In an innovative move to engage diverse audiences through authentic storytelling, the AAPI Victory Fund has launched a new initiative titled “Civic Playground for Creators.” The program aims to harness the influence of “digital storytellers” as “trusted messengers” who can capture the cultural, in-language, and intergenerational nuances that traditional outreach often overlooks.

According to the organization, the initiative partners with Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) creators living in key districts and battleground states – many of whom are becoming politically active for the first time. These creators are helping share real-life stories that connect civic power to everyday experiences. 

By directly engaging them with political campaigns, the AAPI Victory Fund seeks to bridge communities and make “civic engagement more personal, relevant, and inspiring,” it added.

AAPI Victory Fund Chairman Shekar Narasimhan underscored the importance of elevating creators as the new face of community engagement.

“Content creators are today’s community storytellers, shaping how people see politics, leadership, and their own civic power,” Narasimhan told South Asian Herald. “They connect generations through shared stories that reflect both the wisdom of our elders and the creativity of our youth. By engaging them directly with candidates and campaigns, we are ensuring that voices from every corner of our society are heard, respected, and represented.”

Narasimhan further emphasized that democracy flourishes when trusted messengers lead the conversation. “When those voices bridge generations,” he added, “communities grow even stronger.”

Virginia State Senator and Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor Ghazala Hashmi echoed that sentiment, highlighting the role of young voters in shaping the future.

Senator Hashmi told South Asian Herald, “Young voters are eager to be engaged, and it is so necessary to talk to young people where they are,” adding “I greatly enjoy working with young Virginians and connecting with them on the issues they care about, from bringing down skyrocketing housing costs to protecting our environment for future generations.”

AAPI Victory Fund Managing Director Nick Rathod noted the growing power of digital creators in modern political communication.

“Creators have become the new press corps: fast, authentic, and deeply rooted in their communities,” said Rathod. “Over the last few election cycles, we have been testing this program in critical states to help carry the ideas and messages of political candidates to new audiences.”

He added that creators are not just amplifiers but collaborators, shaping the narrative from within their communities. They translate complex policy issues into stories that make “civic engagement accessible, exciting, and reflective” of lived experiences across the AANHPI community.

Content creator Bismah Ahmed shared her perspective from inside the movement. “After 10 years in politics, I’ve seen how powerful it is when people truly connect to the process,” she said. “When I share real moments like canvassing, my audience walks through the journey with me. That’s when voting stops being distant and starts becoming a real platform for change.”

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