On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, SAAPRI and the Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment Coalition (PAVE) are holding our 12th Asian American Action Day at the State Capitol in Springfield, IL! We’re heading to Springfield because policies are passed through stories and our…

Standing Up: Your Rights with ICE and Law Enforcement!
Description Join us on April 24 for an essential discussion on understanding your rights when interacting with law enforcement and immigration authorities. Whether facing a police stop, an ICE encounter, or another law enforcement interaction, knowing your rights can make…

Navigating the Early Days of the Trump Presidency 2.0
Description On April 10, SAAPRI and SAAJCO hosted a critical conversation on civil rights, immigration policies, and community protections in this new political landscape. Experts and advocates broke down the changes, provided key insights, and shared actionable steps to stay…
Press Release: Engaged Communities Series
SAAPRI and SAAJCO Launch Engaged Communities Series to Spotlight Civil Rights and Community Action March 3, 2025 – At a time when civil rights and community engagement are more critical than ever, the South Asian American Policy and Research Institute…

2024 Impact Report
We’re proud to share SAAPRI’s 2024 Impact Report, showcasing the groundbreaking work we’ve accomplished this year to empower the South Asian American community. We would also like to share a special message from our Executive Director Shobhana Verma.
White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) Policy Summit
On September 24th, 2024, Executive Director Shobhana Verma met alongside policy experts and community leaders from across the country at the WHIAANHPI’s 2024 Policy Summit. She was able to hear from organizations such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC,…

Report – Countering Prejudice: Hate Crimes & Discrimination Against South Asian Americans
Request Access for Full Report Our latest report, based on 416 survey responses, analyzes hate crimes and discrimination against South Asians in Chicago, explores reasons for underreporting, and offers recommendations to improve reporting practices. This is the first report we…
State of South Asian American Affairs
On June 15th, 2024, SAAPRI hosted the “State of South Asian American Affairs” at the Fulton Street Collective, which included a panel discussion, roundtable conversation, and speeches from community leaders, aiming to engage in meaningful dialogue about our community’s challenges…
BeloveD13 Community Breakfast
On January 19th, 2024, reflecting on the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Team SAAPRI attended the launch of BeloveD13, an initiative aimed at fostering new relationships, tools, and opportunities to actively build the Beloved Community envisioned by…
