Asian American Leaders Demand that City Council Draw an Asian American Majority Ward in Greater Chinatown in Final Citywide Map

For Immediate Release

November 29, 2021
Contact:
Grace Pai, Executive Director
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago
gpai@advancingjustice-chicago.org

Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director
Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC)
(773) 405-6770 | gracechan@cbcacchicago.org 

As City Council plans to vote on a final citywide map this week, Asian American leaders urge the Council to draw an Asian American majority ward and protect Asian American communities of interest in Albany Park and West Ridge. 

CHICAGO, IL — Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago and the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC) will hold a press conference on Tuesday, November 30th, 2021 at 9:30am at City Hall to demand that City Council members include an Asian American majority ward in Greater Chinatown and preserve Asian American communities of interest in Albany Park and West Ridge. Leaders from across the Chicago Asian American community will be in attendance.

Data from the 2020 Census supports the creation of Chicago’s first Asian American majority ward in Greater Chinatown. The 2020 Census also documented the significance of the Asian American community in the Albany Park and West Ridge neighborhoods. 

In just the last week, the Black Caucus and Latino Caucus have publicly released maps that include an Asian American majority ward. We call on City Council to follow their lead by including an Asian American majority ward in the final citywide map.

WHAT: Press conference

WHOAsian American leaders and community-based organizations

Speakers include:

  • Justin Sia, Democracy, Voting Rights, and Redistricting Counsel at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago
  • C.W. Chan, Founder of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community
  • Paul Luu, Chief Executive Officer of the Chinese American Service League
  • Youngwoon Han, Senior Organizing Manager at HANA Center
  • Shobhana Verma, Executive Director of the South Asian American Policy & Research Institute
  • Anne Shaw, Principal, Shaw Legal Services, Ltd. and Member, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community Redistricting Steering Committee

WHEN: Tuesday, November 30th, at 9:30am

WHERE: City Hall, 2nd floor, 121 North LaSalle Street Chicago, Illinois 60602

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Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago builds power through collective advocacy and organizing to achieve racial equity. Learn more at advancingjustice-chicago.org

Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community empowers the Chinese American communities in Greater Chicago through civic education, issue advocacy, communication with policy makers, and community mobilization. Learn more at https://cbcacchicago.org/.