In 2019, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Problem Gambling Services (OPGS) launched the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Empowerment Project to address gambling-related concerns with AAPI populations in Massachusetts. The project formed a coalition of five organizations that shared a common desire to increase awareness of problem gambling prevention and improve holistic well-being in the AAPI community by providing alternative social and recreational activities. The collaborating organizations of the AAPI Empowerment Project provided these activities to engage AAPI populations where they live, work, and play at their different locations in Massachusetts, including Malden, the South Shore, Worcester, and Boston. The recreational activities included an AAPI Community Ambassador Program at Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, resident meetups and social days, dancing, ping pong and board games, social clubs, karaoke nights, and youth programs. The 2024 AAPI Empowerment Project builds off the lessons learned from the previous iteration that elevated holistic behavioral health for AAPI populations as a priority issue to address problem gambling within the area of the casino in Everett, Massachusetts.

The purpose of this project is to enhance community-centered efforts to prevent and mitigate harm from problem gambling in Massachusetts by developing and implementing a comprehensive gambling prevention community outreach program among AAPI communities. This is done through a local community-based organization (CBO) implementing a comprehensive gambling prevention program that utilizes innovative and creative community outreach strategies to educate and increase community awareness of mental health and problem gambling within the AAPI community.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health Office of Problem Gambling Services currently funds the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center to implement the AAPI Empowerment Project.