SAAPRI and Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam are conducting two surveys that focus on understanding the needs of the Devon community and its visitors. Your input from the survey will help make planning and infrastructure decisions to improve visitor experience…
Chicago Women in Trades National Center for Women’s Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment She Can Build It Summit
On May 23rd, 2024, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended the Chicago Women in Trade’s National Center for Women’s Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment She Can Build It Summit.
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…
2023 Impact Report
Report – South Asian Americans in Illinois: Making Data Count (2023)
Chicago South Asian Film Festival
From Thursday-Sunday, September 21st-24th, the Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) took place at the ShowPlace ICON Theatre & Kitchen at Roosevelt Collection. The CSAFF celebrated its 14th anniversary and is dedicated to promoting a diverse cinematic experience through South…
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 “Is suburban Chicago taking away Devon Avenue’s ‘Little India’ title?”
On August 31st, 2023, Co-Founder and Board Chair Ann Kalayil was featured in an article regarding the evolution and growth of the South Asian community from Devon Avenue to greater suburban Illinois. The article discussed how “some long-time area advocates…
Illinois Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP-IL) Virtual Town Hall
On August 31st, 2023, SAAPRI, State Senator Ram Villivalam, and representatives from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency taught how to access Funding for Enhanced Security Preparedness through the Illinois Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP-IL) – This grant is for non-profits, religious organizations, and…
PAVE-IL State Legislature Asian American Caucus
On January 25th, 2023, the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition (a coalition of 16 Asian American advocacy and direct service organizations in the Chicagoland area) met with the IL State Legislature’s nine-member Asian American Caucus. We have an exciting year…