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
Watch @seaajourneys_doc at a city near you! We have some upcoming screenings:
March 13, 2026
Full docuseries screening at Berkeley, CA
hosted by UC Berkeley’s Asian American Political Activation program (@calaapa)
March 15, 2026
Full docuseries screening at Art House Eugene Theater #2
included in DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon (@disorientfilm)
March 21, 2026
Screening of Between Us at Sie FilmCenter
included in Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival (@codragonboat @thedenverfilm)
Keep track of upcoming screenings and purchase tickets at the link in our bio!
Mar 12
Our Workplace Wellness blog series continues this week with a personal reflection from SEARAC Operations Manager Phoebe Tran, who reconnected with loved ones during her sabbatical and returned to work with a renewed sense of what sustains her. In “A Season of Yes,” Phoebe writes about saying yes to connection and finding joy in everyday moments. Read her blog post at the link in our bio.
Mar 12
As a proud member of the Diverse Elders Coalition, SEARAC is thrilled to announce that our coalition`s Caring for Those Who Care curriculum is now hosted on the SAGECare platform. The platform gives healthcare, social service, and aging professional practical tools to better support diverse family caregivers and older adults.
This updated curriculum builds on the DEC’s 2019 national caregiving research with more than 1000 caregivers across six diverse communities and is strengthened by updated evidence from the DEC’s 2025 literature review. Together, with SAGECare, this research base connects lived experience to actionable best practices providers can use in real care settings.
The curriculum centers caregivers from: African American and Black; American Indian and Alaska Native; Chinese American and Korean American; Hispanic/Latino; LGBTQ+; and Southeast Asian American communities, with expanded content that reflects the realities of LGBTQ+ caregivers of color and the direct care workforce.
Request a training : info@sagecare.org
Mar 10
What does it mean to see Southeast Asian American stories recognized in our education system?
In our latest blog, SEARAC’s Director of National Policy Anna Byon reflects on the launch of our new education report and why this moment matters for Southeast Asian American students, families, and communities. Read Anna’s reflections and our report at the link in our bio.
Mar 9
Five years ago, SEARAC instituted a four-day work week, and its impact to our team has been nothing short of transformative.
Throughout a monthlong blog series, we`ll reflect on how our organization`s commitment to mental health and wellbeing has shaped the way we show up for our work, our communities, and ourselves. To kick things off, SEARAC Executive Director Quyen Dinh reflects on the anniversary of her bold decision to center community care, turning a dream into policies that support staff, families, and the long-term health of our movement.
Read more at the link in our bio.
Mar 5
