Asian American Compass - Asian Americans Advancing Justice

Transcription

4th Edition
Asian A merican Compass
A
G U I D E
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N A V I G A T I N G
COMMUNIT Y
T H E
C O M M U N I T Y
2010
health
traditions
arts
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media
EMPOWE
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vocat
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Ad
family
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religion
CULTURE
IDENTIT Y
language
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politics
business
Asian American Compass
A Guide to Navigating the Community
4th Edition
Copyright © 2011 Asian American Institute. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
01
Introduction & Acknowledgements
02
Asian American Historical Timeline
03
Asian American Facts
04
Asian American Community Profiles
Sponsor List & Appreciation
About the Asian American Institute
Timeline: Asian American Experience in the United States
Timeline: Asian American Experience in Chicago
Timeline: Chicago Area Political Timeline At A Glance
Asian American Glossary of Terms
Who are Asian Americans?
Where are Asian Americans?
Socioeconomic Profiles & Statistics
Bangladeshi Americans
Cambodian Americans
Chinese Americans
Filipino Americans
Indian Americans
Indonesian Americans
Japanese Americans
Korean Americans
Laotian Americans
Native Hawaiian & other
Pacific Islanders of the Midwest Region
Nepali Americans
Pakistani Americans
Thai Americans
Tibetan Americans
Vietnamese Americans
05
Small Business Section
06
Compass Directory
Asian Americans and Small Business
Survey of Business Owners
Alphabetical Listing
Categorical Listing
2
3
4
9
13
18
23
24
27
28
39
42
45
52
55
59
61
64
68
72
75
78
82
85
87
93
94
97
120
Introduction & Acknowledgements
T
he Asian American community in Illinois is growing dramatically.
Before 1970, there were 65,000 Asian Americans in the state,
and today, according to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey,
596,109 Asian Americans reside in Illinois. In the last eight years
alone, the Asian American community in Illinois has grown by almost
35%. Today, we are on the Illinois map in a way that we have not
been before, and as our community continues to grow, it is crucial to
understand the realities of Asian Americans in Illinois – the breadth of
our community’s needs and the resources that sustain us.
To map out the diversity of our community and its organizations,
the Asian American Institute presents the newest edition of the Asian
American Compass: A Guide to Navigating the Community. This
edition reflects the latest changes in Asian American demographics in
Illinois, along with updated contact information for community-based
organizations and resources.
The Asian American Institute thanks the many organizations and
leaders throughout the community who contributed to this edition of
the Compass and helped to update and review the community profiles.
This edition would not have been possible without their participation
and insights. In addition, we are grateful to the Illinois Ethnic Coalition,
who allowed us to reprint and adapt a number of community profiles
from The Ethnic Handbook.
We designed the Compass as a one-stop resource for the Asian community
in Illinois. We hope that the Compass will continue to provide and
improve the public’s understanding of Asian American communities,
and help to plot out courses of action to meet community needs.
Asian American Institute
January 2011
2
Acknowledgements
Estrella Alamar
Justo Alamar
Kamal Ataturk
Shawn Au
Nora Bashir
Tanya Boonroueng
Willi Buhay
BickVanh Cam
Susan Chang
InChul Choi
Jae Choi
Stephanie Choi
Jerry Clarito
Rupal Dalal
Naisy Dolar
Jean Fujiu
Meetal Gandhi
Vida Gosrisirikul
Sonia Hansra
RJ Hariman, MD
Grace Hou
Susan Huang
Illinois Ethnic
Coalition
Vita Iskandar
Ann Kalayil
Judy Kang
Ramzan Kapadia
Rajan Kapoor
Kay Kawaguchi
Parag Khandar
Borita Khim
DooHwan Kim
Soyoung Kwon
Yvonne Lau, PhD
Ngoan Le
Tuyet Le
C. Lanialoha Lee
Hyeyoung Lee, MA
Jimmy Lee
Kent Chae Gu Lee
Yoon Lee, PhD
Gina Leung
Sonia Lin
Justin Lock
Elly Mak, MD
Sylvia Shirley
Malinton
Pe Manivong
Jean Mishima
Kenji Mori
Sybil Moy
Annie Mui
Romeo Munoz
Doug Nguyen
Patricia Nguyen
Sadruddin Noorani
Vallapa Pchccu
Barbara Posadas, PhD
Thomas
Pravongviengkham
R.S. Rajan
Padma Rangaswamy,
PhD
Kay Rho
Royal Thai
Consulate General
Mitch Schneider
Kompha Seth
Joanna Su
Mark Tao
Sharda Thapa
Thai American
Association of
Illinois
Thai Buddhist Temple
Lhakpa Tsering
Sommala Vilaysane
Thuy Vo
William Yoshino
AAI thank s the following sponsors
for their generous support of the Asian American Compass:
P u b l i s h i n g Sp o n s o r
State Farm Insurance
Sp o n s o r s
Southwest Airlines
City of Chicago, Commission on
Human Relations, Advisory Council
on Asian American Affairs
Asian American Discipleship
for Vocational Empowerment
Nurture and Transformation
(AADVENT)
Asian American Justice Center
(AAJC)
3
About The Asian American Institute
A
sian Americans are one of the fastest-growing populations in the United
States. While they are often seen as a homogenous group, in actuality,
Asian Americans are an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse community.
According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, they number
596,109 in Illinois, representing 4.6% of the state’s population, an increase
of 35% since 2000. In Illinois, this diverse and often-overlooked community
includes Americans of Bangladeshi, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong,
Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Nepali, Pakistani, Thai,
Tibetan, and Vietnamese descent. The community continues to be stereotyped
as “perpetual foreigners” and “model minorities,” causing them to be excluded
from full participation in American society.
Our Mission
In response to the needs of the fast-growing population, a group of Asian
American community activists, academic professionals, and business leaders
established the Asian American Institute in 1992 as a pan-Asian not-forprofit 501(c)(3) organization. The Asian American Institute was the first
organization to address the policy concerns of Chicago’s diverse Asian
American communities. Our mission is to empower the Asian American
community through advocacy, utilizing research, education, and coalitionbuilding. Specifically, AAI works to:
•Improve cooperation and mutual understanding by bringing together Asian
American communities of diverse backgrounds
•Raise the visibility of the Asian American community and effectively convey
the community’s concerns to elected officials, policy makers, and the general
public
•Gather and disseminate data about Asian American communities
To accomplish
our mission,
AAI works in
the following
program areas:
Community Organizing and Civic Engagement
AAI strongly believes in community organizing as a core strategy for Asian
American empowerment. AAI builds and strengthens relationships with leaders of Asian American service organizations and institutions so that we can
engage with the community to take action and promote participation in the
democratic process.
Legal and Policy Advocacy
AAI advocates with elected officials and other policymakers to enact laws
and policies that promote social, economic, and political equity for the Asian
American community as a whole. The program includes initiatives in the areas
of affirmative action, voting rights, redistricting, hate crimes, discrimination,
and language access to health care.
4
Leadership Development
AAI’s leadership programs aim to create a pipeline of informed, aware,
and strategic leaders who are passionate about both leadership and Asian
American issues. AAI aims to cultivate emerging leaders and strengthen
existing leaders to create a network of change; we strive to build a collective force of strong Asian American leaders to be effective agents of
change in the corporate, government, nonprofit, and academic sectors.
Asian American Center for Advancing Justice
Since 2005, AAI has been affiliated with the Asian American Justice Center, Asian Law Caucus, and Asian Pacific American Legal Center, providing a Midwest perspective in shaping the national Asian American public
policy agenda. In June 2010, we formalized our affiliation with these
outstanding organizations around a shared vision, values, and a national
issues platform. As members of Asian American Center for Advancing
Justice, we work together to promote a fair and equitable society for all,
by working for civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities. In formalizing
these long-time relationships, we are expanding our networks, resources,
and impact, and speaking with one unified and powerful voice.
• Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) Washington, D.C.
AAJC is a national organization dedicated to advancing the civil and
human rights of Asian Americans and building a fair and equitable
society for all through public education, public policy, community organizing and litigation.
• Asian Law Caucus (ALC) San Francisco, CA.
ALC is the nation’s oldest legal organization defending the civil rights
of Asians and Pacific Islanders, particularly low-income, immigrant
and underserved communities.
• Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC)
Los Angeles & Orange County, CA.
APALC is the nation’s largest legal organization serving Asians and
Pacific Islanders, through direct legal services, impact litigation, policy
advocacy and leadership development.
5
At this important moment in the Asian American civil and human rights movement, four leading
organizations—the Asian American Institute, Asian American Justice Center, Asian Law Caucus andAsian
American Center for Advancing Justice.
Together we will advance the goals we already work toward as individual organizations— promoting a fair
coordinate our efforts to promote our common goals while remaining equal and independent partners.
Each group boasts staff with valuable expertise and deep experience. The Asian American Institute (AAI) is
the Midwest’s leading pan-Asian organization dedicated to empowering the Asian American community
through advocacy, research, education and coalition building. The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) is
one of the foremost national organizations advancing civil and human rights for Asian Americans and building a fair and equitable society for all through education, public policy, community organizing and litigation.
The Asian Law Caucus (ALC) is the oldest legal organization in the country defending the civil rights of
education and building coalitions.
As Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, we will expand the Asian American community’s reach and
Mission Statement
The mission of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice is to promote a fair and equitable society
other underserved communities.
Vision Statement
We envision a fair and equitable society for all that ensures civil and human rights for Asian Americans,
communities, bring local and national constituents together, and strengthen our multi-racial democracy.
it’s always been about
BEING THERE
We know there is nothing more important than being there when it matters most.
That’s why State Farm is proud to support the Asian American Institute.
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.®
statefarm.com®
1001153
State Farm • Home Office, Bloomington, IL
02
Asian
American
Historical
Timeline
TIMELINE
Asian American Experience in The United States
Created by Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics (LEAP) and updated by the Asian American Institute.
1600s Chinese and Filipinos land in Mexico on
the ships of the Manila galleon.
1693
1790
First recorded settlement of Filipino Americans. They escape impressment aboard
Spanish galleons by jumping ship in New
Orleans, Louisiana.
First recorded arrival of an Asian Indian in
the United States.
1848 Strike of gold in California draws Chi-1852 nese immigrants to West Coast to mine
gold. Chinese immigrants arrive as
indentured servants during the California Gold Rush. The majority comes later
as cheap labor to work the railroads and
in other industries.
1869
Transcontinental railroad is completed.
Chinese laborers build most of the western section.
1886 Chinese laundrymen win case in Yick Wo
v. Hopkins, which declares that a law with
unequal impact on different groups is discriminatory.
