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Our History

Filipino Americans are the second largest Asian American ethnic group in the country. Yet they remain one of the most underserved and under-researched communities.

Filipino Americans are the second largest Asian American ethnic group in the country. Yet they remain one of the most underserved and under-researched communities. While there have been numerous studies documenting the experiences and contributions of Filipinos in the West Coast, little information exist for Filipino American communities in the Northeast. Furthermore, there was a dearth of culturally competent and linguistically appropriate health education materials, outreach, programs, and services specifically targeting the Filipino American community in the region.

With that in mind, a group of concerned community members came together in early 2004 to host a community health forum and to conduct a community health needs and resource assessment for the Filipino American community in the New York Metropolitan area. These activities were the catalyst in raising awareness about the health situation of the Filipino American community in NYC and Jersey City, NJ and was instrumental in mobilizing a diverse set of stakeholders. Subsequently, these stakeholders came together to create the Filipino Community Health Advisory Committee which eventually evolved into the Kalusugan Coalition.

Over the years, KC members have implemented a number of activities to address the Filipino American community's needs and improve their health and quality of life. In 2005, KC held its first strategic planning retreat, elected its first Board of Directors, created its membership criteria and established by-laws. Later that year, KC along with the NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health received a grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities to develop Project AsPIRE. In 2006, KC began conducting regular health screenings in conjunction with several health professional associations, healthcare agencies, community groups, churches, and Filipino-owned businesses. In 2007, KC joined other Asian American advocates to develop Project CHARGE (Coalition for Health Access to Reach Greater Equity), a collaborative addressing health access issues. Additionally, the coalition began hosting bi-monthly learning exchanges (workshops) to highlight health issues that have a great impact on the community. Topics included HIV/AIDS, tobacco cessation, Hepatitis B, and adolescent mental health. KC was also invited to join the Breaking the Silence Coalition, an HIV/AIDS awareness and testing initiative of the Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition on HIV/AIDS (APICHA). In 2008, KC in partnership with the Vietnamese Community Health Initiative (VCHI) developed Project SEAAT (Southeast Asians Against Tobacco). Project SEAAT seeks to increase the capacity of the Filipino, Vietnamese, and Cambodian community leaders to advocate for more research, policy direction, and funding for Southeast Asian communities in New York City with regards to tobacco control.

Today, KC has grown its membership to include staff from Filipino and Asian American organizations as well as Filipino artists, students, youth, immigrant advocates, community organizers, health professionals, and academic researchers. The coalition also has an extensive network of close to 90 individuals and partner organizations.