On October 6th, 2018, SAAPRI collaborated with the Indo-American Center (IAC), Hamdard Center, and Chicago Desi Youth Rising to host “The Future of South Asians in the U.S.” Participants met with several local organizations at a resource fair who work…
The State of South Asian American Influence & Power in Illinois: Fall Fundraiser
On September 29th, 2018, SAAPRI hosted a fall fundraiser titled “The State of South Asian American Influence & Power in Illinois.” Our panelists, Ram Villivalam, Dilara Sayeed, and Hardik Bhatt, moderated by K. Sujata, engaged us on ways we can…
Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 – signed into law on October 3th, 1965 and effective on June 30th, 1968 – was a watershed piece of immigration legislation that has had tremendous impact on the country and especially the…
2018 Statement on Trump Administration’s Immigration Policy
OUR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES AT RISK: BORDER POLICY, MUSLIM BAN, AND A BROKEN SYSTEM The Trump administration’s attack on immigrants and families has continued in devastating and cruel ways. In April 2018, the administration implemented its “zero-tolerance policy” for migrants crossing…
2018 NCSO Annual Convening and Lobby Days & Asian American Action Day Rally
In May 2018, SAAPRI attended the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations’ (NCSO) Annual Convening and Lobby Days led by South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT). SAAPRI’s Executive Director, Dhara Puvar, and SAAPRI Fellow, Anil Methipara, joined representatives of over…
Statement on Department of Commerce’s addition of citizenship status question on 2020 Census
ATTACK ON THE 2020 CENSUS On March 27th, 2018, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that a question asking for citizenship status will be added to the 2020 Census. This change was in response to a request made by Attorney General Jeff Sessions…
IL Senate District 8 and House District 17 Candidate Forum on Asian American Women and Communities
On March 4th, 2018, SAAPRI co-hosted the Illinois Senate District 8 and House District 17 Candidate Forum on Asian American Women and Communities at Oakton Community Center in Skokie, IL. Senate District 8 and House District 17 have some of…
2017: SAAPRI’s Year in Review
2017 has been a year of new beginnings for SAAPRI as we charged ahead with a focus on developing new means of community engagement. Below is a review of some of the initiatives of which we have been a part. Ahimsa:…
Statement by Chicago SADAC on DACA Rescission
DACA DECISION HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR CONGRESSIONAL SOLUTION AND LOCAL MUNICIPAL ID POLICIES THAT SUPPORT UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS & SOUTH ASIANS Chicago, IL – The President’s decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in six months has injected tremendous uncertainty…
AAPI Civic Engagement Panel: Have we built Asian American Power?
SAAPRI was delighted to sponsor and participate in a panel about AAPI political empowerment hosted by the Woods Fund Chicago and co-sponsored by other community organizations: Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP), Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago (AAJC), Coalition for a…