1907 President Theodore Roosevelt enters into
Gentlemen’s Agreement with Japan whereby
Japan stops issuing passports to laborers
desiring to emigrate to the United States.
Gentleman’s Agreement opens up jobs
in Hawaii for Filipinos, but also includes
ban on further Korean immigration to the
United States as laborers.
1910 Angel Island established as a detention
center for those Asian non-laboring classes
desiring entry in the United States.
The U.S. Supreme Court extends the 1870
Naturalization Act to other Asians, making
them aliens ineligible for citizenship.
1924 Immigration Act declares that no one ineliFirst Japanese settlers arrive in Gold Hill,
California.
1870
1871
Under the Naturalization Act, Chinese are
not eligible for citizenship. The act also
forbids the entry of wives of laborers.
Anti-Chinese riots break out in Los Angeles
and other cities. A mob of whites shoot and
hang 20 Chinese one night in Los Angeles.
gible for citizenship may immigrate to the
United States. Excluding Filipinos, who are
subjects of the United States, this act completely ends Asian immigration.
1927 Filipino Federation of Labor founded in
Los Angeles to protect migrant workers from abuses of labor contractors and
farm owners.
1934 Tydings-McDuffie Act promises independ1882
1886
Chinese Exclusion Act suspends immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years.
It excludes Chinese from citizenship
by naturalization and it halts Chinese
immigration for 60 years.
1942 President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Japan lifts ban restriction on emigration of
Japanese.
signs Executive Order 9066, putting
120,000 Japanese (primarily U.S. citizens)
in 10 concentration camps.
ence to the Philippines in 10 years. It also
creates a quota of 50 Filipino immigrants
per year.
9
1943
Magnuson Act finally repeals the Chinese
Exclusion Act of 1882. Quota of 105 immigrants per year set for Chinese immigration.
Chinese granted the right of naturalization.
1944
The 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd
Regimental Combat team are formally
united. The 100th/442nd, a unit consisting
solely of Japanese Americans, goes on to
become the most decorated military unit in
American history.
1946
Wing F. Ong becomes the first Asian
American to be elected to state office in the
Arizona House of Representatives.
1951
U.S. naval station closes down in American
Samoa, triggering a fierce economic recession and prompting a wave of Samoans to
Hawaii.
1956
Dalip Singh Saund, an Asian Indian
American from Imperial Valley, California
is the first Asian American elected to the
United States Congress.
1959
Daniel Inouye becomes the first Japanese
American elected to the U.S. Congress as
Hawaii’s first congressional representative.
In 1962, he wins a Senate seat, which he
continues to hold to present day.
1964
1969
As a result of student protests, Asian
American studies programs are established
at colleges.
1975
The fall of Saigon signals the arrival of
large numbers of Vietnamese immigrants
in the U.S. The first wave of Vietnamese
refugees, who fled shortly before the fall
of Saigon on April 30, are mainly welleducated urbanites who fled out of fear
that their religious beliefs, social class, or
cooperation with the South Vietnamese
and U.S. governments would make them
targets of the new communist regime.
The second wave of refugees, the so-called
“boat people”, flees right after the fall of
Saigon.
As a result of the Khmer Rouge, a communist guerilla organization, and Prime
Minister Pol Pot’s rule in Cambodia,
often referred to as the “killing fields”, over
100,000 Cambodian refugees immigrated
to America between 1975 and 1990.
Approximately 70,000 ethnic Lao, 10,000
lu Mien, and 60,000 Hmong flee to America after the Pathet Lao gain control of Laos.
1982
In Detroit, Chinese American Vincent
Chin, mistaken for a Japanese national,
is clubbed to death with a baseball bat
by two unemployed autoworkers who
blamed layoffs in the auto industry on the
Japanese auto industry. The case receives
nationwide attention and mobilizes the
Asian American community as a whole.
1987
Amerasian Homecoming Act facilitated
the transfer of Vietnamese Amerasians,
children born to Asian mothers and U.S.
servicemen. By 1994, more than 75,000
Amerasians and accompanying family
members settle in America. They are part of
the fourth wave of Vietnamese immigrants
that also includes detainees and former
prisoners of re-education camps.
Congress passes the Civil Rights Act, outlawing racial discrimination.
A native of Hawaii, Patsy Takemoto Mink
becomes the first Asian American woman
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
1965
10
National Origins Act raises Asian immigration to 20,000 per year for Asian countries,
same as European countries. Public Law
89-236 permits Chinese from Hong Kong,
Taiwan, Southeast Asia and Latin America to
immigrate to the United States. Immigration
Act increases Filipino annual immigration to
above 20,000 and Korean immigration to
over 30,000 per year.
1988
The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 provides
reparations and an official apology to
Japanese Americans interned during WWII.
The Act gave each surviving internee a taxfree payment of $20,000 and a letter of
apology from the U.S. government.
1990
President George Bush proclaims May as
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
1992
Looting and fires destroy over 2,000
Korean-owned businesses during the Los
Angeles Riots. The Thai community is also
hard hit as Thai-owned businesses sustain
nearly $3 million in damages.
1996
Gary Locke wins gubernatorial race of
Washington State. He is the first Asian
American to be elected governor of one of
the contiguous United States.
1997
Campaign finance scandal involving
Asian Americans prompts Democratic
National Committee to target donors with
Asian names.
1999
President Bill Clinton signs an Executive Order establishing a President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to address the
health and human services needs of AAPIs,
and to increase their participation in federal
programs. It is only the second Executive
Order issued concerning Asian Americans.
2000
2001
President Bill Clinton appoints Norman
Mineta as U.S. Secretary of Commerce, the
first Asian American to be appointed to the
Cabinet.
Dr. Wen Ho Lee, a Taiwanese-born American citizen and Los Alamos scientist, was
arrested and charged for allegedly downloading nuclear weapon secrets for espionage. After being held in confinement for
nine months without bail, Dr. Lee was freed
with an apology from the federal judge who
presided in his case. Months later, the U.S.
Justice Department issued a report stating
the government’s investigation of Wen Ho
Lee was deeply flawed.
2002 President George W. Bush appoints Norman
Mineta as U.S. Secretary of Transportation.
Elaine Chao appointed U.S. Secretary of Labor, the first Asian American woman to be
appointed to a Cabinet position.
Mee Moua, a Hmong American, was elected to the Minnesota Senate for District 67,
replacing Senator Randy Kelly on January
29, 2002. She serves as the majority whip
and serves on the finance committee (transportation budget division), transportation
committee (vice chair), health and family security committee, and the taxes committee.
Congresswoman Patsy Mink of Hawaii dies
on September 28, 2002. Congresswoman
Mink was the first woman of color in Congress, where she authored and passed Title
IX in 1972. Title IX prohibits gender discrimination in education. On October 29,
2002, Title IX was renamed the Patsy T.
Mink Equal Opportunities in Education Act.
2004 Piyush “Bobby” Jindal elected to Congress
representing Louisiana. Bobby is the first
Indian American to win a congressional
seat in 46 years.
Hubert Vo becomes the first Vietnamese
American to be elected to the Texas Legislature.
2005 In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Father
Nguyen The Vien organizes residents in
the New Orleans East community to help
residents return to their homes and rebuild
their lives. His work especially impacts
Versailles, a neighborhood in New Orleans
whose residents are a tight knit group
of Vietnamese Americans. Their story is
documented in a film entitled, A Village
Called Versailles, which becomes an awardwinning documentary. It will be broadcast
on PBS in May 2010.
11
2007
On October 20, 2007, Republican Piyush
“Bobby” Jindal is elected governor of Louisiana,
winning a four-way race with 54.2% of the
vote. At age 36, Jindal becomes the youngest
current governor in the United States. He is the
first elected non-white Governor of Louisiana
and the first American governor of Indian
American descent.
2008
Anh Cao wins a special election for a seat in
the House of Representatives, representing New
Orleans, Louisiana. He is the first Vietnamese
American to serve in Congress.
Raj Mukherji is appointed by Jersey City Mayor, Jerramiah Healy, and confirmed by the City
Council as the youngest Commissioner and
Chairman to ever serve on the Jersey City Housing Authority, the state’s second largest public
housing authority and an $80 million agency.
2009
President Barack Obama names Gary Locke to
be Secretary of Commerce, Eric Shinseki to be
Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs, and Stephen Chu
to be Secretary of Energy.
President Barack Obama signs a stimulus bill
that compensates the Filipino war veterans that
served in the United States military in World
War II. The bill authorizes a $198 million
payout. Each Filipino veteran who became
a U.S. citizen is eligible for $15,000; each
noncitizen, $9,000.
2010
Judy Chu is elected as the United States Representative for California’s 32nd congressional
district, and the first Chinese American woman
ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
Arizona passes strict illegal immigration
act. The bill, known as SB 1070, makes it a
misdemeanor to lack proper immigration
paperwork in Arizona. It also requires police
officers, if they form a “reasonable suspicion”
that someone is an illegal immigrant, to
determine the person’s immigration status.
Immigrant rights groups say it amounts to a
police state. It is currently under examination
to determine whether it is constitutional.
12
TIMELINE
Asian American Experience in Chicago
Written by Ngoan Le, Vice President of Programs, The Chicago Community
Trust, and subsequently updated by Tuyet Le, Naisy Dolar, and Joanna Su.
1960s
Prior to 1970, approximately
65,000 Asian Americans lived in
Chicago. The majority were Americans of Japanese,
Chinese, and Filipino descent, and a small number of
Korean descent. There was one social service agency
that served the needs of Japanese Americans, and two
civic institutions which helped organize the Japanese
and Chinese communities.
The Chinese American community fought to protect Chinatown against the development of the Dan
Ryan expressway. The Japanese American community contributed to the national Japanese
American Citizens League’s (JACL) campaign to
eliminate race as a disqualification for immigration
and naturalization.
1970s
The Illinois Asian American
population nearly doubled to
125,000 as a direct result of the 1965 immigration
law, which permitted admission from all countries,
as well as the massive effort to resettle Cambodian,
Laotian, and Vietnamese refugees in the United
States after the Vietnam War. Consequently, the
Asian American community became even more
diverse. In addition to well-established second and
third generation Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino
Americans, there were new waves of immigrants
from other Asian countries, primarily Korea, India,
the Philippines, and Southeast Asia.
The number of social service agencies grew to five,
two of which were pan-Asian. Three additional civic
organizations were created. The Asian Educators
Association became the first pan-Asian professionals’
organization to make efforts at promoting bilingual
education and federal assistance to new Asian
immigrant/refugee students. The community’s main
agenda during this phase was to fund social services
(in order to help new arrivals) and bilingual education
(for those facing language barriers).
