Advocate for Your Community Through Redistricting Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP): “Dao Vang, who handles redistricting outreach for Hmong Innovating Politics in South Sacramento, hopes that the city’s Hmong population and other AAPI communities in the area can one day be unified under one district, as well. “There’s a lot of Hmong folks, not just in the Detroit Boulevard area,” Dao Vang said, adding that there are similar split neighborhoods along Interstate 5 and elsewhere in districts 7 and 8. “I think they don’t share really similar values and really similar interests. Folks in the Pocket, economically, they’re just really different,” Vang said.” ICYMI: District lines have divided communities of color and diluted our voting power. We can change that. Nobody knows our communities better than the people who live in them. In a CapRadio article reported by Sarah Mizes-Tan, community advocates from Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP) and Detroit Boulevard Neighborhood Association, and our ride-or-die 4 Sacramento Deputy Director illustrate some of the 3(!)-decades-long frustrations from misshapen district boundaries that split a mostly Hmong and Latine neighborhood.. With a neighborhood split into 2 districts, organizing for city services that benefit working-class immigrant communities has been sidelined by differing values and interests of wealthier residents. One neighborhood association member said “we kind of felt sometimes like we were left waiting, like that’s the last thing they’ll handle.” District lines not only determine which city council member will represent a neighborhood, but also which neighborhoods will be voting together in future elections. With the lines of power being redrawn, we’re coming together for fair districting which sets the foundation for the next 10 years.. Visit your city’s website and get to know how local lines are being redrawn. Don’t like drafted districts? Speak on behalf of your community thru public comment. https://www.capradio.org/…/this-south-sacramento…/ Give your feedback on Raleigh's local redistricting at the City of Raleigh's public listening sessions! You'll have the opportunity to learn about redistricting in Raleigh, as well as comment on the maps.Learn more about ways to provide input here: https://t.co/ZQX5hO8UHA pic.twitter.com/XsBQTFZbFd— NCAAT (@ncaatogether) December 8, 2021 The three judge panel admitted that the Republican maps are “incompatible with democratic principles and subject our state to ridicule” but still upheld the maps. The NC Supreme court will now decide.#ncpol #FairMapsNC #NCredistrictingtrial #gerrymandering pic.twitter.com/MtyQY7MSAI— NCAAT (@ncaatogether) January 13, 2022
Advocating for AAPI Data Disaggregation Nationwide AAPIs have the biggest wealth gap of any ethnic group in the US. Disaggregating AAPI data is essential in helping to address the needs of underserved groups within our communities. We applaud @GovKathyHochul for signing this bill into law. https://t.co/0KZx6xg2xS— APIAVote | #StopAsianHate (@APIAVote) December 31, 2021 N.Y. enacts ‘groundbreaking’ law to change how Asian American populations are counted Gov. Kathy Hochul quietly signed a bill last week requiring state agencies to separate data among different Asian ethnic groups. State agencies in New York will now be required to break down data for individual ethnic groups under the Asian American Pacific Islander umbrella. A bill signed last week by Gov. Kathy Hochul mandates that any state department collecting information about ethnicity or ancestry will have to use different categories for each major Asian group, including the Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, Laotian, Cambodian, Bangladeshi and Hmong communities, which the bill names. The same will be done for individual Pacific Islander groups, including Native Hawaiians, Guamanians, Chamorros and Samoans. Civil rights organizations have advocated for such action for decades, saying there is a lack of understanding about lower-income, minority Asians whose data is often lumped together with that of higher-earning groups. Coalition for Asian American Children and Families – Victory After Over a Decade of Advocacy: Asian American Pacific Islander Community Commends NY Governor Kathy Hochul for Signing Data Disaggregation into Law: Data disaggregation is just the first step for accurate representation of Asian American, especially Southeast Asian, issues. https://t.co/nMcjkmXvni— Demand Cuomo #PardonJamesNow ! Links in bio (@MekongNYC) December 24, 2021 NBC ASIAN AMERICA: White House adds new initiative for Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian visibility – As communities slowly recover from the pandemic’s devastation, advocates hope the new initiative will help with data disaggregation and language access for federal programs. “Asians and Pacific Islanders are not a monolith. Our health data should reflect the breadth of ancestries present in our City’s API communities, so we may better understand and address health inequities.” https://www1.nyc.gov/…/dohmh-releases-api-report.page
Sign On to Join AAPI Orgs Fighting for Voting Rights Join AAPI organizations around the country in sending a clear message to the U.S. Senate that voting rights are fundamental to a healthy democracy and must be protected. Call on the Senate to proceed and pass H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. Sign on here! We are in a moment where we need to show up to protect the right to vote. The Senate has an opportunity to vote on landmark civil rights legislation, but we need your help. We’re asking every Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander organization that believes in our democracy to sign onto this letter. Today, the House passed the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. We support legislation that makes it easier to vote and restores critical protections of the Voting Rights Act, including for language equity. The Senate must now act to #FightforVotingRights. pic.twitter.com/AHpPnWN1YT— National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (@NAPABA) January 13, 2022 STATEMENT: AAPI Victory Alliance Urges Biden Administration for Action on Federal Voting Rights Legislation Ahead of Georgia Speeches, Midterms AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore issued the following statement: “Voting rights is the pillar of our democracy. AAPI Victory Alliance stands with fellow advocates in urging the Biden administration to shepherd across the finish line federal legislation that will protect the right to vote as we head into midterms, and beyond. As AAPIs were responsible for the highest increase in electoral engagement than any other in the 2020 election, voting rights stands at the central core of our newfound electoral