The new year brings in a new era of South Asian political leadership in Illinois. SAAPRI shares the latest data on our local communities and opportunities for representation in upcoming municipal elections below. On January 5th, 2019, Ram Villivalam (D)…
South Asian American Community Health Forum: Dil Dhadakne Do
On December 18th, 2018, SAAPRI hosted a critical conversation on the health status of South Asian Americans titled “Dil Dhadakne Do (Let Your Heart Beat): A South Asian Community Health Forum” at Jefferson Park, Chicago. The event featured a panel…
Statement on the the 2018 Midterms
THE 2018 MIDTERMS AND BEYOND: HISTORIC ELECTION AND CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT The 2018 midterm elections marked a historic moment for the South Asian community in Illinois as Ram Villivalam (D) became the first South Asian American to be elected to the…
2018 Get Out the Vote Phone banking
On November 1st, 2018, SAAPRI, along with the Indo-American Center (IAC) and South Asian Bar Association of Chicago (SABA), hosted a “Get Out the Vote!” event. South Asians are one of the fastest growing demographic groups in Illinois and throughout…
2018 South Asian Early Voting Day
On October 30th, 2018, SAAPRI, as part of the South Asian Civic Engagement Coalition, engaged in efforts to change the perceptions and statistics of South Asian civic engagement by hosting its first ever South Asian Early Voting Day. South Asians…
SASA Civic Engagement Workshop
On October 18th, 2018, SAAPRI and the University of Chicago’s South Asian Student’s Association (SASA), Indo-American Center (IAC), and Chicago Board of Election Commissioners co-hosted an all-in-one 2018 Midterm election event with dinner, conversation, and action. The first half of…
The Future of South Asians in the U.S.
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…
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…