Three Asian Americans ran for public office during this decade: Joseph Tecson for Cook County
Circuit Judge, Hiroshi Kano for alderman of the
2nd ward, and Ross Harano for alderman of the
48th ward. None were elected. Joseph Tecson,
however, was successful in getting elected as an
Illinois Constitution Convention delegate.
In 1979, recognizing the growth of the Asian
American population (on a national scale) and their
contributions to American society, President Jimmy
Carter proclaimed the first week of May to be Asian
Pacific American Heritage Week.
1980s
In 1984, the Asian American
Coalition was created. Its main
goal was to increase the visibility of Asian Americans. One way they accomplished this was by organizing a pan-Asian American community event,
in celebration of the Lunar New Year. This event
has grown to become a major gathering of community leaders, activists and public officials. Various
Asian American ethnic communities take turns in
organizing this event.
Asian Americans also formed professional organizations including: Asian American Bar Association, Asian American Journalists Association, Asian
American Law Enforcement Association, National
Association of Asian American Professionals, and
various medical associations. Two political organizations were founded: Indo-American Democratic
Organization and Filipino American Political Action. The Midwest Asian American Student Union
was also created in this decade.
13
Timeline:
These historic pan-Asian American organizing efforts
were very successful. The first Asian American liaison
positions were created in the offices of the Governor,
the Chicago Mayor, and Senators Paul Simon and
Alan J. Dixon. These positions allowed access to
government bodies for many Asian Americans and the
Asian American communities. For the first time, Asian
American appointments were made to boards and
commissions at the city, state, and federal levels. Asian
Americans, including Shinae Chun, Teresita Sagun,
and George Eng, were appointed to cabinet level
positions within Illinois and Chicago governments.
Four Asian Americans ran for public office: John
Lee Bingham for the 40th ward, Lee Maglaya for
state representative, Ben Fajardo for Glendale
Heights Trustee, and Ken Moy for DuPage County
Board. Only Ken Moy and Ben Fajardo were
successfully elected. By the end of the 1980s, the
census counted 285,000 Asian Americans in Illinois,
which was nearly a 50% growth. The growth in
diversity also continued as reflected in the number
of community organizations created by and for the
Korean, Cambodian, Lao, Hmong, Thai, Indian,
and Pakistani populations.
efforts consequently helped form many links between
AAPI ethnic community leaders and provided the
foundation for many key community empowerment
activities.
The Asian American Bar Association (AABA) worked
closely with the Asian American community and was
instrumental in four major public policy successes.
These include the passage of state legislation
amending the public aid code to exempt Japanese
American redress payments from public aid eligibility
and tort liability; amendment to the Minority
Teachers’ Scholarship to include Asian American and
Native Americans who had previously been excluded
from eligibility; issuance of an Executive Order from
the Governor’s office to address Asian American
employment in state government; and passage of
state legislation to license acupuncturists. AABA
was also instrumental in the appointment of the first
Asian American judge, Lynne Kawamoto, in 1991 as
a Cook County Associate Judge.
The Asian American community continued to grow at a
rapid rate, due primarily to immigration. The 1990
Census revealed that there were 292,421 Asian
Americans in the state of Illinois, which was 2.6%
of the total state population. By 1998, Census
estimates indicated that there were 403,247 Asian
Americans in Illinois. This represents a 38% growth
rate, which is higher than that of any other racial or
ethnic groups in Illinois.
The community had also become more sophisticated,
as demonstrated through the expanded range of
programs and services offered by Asian American
community based social service providers and
professional organizations. The Asian American
Institute was created in 1992 as a vehicle to conduct
research and advocacy efforts on behalf of Asian
Americans. The Asian American Chambers of
Commerce also created a joint office, the Asian
American Alliance, to promote the advancement of
Asian American businesses. Major growth was also
seen through the creation and development of many
Asian American arts organizations that provide
richer experiences for both Asian Americans and
the larger community.
The proclamation of Asian Pacific American Heritage
Week was made each year until 1990 when President
George H. Bush extended it to the entire month of
May. Illinois AAPI community leaders built on this
presidential proclamation to request that similar
proclamations be made by the offices of the Governor,
mayors, and other public officials. Community
leaders also used this opportunity to organize events
to educate the public about the AAPI community,
and its cultural heritage and contributions. These
Ben Fajardo was re-elected as Glendale Heights
Trustee in 1993, was selected to the Board as Acting
Mayor in 1994, was elected Mayor in 1995 to serve
the unexpired term, and was re-elected in 1997.
More Asian Americans continued to run for public
office. They included Porus Dadabhoy who ran for
DuPage County Commissioner; Glenn Sugiyama
for the Ninth Congressional District; Key Moy
for DuPage County Board and Circuit Court; Jean
Marie Reyes Pechette for Cook County Treasurer;
1990s
14
Lourdes Mon for Cook County Commissioner; John
Lee Bingham for 34th District State Representative;
Ross Harano for University of Illinois’ Board of
Trustees; Ahmed Patel and Judge Lynne Kawamoto
for judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County; Raj
Ambegaoker for Darien City Council; Steve Kim for
Northfield Township Trustee; and Ravi Singh for
State Representative in the 42nd District. Except for
Ken Moy and Raj Ambegaoker, all other candidates
did not succeed in their attempts for elected offices.
In addition, there were efforts made in getting more
Asian American appointments for judgeship. These
efforts still have not produced the results desired by
the Asian American community. In the entire state of
Illinois, there was only one Asian American Circuit
Court Judge and two Associate Judges (in Cook and
DuPage Counties and Champaign).
In the mid-1990s, with the advent of anti-immigrant
sentiment and the growth in the number of hate
crimes, many Asian Americans began to recognize that
the Asian American community needed to become
more organized and assertive in its efforts to engage
in public debates and policy making. In addition, the
political campaign contribution controversy and the
allegation of espionage (all of which occurred while
President Bill Clinton served in office) added to the
Asian American communities’ concern that Asian
Americans were being negatively perceived by the
American public.
Out of these concerns, Asian Americans worked
increasingly closer with other immigrant and
minority communities, as well as major mainstream
institutions, to protect the community interests and
to combat any negative stereotypes of the Asian
American community.
2000s
According to the 2000 Census,
Asian Americans are now 3.4%
of the Illinois population, with a total of 428,213
persons of Asian decent. This represents an increase
of 46.4%, adding to the tremendous rate of growth
of the Asian American community.
Following the 2000 census, Asian Americans
organized around redistricting, the redrawing of
Timeline
political district boundaries. The Asian American
Institute convened a diverse committee of
community leaders to analyze census data and
maps, and compiled descriptions of Asian American
neighborhoods, in an effort to advocate keeping
these communities together in the new district
maps. Community leaders testified and presented
maps at state and local redistricting hearings as well
as in meetings with Democratic and Republican
Party leaders. While these efforts did not lead to
the desired mapping results, the Asian American
community gained valuable experience and expertise
in redistricting coalition work.
During this period, there were several significant
government appointments of Asian Americans.
Mayor Daley appointed Tariq Malhance as the
City’s Comptroller and re-appointed Tariq Butt as a
member of the Chicago Board of Education. Gary
Yamashiroya became the first Asian American Police
Commander in the City of Chicago. On the state level,
three Asian Americans were appointed in significant
positions: Ross Harano as Managing Director of the
Illinois Trade Office, Grace Hou as Assistant Secretary
of the Illinois Department of Human Services, and
Ram Kamath as a Special Advocate in the Illinois
Department of Central Management Services.
During the months leading to the November 2004
and 2008 general elections, Asian Americans notably participated in non-partisan voter registration
and turnout. These efforts were especially prominent among immigrant communities in Albany
Park, Chinatown and West Ridge, and in the Skokie
area communities. Community-based organizations
including the Asian American Institute, Coalition
for a Better Chinese American Community, Korean
American Resource and Cultural Center, and the
Indo-American Center provided support for these
efforts in partnership with the Illinois Coalition for
Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
Asian Americans made history in the judiciary during
this decade. Israel Desierto, Maria Kuriakose Ciesil,
Sanjay Tailor, Rena Van Tine, and Neera Walsh were
appointed to the Cook County bench. Rena Van
Tine became the first Indo-American woman judge
in the nation, and Israel Desierto became the first
15
Timeline:
Filipino American judge in Illinois. Sandra Otaka
made history as the first Asian American appointed
to the bench by the Illinois Supreme Court, filling
a vacancy. She later went on to win her election
for the 9th Judicial Subcircuit, making her the first
Asian American to be elected to a judicial seat in
Cook County.
The Asian American presence in the political
arena continued to grow rapidly, particularly in
the suburbs and in local school boards. Successful
candidates included:
Mark Chao School District 69 Board – Skokie and Morton Grove
Jerry Clarito D - Skokie Park District Commissioner
Naisy Dolar Decatur Classical School Local School Council
Anjana Hansen Evanston Alderman
Usha Kamaria Niles Township Trustee
Sandy Kim College of DuPage Board of Trustees
Moin Khan R – DuPage County Trustee
Ngoan Le Rogers School Local School Council
D.C. Modi Niles Township Collector
Mark Moy Oak Brook Trustee
Patricia Moy Republican Committeeman, Downers Grove
Perry Moy R – McHenry County Board of Trustees
Peter Moy Mayor of Lincolnwood
Pete Patel Schaumburg Township Trustee
Moin Saiyed Oak Brook Trustee
Pramod Shah Niles Township Collector, Niles Township Trustee,
and Skokie Board of Trustees
Mir Shamsuddin Skokie Board of Education
Sukpreet Sing Bloomingdale Library Trustee
Richard Tani Mount Prospect Library Board
Ben Wong Decatur Classical School Local School Council
Christopher Wong Republican Committeeman, 25th
Ward
– including Chinatown
More than 20 other Asian American candidates also
ran during this time period; for details, please see
the “Chicago Area Political Timeline at a Glance.”
16
In this decade, there were two high profile elections
that caught the attention of mainstream political
leaders, though the Asian American candidates
involved did not win. In 2006, Iraq war veteran
Tammy Duckworth (D) ran in the hotly contested race
for U.S. Representative in Illinois’ west suburban 6th
District, and was narrowly defeated by the Republican
challenger. (Duckworth was later appointed by
Governor Blagojevich as the Director of the Illinois
Department of Veterans’ Affairs, where she served
from 2006-08. In 2009, her nomination by President
Obama as the Assistant Secretary for Public and
Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.)
In 2007, Naisy Dolar and Salman Aftab both ran
for Alderman against 33-year incumbent Alderman
Bernard Stone and a fourth candidate in Chicago’s
50th Ward (in the city’s West Ridge neighborhood).