empowerment. It is our sincere hope that, beyond advocacy and vocal support, President Biden and Vice President Harris will today outline a concrete plan of action for protecting the most bedrock American rights: the right to vote in free, fair, and secure elections that are not tainted by partisan manipulation.” “Voting rights is a national issue and, at this very moment, those rights are at stake. In Georgia, where Biden and Harris will speak today, after constituents decisively voted for new leadership in 2020, Republicans in the legislature decided that they could not win on the merits of their ideas alone. Instead, extremist lawmakers passed a voter suppression law that simply cuts out the electorate they know won’t vote for them. Georgia is far from the only state overtly acting against the ideals of democracy.” “Ahead of the speeches, and in lieu of fanfare, we urge President Biden to give us a plan of action to protect and expand the right to vote. The Senate must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act; the fate of our democracy depends on it.” Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta: We urge President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to come up with a concrete plan to pass federal voting laws immediately. We need action now! Phi Nguyen, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, addressed the President and vice president, saying, “We beg you to stay in Washington tomorrow because we don’t need you here in Georgia. We need legislation that will ensure that our democracy accurately reflects the growing diversity of this state and of this country. Mr. President and Madam Vice President, we beg you to ground that plane the same way that we continue to beg you to ground the planes of so many of our community members who are being deported because we still lack a pathway to citizenship.” Whether it’s language access, long lines, voter intimidation, or being unable to vote during working hours, we all require and deserve the right to safely and knowledgeably vote in each election.The #FreedomtoVoteAct and #JohnLewisVotingRightsAct are pivotal first steps. (2/3) pic.twitter.com/O2lj28ebq0— VAYLA New Orleans (@VAYLANOLA) January 13, 2022
Mobilizing To Increase Community Representation and Visibility Since the 2020 election, our network partners have continued to defend and protect the right to vote, increase AAPI voter turnout and representation, and organize members of our communities to make sure policies and elected officials reflect our community concerns and conditions. Together, we can continue to speak up, inform others, and exercise our democratic rights to get represented and address issues and policies. Here are some of the campaigns our network partners are currently working on with opportunities for you to get involved and spread the word on: Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta – From canvassing to voter registration, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta is out in the field putting in the work for a more equitable Georgia. If you’re interested in helping build and shift power in Georgia, come volunteer to canvas and register voters with us! Sign up at https://www.advancingjustice-atlanta.org/volunteer. To celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta is fighting to protect immigrant rights and their access to essential services. Join them in the fight for language equity by signing their petition that urges policymakers to do more for our communities by providing translated materials that would create equitable access to the ballot. Sign the petition at http://bit.ly/voicesrisingcta! CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities – CAAAV is calling all Bangla, Korean, and Chinese (Cantonese & Mandarin) interpreters to help them develop language justice practices! They are looking for experienced interpreters so they can continue to do the work of building a pan-Asian membership base in NYC. Interpreters are integral to their work and have ensured that their members can: engage in principled debate with one another about strategy, participate in training on racial capitalism, and play a role in coalition building across the city. Please email Alina at [email protected] with your name, fluency, and prior experience to get involved! North Carolina Asian Americans Together’s internship for Fall 2021 is currently open! NCAAT is excited to meet and work with youth who are interested and passionate about advocating for Asian American communities. Apply to join NCAAT today at ncaat.org/internships! You can also volunteer to phonebank with NCAAT during this summer. They will work with trained volunteers to help call Asian American voters removed from the 2021 NC voter files. North Carolina purged 391,000+ from the NC voter files in 2021 alone, about 4,000 of which self-identified as Asian American. This is a great opportunity to help eligible voters re-register and understand their voter status and build connections with local Asian Americans in your local community. Many NC elections are decided on razor thin margins, so truly every vote counts! Sign up at ncaat.org/phonebank! VAYLA’s petition for racial inclusion has reached over 100 signatures! “‘Other’ is Not My Identity” is a petition for inclusion, demanding state officials include data for more racial groups in voter statistics and beyond. It comes at a historical influx of xenophobia, racial hate and violence. “Other is not our identity. Data inclusion is a public health issue. Data inclusion is a community impact issue. Data inclusion is a social equity issue–we have the power to make sure we are all seen and represented,” says Jacqueline Thanh, Executive Director of VAYLA New Orleans. Disaggregated data is essential to identifying the complex needs of all communities, as well as providing much needed visibility to the underserved and often overlooked. Help spread the word by signing and sharing the petition at change.org/OtherIsNotMyIdentity. You can also volunteer with VAYLA to be a volunteer translator that supports their movement to amplify the voices of AAPI communities – Sign up easily at https://linktr.ee/vaylano! Asian American United – Asian Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing demographic in PA and yet historically under-engaged by candidates, political institutions, and our state and local governments! That’s why we’re building the first ever state-level issue and policy platform that reflects the shared values and needs of the AAPI community, from the bottom up! But we need to hear from you. Fill out the #AAPIPASurvey to let us know what matters to you: https://surveyhero.com/c/AAUsurvey View this post on Instagram A post shared by NC Asian Americans Together (@ncaatogether) View this post on Instagram A post shared by VietLead (@vietlead)