Increase federal funding to support SEAA students’ success

SEAAs’ refugee history, their invisibility in education data and policy, and systemic racism create barriers to our students’ educational success. Our government must address the disparities that SEAA students experience and invest in their futures.

Key resources:

SEARAC Executive Director Quyen Dinh speaks at an AAPI rally led by NAKASEC to defend DACA.

Featured story

“My commitment to educational advocacy is shaped by my personal experience as a low-income, immigrant Southeast Asian student in the U.S public school system and my professional experiences as a teacher and youth facilitator. As a high school student, I experienced firsthand a lack of a culturally inclusive education and witnessed an unequal distribution of resources between my high school and the wealthier, predominantly white high school just across the bridge. Yet, I did not have the language to name what I was experiencing.”

SEARAC LAT 2019 participant

We need to be actively thinking about creative spaces and after-school programs that encourage participation from refugee parents in preparing their children for college. More importantly, we need to address language access. Without the ability to read documents or understand robocalls, parents are further barred from being informed on their child’s educational attainment and success.”

Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell
People pose, some jumping in the area, around a sign saying Made By Refugees

People Power in Action

Six people wear traditional attire adorned with flowers

Include Southeast Asian American ethnic studies in school curricula

Learning about the histories, culture, and experiences of our diverse communities, including SEAAs, benefits all students

Post-its and handwritten messages on a posterboard labeled with the year 1975

Increase federal funding for Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions

These colleges and universities are essential for increasing higher education access and success to low-income, first generation Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students, including SEAAs.

SEARAC is proud to support @apaics_org  at the Legislative Leadership Summit this week  in Washington, DC. Our National Deputy Director Kham S. Moua will be part of an Immigration, Citizenship, & Civic Engagement panel, which will address the
impact of ICE enforcement on community trust and explore strategies to dismantle
barriers to strengthen civic participation. #APAICSLeads #AANHPIHM #LegislativeLeadership

14 0
Join SEARAC for the third installment of our Rising Up series on May 13, 2:30 pm-3 pm ET where we will focus on supporting Southeast Asian American men and boys in education. This webinar will review findings from SEARAC’s Rising Up report on gender disparities in Southeast Asian American students’ educational attainment and provide an overview of how race- and gender-based stereotypes have impacted Southeast Asian American boys’ and men’s educational access and success.

RSVP at bit.ly/RisingUpPt3!

26 1
Whether it’s housing, healthcare, or grocery costs, we know our communities cannot have their mental health supported until basic needs are met.

SEARAC is a proud community partner of @naapimha, raising awareness and celebrating the 6th Annual National AANHPI Mental Health Day this May 10th! 

Learn more at naapimha.org/aanhpimhday

13 1