Endorsed by the Sun-Times, Tribune, and several
labor unions, Dolar squared off against Alderman
Stone in the run-off election in April, in which Stone
retained his seat by a slim margin of about 600 votes.
In 2007, just prior to the Aldermanic run-off
elections, the Chicago City Council City repaired
its public contracting minority- and women-owned
business enterprise (M/WBE) ordinance to include
Asian Americans as a minority group. The city’s
ordinance was re-authorized in July 2009 following
testimony by Asian American contractors and
advocacy led by the Asian American Institute.
During this period, comprehensive immigration reform
also became a national priority for Asian Americans,
Latinos, and other allies who pressed their federal
elected officials to take action. In 2009, the Asian
American Institute launched a successful “100 Stories
in 100 Days” campaign to collect and showcase local
Asian American immigration stories during the first
100 days of President Obama’s administration.
Timeline
2010
According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, there were 596,109 Asian Americans
in Illinois, comprising 4.6% of the state’s population.
In 2010, the Asian American Institute partnered with 20 other
Asian American community-based organizations to educate Asian
Americans in northeast Illinois about the Census. The campaign
resulted in a higher mail-back response rate in targeted areas including Chicago’s Chinatown, Uptown, and West Ridge neighborhoods.
The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) received a five-year, $1.86
million AANAPISI grant (Asian American and Native American
Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions) from the U.S. Department of
Education. The grant funding will be an unprecedented opportunity
for UIC to support Asian American students on campus through
its Asian American Resource and Cultural Center and the Asian
American Studies Program. To date, UIC is the only Midwest
institution to receive a grant from this federal program.
In the political arena, Steve Kim (R) and Raja Krishnamoorthi
(D) ran historic statewide campaigns, for Attorney General and
Comptroller, respectively. Kim won the primary but was unsuccessful
in the general election. Krishnamoorthi was narrowly defeated in
the primary elections. Hamilton Chang (R- 17th District), David Ho
(D- 81st District) and Ben Lowe (D- 6th District) ran unsuccessfully
for State Representative; Ashvin Lad (R) was unsuccessful in his
bid for 5th District U.S. Representative. In the judicial sphere,
Ketki Steffen was appointed Associate Judge in Cook County, Ken
Moy ran unsuccessfully for Appellate Judge, and Linda Pauel was
unsuccessful in her bid for Cook County Circuit Judge.
While some Asian Americans currently serve in some high level
appointments at the state level and in the City of Chicago, and
an increasing number of Asian American candidates have been
running for local and state offices in the city and its suburbs, no
Asian Americans have yet been elected at the state level or for the
City of Chicago.
However, as of this printing, at least four Asian Americans are running for Alderman in the 2011 elections: Ahmed Khan in the 50th
Ward, Andy Lam and Emily Stewart in the 46th Ward, and Ameya
Pawar in the 47th Ward. In addition, John Hu was a candidate for
Chicago Mayor, but was removed from the ballot after a petition
challenge.
17
TIMELINE
Chicago Area Political Timeline at a Glance
2000
2003
Judicial
Judicial
Sandra Otaka became the first Asian American
judge
appointed to the Cook County Circuit Court.
Pamela Shu ran for judge in Cook County’s
9th Subcircuit – unsuccessful
Rena Van Tine appointed as Associate Judge,
becoming the first Indian American female
judge in the country.
Electoral
Lourdes Mon ran unopposed for Cook County
Water Reclamation District in the primaries
Lourdes Mon ran for Cook County Water
Reclamation District – unsuccessful
Jody Wadhwa (D) ran for 57th District State
Representative (Northern Suburbs) – unsuccessful
2001
Electoral
Matt DeLeon (D) ran for Northfield Township
Trustee (northern suburbs) – unsuccessful
Usha Kamaria elected Niles Trustee
Steve Kim (R) ran for Northfield Township
Trustee (northern suburbs) – unsuccessful
Peter Moy elected Mayor of Lincolnwood
Pete Patel elected Schaumburg Township Trustee
Pramod Shah elected Collector for Niles Township
Christopher Wong elected 25th Ward Republican Committeeman
2002
Judicial
Ken Moy ran for 2nd District Appellate
Court – unsuccessful
Sandra Otaka elected in the 9th Judicial Subcircuit, first Asian American to be elected in Cook
County.
Electoral
Shaun Aranha (D) ran for 41st District State
Representative (western suburbs) – unsuccessful
Perry Moy (R) elected to McHenry County Board
Christopher Wong (R) ran for 5th District State
Representative (Chinatown) - unsuccessful
A pp o i n t m e n t s
Tariq Malhance, City Comptroller
Gary Yamashiroya becomes the first Asian
18
American Commander in the Chicago Police
Department (17th District).
Sanjay Tailor was sworn in as a Cook County
Circuit Court Associate Judge on April 22.
Electoral
Mark Chao elected to School District 69
Board (Skokie and Morton Grove)
Tariq Butt re-appointed to Chicago Board
of Education
Ross Harano, Managing Director, Illinois
Trade Office
Grace Hou, Assistant Secretary, Illinois
Department of Human Services
Ram Kamath, Illinois Department of Central
Management Services
2004
Electoral
Chirinjeev Kathuria (R) ran for U.S. Senate
– unsuccessful (primary)
Perry Moy (R) ran for State Representative
63rd District – won primary, lost general
Jimmy Lee and Rudy Pamintuan appointed
to the President’s Advisory Commission for the
White House Commission on Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders.
2005
Judicial
Israel Desierto was appointed as Associate Judge
of the Circuit Court of Cook County, becoming
the first Filipino American Judge in Illinois.
Electoral
Aurora Austriaco (D) ran for Park Ridge
Village Trustee - unsuccessful
Sirtag Ahmed ran for Lincolnwood Village
Trustee - unsuccessful
Jerry Clarito (D) ran for Skokie Park District
Commissioner – successful
Adeline Fajardo ran for Glendale Heights
Trustee – unsuccessful
Anjana Hansen elected Evanston Alderman
Aileen Keating ran for Lincolnwood Village
Trustee – unsuccessful
Moin (Moon) Khan (R) elected DuPage
County Trustee
2005
E l e c t o r a l (continued)
D.C. Modi elected Niles Township Collector
Rohit Pandya (D) ran for Skokie Park District
Commissioner – unsuccessful
Pramod Shah (D) elected Niles Township Trustee
Mir
Shamsuddin elected Skokie Board of
Education
Richard Tani elected to Mount Prospect
Library Board
Robert Tolentino ran for Glendale Heights
Village President – unsuccessful
Charles Dulay, Police Commander 23rd District
became the first Filipino American Commander.
2006
Electoral
Aurora Abella-Austriaco (D) ran for Maine
Township Trustee – unsuccessful
Sirtag Ahmed ran for Lincolnwood Trustee
-unsuccessful
Naisy Dolar elected to Local School Council
of Decatur Classical School
Tammy Duckworth (D) ran for US Representative 6th District –unsuccessful
Ngoan Le elected to Local School Council
of Rogers School
Patricia Moy (R) elected Downers Grove
Committeeman
Perry Moy (R) ran for re-election to the
McHenry County Board - unsuccessful
Tammy Duckworth, Director of Illinois
Department of Veteran Affairs
2007
Judicial
Maria Kuriakose Ciesil and Neera Walsh were
appointed as Associate Judges of the Circuit
Court of Cook County.
Electoral
Junaid Afeef ran for Hoffman Estates Trustee
– unsuccessful
Salman Aftab ran for 50th Ward Alderman
– defeated in general election
Naisy Dolar ran for 50th Ward Alderman
– defeated in run-off election
Abdul Ghani ran for Oak Brook Village
President – unsuccessful
Hidayat Khan ran for Elgin City Council
– unsuccessful
Fred Lu ran for Naperville District 203
School Board –unsuccessful
Billy Moy ran for 25th Ward Republican
Committeeman –unsuccessful
Mohammed Farooq Patel ran for Hoffman
Estates Trustee –unsuccessful
Moin Saiyed elected Oak Brook Trustee
Sukpreet Singh elected Bloomingdale
Library Trustee
2008
Electoral
Aurora Abella-Austriaco (D) ran for 65th
District State Representative – unsuccessful
Jonathan Bedi (D) ran for 5th District State
Senator (Primary) – unsuccessful
Paul Chadha (D) ran for 26th District State
Representative (Primary) – unsuccessful
Abdul Ghani (D) ran for 21st District State
Senator –unsuccessful
Jimmy Lee (R) ran for 11th District US
Representative (Primary) –unsuccessful
Ben Wong elected to Local School Council
of Decatur Classical School
Tina Tchen,White House Director for Public
Engagement
Lucy Moy-Bartosik appointed as the Com-
mander of the 20th District, becoming Chicago’s
first Asian American Police Commander.
2009
Judicial
Pamela Leeming was appointed Associate Judge of
the Circuit Court of Cook County to fill a vacancy,
becoming the first Asian American to serve as a
judge of the full Cook County circuit and is the
first known Pakistani American judge in the U.S.
Electoral
Jerry Huang ran for Naperville School Board
District 204 –unsuccessful
Yuming Huang ran for Naperville School Board
District 204 –unsuccessful
Sandy Kim elected to College of DuPage Board
of Trustees
Mark Moy elected Oak Brook Trustee
Pramod Shah elected Skokie Board of Trustees
Theodore Chung, General Counsel, State of Illinois
Tammy Duckworth, Director of Illinois Depart-
ment of Veteran Affairs
Michelle Saddler, Secretary, Illinois Department
of Human Services
19
2010
Judicial
Pamela Leeming ran for 11th Subcircuit Judge
– unsuccessful
Ken Moy ran for 2nd District Appellate Court
– unsuccessful
Linda Pauel ran for Cook County Circuit Judge
–unsuccessful
Ketki Steffen was appointed Associate Judge of
the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Electoral
Hamilton Chang (R) ran for State Representative
17th District -unsuccessful (general)
David Ho (D) ran for State Representative 81st
District-unsuccessful (primary)
Steve Kim (R) ran for Illinois Attorney General
–unsuccessful (general)
Raja Krishnamoorthi (D) ran for State Comptroller
–unsuccessful (primary)
Ashvin Lad (R) ran for State Representative 5th
District –unsuccessful (primary)
Ben Lowe ran for US Representative 6th District
–unsuccessful
Grace Hong-Duffin, Acting Secretary of Illinois
Department of Human Services
Michelle Saddler, Chief of Staff for Governor Pat
Quinn (later returned to her previous position as
Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human
Services).
