This year's forum title, "Down But Not Out" describes the forum's themes of Oppression and Growth in the Asian/Pacific American community. APAYA has been learning and exploring how their own experiences, societal influences, and historical facts have shaped their lives and communities in relation to race, ethnicity, identity, socioeconomic status, hate crimes, gender, sexuality, media, music, art, activism, consumerism, and youth culture. "Down But Not Out" emphasizes that from oppression comes growth-- which empowers individuals and communities to stand up and advocate for positive change.

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The mission of the Asian Pacific American Youth Alliance is to support and encourage high school youth to become an alliance of community leaders that learns and educates their peers on the vast and vibrant Asian/Pacific American experience - history, arts, culture, identity, and current events. APAYA is a free program sponsored by the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University, and meets weekly throughout the school year. The meetings result in the creation of a free, all-day forum planned and led by APAYA that is open to the high school youth and educator communities in New York City and neighboring areas.