On June 3rd, 2024, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma was featured in an article regarding Asian Americans working to translate growing numbers in Chicago into political power. The article discussed how “[t]wo years ago, Lee’s entrance to the City Council…
Asian American Data Inclusion
On May 17th, 2024, Asian American Data Inclusion, a resolution proposed by Cook County Commissioner for the 13th District Josina Morita, was unanimously passed at Cook County Government. SAAPRI’s Democracy Project Research Fellow, Litcy Kurisinkal testified alongside our community partners…
Lasting Legacies: A White House Celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage and History
On May 13th, 2024, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended Lasting Legacies: A White House Celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage and History at the Andrew W Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. This landmark event in…
2024 Asian American Action Day!
On May 1st, 2024, SAAPRI team members joined our Pan Asian Voter Empowerment Coalition – PAVE Coalition partners for the 11th Annual Asian American Action Day (AAA Day) in Springfield, IL to advocate for funding for Inclusive History Implementation. The…
ACLU Women’s History Month Luncheon
In the month of March, Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended a Women’s History Month Luncheon organized by the ACLU. She spent time with community advocates and many more who gathered to share their stories and inspire us to continue our…
BeloveD13 Community Breakfast
On January 19th, 2024, reflecting on the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Team SAAPRI attended the launch of BeloveD13, an initiative aimed at fostering new relationships, tools, and opportunities to actively build the Beloved Community envisioned by…
2023 Impact Report
SAAPRI Open Mic – Aap Ki Kahani
On November 5th, 2023, SAAPRI hosted a open mic event at Chiya Chai (Logan Square) to share stories about the importance of voting and civic engagement. We also highlighted the different ways you can be involved in the upcoming elections!…
FTA/CTA Asian American Listening Session
On September 7th, 2023, Executive Director Shobhana Verma was invited to a session by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in collaboration with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) as…
WBEZ Article on “Illinois immigrants need[ing] more language help to thrive and partake in civic life”
On July 21st, 2023, Executive Director Shobhana Verma was featured in an article advocating for improvements to language access to Illinois’ broader immigrant community. The article discussed the challenges Illinois immigrants, numbering more than 1 million, face including ” getting…