Unmi Song, White House Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission
2011 (as of 2/4/2011)
Electoral
Ahmed Khan running for 50th Ward Alderman
Andy Lam running for 46th Ward Alderman
Ameya Pawar running for 47th Ward Alderman
Emily Stewart running for 46th Ward Alderman
AAI compiled this timeline based on the information available from state and local Boards of Elections and from Asian American community
leaders. We welcome additional feedback and apologize for any inadvertent omissions or other errors.
20
03
Asian
American
Facts
Asian American Glossary of Terms
AA:
APA:
APIA:
AAPI:
abbreviation for Asian American.
abbreviation for Asian Pacific American.
abbreviation for Asian Pacific Islander American.
abbreviation for Asian American and Pacific Islander.
Asian American is a political term that is used to
more accurately describe the entire community of
Asians living in America. Historically, during the
era of Western Colonialism, the term “Oriental” was
used. Many Asian Americans find the term “Oriental” offensive because of the following reasons: the
term refers to an “exotic” or “foreign” region and
is non-specific; the term is more appropriately used
for inanimate objects; the term was used negatively
during oppressive chapters in American history; and
this term is often used while sexually objectifying
Asian and Asian American women.
East Asian refers to people whose ethnic descent is
from the region that comprises Hong Kong, Republic of Korea, Mongolia, People’s Republic of China,
Singapore, and Taiwan.
Pacific Islanders refers to a people whose ethnic
decent is from the region which comprises the Cook
Islands, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands,
Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Papua New
Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu,
and Vanuatu.
South Asian refers to people whose ethnic decent is
from the region that comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan,
India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
Southeast Asian refers to the people whose ethnic
decent is from the region that comprises Cambodia,
Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic republic, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
1st Generation commonly used to describe the first
members of a family that immigrated to the U.S.
1.5 Generation describes those who immigrated to
the U.S. before or during their early teens. This generation grows up with a combination of the culture
of their home country and American culture, and
faces the challenge of successfully acculturating in
mainstream society while maintaining the values instilled by their parents.
“Model Minority” Myth The model minority myth
is the general characterization of all Asian Americans
as smart, achievement-oriented, hardworking,
respectful, and successful. This myth homogenizes
the community and sanitizes the experiences
of Asian Americans: no distinctions are made
regarding language, culture, religion, socioeconomic
status, generation, and education within this diverse
population. Prejudice, discrimination, hate crimes,
violence, abuse, and other real-life experiences of
Asian Americans are masked under the guise of the
“model minority.”
Adapted from materials provided by the Speakers Bureau Committee of the City
of Chicago Commission on Human Relations’ Advisory Council on Asian Affairs.
23
Who are Asian Americans?
A
sian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are one of the fastest growing populations in the United
States. According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, 596,109* individuals identified
themselves as Asian and 4,763** identified themselves as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) in
Illinois. Many of the Asian American and Pacific Islander ethnic groups are represented in the Chicagoland
AAPI community. They encompass of a wide range of backgrounds, from new immigrants to U.S. born
citizens. Some of the ethnic groups represented in the Chicagoland area are Chinese, Korean, Japanese,
Filipino, Cambodian, Bangladeshi, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Polynesian, Native Hawaiian, Pakistani, and
Lao. It is important to understand that each AAPI ethnic group has its own history, language, and traditions;
many distinct cultures comprise the larger AAPI community.
Ethnic Breakdowns
As part of the 2000 Census, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders were separated from Asians and given
their own race categorization as a way to better represent the diversity of the AAPI population in the United
States. Additionally, the 2000 Census allowed respondents the option to select one or more race categories
to indicate their racial identities. Although individuals were given the option to indicate more than one race
on the 2000 Census, the data provided in this section represents the population that identified themselves
as only one race to prevent the double counting of individuals unless noted otherwise.
The 2008 data is provided by the 2006-2008 American Community Survey (ACS) three-year population
estimates. The American Community Survey (ACS) is a national statistic survey conducted by the U.S. Census
Bureau, which began in 2005. The annual ACS replaced the Decennial long-form, and gives communities
more accurate and up-to-date information about the ways they are changing. Every month, approximately
250,000 surveys are sent out to collect information such as age, race, and income, from a sampling of
households. The responses are then used to estimate population totals. The 2008 data provided in this
section is an estimate based on figures collected during the thirty-six months starting from 2006 to the end
of 2008. The three-year estimates are produced for geographic entities with populations of at least 20,000;
therefore, some information is unavailable as it does not meet this requirement. Over time, adjustments are
made to ACS estimates to correct for sampling and non-sampling errors. Thus, the numbers presented here
may change as the Census Bureau makes adjustments.
24
A ap i s i n t h e S i x N o r t h e a s t e r n C o u n t i e s
Asians (Inclusive)*
6 County
Area
% of Total
Population
Asian Population
2008
% Change
2000
2008
Cook
287,511
323,663
6.1%
DuPage
76,941
96,701
Kane
8,745
Lake
County Total
2000
2008
% Change
12.6%
5,376,741
5,278,738
-1.8%
10.4%
25.7%
904,161
927,410
2.6%
16,770
3.4%
91.8%
404,119
497,667
23.1%
28,615
44,453
6.3%
55.3%
644,356
706,864
9.7%
McHenry
4,550
9,531
3.0%
109.5%
260,077
314,112
20.8%
Will
13,008
28,343
4.2%
117.9%
502,266
669,317
33.3%
Illinois
473,649
596,109
4.6%
25.9%
12,419,293
12,829,014
3.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2008 American Community Survey
The Asian American population has increased in all six northeastern counties, as well as the entire state.
The rate of Asian population growth outpaced overall population growth, especially in Cook County’s case where
the overall population decreased and the Asian population grew regardless.
The Asian American population in Illinois grew by about 122,000 people; that is nearly a 26% increase.
Approximately 88% of Illinois’ Asian American population live in the six county area.
Approximately 55% of Illinois’ Asian American population live in Cook County.
Native Hawaiian and
other Pacific Islander†
6 County
Area
Cook
2000
2008
% of Area’s
Population
Pacific Islander
Population
County Total
Population
2008
% Change
% Change
2,561
3,001
0.1%
17.2%
-1.8%
DuPage
217
N/A**
N/A**
N/A**
2.6%
Kane
144
N/A**
N/A**
N/A**
23.1%
Lake
308
N/A**
N/A**
N/A**
9.7%
McHenry
55
N/A**
N/A**
N/A**
20.8%
Will
162
N/A**
N/A**
N/A**
33.3%
4,610
4,763
0.0%
3.3%
3.3%
Illinois
* Reflects totals of people who selected Asian as a single race category combined with those who chose Asian as at least one race category.
** Data sets were not available as the number of sample cases is too small.
25
Asian American Population From 2000 -2008 in Illinois and Chicago
The Census estimated that as of July 1, 2008, there were 596,109 Asian Americans in Illinois. This represents a 35% increase in 8 years.
Illinois
Ethnicity
2000
2008 Estimate
Chicago
Change
2000
2008 Estimate
Change
Asian Indian
133,978
178,251
33.0%
27,889
26,462
-5.1%
Bangladeshi
825
1,105
33.9%
376
262
-30.3%
Cambodian
3,516
3,157
-10.2%
1,751
739
-57.8%
Chinese
85,840
94,034
9.5%
34,329
40,047
16.7%
Filipino
100,338
111,133
10.8%
32,266
29,568
-8.4%
Hmong
604
368
-39.1%
173
97
-43.9%
Indonesian
1,201
599
-50.1%
359
52
-85.5%
Japanese
27,702
18,683
-32.6%
7,114
4,889
-31.3%
Korean
56,021
60,709
8.4%
12,867
10,703
-16.8%
Laotian
5,973
5,744
-3.8%
517
675
30.6%
Malaysian
711
554
-22.1%
186
158
-15.1%
Pakistani
18,881
18,669
-1.1%
2,385
5,993
151.3%
Sri Lankan
646
843
30.5%
144
127
-11.8%
Taiwanese
4,176
2,479
-40.6%
669
219
-67.3%
Thai
7,231
5,371
-25.7%
2,385
1,266
-46.9%
Vietnamese
21,212
26,255
23.8%
8,925
9,072
1.6%
Total*
473,649
596,109
25.9%
140,571
145,460
3.5%
* Total figures are inclusive, meaning it combines those who selected
Asian alone or in combination with one or more other races.
Source
U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2008 American Community Survey
In Illinois, the three largest Asian ethnic groups are Asian Indian, Filipino and Chinese, respectively. In Chicago, Chinese
Americans remain the largest Asian ethnic group.
The Pakistani population in Chicago grew by around 3,600, which is around a 150% increase. The Pakistani commu-
nity experienced the highest population growth in Chicago among Asian ethnic communities. However, the population
decreased overall in the state of Illinois.
Only the Chinese and Vietnamese experienced population growth in both Chicago and Illinois as a whole.
26
Where are Asian Americans?
Top 10 counties with the most Asian Americans in Illinois-2008
County
2000
2008 Estimates
Cook
264,041
300,833
DuPage County
72,173
91,034
Lake County
25,439
40,588
Will County
11,313
25,494
Champaign
11,811
15,570
Kane County
7,491
15,270
McHenry
3,826
8,287
Winnebago
4,854
6,439
McLean
3,125
5,062
Peoria
3,086
4,241
27
Language Profile
La n g u a g e P r o f i l e f o r I l l i n o i s A s i a n s A m e r i c a n 5 y e a r s a n d o l d e r
2000
% of total
2008
% of total
394,950
100.0%
507,575
100.0%
69,142
17.5%
101,894
20.1%
Speaks other languages
325,808
82.5%
405,681
79.9%
Speaks English well or better
273,529
69.3%
241,707
47.6%
Speaks English less than well
52,279
13.2%
163,974
32.3%
Total Asian population 5 years and older
Speaks only English
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census and 2006-2008 American Community Survey
About 80% of Asian Americans over 5 years old speak languages other than English.
There was over a 110,000 increase in the number of Asians who speak English less than
well, which is an increase of 214%.
