Our Work

2024

• Report – Breaking Barriers: Unpacking Breast Cancer Challenges & Triumphs for South Asian Americans
• SAAPRI joined the 2024 Field Museum Educator Open House, where it brought its Oral History exhibit to help Pre-K-12 educators explore effective strategies for teaching Asian American history
• 2024 GOTV Campaign:
  • SAAPRI hosted three events, where we hosted space to discuss the latest news and key aspects of the upcoming election, including voting methods, candidate positions, and the issues that matter most to South Asian Americans
    • Protect Your Vote: Navigating Election Challenges
    • Speak Up, Step Up (IN-PERSON)
    • Speak Up, Step Up: A Youth Discussion on 2024 Election, Candidates, and Policies (ONLINE)
• SAAPRI conducted two surveys in regard to the South Asian American population
  • SAAPRI conducted its annual Community Health and Access survey
  • SAAPRI, along with Illinois State Senator Ram Villivalam, conducted a survey that focuses on understanding the needs of the Devon community and its visitors
• SAAPRI hosted a “State of South Asian American Affairs” at Fulton Street Collective, releasing three reports
  • Report – Countering Prejudice: Hate Crimes & Discrimination Against South Asian Americans
  • Report – South Asian Americans in Illinois: Making Data Count (2024)
  • Report – Strengthening Democracy: Addressing and Overcoming Language Inequity in Elections
• Democracy Project Research Fellow Litcy Kurisinkal testified on behalf of our community for Asian American Data inclusion, a resolution which unanimously passed at Cook County Government
• SAAPRI team members attended Asian American Action Day (AAA Day) in Springfield, IL
• Publication – Rates of breast reconstruction uptake and attitudes toward breast cancer and survivorship among south asians: A literature review
• SAAPRI hosted a Team Retreat at Apna Ghar
• SAAPRI hosted a few South Asian American Community Health Forums
  • SAAPRI hosted “Movember: Men’s Mental Health Discussion“
  • SAAPRI hosted “Healthy Relationships, Contraception, and Safe Sex“
  • SAAPRI hosted “A Chat About: South Asian Men’s Mental Health“
• SAAPRI was invited to various celebrations, panel discussions, and conferences:
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma presented at Chicago’s 1st Annual South Asian Festival Showcase
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma was invited to the Consulate General of India-Chicago’s celebration of the 78th Independence Day at the Consulate premises
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended the Induction, Investiture, and Installation Ceremony of the Honorable Judge Sunil R. Harjani
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma and Co-Founder Ann Kalayil presented “Our Immigrant Story: Triumph and Tribulations of South Asian Migration to the Chicagoland Area“
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended the Chicago Women in Trades National Center for Women’s Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment She Can Build It Summit
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended “Lasting Legacies: A White House Celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage and History“
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma and Health Equity Project Fellow Prottusha Sarkar attended the 2024 ARC National Conference
  • Team SAAPRI attended the 2024 Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended a private screening and conversation with Billy Dec and his award-winning film FOOD ROOTS
  • Project Fellows Prottusha Sarkar and Litcy Kurisinkal attended Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Women’s History Month Celebration
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma was invited to give the keynote address at SABA Chicago’s Judicial Reception
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma celebrated Lunar New Year alongside Asian Giving Circle, AFP Chicago, and AAPIP Chicago
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma joined partners and partner organizations in sharing the release of Change Insight’s 2nd report at a press conference

