Unlike the states on the western and eastern coasts of the U.S., the Asian and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) population in Ohio is a very small minority group. Today there are only 150,000 foreign-born persons of Asian descent out of a population of 11.2 million persons in the state. Thus it can be an invisible, forgotten group whose needs fall between the cracks of the systems created by the mainstream population. At the same time, AAPI’s represent the fastest growing minority group in Ohio. There is a misperception among mainstream Americans that all Asians are of high socioeconomic status.

Woven tightly on the loom of Harold Haizlip’s life is a rich tapestry reflecting the betterment of young people’s lives through education. As a teacher, Poverty Program pioneer, Job Corps Director, private school Headmaster, Catholic school Principal, State Commissioner of Education,arts collaborative founder, Cities in Schools Director, and mentor of teen age boys, Harold has a through-line of pulling and pushing young people, empowering them for civic engagement.