In January of 2021, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma joined the 2021 Inauguration Day celebrations virtually on WGN-TV, including the South Asian American community’s voice on the historical day. The 2020 General Election definitely confirmed one thing – Every single…

2020 Impact Report – Learning from 2020 and Looking to 2021
2020 Red Saree Virtual Gala
On December 12th, 2020, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma had the opportunity to join health and wellness advocates at the 2020 Red Saree Virtual Gala, celebrating the outreach activities and accomplishments of Red Saree, Inc. South Asians develop heart disease…
Town Hall: South Asian Americans on the Ballot: 2020 and Beyond
On November 21st, 2020, SAAPRI hosted a virtual town hall discussion around South Asian participation in 2020 election through the perspective of candidates for local offices in the Chicago area! Thank you to all those who attended the event! If…
South Asians in the 2020 U.S. Election
On November 18th, 2020, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma participated in a virtual conversation with Karthick Ramakrishnan, Director of AAPI-Data, around South Asian involvement during the 2020 election, in collaboration with the University of Chicago’s South Asian Student Association. Shobhana…
SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma shares reaction to Kamala Harris’ Vice Presidential Election on NBC News
On November 8th, 2020, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma shared her reactions on the election of Vice President Kamala Harris on NBC News. Seeing a daughter of immigrants parents embracing her biracial roots on her way to becoming the first…
SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma discusses Asian Americans and voting in Chicago
On November 3rd, 2020, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma, New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu, and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago spoke on WBEZ about how Asian Americans could be the last group of undecided voters and how local groups…
Malayalee American Trailblazer: Lessons from the Life of Philip T. Kalayil
On October 31st, 2020, SAAPRI’s Co-Founder Ann ‘Late’ Kalayil spoke Malayalees for Social Justice regarding the legacy of civic engagement of her father, Philip T. Kalayil, who immigrated to a deeply divided United States in the mid-1950s. He established a…
Town Hall: Our Vote. Our Voice.
On October 22nd, 2020, SAAPRI hosted a virtual town hall that featured a panel of community leaders. The event discussed all things elections, including navigating the 2020 election season, and why everyone’s vote matters! Thank you to all those who…
Community Panel: Fair Tax + Census
On September 29th, 2020, SAAPRI Fellow Kartik Ramkumar participated in a panel discussion with the Indo-American Center (IAC) around the Fair Tax Act and the Census. Panelists discussed what the Fair Tax Act would mean for families in Illinois if…