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2023

• Report – 2023 Impact Report
• Report – South Asian Americans in Illinois: Making Data Count (2023)
• SAAPRI co-hosted a “Imagining the Indian” Movie Screening and Panel“
• SAAPRI co-hosted Illinois Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP-IL) Virtual Town Hall
• SAAPRI co-hosted the Midwest Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Mental Health Forum
• SAAPRI team members tabled at the Chicago History Museum’s AAPI Heritage Month celebration
• SAAPRI hosted a few casual mixers
  • “Chai Shai & Yoga“
  • “Chai Shai with SAAPRI“
• SAAPRI team members tabled in support of Oakton Community College’s Asian Night Market
• SAAPRI hosted a 3-part Breast Cancer Awareness series
  • Our Stories: Breast Cancer in the South Asian American Community
  • Our Stories: Breast Cancer in the South Asian American Community – 2nd Panel
  • Outreach and Advocacy Surrounding Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer in the South Asian American Community – 3rd Panel
• SAAPRI team members attended Asian American Action Day (AAA Day) in Springfield, IL
• SAAPRI was recognized as an ARC Legacy Partner at the Asian Engagement & Recruitment Core’s (ARC) 2023 National Conference
  • SAAPRI team members met with Asian Engagement & Recruitment Core Central Region grantee partners at Xilin Association
• SAAPRI hosted a South Asian American Community Health forum on diabetes
• 2023 GOTV Campaign:
  • SAAPRI hosted hosted an Open-Mic event called “Aap Ki Kahani” focused on voting and civic engagement
  • SAAPRI team members voted, served the polls, and participated in poll watching at various Chicago locations
  • SAAPRI organized a 2023 Mayoral Candidate Forum
  • SAAPRI co-sponsored Investing in Community Safety: Chicago’s New District Councils
  • SAAPRI hosted Our Vote, Our Future: the 40th and 50th Ward Alderman Candidate Forum
• SAAPRI was invited to various celebrations, panel discussions, and conferences:
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended the Indo-American Center’s 33rd Annual Gala.
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended the Chicago South Asian Film Festival and moderated a panel discussion with filmmakers
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended Hate Crime Investigations and Remedies, a Cook County United Against Hate panel
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma took part in a FTA/CTA Asian American Listening Session
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma took part in the 2023 Impact Summit, hosted by the Indian American Impact Project
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended Cook County and the City of Chicago’s Asian American Heritage Month Celebration
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended the Salvation Army’s North & Central Illinois Division’s 2023 Civic Luncheon
  • Team SAAPRI attended an Asian American Heritage Month Reception, hosted by various Asian American State Representatives
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Farewell Address
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended Congresswoman Jan Schakowski’s 22nd Annual Women’s Power Luncheon
  • Team SAAPRI attended an Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Kick-off, hosted by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Office
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended a Lunar New Year Mixer with other dedicated AAPI leaders
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma, as part of the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition, met with the IL State Legislature’s nine-member Asian American Caucus
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma joined partners and partner organizations in sharing the release of Change Insight’s inaugural report at a press conference

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2022

• Report – 2022 Impact Report: Reflecting on 2022 and Looking to 2023
• SAAPRI hosted a Movember Panel to discuss important issues affecting men’s health and suicide prevention from a South Asian lens
• 2022 GOTV Campaign:
  • SAAPRI poll watched at the 2022 Midterms
  • SAAPRI hosted a Voter Education Event on the 2022 Midterms
  • SAAPRI hosted a Ballot Party to share the various offices on the ballot, their responsibilities, and how they impact our communities
• SAAPRI hosted a conversation on Ms. Marvel
• SAAPRI partnered with the Chinese American Service League (CASL) to run a survey about social determinants of health (SDoH) impacting the Asian American community
• SAAPRI hosted two events in regard to immigration:
  • 2022 Citizenship & Immigration Expo
  • A Conversation with attorney Dhenu Maru to discuss hot topics in immigration law
• SAAPRI hosted two South Asian American Community Health Forums:
  • Mental Health Awareness
  • Heart Health
• SAAPRI hosted a “South Asian American Community Roundtable with Geri Aglipay” to celebrate the historic appointment of Geri Sanchez Aglipay as Regional Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
• SAAPRI hosted “Chicago Redistricting: 2022 Asian American Community Update,” a virtual presentation and Q&A session focused on keeping our Asian American communities together and to continue the conversation on redistricting
• SAAPRI took part in a few events to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Atlanta, Georgia shooting:
  • A Statewide Conversation with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth
  • Community Remembrance Day for the Atlanta Spa Shootings
• SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma was appointed to the Asian American Family Commission
• SAAPRI was invited to various celebrations, panel discussions, and conferences:
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma took part in the 2022 White House Diwali Reception
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma took part in the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) Region 6 Conference
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma and Health Equity Project Intern Emmanuel Ravichandar Asian Engagement & Recruitment Core’s (ARC) 2022 National Conference
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma took part in the Chicago Indus Googler Network Identity & Career Panel
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma took part in the LCG Class of 2022 Supper Club
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma took part in the Change InSight Luncheon
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma served as keynote speaker in the 8th Annual Asian American Advisory Council Institute Day Conference
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma took part in the Illinois Commission on Discrimination & Hate Crimes: Communities in Crisis Townhall
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma took part in the 2022 Impact Summit & Gala, hosted by the Indian American Impact Project
  • Team SAARI attended an Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Chicago Community Kick-Off hosted by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Office
  • Executive Director Shobhana Verma took part in a Partnering to Serve Ethnic Communities panel

