The Legal Advocacy Program of the Asian American Institute advocates for laws and policies that promote social, economic, and political equity for the Asian American community as a whole. The Legal Advocacy Program includes initiatives in the areas of affirmative action, voting rights, redistricting, language access to health care, hate crimes, and discrimination. For additional information, please contact Kathleen Fernicola, Policy Director, at 773-271-0899 x 220.

Redistricting

Every ten years, after the Census, governments at all levels (local, state, and federal) are required to redraw political district lines to ensure that all individuals receive proportional representation. This process of redistricting critically affects nearly all aspects of our day-to-day lives because it helps determine who can vote, who can run for office, and who can win in a given district. When Asian Americans or other minority communities are grouped together in a district, they can have a greater influence on the outcome of elections. This can empower communities and make elected officials more accountable to that community. If Asian American communities are divided, as they historically have been in Chicago, the community’s voting strength and political power are weakened. In coalition with concerned Asian American leaders, AAI is conducting advocacy and education to make a positive impact on the 2011 redistricting process. AAI aims to keep Asian American communities grouped together in the upcoming redistricting process, so that Asian Americans have a full and fair opportunity to elect candidates of their choice who will be responsive to their needs.

• Testimony and Proposed District Maps by UCCRO and AAI (May 24, 2011)
• Testimony and Proposed District Maps by UCCRO and AAI (May 22, 2011)
• Testimony and Proposed District Maps by UCCRO and AAI (May 21, 2011)
• Proposed District Maps by UCCRO and AAI (May 11, 2011)
• Testimony, Community Profiles, and Proposed Districts by AAI to the Illinois House Redistricting Committee (May 11, 2011)
• Testimony and Proposed Maps by AAI to the Illinois House Redistricting Committee (April 25, 2011)
• Testimony by AAI to the Illinois House Redistricting Committee (April 21, 2011)
• Testimony and proposed maps by AAI to the Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee (April 6, 2011)
• Testimony by AAI to the Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee (March 28, 2011)
• Testimony by Chinatown organizations to Illinois Senate Redistricting Committee (March 28, 2011)

 Redistricting Media Coverage:

• Illinois redistricting a mixed bag for community (July 1, 2011)
• Let's see the maps (May 11, 2011)
• Minorities Press for Representation in Redistricting(April 14, 2011)
• WTTW-Chicago Tonight coverage of AAI's Redistricting Advocacy  (March 28, 2011)

For more redistricting media coverage, visit AAI's News Section.

Voting Rights

AAI empowers Asian American voters through education, voter registration, exit polling, poll monitoring, and redistricting advocacy. AAI has worked with the United States Department of Justice, local election boards, and community organizations to improve the implementation of legally required language assistance to Asian American voters. During major elections, AAI also monitor polls in Chicago neighborhoods with significant Asian American populations to ensure that voters are not deprived of their right to vote because of voter intimidation, inappropriate requests for identification, denial of provisional ballots, or lack of required language assistance.

Affirmative Action

Although government contracting programs are a crucial tool to level the playing field for minorities, the inclusion of Asian Americans in such programs continues to be challenged on the local and national levels. Insufficient data exist about the rampant discrimination and disadvantage faced by Asian American businesses, and insufficient infrastructure exists to effectively organize these businesses. These dangerous gaps have led some lawmakers to incorrectly conclude that Asian Americans do not face discrimination and are not a racial minority group that needs affirmative action. The Asian American Contractor Empowerment Project (AACEP) builds capacity within the Asian American community to defend and advance the participation of Asian Americans in minority contracting programs in the public and private sector. AACEP, headed by Asian American Justice Center and Asian American Institute, has developed a local and national network of minority business advocates and increased the number of Asian American business leaders supportive of affirmative action. AACEP is currently conducting academic research to educate lawmakers and the general public on the continuing need for minority contracting programs. Notably, in 2007 and again in 2009, AAI persuaded the Chicago City Council to include Asian Americans as a presumptive minority group in the City’s construction contracting program.

• Testimony before the City Council Subcommittee on MBE/WBE Affirmative Action Matters in Support of Proposed Amendment to MBE/WBE Program (July 10, 2009)
• Media Release: Asian American Contractors Included in City of Chicago's M/WBE Program (July 29, 2009)

Language Access

Federal law requires nearly all health care facilities to provide interpreters to patients with limited English proficiency but, nevertheless, many Asian Americans continue to face language access and cultural barriers to health care. The need for language access to health care is fundamental. When this need goes unmet, many Asian Americans are prevented from receiving basic services. Patients who have to resort to using family members as interpreters are put at a disadvantage when those family members do not have the skills, language, maturity, objectivity, or sensitivity that is needed for interpretation in medical situations. AAI’s Language Access project works to document the needs and problems of low-income Asian Americans in accessing health care, as well as educate local health care providers about the most disadvantaged segments of our community.

• Korean Language Access Report
• Lao Language Access Report

Opportunities

AAI is seeking a summer legal intern or PILI Legal Fellow, check out the detailed discription for more information and how to apply.