Na t i v i t y o f A s i a n I l l i n o i s a n s w h o s p e a k a n o t h e r l a n g u a g e a n d a r e 5 y e a r s o r o l d e r
2000
% of total
2008
% of total
42,573
100.0%
69,555
100.0%
who speak English well or better
39,386
92.5%
58,138
83.6%
who speak English less than well
3,187
7.5%
11,417
16.4%
206,227
100.0%
336,126
100.0%
who speak English well or better
165,497
80.2%
183,569
54.6%
who speak English less than well
40,730
19.8%
152,557
45.4%
Native:
Foreign born:
28
P o p u l a t i o n b y La n g u a g e s Sp o k e n
5 County**
5 County
Chicago
Population 5 and Over
7,493,062
2,522,156
Speak English Only
5,442,229
1,612,050
Speak a language other than English
2,342,951
910,106
Chinese
67,284
33,746
Guajarathi
32,713
3,274
Hindi
28,116
6,182
78
54
Japanese
10,297
2,455
Korean
41,155
7,911
Laotian
3,463
975
Mon-Khmer, Cambodian
2,480
506
68,863
21,419
Thai
3,976
1,029
Urdu
37,914
9,394
Vietnamese
16,240
7,975
Other Asian languages
35,704
5,181
4,015
987
Hmong
Tagalog
Other Pacific Island languages
** 5 County region consist of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and Will Counties.
McHenry County could not be included as the sample size was too small.
Source
U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2008 American Community Survey
Linguistic Isolation*
Chicago, 2000
25.7%
74.3%
Chicago, 2008
26.8%
73.2%
6 county, 2000
34.8%
65.2%
6 county, 2008
34.6%
65.4%
0%
20%
Linguistically isolated
40%
60%
80%
100%
Not linguistically isolated
* Linguistically Isolated household is one in which no member 14 years and over (1) speak only English or (2) speak a non-English language and
speaks English “very well.” In other words, all members 14 years old and over have at least some difficulty with English.
29
Education Profile
Educational Attainment for Illinois Asian Americans over 25 Years Old
2000
Asians Population
Total
2008 Estimate
Illinois Total Population
% Total
Total
Asians Population
% Total
Total
% Total
Illinois Total Population
Total
% Total
Less than high
school diploma
36,291
13.1%
1,480,443
18.6%
34,619
9.4%
1,203,202
14.4%
High school
graduate, GED,
or alternative
32,813
11.9%
2,212,291
27.7%
43,619
11.9%
2,364,161
28.4%
Some college
or associate's
degree
48,011
17.4%
2,202,888
27.6%
63,936
17.4%
2,307,832
27.7%
Bachelor's
degree or higher
159,582
57.7%
2,078,049
26.1%
225,652
61.3%
2,461,724
29.5%
Total
276,697
100.0%
7,973,671
100.0%
367,826
100.0%
8,336,919
100.0%
The Illinois Asian population with less than a high school diploma decreased by around 4.5%.
In Illinois, 41.3% of all Asian Americans have at least a bachelor’s degree.
2008 Total Population
14.4%
18.6%
2008 Asian Population
9.4%
0%
Less than high
school diploma
30
13.1%
28.4%
27.7%
27.7%
11.9%
11.9%
29.5%
27.6%
26.1%
17.4%
61.3%
17.3%
20%
High school graduate,
GED, or alternative
40%
57.7%
60%
Some college or
associate's degree
80%
100%
Bachelor's degree
or higher
Educational Attainment for Chicago Asian Americans over 25 Years Old
2000
Asians Population
Total
% Total
2008 Estimate
Chicago Total Population
Total
% Total
Asians Population
Total
Chicago Total Population
% Total
Total
% Total
Less than high
school diploma
17,718
20.3%
511,774
28.2%
16,033
16.6%
386,313
21.9%
High school
graduate, GED,
or alternative
12,453
14.2%
418,113
23.0%
14,928
15.5%
442,099
25.0%
Some college
or associate's
degree
15,111
17.3%
423,226
23.3%
15,896
16.5%
403,401
22.9%
Bachelor's
degree or higher
42,187
48.2%
462,783
25.5%
49,561
51.4%
533,123
30.2%
Total
87,469
100.0%
1,815,896
100.0%
96,418
100.0%
1,764,936
100.0%
In Chicago, over 51% of Asian Americans over 25 have at least a bachelor’s degree.
Chicago continues to accounts for nearly half of the Asians with less than a high school diploma in Illinois.
21.9%
28.2%
16.6%
20.3%
0%
Less than high
school diploma
25.0%
23.0%
15.5%
14.2%
20%
30.2%
22.9%
25.5%
23.3%
51.4%
16.5%
48.2%
17.3%
40%
60%
Less than
High school
Some college
Highschool
school graduate,
or
high
graduate, Some college
or associate's
GED,
or
alternative
associate's
degree
diploma
GED, or
degree
alternative
80%
100%
Bachelor's
Bachelor's
degreedegree
or
or higher
higher
31
Racial Composition
Race Comparisons in Chicago
2000
2008
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
80%
100%
Race Comparisons in Illinois
2000
2008
0%
20%
40%
60%
The racial compositions of Illinois and Chicago have remained nearly the same.
White
Black or African American
American Indian & Alaska Native
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
Native Hawaiian & other Pacific Islander
Other
32
Income
Asian Poverty Status*
2000
Population with
Income below
poverty level
2008
Population with
Income below
poverty level
Total Population % of population
Total Population % of population
Chicago
22,160
123,370
18.0%
19,854
132,079
15.0%
Illinois
39,930
413,360
9.7%
49,592
535,332
9.3%
* Asian population for whom poverty status is determined Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Census and 2006-2008 American Community Survey
Per Capita Income Illinois and Chicago by Race
Illinois
Hispanic/Latino
Chicago
Black or African American
White
American Indian or Native Alaskan
Asian
Native Hawaian or Pacific Islander
Total
0
$10,000
$20,000
$30,000
$40,000
$50,000
Income
Proportion of Respective Population Below Poverty Level
35%
Chicago
Illinois
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
White
Black
Asians
Latino
AIAA
Total
33
Citizenship Status
Changes in Asian American Citizenship Statuses in Chicago
2000
% of Total
2008
% of Total
Native
33,617
26.5%
39,386
29.2%
Foreign born:
93,435
73.5%
95,350
70.8%
Naturalized U.S. citizen
44,502
35.0%
53,768
39.9%
Not a U.S. citizen
48,933
38.5%
41,582
30.9%
127,052
100.0%
134,736
100.0%
Total
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 and 2006-2008 American Community Survey
Changes in Asian American Citizenship Statuses in Illinois
2000
% of Total
2008
% of Total
Native
117,877
27.8%
167,537
30.7%
Foreign born:
305,563
72.2%
378,243
69.3%
Naturalized U.S. citizen
147,868
34.9%
214,240
39.3%
Not a U.S. citizen
157,695
37.2%
164,003
30.0%
423,440
100.0%
545,780
100.0%
Total
In Illinois, 381,777 Asian Americans are U.S. citizens either by birth or naturalization. This represents
70% of the community.
The native-born Asian population grew by around 50,000, which is a 42% population increase.
The foreign-born, Asian US citizen population grew by around 66,000, which is around a 45% population increase.
34
Citizenship Status
Chicago Asian Citizenship Status
2008
2000
0%
30.9%
39.9%
38.0%
20%
29.2%
35.0%
40%
60%
26.5%
80%
100%
Illinois Asian Citizenship Status
2008
2000
0%
30.0%
39.3%
37.2%
20%
Not a U.S. Citizen
30.7%
34.9%
40%
60%
Foreign-born, Naturalized U.S. Citizen
27.8%
80%
100%
Native, U.S. Citizen
35
Voter Eligibility
Voter Eligibility in Illinois
Area
Total Eligible
Voters
Total
Population
% of Total
Population
Eligible Asian
Voters
Total Asian
Population
% of Asian
Population
Chicago
1,745,750
2,725,206
64.1%
73,252
134,736
54.4%
Cook County
3,406,623
5,278,738
64.5%
155,909
300,883
51.8%
DuPage County
620,908
927,410
67.0%
46,293
91,034
50.9%
Kane County
296,570
497,667
59.6%
7,645
15,270
50.1%
Lake County
441,884
706,864
62.5%
20,482
40,558
50.5%
McHenry County
212,718
314,112
67.7%
4,809
8,287
58.0%
Will County
440,768
669,317
65.9%
12,305
25,494
48.3%
8,759,430
12,829,014
68.3%
276,679
545,780
50.7%
Illinois
36
City of Chicago
Commission on Human Relations
Advisory Council on Asian Affairs
740 N. Sedgwick Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60654-8488
(312) 744-4111 (Main) - (312) 744-1088 (TTY) - (312) 744-1081 (F AX)
Webpage: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cchr/provdrs/asian_aff.html
The Advisory Council on Asian Affairs
Congratulates the Asian American Institute
and is proud to be one the sponsors of the
4th Edition of the Asian American Compass
The Advisory Council on Asian Affairs provides a vital link between city government and the Asian American
community’s social service, civic, cultural and faith based institutions. The Council provides the following
services: information, advocacy, city services & program referrals, hate crime victim assistance referral and
conflict resolution assistance.
Specifically, the powers and duties of the Advisory Council, as relating specifically to the Asian American
population of Chicago and as set forth in the Chicago Human Relations Enabling Ordinance, are to:





Assist the Commission on Human Relations in the design of educational and enforcement programs and
materials for the implementation of policies to eliminate discrimination;
Act as a liaison between city government and Asian American community to promote cooperation and
access between city government, its departments and community based organizations in order to enhance
services to the affected population of Chicago;
To cooperate through the Commission on Human Relations with other advisory councils in the
identification and remediation of practices and actions that have a discriminatory impact on a council’s
constituency and other segments of society;
Assist the Commission on Human Relations by recommending policies and programs, review existing
programs, conduct legislative research and report to the Commission its findings with regard to the
specific needs of an affected community; and,
Promote (cultural) diversity through its participation in community events, festivals, parades, and hosting
of the Mayor’s annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Reception.
37
04
Asian
American
COMMUNITY
PROFILES
Cambodian Americans
Chinese Americans
Filipino Americans
Indian Americans
Japanese Americans
Korean Americans
Laotian Americans
Native Hawaiian
& Other Pacific Islanders
Nepali Americans
Pakistani Americans
Thai Americans
Tibetan Americans
38
COMMUNITY P RO F ILE
By: Sadruddin Noorani. Updated by Sadruddin Noorani (2010).
Demographics
Community leaders estimate that there are roughly 5,000 Bangladeshi Americans in
Chicagoland. Of those who are age 20 and above, 92% have a high school diploma. About 7% cannot speak English well. About 60% of Bangladeshis hold a bachelor’s
degree and 75% of Bangladeshis are professionals, such as architects, engineers,
doctors, lawyers, computer scientists, accountants, managers, research scientists,
and university professors. The remaining members of the workforce are engaged in
business, services, and entry-level positions. According to community leaders, about
45% of Bangladeshi Americans in metropolitan Chicago live in the city’s north and
northeast neighborhoods; the remaining 55% reside in the suburbs. Historical Background
In 1947, the Indian sub-continent was divided into two parts--one part Hindu majority and one part Muslim majority. The Muslim section bordered both the east
as well as the west side of India. After this partition of British India, these Muslim
majority areas came to be known as Pakistan, and East Pakistan was then one of the
largest of the five provinces of Pakistan. In 1971, East Pakistan became the independent nation of Bangladesh.
