HERE’S WHAT YOU HELPED US ACHIEVE IN 2022
Your support is helping thousands of New Yorkers turn their lives around.
As you look at the impact of your support, it may seem like just numbers. But hidden behind the numbers, there is an individual, a child, an elder, or an entire family whose life has been changed for the better – thanks to you.
- AAF’s Hope Against Hate Campaign provided critical financial support to 30+ Asian-serving organizations to empower them to keep New Yorkers safe: our programs trained 2,400 in safety techniques, connected 3,700 to victim services, and engaged 6,900 youth
- We helped provide culturally-competent mental health support services to 33,000 low-income and immigrant New Yorkers so they could thrive
- We launched the first ever Asian Mental Health Directory with nearly 200 providers who combined speak 17 different Asian languages, making it easier for New Yorkers to find the care they need, in the language they speak
- Our small business team supported 8,000 Asian small businesses with in-language and culturally-competent technical assistance to help them achieve their goals
- We published three reports, five briefs, and six ethnic profiles that tell the story of Asian New Yorkers and help shape policy decisions that improve our lives
- AAF’s AAPI Power Coalition reached 500,000 voters to activate Asian American political power in neighborhoods across all five boroughs
- We opened a new office at the heart of the vibrant Asian small business district in Murray Hill, Queens to better serve its local Asian communities
Research
Since our inception, AAF has produced comprehensive research reports to highlight the needs of Asian American communities, advocate for policy changes to improve access to essential services, and use data to tell the story of our community. Some of our most noteworthy publications have focused on Asian American employment, poverty, the senior population, mental health services for Asian New Yorkers, the contributions and challenges of Asian small businesses, and an analysis of city government funding for Asian communities.
Mental Health
All Asian Americans deserve access to culturally competent mental health care. AAF is committed to increasing the awareness of and reducing stigma around mental health issues in Asian American families. Our goal is to make sure every Asian American in New York city who needs mental health care is able to receive it in a language they speak, from providers who understand Asian cultures.
Immigrant Integration
All Asian American immigrants deserve a chance to achieve their dreams in America. With 70 percent of 1.4 million Asian New Yorkers being foreign born, AAF is committed to providing Asian immigrants with opportunities to learn skills that allow them to thrive and integrate easily into American life.
Economic Empowerment
All Asian Americans deserve an equal shot at economic opportunity and AAF is working to help our communities sustain, promote and grow their businesses. Our goal is to ensure that Chinese, Korean, Indian, Bengali and other pan-Asian small business owners continue their legacy of vital contributions to New York City’s economy.
Nonprofit Support
Nonprofits serving the Asian community deserve every opportunity to achieve their full potential.
AAF is strengthening the capacity of over 70 member agencies and partner organizations to serve the 1.4 million Asian Americans in the City more effectively.
Civic Engagement
All Asian Americans deserve to have a seat at decision-making tables and their voices heard. While Asian Americans are the fastest growing population in the City at 16 percent, only less than half of eligible voters turn out to vote.
Special Initiatives
As a leadership organization, we often take on the responsibility of responding to urgent needs that emerge from the community, even when they fall outside the scope of our regular work. For instance, we launched our signature Hope Against Hate Campaign to help protect our communities from hate-based violence during the pandemic.
We formed the first Seniors Working Group to better understand the daily lives of Asian seniors who are dealing with anti-Asian violence, poverty, hunger, and loneliness during one of our community’s most difficult times. We used our findings to develop the first-ever Senior Working Group Agenda to advocate for resources to help our community’s most vulnerable members.
Census Information Center
In 2000, the U.S. Census Bureau designated AAF a Census Information Center, the only one serving the Asian community in the Northeast. We have 30 years of expertise in crafting culturally informed messages to convince hard-to-reach communities to get counted. We led the Census process for the Asian community in New York for the last 3 censuses, in 2000, 2010, and 2020, and empowered more Asians to participate and get counted. In 2020, despite COVID-related disruptions, and thanks to the 50 Asian groups we worked with to create messages in multiple languages, the Asian community’s Census participation rate was 62.4% — higher than that of New York City overall.
