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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Your gift to SEARAC fuels our work to build power with Southeast Asian Americans and other refugee and immigrant communities across the country. This year, alongside our partners, we introduced a California state resolution commemorating 50 years of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in the United States. This was a powerful reminder that Southeast Asian Americans belong in the halls of power, from Sacramento to Washington, DC.
As we honor the past 50 years of the Southeast Asian American legacy, we’re also fighting to secure the next 50 years. Join our movement today and help us reach our $50,000 goal by the end of 2025.
Donate today: bit.ly/searac2025fundraiser
Learn more about SEARAC’s Week of Giving: bit.ly/searacweekofgiving2025
Dec 4
We’re halfway through our Week of Giving, and we’re calling on our community and supporters to help us reach our $50,000 goal in honor of the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian American refugee resettlement.
For decades, our communities have fought for our stories to be seen through disaggregated data, ethnic studies, language access, and more. SEARAC continues to push for accurate representation in education data and the US Census so our communities are no longer erased, overlooked, or undercounted. This is how we secure the future our community deserves.
Your support powers SEARAC’s fight to ensure Southeast Asian American students have equal access to high-quality education and the opportunities to thrive.
Donate today: bit.ly/searac2025fundraiser
Learn more about SEARAC’s Week of Giving: bit.ly/searacweekofgiving2025
Dec 3
We are 11 days away from the virtual screening of Southeast Asian American Journeys (@seaajourneys_doc), a docuseries produced by Quyen Nguyen-Le, in association with SEARAC and the Center for Asian American Media (@caamedia).
Join us on Dec. 13 from 4-6 pm ET (1-3 pm PT) for this special event. Learn more at seaapower.com/journeyslivestream to RSVP and tune in live on Facebook and YouTube from anywhere in the country.
Dec 2
Today is #GivingTuesday and and your gift to SEARAC supports our work to keep Southeast Asian American families whole. Leaders across the country are rising up to carry on the legacies of our ancestors and fight for a better future for all. We envision a world where Southeast Asian American families are no longer vulnerable to detention and deportation because of our outdated and unjust immigration laws.
This Giving Tuesday, join SEARAC in defending our communities against deportation.
Donate today: bit.ly/searac2025fundraiser
Learn more about SEARAC`s Week of Giving campaign: bit.ly/searacweekofgiving2025
Dec 2
When this government tried to silence us, our community showed up in their offices. Now, more than ever, we must remember our people’s history and tradition of resistance and step into our power. Support our movement by donating to SEARAC at bit.ly/searac2025fundraiser or at the link in our bio.
Join SEARAC in holding our elected officials accountable and defending the rights of our refugee and immigrant communities. Help us raise $50,000 by the end of the month to power the next generation of Southeast Asian American leaders and advocates.
Donate today: bit.ly/searac2025fundraiser
Learn more about SEARAC`s Week of Giving campaign: bit.ly/searacweekofgiving2025
Dec 1