According to community leaders, there were a handful of Bangalis (former
East Pakistanis) in Chicago in the late 1940s. Some of these Bangali Pakistanis arrived
in Chicago in mid-1950s as students, professionals, and exchange visitors through
grants from the Colombo Plan, Ford Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation. Many
of these first generation immigrants have struggled to achieve professional status.
The second wave of Bangladeshis started flocking to the Chicago area in the mid1970s after Bangladesh became an independent nation. These immigrants came
to the United States as students and relatives of previous immigrants. Some
came to the U.S. under the Diversity Visa (lottery) program, and through H-1B
visas. Bangladeshis achieved a reputation for excellence in computer engineering
technology, entrepreneurship in the medical and surgical fields, and as architects.
Twenty years ago, Bangladeshis were commonly mistaken as Indians or Pakistanis.
Today, however, Bangladeshi American organizations are sharing their heritage
through cultural programs and other activities to distinguish themselves as a distinct
culture and people. Sections of two major streets in Chicago are named after two
prominent Bangladeshis – Sheikh Mujib, the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, and
F. R. Khan, architect who designed the Willis Tower and other innovative skyscrapers
in Chicago.
In the early 1980s, when there were about 60 Bangladeshi families in Chicagoland, they
formed a community organization by the name of the Bangladesh Association. When
community members multiplied, two organizations were eventually derived from the
parent organization, replacing it with the Bangladesh Association of Chicagoland and
39
Bangladeshi American Profile
Bangladesh Association of Greater Chicagoland.
Bangladeshi organizations actively participate
in mainstream American and ethnic heritage and
cultural activities. Community organizations also
host annual picnics and sports festivals for all
age groups.
The community does not have its own local print or
electronic media, but they depend on New York’s
weekly Bengali print and electronic newspapers, as
well as overseas TV media.
Language
Bengali or Bangla is the most widely spoken language
most widely spoken among Bangladeshis. Bengali
is an eastern Indo-Aryan language that is native to
the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal,
which comprises present day Bangladesh and also a
part of West Bengal—a state of India.
Many educated Bangladeshis also speak English;
this was due in large part to Britain’s rule of
the Indian subcontinent. In addition, because
Bengal was originally part of British India, many
educated Bangladeshis are familiar with both
Hindi and Urdu, the official languages of India and
Pakistan, respectively.
Important Traditions & Holidays
In Chicago, Shaheed Day -- now known internationally
as Language Day -- is observed on February 21st, in
remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives for
the Bangla language. Bangladesh Day is celebrated
in March, with a parade bearing floats as well as
cultural programs that commemorate Bangladeshi
independence. Victory Day is celebrated in December
with cultural programs to commemorate the end of
the freedom movement. Pahela Baishakh (around
April 15) is observed as the first day of the Bengali
calendar. Other celebrations include Muslim
holidays such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha. Bengalis are traditionally a predominantly closed
society in which the head of the family is the male,
and the female is responsible for running the home.
The children respect the elders of the family, and
they continue to be supported by the family after
the age of eighteen. Often, other extended family
members also live with the family.
Food and Dietary Restrictions
The main traditional Bangladeshi dish is steamed
rice with fish curry prepared with spices; lentils,
vegetables, and poultry or meat accompanies most
entrees. Bangladeshis do not consume alcoholic
beverages and pork for religious reasons.
Religion
In Chicagoland, about 95% of Bangladeshis are
Muslim; the rest are Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, etc.
Major Issues for the Community
According to community leaders, immigration
and welfare legislation and the long-lasting impact
of the September 11th terrorist attacks are major
concerns for the community. Bangladeshis are
concerned that they are being unfairly equated
with terrorists, which could significantly impact the
chance of aspiring immigrants from Bangladesh:
racial profiling may limit opportunities in education
and in the job market. Community leaders also see
a need for education and guidance to foster closer
ties between the Bangladeshi American community
and mainstream America.
When a Bangladeshi family has to relocate, it is often because the husband has landed a job in a new
place. This makes the adjustment easier for the man,
who will often have a circle of work colleagues to
network and make friends with, while his wife will
be more or less on her own, often with no driving
skills and no Bengali women’s social support organization. During Chicago’s cold winters, such women
may become homebound.
Relatives, especially children, of many Bangladeshi
Chicagoans are left back home, and it is uncertain
when these broken families will be reunited.
Furthermore, an issue between the generations
is the challenge of maintaining Bangladeshi
traditions and religion in the U.S. and finding a
bridge between the Bangladesh traditional system
of arranged marriage and the practice of marrying
for love.
40
Bangladeshi American Profile
Art s & Cu lt u re
Bangladesh Association of Chicagoland
Annual Cultural Performances; Picnic/Festivals and observe Bangladeshi national holidays.
Bangladesh Association of Greater Chicagoland
Annual Cultural Celebrations: Picnic/Festivals; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Youth Programs and observe Bangladeshi national
holidays.
Relig iou s Org a ni zati o n s
Bangladesh Islamic Community
An active Religious Organization. Recently with the collaboration with other sister Muslim communities they built a mosque
in Evanston, IL for prayers and to conduct other necessary social
and religious activities.
Media
Weekly Thikana
Weekly Bangali paper from New York
Weekly Bangla Patrika
Weekly Bangali paper from New York
41
Cambodian Americans
By: Borita Khim, Teacher, Stockton Elementary School, and Kompha Seth, Executive Director, Cambodian Association of Illinois from The Ethnic
Handbook (Illinois Ethnic Coalition, 1996). Updated by Kompha Seth (2010).
Demographics
According to the 2000 Census, there are a total of 3,516 Cambodians living in
Illinois, with the majority living in Cook County (1,914); estimates made by
community leaders, however, suggest that the Cambodian population in Illinois is
closer to 5,000. One reason for this disparity is that many Cambodian immigrants
cannot read or write in their own language, let alone understand English. This has
potentially caused, according to leaders, many immigrants to throw-out their censuscount information.
There is a wide range of language capability that exists among this group. For those
aged five to seventeen, 305 reported speaking “only English,” followed by 453 who
reported speaking English “very well.” For those in the eighteen to sixty-four year
age group, there ability to speak English had greater variance; 1,671 people in this
age group reported speaking English “very well” and “well.” Those aged sixty-five
and older reported having less of an ability to speak English; 87 reported having the
ability to speak English “not well” and another 67 reported that they did not speak
English at all.
Cambodians in Illinois are employed in various industries; 595 Cambodians reported working in the manufacturing sector, followed by 198 in retail-trade, and 175
in the educational, health and social services sector. Community leaders state that
many of the first generation Cambodian immigrants work in low paying, entry-level
positions. Common jobs include janitorial work, hotel and motel service empoylees,
and assembly-line work. Second generation Cambodians, however, are obtaining
“professional” jobs in the technology and financial sectors.
Historical Background
Cambodians started coming to Chicago in 1975 as refugees escaping political oppression. During the time of the Khmer Rouge (communist guerrilla group) rule of
Cambodia—April 1975 to January 1979—as many as 3 million (out of 7.5 million)
Cambodians were killed, with many more forced into work camps. These circumstances became known as the Cambodian Killing Fields. Border conflicts resulted
with the invasion of Cambodia by the Vietnamese communist government, which
then helped install a Cambodian regime trained in Hanoi. Mass killings during the
Khmer Rouge era and subsequent conflicts between the Khmer Rouge and the new
regime forced many Cambodians to flee to Thailand and seek asylum. Unfortunately, these refugees were unable to stay in Thailand, thus forcing them to seek third
country asylum. Between 1979 and 1980, continued fighting and the burning of rice
reserves led to starvation and famine.
42
Cambodian American Profile
Although Cambodian refugees have been resettled in
the United States for nearly two and a half decades,
the largest numbers came between 1979 and 1985.
Of those entering the United States at that time, 4%
came to Illinois; half of that number settled in Chicago neighborhoods including Uptown and Albany
Park, where housing was inexpensive and agencies
were available to help with resettlement. Agencies
active during that period included Travelers &
Immigrants Aid, Lutheran Child & Family Services,
Catholic Charities, World Relief, and Jewish
Family & Community Service. The first wave of
Cambodians to resettle in Chicago were better
educated than later immigrants, who tended to
come from rural areas, were less literate, and had
more difficulty adjusting to life in urban America.
The Cambodian Association of Illinois, a community-based organization, was founded in 1976.
Their mission was to provide translation and
interpretation services and help the refugees carry
on their traditions. In 1980, the agency received
funding to provide social services such as employment and counseling in order to help newly-arrived
immigrants with assimilation.
In 2005, the Cambodian Association of Illinois established the Cambodian American Heritage Museum
and Killing Fields Memorial, in order to educate and
memorialize people on Cambodian American heritage
and the atrocities of the Killing Fields. Of particuCambodians Poverty Status by Citizenship in Chicago
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Native
Naturalized
At/Above poverty level
Non-citizen
Below poverty level
Graph 1: Cambodian Poverty Status According to Citizenship in Chicago.
2000 Census. www.census.gov
43
lar importance to the Cambodian community is the
emphasis placed on “hope and renewal.” According
to Kompha Seth, Executive Director of the Cambodian Association, one of the main goals of the Killing
Fields Memorial is to give those who lived through
the Killing Fields years an opportunity to leave their
traumatic memories and experiences at the memorial.
Current Migration Patterns
There are currently only a few Cambodian immigrants arriving to the United States each year. In Chicago, many Cambodians are moving west and buying homes in the far northwest parts of the city in the
Skokie-Niles area. There are also families that continue to move outside the city of Chicago to Janesville, Illinois; families also move to Northern Indiana
and Wisconsin, as well.
Language
The language spoken in Cambodia is called Khmer.
Although there is only one language, people from different areas of Cambodia speak with differing accents.
Religion
More than 80% of Cambodians are Theravada
Buddhists. The rest include Muslims, Christians,
and Hindus.
In Cambodian culture, a great deal of respect and
authority is accorded to teachers and one’s elders.
Youth are expected to obey their parents, teachers,
and other elders; “‘talking-back’” is regarded as an
unacceptable act. An individual’s behavior reflects
on the reputation of his/her family. Dating is often
socially discouraged as many parents will typically
arrange marriages for young-adults.
