The Hmong community is an integral part of the Southeast Asian American refugee legacy but has recently been misclassified as ‘East Asian’ rather than ‘Southeast Asian’ by the US Census Bureau. This mistake erases our Hmong community’s identity and conceals the inequities we experience as refugees from Southeast Asia. Hmong voices and stories matter and the US Census Bureau must honor the Hmong community’s self-identification as Southeast Asian Americans.
We’re mobilizing our communities to tell the US Census Bureau that it must correct its mistake.
Take Action
Demand Congress to Align with the Census Bureau’s Commitment to Inclusivity and Fairness
The newly introduced resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement is a historic moment of recognition for Southeast Asian American communities. Reporting from @asamnews shares how this resolution celebrates the contributions made by Southeast Asian Americans, while also advocating for policies that will support refugee and immigrant communities.
Join SEARAC, community leaders, and champions of this resolution tomorrow, Dec. 16 for a community event celebrating this resolution! RSVP for the event at bit.ly/seaa50celebration or at the link in our bio.
Dec 15
TODAY IS THE DAY! Join SEARAC, CAAM, and community partners from across the country for our special virtual screening of our docuseries, Southeast Asian American Journeys. We will be sharing our five part docuseries, including our episode "Between Us" which follows LGBTQIA+ Khmer and Vietnamese cultural workers in southern California as they contemplate the in-betweenness of belonging, healing, and carving out spaces of their own.
How to attend the virtual screening:
Visit SEARAC`s Facebook or Youtube channels (@SEARAC) at 4 pm ET/1pm PT. The full five part docuseries will be livestreamed and includes a Q&A and panel discussion!
Dec 13
Our special virtual screening is 1 day away and we can`t wait to share our award-winning documentary series with you. Southeast Asian American Journeys shines a powerful light on Southeast Asian American stories that are too often ignored in mainstream media. We hope that you join us in celebrating the remarkable experiences of our communities across the country, such as Hmong refugee farmers transforming local foodways in a diversified Minnesota.
Join us tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 13 from 4-6 pm ET (1-3 pm PT) for this special event. RSVP at bit.ly/journeysrsvp and tune in live on Facebook and YouTube from anywhere in the country.
Dec 12
SEARAC celebrates the introduction of a House and Senate resolution recognizing 2025 as the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in the United States. From surviving war, genocide, and perilous journeys to reshaping the cultural and economic fabric of this country, SEAA communities have built legacies rooted in courage and possibility. We thank @repderektran and @maziehirono for their leadership in introducing this resolution. Read the full statement at the link in our bio.
As we mark 50 years, SEARAC calls on Congress to advance policies that ensure opportunity for all refugee and immigrant communities. Join us as we commemorate this milestone on Tuesday, Dec. 16 from 1–2pm ET / 10–11am PT. Register at bit.ly/seaa50celebration or at the link in our bio.
Dec 11
Get these SEARAC gifts before they’re gone!
This is your last chance to get beautiful commemorative merchandise for the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in the United States. These designs will be leaving the SEARAC store at the end of this year. Order now to receive your shipment by December 25th!
Browse the SEARAC store at searac.org/shop-searac-merch/
Dec 11
“While the Census Bureau has made tremendous progress in making Southeast Asian refugee communities visible in the 2020 Census, misclassifying the Hmong community is a significant step back with major policy, identity, and cultural ramifications.”
SEARAC Executive Director
If she’s not napping, you can often find Phun at a cafe, on a trailhead, or at an airport gate.
Communications Associate
