This policy update highlights key developments related to election administration and voting access, with a focus on recent changes to vote-by-mail processes and ongoing efforts to expand language access in elections. The update below outlines federal and state policy shifts,…

Report – Strengthening Democracy | Closing the Gap: Advancing Language Access in Chicago’s Evolving Electoral Landscape
Following the 2020 census and 2022 redistricting, precincts in Chicago decreased from 2,069 to 1,291 precincts during the 2024 election, resulting in a net 38% reduction in precincts. Our latest report Strengthening Democracy: Closing the Gap – Advancing Language Access…
Chicagoland AANHPI Hate Crimes Response and Prevention Coalition Meeting
On June 20, 2025, SAAPRI and CASL Anti-Hate Action Center reconvened partner organizations for a Chicagoland AANHPI Hate Crimes Response and Prevention Coalition Meeting. It was a space primarily for AANHPI community-serving organizations to provide an overview of current resources…
Women’s Health Series Webinar 4: Elderly Care
On May 14, 2025, SAAPRI wrapped up its Women’s Health Series with a conversation on Elderly Care. As South Asian communities age, caregiving for elderly family members is becoming more critical—and more complex. While caregiving is deeply rooted in South…
Capstone Poster Symposium at the College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois-Chicago
On May 9th, 2025, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma and Health Equity Research & Program Specialist Maya Bhowmik attended Capstone Poster Symposium at the College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois-Chicago. Health Equity Research Fellow Tenzin Pema was presenting…
WBEZ Chicago: Looking back at the ‘Memories and Milestones’ of South Asians in Illinois
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…
Rooted in Story: AANHPI Voices & Oral Histories for Educators
On April 14th, 2025, SAAPRI’s Executive Director Shobhana Verma and Education Consultant Julie Thomas Achettu shared SAAPRI’s Oral History Project and curriculum, offering educators valuable tools to teach South Asian American history and create inclusive classrooms. The SAAPRI exhibit “Memories and Milestones”…
Women’s Health Series Webinar 3: Menopause
On April 10, 2025, SAAPRI hosted its third webinar in the Women’s Health Series focusing on a topic that’s rarely talked about but deeply important: Menopause. Menopause remains widely misunderstood—especially within South Asian communities. We created space for an open,…
Policy and Social Impact Bootcamp at The University of Chicago
On April 4th, 2025, Executive Director Shobhana Verma and Research & Strategic Development Advisor Jordan Stalker attended a Policy and Social Impact Bootcamp at The University of Chicago.
