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
Chicago, check out a FREE screening of the five-part Southeast Asian American Journeys docuseries TOMORROW, Oct. 1, at 6 pm local time. Event host @faaimchicago will be presenting it as part of a collection of short films from the diverse range of underrepresented voices from the SEA diaspora. @seaajourneys_doc series producer and director Quyên Nguyễn-Lê will be in attendance for a post-screening audience Q&A, alongside Pader Xiong, director of Home-land: Hmong American Women. RSVP at: https://www.faaim.org/first-thursdays-seaaj and check out more screenings near you at the link in our bio.
Sep 30
We’re proud to launch Weaving Wellness: Intergenerational Insights from Southeast Asian American Communities.
Drawing on the experiences of more than 150 SEAAs, this new report shows that wellness is communal, rooted in connection, and shaped by cultural traditions across generations. It also highlights the vital role of SEAA-serving organizations in addressing isolation and strengthening intergenerational wellbeing.
Explore the findings and recommendations at the link in our bio.
Sep 29
Take action by Oct. 13: Tell the Census Bureau to count Southeast Asian Americans!
The Trump Administration has proposed sweeping changes to the 2030 Census that would prohibit the collection of race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation data.
The proposal would also deny political representation to millions of people by counting only US citizens and green card holders in the decennial population count, which decides how many representatives each state gets in Congress. People with other immigration statuses, such as former lawful permanent residents, work and student visa holders, and asylees, would be excluded.
Submit your comment to the US Census Bureau by Oct. 13: bit.ly/SEARACcensusalert
Read our full statement and other steps you can take to make your voice heard at the link in our bio.
Sep 24
Last call to sign up for our virtual report launch and discussion of our new report, Weaving Wellness: Intergenerational Insights from Southeast Asian American Communities. Join us and our special panel of SEAA community leaders later TODAY, 9/23, from 3-4 pm EDT (12-1 pm PDT).
RSVP at the link in our bio.
Sep 23
HAPPENING TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY, 9/23! Join us in celebration of the launch of our new report, Weaving Wellness: Intergenerational Insights from Southeast Asian American Communities. We`ll be discussing key research findings and recommendations from our special guests, including
• Varaxy Yi, California State University, Fresno
• Jacqueline Mac, Northern Illinois University
• Christine Fu, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Sarun Chan, Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia
• Jannette Diep, BPSOS – Houston
• Sunny Chanthanouvong, Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota
RSVP today at the link our bio
Sep 22
