On May 7th, 2025, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma and Education Consultant Julie Thomas Achettu were invited to WBEZ Chicago’s Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons. They were able to share our communities’ stories – our history, contributions, and the challenges we’ve faced. As the South Asian American population continues to grow and shape the demographic landscape, opportunities like this help ensure our younger generations can see themselves reflected, feel a sense of pride, and better understand where they come from as they grow up in an increasingly diverse world. We’re glad to be part of the conversation.
SAAPRI’s Oral History Project directly supports the goals of the TEAACH (Teaching Asian American Community History) Act by providing authentic, localized historical content that helps students and educators understand the South Asian American experience in Illinois. Its themes of migration, identity, and resilience resonate broadly with all students learning about immigrant histories.
For educators new to Asian American historical content, SAAPRI also offers professional development and workshops designed to build confidence and capacity in the classroom. Please feel free to connect at community@saapri.org for more details.
- Listen to the podcast episode here