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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Latest related posts
June is a month of exemplifying intersectionality: SEAA communities are celebrating Pride Month, Immigrant Heritage Month, and World Refugee Day! It’s a time to embrace all aspects of our identities and take pride in who we are and where we come from. Thank you to @nataliepbui, SEARAC’s first-ever artist-in-residence, for beautifully capturing the joy and vibrancy of our communities through her art.
June reminds us that there is space for the fullness of who we are to exist. We celebrate the refugee legacy of our Southeast Asian American community and honor those who paved the way for us to celebrate Pride.
#pride #pridemonth #RefugeePride #ImmigrantPride #WorldRefugeeDay
Jun 20
Join SEARAC now in keeping Southeast Asian American families whole and defending our communities against violent ICE kidnapping and raids. Southeast Asian Americans are experiencing immigration detention and deportation more than ever before. Our family members and community members are being deported at rates more than 10x higher than in any previous presidential administration.
We need your support to continue SEARAC’s vital work with Southeast Asian American refugees and immigrants. Together, we are connecting vulnerable families with legal services, uplifting the unique experiences of our community through advocacy and storytelling, and building a pipeline of leaders who will lead us through this difficult time and into a more just, equitable world. Join SEARAC’s crowdfunding campaign today on Chuffed.org at the link in our bio!
Jun 18
SEARAC presents the Rising Up fact sheet series, a five-part set of briefs that go into a deeper dive of selected findings from our Rising Up: The Southeast Asian American Educational Journey report.
The fact sheet series was accompanied by a parallel five-part webinar series focused on pressing issues impacting Southeast Asian American students today, highlighting key data, community context, and actionable solutions for policymakers, advocates, and educators. Access the fact sheets and learn more at the link in our bio!
Jun 17
Policies should advance dignity and opportunity for all communities, but yesterday, Congress and the White House chose to further expand immigration enforcement. This massive expansion of detention and deportation only deepens fear and instability in immigrant and refugee communities, including Southeast Asian American families who continue to live with the lasting consequences of displacement, deportation, and family separation.
Read SEARAC`s full statement at the link in our bio!
Jun 10
SEARAC`s May newsletter is now live. Check out the most recent updates from our national and California policy teams and enjoy a recap of how our team celebrated AANHPI Heritage Month!
Check it out at the link in our bio!
Jun 8