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2021

• Report – 2021 Impact Report: Reflecting on 2021 and Looking to 2022
• SAAPRI hosted two events in regard to immigration:
  • 2021 Citizenship & Immigration Expo
  • A Conversation with attorney Dhenu Maru to discuss hot topics in immigration law
• SAAPRI hosted a “Workshop with Chandini Lord” which explored finding connection with art
• SAAPRI took part in the #SendIndiaVaccines Campaign with other South Asian organizations compel the Biden administration to rush COVID-19 vaccines to India
• SAAPRI hosted a “Dialogue on South Asian Mental Health“
• SAAPRI took part in the 2021 Asian American Action Day, joining the the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) Coalition
• SAAPRI hosted a few events in regard to redistricting and the 2020 Census
  • Chicago Redistricting Education and Hearing Session
  • Census and Redistricting 101: What You Need to Know
  • Redistricting in Chicago
• SAAPRI took part in a few events to commemorate the Atlanta, Georgia shooting:
  • Statewide Vigil for the Georgia shooting victims, as part of the Asian American Caucus
  • Chicagoland Vigil & Rally for Georgia Shooting Victims, as part of the National Day of Action
• SAAPRI hosted two South Asian Community Health Forums:
  • COVID-19 Impact and Vaccine Rollout
  • Women’s + Sexual and Gender Minority

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2020

• Report – 2020 Impact Report: Learning from 2020 and Looking to 2021
• 2020 GOTV Campaign:
  • SAAPRI hosted a Town Hall on Voting and the 2020 election
  • SAAPRI hosted a discussion on the role of South Asians in the 2020 election
  • SAAPRI hosted a Town Hall on South Asian Americans on the Ballot
• SAAPRI hosted a Town Hall on Mental Health and Civic Engagement in the South Asian community
• 2020 GOTC Campaign: SAAPRI programmed outreach for the 2020 Census at various locations including the Hamdard Health Center, various universities (University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois-Chicago), etc.
  • SAAPRI hosted a Town Hall on Desi Representation through Movements and the 2020 Census
• SAAPRI participated in the 2020 Women’s March with many partner organizations

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2019

• SAAPRI welcomes Shobhana Johri Verma as Executive Director
• Report – Defying Dependence: Impacts of H-4 Authorization Policy on Immigrant Women, Families, and Communities
• SAAPRI hosted “South Asians Aging in America,” a discussion on the unique challenges and intersections of multigenerational caregiving, disability, health, and aging in the South Asian community
• 2019 GOTV Campaign: SAAPRI was involved in phone banking, student civic engagement workshops, etc.

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2018

• SAAPRI hosted “Dil Dhadakne Do,” a South Asian Community Health Forum
• 2018 GOTV Campaign: SAAPRI hosted various student civic engagement workshops and a GOTV campaign for the 2018 midterm elections
  • SAAPRI assisted Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago (AAAJ-C) in Election Day Poll Watching in Cook County precincts
  • SAAPRI hosted a “Get Out the Vote” phone banking event
  • SAAPRI, as part of the South Asian Civic Engagement Coalition, hosted its first ever South Asian Early Voting Day
  • SAAPRI hosted a civic engagement workshop with the UChicago SASA
  • SAAPRI hosted Young Professionals Phone Banking as part of its Get Out the Vote work for the 2018 midterm elections
• SAAPRI hosted “The Future of South Asians in the U.S.” Immigration Town Hall
• SAAPRI hosted The State of South Asian American Influence & Power in Illinois panel discussion
• SAAPRI hosted multiple “A Night in the Parks – Ahimsa: The End of Violence” Performances and Discussion Series with Kalapriya
• SAAPRI joined Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment (PAVE) for Asian American Action Day in Springfield, Illinois
• SAAPRI hosted “Talk It Out: #MeToo,” a Desi Round Table Discussion on the Women’s Movement in Our Community
• SAAPRI hosted a IL Senate District 8 & House District 17 Candidates’ Forum on API Women and Communities
• SAAPRI hosted a voter registration drive at the Muslim Community Center

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2017

• SAAPRI joined an initiative led by the Arab American Institute called the Report Hate Project
• SAAPRI advocated for the Chicago Municipal ID program through the Health Communities Cook County coalition, led by Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Communities United
• SAAPRI organized “Be the Change Day,” a civic engagement workshop for South Asian American students from Loyola University focusing on increasing South Asian voter registration and a letter writing campaign on the following issues: the Cook County ID Program, the State Student ACCESS Bill, and the Federal DREAM Act.
• SAAPRI’s hosted its first “Desi Round Table” discussion to address some of the most important issues facing our community today, including DACA and immigration relief, the rise in hate crimes, the need to reach vulnerable populations within our communities, and opportunities to build South Asian solidarity
• SAAPRI partnered with Kalapriya to put on “Ahimsa: The End of Violence”, an event series which uses storytelling, music, and a discussion to address how to end violence in our communities

