DISAGGREGATED DATA: APALC has co-sponsored a bill that would break down state-collected data to help identify the unique needs of API communities. AB 1088, unveiled by Assembly member Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) as part of his 2011 legislative package, would ensure that state-collected health, social services, labor and civil rights data is disaggregated into API ethnic groups and also made publicly accessible. “Ethnic-specific data is extremely important to all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders because our communities are so diverse and our needs are so varied,” said Karin Wang, APALC vice president of programs and communications. “Disaggregated data helps us create effective responses for each community and ensures that unique needs – such as the high poverty rates in the Hmong community – are not masked by other ethnic groups that are doing better.” “Our communities are extremely diverse,” said An Le, APALC statewide network manager. “Although Census data is very helpful, some of the most important data affecting our communities is collected every day by the state of California. For that reason, we applaud Assembly member Eng for introducing AB 1088 and we encourage the AAPI community to support the bill and the state legislature to pass it into law.” With the support of the AAPI community now, we can convince the state legislature to pass it into law. While this may not affect every AAPI ethnic group, but may help the certain minority groups that need welfare, and other health and social services. The petition will be mailed out to APALC so they can show that the community supports this bill. Founded in 1983, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for civil rights, providing legal services and education, and building coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Pacific Americans and to create a more equitable and harmonious society. APALC is a member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, which also includes Asian American Institute (Chicago, IL), Asian American Justice Center (Washington, DC) and Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco, CA).

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