APIA Vote-MI: Uplifting Community in 2022

About APIA Vote-MI

Since 2007, APIA Vote-MI is committed to voter education, empowerment and community support for the AAPI communities in Michigan. While we focus on civic engagement and community support in the civic process, we also provide community resource distribution and support. 

What We Achieve Together

Together, we impact the community in the following ways: 

• help the AAPI community get registered to vote, update voter registration, and receive support at the polls
• inform and educate as many community members as possible about your voice in the governmental process, and how you can be a part of making the changes we need to see in our communities at the city and state levels of civic engagement 
• provide translation services in, and assisting with providing access to community resources in languages including but not limited to: Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu and Arabic, at and outside of the polls 
• distribute food, school supplies and community resources to those in need
• partner with other organizations and authorized distributors to provide COVID-19 vaccine distribution, harms reduction support and mental health resources and support  

APIA Vote-MI is your community advocate!

We are hear to listen to and support you. Tell us what you think we need to see happen and we can find ways to take care of our community.

Voter Engagement for 2021

In 2021 we were able to reach out to our community about voter registration and getting out to the polls. Here's how we've done so far:

• In 2021 to date, we sent over 51,000 texts, 90,988 calls and held over 10,751 conversations with folks interested in voting in the AAPI community
• This was made possible by a team of over 30 volunteers
• At poll precincts, we totaled 145 exit poll surveys taken by voters after voting during this year’s elections
• We monitored a total of 11 poll precincts for fairness, accountability, and accessibility  

Other Notable Accomplishments in 2021:

• APIA Vote-MI provided support and interpretive services to the Hamtramck AAPI community to help voice community concerns about redistricting. As a result, the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) changed the maps to place Hamtramck into one district instead of being split into three. While the maps won't be finalized until 2022, this is an important step in the direction of advocating for Hamtramck's needs. 
• We hosted 21 community townhalls and educational webinars. Approximately 55 people attended a redistricting town hall on average; we submitted a total of 4 maps, and witnessed our community members deliver 63 public comments!
• Over the past year, we have held approximately 42 multilingual webinars about voting in Bangla, Tagalog, Chinese, Thai, Hindi, and Urdu, and had an average attendance of 60 persons per webinar.
• We had 9 food distribution events and were able to distribute 3,600 parcels to families in need.
• We partnered with other organizations and authorized distributors to host 6 mobile vaccination clinics and administer the COVID-19 vaccine to about 130 people.
•  APIA Vote-MI organized three large and highly successful rallies in different Michigan communities to raise public awareness of the attacks against Asian Americans, and to provide a platform for our community leaders and members to speak out against the race-based attacks. The added benefit was that it provided a welcoming space for many non-Asian allies to stand in solidarity with fellow Americans. 

Your Donation Makes a Difference! 

For 2022, any contribution you make will help us with: 

• continuing to advocate for our community needs with redistricting, which will have a ten-year impact until 2032 on civic processes and decisions impacting residents in our communities 
• increasing our election protection support before and during election day, to help uplift our voice and presence at the polls 
• increasing our group of core and seasonal volunteers to provide more interpretive services at the polls in Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu, Arabic and more, so that everyone can get a chance to vote
• facilitating a youth leadership development program which will provide our youth with opportunities to participate in civic engagement and community growth and development 
• producing our podcast, Unfiltered Identi-tea, which amplifies topics facing the AAPI community and provides the AAPI community a platform on which to share about these issues and discuss solutions

Want to get involved with our community support? 

Visit us at apiavotemi.org or email us at info@apiavotemi.org for more information.

Thank you for stopping by!