Washington, DC — The White House Executive Office of the President convened a historic meeting last week with 12 Southeast Asian American community leaders from across the nation.
Providing a platform for SEAA leaders to voice their perspectives on critical issues facing their communities, the gathering centered on topics ranging from mental health and language access, to deportation, disinformation, and demining across Southeast Asia. Leaders also amplified how issues impacted Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, Vietnamese, Iu-Mien, and Montagnard communities across the country.
Attendees included key senior members of the White House’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) staff, along with representatives from the following organizations: Asian American Resource Workshop, Coalition of Asian American Leaders, Hmong American Partnership, Hmong National Development, Iu Mien Community Services, Legacies of War, PIVOT, Southeast Asian Coalition, Southeast Asian Freedom Network, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center, The Cambodian Family, and United Cambodian Community.
“We extend our gratitude to our SEAA leaders for the power and healing they build day in and day out, and for sharing the depth and breadth of community priorities with the Biden Administration. We also thank the Administration for its commitment to dialogue and partnership to further equity across Southeast Asian American communities,” said Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center. “This meeting signifies not only a moment of recognition but also a pivotal step toward addressing the longstanding challenges our communities face. As we approach the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian American resettlement in the United States, we are committed to ensuring that the voices, experiences, and aspirations of our communities are not only heard but also integrated into policies that shape our collective future for generations to come.”