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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“For me, gold has come to symbolize memory: the resilience, stories, and traditions my mother’s generation carried across oceans.“
For the descendants of Southeast Asian refugees, this year’s 50th commemoration of our community’s story is a time for pause. For her recent blog post, Polly Woodbury, an LAT 2025 participant and the founder of jewelry brand Angkorian Collection, shares how the process of healing can take many forms. For Polly, it has been a combination of pursuing higher education to focus on Cambodian mental health, reconnecting to her Cambodian roots, and honoring the strength and artistry of her ancestors through jewelry. Polly reminds us that healing is a generational effort, with each new generation reclaiming what was lost and carrying forth the courage of their ancestors. Read Polly’s full blog here: https://shorturl.at/SMpcI
Nov 20
This month, SEARAC joined our friends at @firmunity and @stonesoup.fresno for a vibrant, community-wide screening of @seaajourneys_doc. The evening featured cultural performances, a community discussion, and a special screening of the series.
It was a joyful community celebration of the enduring legacy of Southeast Asian Americans in Fresno and beyond. Read the full press release here: shorturl.at/dCyWU or at the link in our bio!
Nov 19
SEARAC`s online merch store is live! Shop brand new items – including water bottles, baseball hats, and yard flags in our Bonfire storefront – that feature our “Our Roots, Our Power” logos. Alongside these new items, you’ll also have a chance to shop unique designs from SEAA artists created in honor of our community’s 50th anniversary and built around the “Made by Refugees” tagline. These designs will be leaving the SEARAC store at the end of this year, so don’t miss your chance to get them now!
Shop today at searac.org/shop-searac-merch or at the link in our bio.
Nov 18
SEARAC is proud to launch our new Rooted in Power Giving Circle! We invite you to join us in fueling and sustaining SEARAC’s work. This is an opportunity for SEARAC to expand our network of supporters for our vital work and offer exclusive benefits for our most dedicated donors.
This season of giving, join our new Rooted in Power Giving Circle today and become an essential contributor to a healthy, thriving Southeast Asian American community.
Learn more here: searac.org/donate-to-searac
Nov 17
Last month, we celebrated a historic milestone for our communities! California Senate Concurrent Resolution 96 (SCR 96), introduced by Sen. Dr. Aisha Wahab (D–Silicon Valley), was passed. SCR 96 honors 50 years since the mass resettlement of Southeast Asian refugees to the United States.
The resolution uplifts the resilience, contributions, and leadership of Southeast Asian American communities and calls for continued commitment to equity, disaggregated data, language access, health equity, education, and intergenerational healing.
To mark this victory, SEARAC joined Sen. Wahab’s office and Southeast Asian American Collaborative partners for a celebration at the California State Capitol, featuring powerful remarks from SEAA community leaders, elders, and policymakers.
This resolution is more than recognition, it’s a testament to our communities’ strength, survival, and vision for the next 50 years. Read more at the link in our bio.
Nov 14
