CONTACT:
Brandon Lee
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago
blee@advancingjustice-chicago.org
773-271-0899 x200

SOUTH ASIAN AMERICANS TURN OUT TO VOTE IN NORTHWEST SUBURBS

South Asians make a difference in the 2nd largest Asian American Congressional district in Illinois

For the March 15th Illinois Primary Elections, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago and South Asian American Policy and Research Institute (SAAPRI) contacted over 7,600 infrequent South Asian voters in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Election Day was the culmination of a two-month effort that included community forums, direct mail, telephone, and media outreach to motivate participation. (more…)

CONTACT:
Brandon Lee
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago
blee@advancingjustice-chicago.org
773-271-0899 x200

INCREASED ACCESSIBILITY DRIVES ASIAN AMERICANS TO POLLS

However, inconsistencies threaten future participation if not corrected

Asian American voters turned out in large numbers for the March 15 Illinois Primary Election, as evidenced by longer lines at poll sites, and increased need for bilingual election judges. For the first time, select polling places in Chicago and Suburban Cook County offered Korean language sample ballots in addition to those districts with federally mandated Chinese, Hindi, Gujarati, and Urdu materials. (more…)

CONTACT:
Brandon Lee
blee@advancingjustice-chicago.org
773-271-0899 x200

Over 150 people build community at 12th annual Asian American Leadership Forum

Forum featured track for Mandarin-speaking youth, sponsored by the Comcast Foundation

CHICAGO – On Saturday, February 20, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago hosted its 12th annual Asian American Leadership Forum. For the past 11 years, the Leadership Forum has become a collaboration between people with diverse skills, backgrounds, and passions, coming together to deepen their investment in the Asian American community. (more…)

ASIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WILL BENEFIT FROM EXPANSION OF MINORITY BUSINESS PROGRAM

This week the Chicago City Council passed an expansion of the affirmative action program for minority and female owned construction firms. The percentage will be increased to 26 percent for minority owned firms, and 6 percent for female owned firms, per the Chicago Sun-Times. Asian Americans are among those eligible for contracts set aside for minority owned businesses.

“Asian Americans fought long and hard since 2003 to be covered by the minority business program, a successful effort that yields benefits for our community to this day,” said Tuyet Le, Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago. “While we would have preferred proposals that secured 30 percent of contracts for minority owned businesses, the 26 percent approved by the City Council will go a long way towards securing economic opportunity for communities of color across Chicago, including Asian Americans.” (more…)

Advancing Justice | Chicago’s Legal Director Andy Kang spoke at a press conference today announcing Korean language sample ballots will be available in areas of Chicago and Cook County with high numbers of limited-English proficient Korean voters. This is a major victory for Advancing Justice | Chicago, the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center, and the Korean community of Chicago, as these ballots will be provided by the County and City voluntarily, not yet mandated by federal law. Andy Kang’s full statement is below.  (more…)