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2016

• SAAPRI hosted a post-2016 election analysis event
• SAAPRI hosted a fundraiser and conversation regarding SAAPRI’s Get Out the Vote (GOTV) work in advance of the 2016 Primary and General Elections, “Our Vote Matters!”
• SAAPRI co-sponsored “Have We Built Asian American Power?” AAPI Civic Engagement Panel
• SAAPRI Leadership Forum: SAAPRI convened a Leadership Forum attended by South Asian-facing organizations, community leaders, and business persons to examine civic participation among the South Asian American community
  • Report – A Roadmap to Civic Engagement for South Asian Americans in Illinois
• 2016 GOTV Campaign: SAAPRI hosted various phone banking sessions, civic engagement and voter education forums, etc.

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2015

• SAAPRI hosted a film screening of A Prosecutor’s Stand and Waking in Oak Creek and subsequent panel discussion
• SAAPRI created a South Asian Community Asset Map for Illinois
• SAAPRI joins Asian American and Arab American Collaboration on Deferred Action (A4CDA)
• Chicago South Asian Deferred Action Coalition (SADAC), led by SAAPRI, received SAALT’s ChangeMaker Award for significantly advancing social justice among South Asians in the U.S.
• SAAPRI welcomes Reema Kapur as Executive Director
• Report – Voter Registration, Activation, & Engagement in South Asian American Communities in Illinois
• SAAPRI hosted Roundtable on Administrative Immigration Relief

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2014

• Report – Illinois Embraces EDR: A Review of the Illinois Election Day Registration Pilot Program for the 2014 General Election
• SAAPRI facilitated event at University of Illinois at Chicago on resources for undocumented South Asians students
• SAAPRI hosted Idli & Immigration: Strategy Session
• SAAPRI conducted a focus group research study to prevent workplace violence against South Asian retail workers in Chicago
• SAAPRI hosted Town Hall on Anti-Muslim, Religious, and Racial Profiling
• SAAPRI led workshop at the Office of the Governor’s Commemoration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
• SAAPRI joined and led Chicago South Asian Deferred Action Coalition (SADAC)

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2013

• SAAPRI hosted Idli and Immigration
• SAAPRI helped the Chicago Bar Association and Chicago Bar Foundation kick off their 9th Annual Pro Bono Week by urging attorneys of all backgrounds to help the growing number of community members with limited English proficiency
• SAAPRI advocated for comprehensive immigration reform in solidarity with the NCSO
• Report – The Asian American Community Engagement Project: Voting Trends and Access in 2012
• SAAPRI helped expand access to the polls by advocating for online voter registration
• SAAPRI hosted a panel discussion on immigration reform
• Journal Article: “South Asian American Civic Engagement: Opportunity for Impact,” published in the DePaul Journal for Social Justice
• Report – South Asian Americans in Illinois: Making Data Count

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2012

• SAAPRI helped draft and push for anti-hate resolutions in Illinois and Chicago
• SAAPRI assisted local election boards in implementing the first ever language assistance program to Indian American voters in the Chicago area
• Report – Asian American Community Organizations Conduct Research on Voter Behavior
• Report – Social Capital in Illinois: Potential and Pitfalls
• SAAPRI hosted a White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAPPI) community roundtable
• Report – SAAPRI Recommendations to FBI Advisory Board
• SAAPRI hosted a community forum on demographic information and welcomes Ami Gandhi as Executive Director

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2009

• Oral History Project: Memories and Milestones Exhibit
  • Report – Our Immigrant Story: South Asians in Illinois, 1945-1965

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2007

• Report – Developing Devon: Creating a Strategic Plan for Economic Growth through Community Consensus
• Oral History Project: Collected the oral histories of South Asians from interviewees from downstate Illinois and beyond the Chicago metro area

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2005

• Report – Making Data Count: South Asian Americans in the 2000 Census with a Focus on Illinois
• Report – Health Care for All: Health Access Recommendations for Asian Americans in Illinois by Asian Americans in Illinois
• Oral History Project: Collected the oral histories of South Asians from the Chicagoland area who came to Illinois between 1945 and 1965

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2001

SAAPRI was founded