The census is the largest publicly available dataset with SEAA data. It directly influences political representation and funding for our communities.
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Hmong Leaders Meet with Census Director on Hmong Misclassification
On Thursday, May 23, 16 Hmong and Asian American advocates met with Director Robert L. Santos of the US Census Bureau to discuss the need to reclassify the Hmong as Southeast Asian. The meeting comes as a result of a letter and petition with over 1,700 signatures to Director Santos asking the Bureau to address the issue and meet with community leaders.
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“We talk about how it is so important for us as a group of people to participate in the census, so we show up in the data. Once that data comes out, we will have information about ourselves. Right now, we don’t know how many of us live in the Bay Area, or even the city of Richmond.”
Director, Asian Senior/Adult Daycare Center
“I want to help Cambodians and other minorities be counted in the 2020 Census. We are a minority of a minority group. We are Asians, but we’re also Cambodians. There are only 260,000 of us in the United States according to the 2010 Census, so having everyone counted is important.”
Technical engineer
“It’s vital for us to know each other as a community, locally and nationally. Where are we, how many of us are there, and how can we use our collective numbers to be changemakers? These are questions I find myself asking when I’m planning my dance classes or looking out to a crowd during a performance.”
Director, Cambodian American Girls Empowering
“I’m the son, nephew, and grandson of Vietnamese refugees who benefited from ESL education and other social programs, and I feel like we’ve come full circle now that I’m a first-generation college graduate and ESL teacher. I know that the type of services my school district and I are able to provide relies on data from the Census, so it is so important that educators encourage their community members to complete it.”
ESL Teacher
“When individuals are invisible in data, they remain invisible in policy conversations. To understand how groups within the AAPI community fare in higher education and the specific challenges each face, we must disaggregate data along racial and ethnic lines. Doing so will reveal where inequities exist and, in turn, unlock the full power of postsecondary education to spur social mobility, economic health, and a stronger society.”
Institute for Higher Education Policy
“Without data disaggregation, this system makes students like me invisible, our needs are downplayed, and resources aren’t offered. Data disaggregation allows for students like me to be seen, to get the resources we need, and to reach our fullest potential.”
Minnesota student
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“Despite creeping despair, however, I know I am forever empowered by those who came before me: My parents have always been fighters, as have all of us Southeast Asian Americans. We will continue to fight these injustices, to rest to heal ourselves and our communities, and to share joys that cannot be taken from us.”
This #AANHPIHeritageMonth, we are highlighting C To’s recent blog on for the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement. C To’s blog reminds us that the Southeast Asian American diaspora carry forth the vision of our parents, elders, and ancestors before us. We carry on their legacy by fighting for justice and equity for all and remembering joy. Read the full post at the link in our bio!
Read more:
#HealthEquity #SEAAVoices #SocialJustice #AANHPI
May 26
“Despite creeping despair, however, I know I am forever empowered by those who came before me: My parents have always been fighters, as have all of us Southeast Asian Americans. We will continue to fight these injustices, to rest to heal ourselves and our communities, and to share joys that cannot be taken from us.”
This #AANHPIHeritageMonth, we are highlighting C To’s recent blog on for the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement. C To’s blog reminds us that the Southeast Asian American diaspora carry forth the vision of our parents, elders, and ancestors before us. We carry on their legacy by fighting for justice and equity for all and remembering joy. Read the full post at the link in our bio!
Read more:
#HealthEquity #SEAAVoices #SocialJustice #AANHPI
California’s health care delivery system is stronger and more stable when everyone is covered and healthy – regardless of their immigration status. Without access to preventative care, already overburdened emergency rooms get busier with cases that could have been treated in a doctor’s office.
May 25
California’s health care delivery system is stronger and more stable when everyone is covered and healthy – regardless of their immigration status. Without access to preventative care, already overburdened emergency rooms get busier with cases that could have been treated in a doctor’s office.
May is #AANHPIHeritageMonth and this year also marks the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement. SEARAC is proud to uplift Southeast Asian American community, culture, and heritage in celebration of our refugee legacy.
