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. 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 this little is known about the over 40 different ethnic groups comprising the Asian American community. Often, when State agencies issue reports APAs are not mentioned, data on APAs is suppressed, APAs are categorized simply as “Asian” or “other”. This institutionalized omission of APAs 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 critical first step to improving the collection, disaggregation, and reporting of data on Asian Pacific Americans. 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. Better data will more accurately capture disparities in key factors in health, educational attainment, poverty, and language access.
I urge you to support passage of A1186a (Kim)/S2348a (Stavisky) to ensure Asian Pacific Americans are properly counted and to set the stage for more efficient and equitable policy and program design.
Despite this little is known about the over 40 different ethnic groups comprising the Asian American community. Often, when State agencies issue reports APAs are not mentioned, data on APAs is suppressed, APAs are categorized simply as “Asian” or “other”. This institutionalized omission of APAs 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 critical first step to improving the collection, disaggregation, and reporting of data on Asian Pacific Americans. 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. Better data will more accurately capture disparities in key factors in health, educational attainment, poverty, and language access.
I urge you to support passage of A1186a (Kim)/S2348a (Stavisky) to ensure Asian Pacific Americans are properly counted and to set the stage for more efficient and equitable policy and program design.
Why is this important?
I want to ensure that New York State Agencies Utilize a Standard Approach to Data Collection, Disaggregation, and Reporting on Asian Pacific Americans.