To: The New York State House and The New York State Senate
Invisible, No More: Data Equity for Asian Pacific Americans
Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) are by percentage the fastest growing group in the country. New York State is home to the second largest Asian Pacific American population in the United States, second behind California. Today, there are over 1.6 million Asian American New Yorkers.
Despite our large population, little is known about the over 40 different ethnic groups comprising the Asian Pacific American community. Often, when State agencies issue reports APAs are not mentioned or APAs are categorized simply as “Asian” or “other”. The omission of the different APA ethnic communities in statewide reports leads to our invisibility and masks the unique social, educational, and economic differences associated with diverse Asian ethnicities. Sound data is a matter of inclusion and equity.
A1186a (Kim)/S2348a (Stavisky) is a critical first step to better data that will more accurately capture inequalities in health, educational attainment, poverty, and language access. Improved data on New York State’s growing and diverse Asian communities will improve government efficiency by helping State agencies properly identify, monitor, and address social service needs that truly reflect New York’s diversity.
I urge you to support passage of A1186a (Kim)/S2348a (Stavisky) to ensure Asian Pacific Americans are properly counted and policies, programs, and resources meet the needs of vulnerable, underserved APA communities.
Despite our large population, little is known about the over 40 different ethnic groups comprising the Asian Pacific American community. Often, when State agencies issue reports APAs are not mentioned or APAs are categorized simply as “Asian” or “other”. The omission of the different APA ethnic communities in statewide reports leads to our invisibility and masks the unique social, educational, and economic differences associated with diverse Asian ethnicities. Sound data is a matter of inclusion and equity.
A1186a (Kim)/S2348a (Stavisky) is a critical first step to better data that will more accurately capture inequalities in health, educational attainment, poverty, and language access. Improved data on New York State’s growing and diverse Asian communities will improve government efficiency by helping State agencies properly identify, monitor, and address social service needs that truly reflect New York’s diversity.
I urge you to support passage of A1186a (Kim)/S2348a (Stavisky) to ensure Asian Pacific Americans are properly counted and policies, programs, and resources meet the needs of vulnerable, underserved APA communities.
Why is this important?
Ensure that New York State Agencies Utilize a Standard Approach to Data Collection, Disaggregation, and Reporting on Asian Pacific Americans.