy, Rising in Community: A Conversation with Dr. Anthony Ocampo — Friday, October 10 | Zoom
Queer Asian American Cinema — Wednesday, November 19 | Hybrid: Room 103 Student Lounge

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AANHPI SAP?

During the surge in anti-AANHPI violence during the COVID-19 pandemic–which notably included events like the attacks on Asian American nail salon workers during the March 2021 Atlanta Spa Shootings–California AANHPI organizers launched efforts to transform institutions.

These efforts led to a landmark victory in June 2022, when the California state budget included a dedicated line-item for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Student Achievement Program (SAP). This statewide initiative now supports 51 community colleges, including Coastline College, Golden West College, and Orange Coast College.

Who are AANHPI at Coastline?

As of Spring 2024, 24% of Coastline students identified as AANHPI. The Coastline campuses are located in and near Little Saigon, the biggest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam. Despite these demographics, AANHPI student experiences and inequities are often obscured. Long-held data practices homogenizes the diverse and complicated experiences of AANHPI students. AANHPI become “model minorities,” a racist narrative that dehumanizes AANHPI, diverts resources from AANHPI, and drives wedges between AANHPI from their peers.

Why the name "Lotus"?

Coastline College’s AANHPI SAP is called Lotus, taking its name from the lotus flower, a significant flower in Buddhist and Hindu traditions. The journey of the lotus represents the journey of the AANHPI students we welcome at Coastline: In the same way lotus seeds will sprout, root, and bloom beautiful petals from the most muddy of soils, the Lotus program seeks to blossom the intellectual, cultural, political, social, and economic development of our AANHPI students through honoring their experiences and celebrating their triumphs during their time at Coastline.

Connect with Us

Kenny Le

Project Coordinator, AANHPI SAP

714-241-6027

kle519@cccd.edu