On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, SAAPRI and the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment Coalition (PAVE) are holding our 12th Asian American Action Day at the State Capitol in Springfield, IL! We’re heading to Springfield because policies are passed through stories and our…
Navigating the Early Days of the Trump Presidency 2.0
Description Join SAAPRI and SAAJCO for a critical conversation on civil rights, immigration policies, and community protections in this new political landscape. Experts and advocates will break down the changes, provide key insights, and share actionable steps to stay informed…
Chicago Voter Engagement Forum
On April 5, 2025, Executive Director Shobhana Verma attended and served as a speaker and panelist at the Chicago Voter Engagement Forum, hosted by the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.
Press Release: Engaged Communities Series
SAAPRI and SAAJCO Launch Engaged Communities Series to Spotlight Civil Rights and Community Action March 3, 2025 – At a time when civil rights and community engagement are more critical than ever, the South Asian American Policy and Research Institute…
2024 Impact Report
We’re proud to share SAAPRI’s 2024 Impact Report, showcasing the groundbreaking work we’ve accomplished this year to empower the South Asian American community. We would also like to share a special message from our Executive Director Shobhana Verma.
Report – Strengthening Democracy: Addressing and Overcoming Language Inequity in Elections
Request Access for Full Report Our latest report analyzes is based on Census data, American Community Survey data, and SAAPRI’s own advocacy and poll watching efforts. This is the third report we launched at our June “State of South Asian…
Report – South Asian Americans in Illinois: Making Data Count (2024)
Request Access for Full Report Our latest report analyzes key data from the 2020 U.S. Census, highlighting the diversity and growing impact of the South Asian American community. This is the second report we launched at our June “State of…
State of South Asian American Affairs
On June 15th, 2024, SAAPRI hosted the “State of South Asian American Affairs” at the Fulton Street Collective, which included a panel discussion, roundtable conversation, and speeches from community leaders, aiming to engage in meaningful dialogue about our community’s challenges…
Chicago Tribune Article on “Asian Americans working to translate growing numbers in Chicago into political power”
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…