Today, we`re sharing content from @chamrefugeescommunity in Seattle and Lacey, WA. Learn about the Cham who call Washington State home, and discover a recipe for ai pai pageng in the images here 😋
For SEARAC, the term "Southeast Asian American" is a political identity encompassing the unique and diverse ethnicities and cultures from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam — all of whom were impacted by war and genocide in those countries in the 1970s. We look forward to sharing more from our communities throughout May.
Thank you to Kylie, SEARAC`s previous communications intern, for building this series for APAHM.
May 23
May is #AANHPIHeritageMonth and this year also marks the 50th commemoration of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement. SEARAC is proud to uplift Southeast Asian American community, culture, and heritage in celebration of our refugee legacy.
Today, we`re sharing content from @chamrefugeescommunity in Seattle and Lacey, WA. Learn about the Cham who call Washington State home, and discover a recipe for ai pai pageng in the images here 😋
For SEARAC, the term "Southeast Asian American" is a political identity encompassing the unique and diverse ethnicities and cultures from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam — all of whom were impacted by war and genocide in those countries in the 1970s. We look forward to sharing more from our communities throughout May.
Thank you to Kylie, SEARAC`s previous communications intern, for building this series for APAHM.
Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed its budget reconciliation bill package. Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC responds:
"This budget bill, passed through in the dead of night, is an unconscionable attack on the safety of Southeast Asian Americans and all families and communities. The House`s decision to massively increase funding for anti-immigrant policies will cause even more chaos, fear, and disruption to our communities. The Trump Administration is tearing apart countless families and unlawfully deporting community members without their due process rights. This bill will supercharge such state violence — and all at the direct expense of programs that millions of people rely on to access to food and health care. SEARAC denounces this budget reconciliation bill, and we urge the Senate to reject this harmful legislation."
May 22
Early this morning, the House of Representatives passed its budget reconciliation bill package. Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC responds:
"This budget bill, passed through in the dead of night, is an unconscionable attack on the safety of Southeast Asian Americans and all families and communities. The House`s decision to massively increase funding for anti-immigrant policies will cause even more chaos, fear, and disruption to our communities. The Trump Administration is tearing apart countless families and unlawfully deporting community members without their due process rights. This bill will supercharge such state violence — and all at the direct expense of programs that millions of people rely on to access to food and health care. SEARAC denounces this budget reconciliation bill, and we urge the Senate to reject this harmful legislation."
Yesterday, eight individuals, including a Laotian and Vietnamese American, were deported to South Sudan. The Trump Administration broke the law by deporting these individuals, ignoring a federal court order that required DHS to fulfill their legal rights. Take action by emailing your Representative at bit.ly/OpposeBudgetBill (case-sensitive, link in our bio) and sharing the word.
SEARAC condemns these recent deportations and is calling on our community to mobilize. We must demand Congress to return everyone illegally deported to South Sudan, as well as to El Salvador, Panama, Libya, and other countries. Congress must stop funding these unlawful deportations by rejecting the budget reconciliation package. Go to bit.ly/OpposeBudgetBill to email your Representative today.
"Southeast Asians are in the United States because we allied with this country and were forced to flee violence, political persecution, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. It is unconscionable that this administration is deporting people who have already served their sentences, are important members of their communities, and whose families have once escaped these very conditions.” – Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC
May 21
Yesterday, eight individuals, including a Laotian and Vietnamese American, were deported to South Sudan. The Trump Administration broke the law by deporting these individuals, ignoring a federal court order that required DHS to fulfill their legal rights. Take action by emailing your Representative at bit.ly/OpposeBudgetBill (case-sensitive, link in our bio) and sharing the word.
SEARAC condemns these recent deportations and is calling on our community to mobilize. We must demand Congress to return everyone illegally deported to South Sudan, as well as to El Salvador, Panama, Libya, and other countries. Congress must stop funding these unlawful deportations by rejecting the budget reconciliation package. Go to bit.ly/OpposeBudgetBill to email your Representative today.
"Southeast Asians are in the United States because we allied with this country and were forced to flee violence, political persecution, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. It is unconscionable that this administration is deporting people who have already served their sentences, are important members of their communities, and whose families have once escaped these very conditions.” – Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC