On May 20th, 2013, Illinois Governor Quinn’s office began hosting a free exhibit at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago to commemorate 150 years of Illinois’ Asian American Heritage, as part of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. The exhibit…
South Asian American Heritage Month Celebration: Memories & Milestones Exhibition
On May 7th, 2013, Chicago Public Library’s Northtown branch (near Devon Avenue) began hosting the Memories & Milestones exhibit for the entire month, in celebration of Asian American Heritage Month. The exhibit allows attendees to learn about the stories of pioneer South…
Report – South Asian Americans in Illinois: Making Data Count (2013)
As part of a joint effort to understand and more effectively address the growing South Asian American population in Illinois South Asian American Policy and Research Institute (SAAPRI) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago (Advancing Justice-Chicago) released a demographic report titled,…
SAAPRI helps pass anti-hate laws
In the aftermath of violent attacks on Sikh and Muslim institutions, SAAPRI took the lead in providing community input during the drafting of Illinois House Resolution 1193 and Chicago Resolution 2012-814, denouncing hate crimes and hateful rhetoric against South Asian…
Report – SAAPRI Recommendations to FBI Advisory Board
Hate crimes and hate groups continue to be a serious threat facing this country. The aftermath of the tragic events of September 11th, 2001 has caused Sikhs, Muslims, South Asian Americans, Arab Americans, and other communities in the Midwest and…
South Asian American Heritage Month Celebration
On May 16th, 2012, SAAPRI celebrated South Asian American Heritage Month at Cook County Health and Hospitals System. Thank you to all those who attended our event!
Report – Our Immigrant Story: South Asians in Illinois, 1945-1965
The journey of South Asians who came to Illinois between 1945 and 1965 remains one of the great untold stories of American immigration. In late 2005, SAAPRI began collecting the oral histories of South Asians who came to Illinois between…
Report – Developing Devon: Creating a Strategic Plan for Economic Growth through Community Consensus
Since the 1980s, the growth of a diverse population and bustling retail establishments on Devon Avenue on Chicago’s north side has created a reputation for the neighborhood as an international marketplace. Yet, its very diversity has posed one of the…