Each year, Cambodians celebrate several major holidays. Cambodia’s New Year’s celebration is comprised
of the Maha Sangkran (April 14 - the last day of the
old year), Vana Bat (April 15 - the day separating the
two years), and Loeung Sak (April 16 - the first day of
the new year). Other holidays include Bon Phchum
Bend, or the Ancestor Festival (15 days in September),
and Visakh Boja (in May) which celebrates the birth,
enlightenment, and the death of Buddha.
Cambodian American Profile
Names
Cambodians often give their children names that
rhyme with the names of other family members.
Surnames come first in Cambodia, but most
Cambodian Americans have adopted the Western
custom of placing the surname last.
Years after the Cambodians’ resettlement in the
United States, the statistics pertaining to their economic and professional success remain particularly
distressing, even when compared to other Southeast
Asian refugee populations. For example, according
to the 1990 U.S. Census:
The poverty rate of Cambodian Americans is
47%, the second highest of all Asian American
groups
The average household income of this population is $14,364; over 77% of Cambodian
American households earn less than $35,000
per year
41% have less than a fifth grade education and
only 5% have a bachelor’s degree or higher
47% of Cambodian Americans are employed
versus 58% of Laotian Americans and 65% of
In the U.S., 28% of the general population has
either a managerial or professional career while
only 10% of working Cambodian Americans
are employed at this level
Of the 13 Asian American/Pacific Islander populations in the U.S., Cambodians rank highest in
terms of “linguistically isolated” people. Furthermore, 70% do not have a solid command of
the English language
Given these challenges, it is evident that much work
still needs to be done so that Cambodian Americans
can become truly self-sufficient, productive participants in U.S. society.
Cambodian Education Attainment in Illinois
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Male
Female
Bachelor+
10-Associate
0-9
Graph 2: Level of Educational Attainment between Male and Female
Cambodians in Illinois. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
Cambodians Poverty Level by Age in Chicago
Belo
w
20%
po
ve
r
el
lev
ty
In terms of mental health challenges, the August
3rd 2005 issue of the Journal of American Medical
Association revealed high rates of psychiatric
disorders associated with trauma more than two
decades after resettlement in the Unites States;
62% of participants had high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder, and 51% experienced
high rates of depression associated with PTSD.
These rates ranged from 6 to 17 times higher than
national averages for adults. Most participants
had a family member or friend murdered, and
had also been exposed to violence after resettling
in the U.S.
Children and youth of Cambodian parents have
their own difficulties. According to anthropologist
Mary Carol Hopkins, author of Braving a New
World, “Cambodian high school students typically
have lower grade point averages, lower achievement scores, and lower job status aspirations than
do other Southeast Asian students living in the
Midwest area of the U.S.” One in five Cambodian
American youth fall victim to gangs, drugs, violence, or truancy in school.
1%
0%
78%
Income in 1999 at or above poverty level
75+
65-74
Under 65
Graph 3: Cambodian Poverty Level in Chicago. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
44
Chinese Americans
By: Yvonne M. Lau, Ph.D., Department of Modern Languages, DePaul University. Updated by Yvonne M. Lau, Ph.D. (2010).
Demographics & Current Migration Patterns
Chinese Americans experienced a significantly higher growth rate compared to the
Illinois population (9%). Based on the 2000 Census, the Chinese American population
increased by 54% in Illinois, rising from 49,936 (1990 Census; 28.597 in 1980) to
76,725 (this figure represents the population who indicated that they were only one
race). Representing the third largest Asian population group, Chinese Americans are
highly concentrated in the Chicago six-county area. The largest number of Chinese
Americans resides in Cook County (48,058), a 44% increase since 1990. While four
other counties started with low numbers of Chinese Americans in 1990, Kendall,
Will, McHenry, and Lake witnessed population changes ranging from 204% to
150% respectively.
Comparing the Chinese American population within the Chicago six-county area,
the largest Chinese American municipality remains the City of Chicago (31,813 or
1.1% of the city), followed by Naperville (4,198), Skokie (1,574), Evanston (1,426),
and Schaumburg (1,388). Most striking among the phenomenal growth areas in
the six-county area for Chinese Americans since the last decade include: Lake Bluff,
Grayslake, Long Grove, Carpentersville, Barrington, and Itasca.
Unique among residential “Chinatowns” across the U.S., Chicago’s South Side
Chinatown marks the residence to a significant proportion of city residents. One
out of four or 26% (8,135) of Chicago’s Chinese American population reside in
six major census tracts surrounding Chinatown (compared to 8% in San Francisco and 14% in New York Chinatowns). In the upwardly mobile environs next
to U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, new construction and
renovated homes have been in high demand in the past decade. Reviewing the
Chinese American population by Chicago community area, the ten top Chicago
Chinese American neighborhoods are: Bridgeport, Armour Square, West Ridge,
Hyde Park, Near West Side, Edgewater, McKinley Park, Uptown, Near North
Side, and Archer Heights.
Within the six-county area, Chinese Americans continue to be almost evenly
dispersed between Chicago and the suburbs. This dual Chicago-suburban residential
trend contrasts with other large immigrant Asian groups – Filipinos, Asian Indians,
and Koreans – who reside primarily in the suburbs. Slightly more Chinese Americans
however, reside in the suburbs than in Chicago. While Chinese Americans are
concentrated in three of Chicago’s six collar counties – Cook, DuPage, and Lake,
the largest number of suburbanites (48,058) reside in Cook County. Second to
Cook County in total population of Chinese Americans and Asian Americans,
DuPage County has also been a popular residential choice for Chinese Americans,
experiencing a 75% growth rate (11,546).
45
Chinese American Profile
Chinese immigration to the U.S. occurred over four
historical periods: 1) open immigration from 1849 to
1882; 2) immigration policies of exclusion from 1882
to 1943 except for members of exempted categories,
i.e. merchants, scholars, etc.; 3) immigration quotas
permitting limited entry from 1943 to 1965; and
4) revived entry following the 1965 Immigration
Act until the present, creating equal national
origin quotas and fueling family reunification with
occupational preferences.
Chinese immigrants largely entered through
California in the 1840s, contributing to the building
of the American West. In the 19th century, initially
attracted by California gold prospects, rural Chinese
mainly from the southern Guangdong province were
later recruited en masse to work in the railroad
construction and small industries. Meeting U.S. labor
needs, Chinese workers were essential in developing
the infrastructure and nascent industries (e.g.
agriculture) of the Pacific and American West. By the
late 1870s however, conditions had changed. With
a major recession in California, the anti-Chinese
movement erupted. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion
Act was passed by Congress, targeting for the first
time, members of a specific racial/ethnic group. The
Exclusion Act prohibited Chinese laborers from
entering the U.S., and those already here were denied
citizenship and civil liberties. Given this chilly climate
on the west coast, cities like Chicago and New York
became more viable options.
Chicago’s first Chinatown was established in the
1880s near Clark and Van Buren. In 1872, as the
city rebuilt from the Great Chicago Fire, the first
Chinese hand laundry opened at 167 W. Madison.
While several other occupations were open to
Chinese, including retail and services associated
with Chinese native products, the popularity of
Chinese-owned laundries marks the growth of the
Chinese immigrant community and its restricted
occupational opportunity structure. Unlike some
American “Chinatowns”, Chicago’s first ethnic
enclave was not a residential center. This lack of
traditional community and family life was fueled
by two factors. First, few Chinese women were
allowed to enter the U.S., given the discriminatory
and gendered immigration policies. In 1910, there
were 65 Chinese women and 1,713 men. This
severe gender imbalance would not change until
after 1965. Second, with hard lessons learned from
the anti-Chinese movement linked to the American
West experience, most Chinese chose not to live
in Chinatown, preferring to “blend in,” scattering
themselves around town and living invisibly within
their storefront businesses.
By 1910, higher rents indicative of the growing “Loop”
and internal factionalism in the original Chinatown
led the leaders to relocate to another Chinatown,
near Wentworth and Cermak, which provided
affordable storefronts and apartments. The Loop
Chinatown remained until 1975 when it was razed
to prepare for the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
Even in the latter half of the 20th century, among
the few second generation Chinese Americans who
had requisite language and job skills for employment
outside the ethnic enclave, opportunities outside the
enclave were severely restricted by discriminatory
attitudes and practices.
With the end of WWII and the 1949 establishment
of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), many
Chinese immigrants, sojourners, and students no
longer thought of returning to China. The exclusion
laws against Chinese had been repealed in 1943,
reunifying many Chinese American families. An
influx of new immigrants arrived in the 1950s,
mainly Mandarin-speaking professionals displaced
by the 1949 Revolution. Many of them settled
outside of the central city and in the suburbs.
Newly-arrived Cantonese-speaking immigrants and
refugees from China and Hong Kong tended to live
around Chinatown, joining the second- generation
community in renovating and expanding the
south side Chinatown. A smaller group of Chinese
immigrants and refugees settled on the north side,
in racially diverse neighborhoods including the near
north, Uptown, Edgewater, and Rogers Park.
The 1965 Immigration Act allowed for annual
quotas of 20,000 per country, when major waves of
immigration from China and Hong Kong occurred.
By the mid-1970s, another significant spurt of
immigration from PRC appeared as the U.S. and
China renewed relations. After the conclusion of
46
the Vietnam War in 1975, another critical influx of
refugees from Southeast Asia led to the development
of a north side enclave of refugees and immigrants
around Argyle and Broadway (represented mainly
by ethnic Chinese and natives all from Vietnam,
Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos). The new Argyle
neighborhood became more diverse in business and
residential opportunities, especially for the multiethnic newcomers who could not fully integrate into
the more homogeneous south side community of
Chinatown. Argyle entrepreneurs are typically ethnic
Chinese from Southeast Asia who have excelled in
dominating in the import and export of Asian ethnic
goods, enjoying the socioeconomic advantages of
being multi-lingual and multi-cultural.
City vs. Suburban
While the Chinese American and Asian American
populations are increasingly more diverse and
challenging to generalize, some trends distinguishing
Chicago and suburban residents may be observed.
Chicago’s Chinese Americans vary widely across
socioeconomic class, education, occupation, English
ability, and nativity. Chinese Americans residing in
Chicago are more likely to be: newer immigrants
or refugees, lower in socioeconomic status, limitedEnglish speakers, workers in the secondary and
service sectors, unemployed or underemployed, young
adults or single parents, elderly, and undocumented.
Though there are counter trends, marked by
the overall gentrification of Chicago’s ethnic
neighborhoods and the return of empty nesters
including the middle class to south side Chinatown/
South Loop, city residents are generally more
limited in human capital and financial resources.
While foreign-born Chinese represent 76% of the
Chinese American population, both in Chicago
and in the suburbs, the median household income
for Chicago’s Chinese American households
average $36,863; suburban Chinese families in
DuPage County average $91,393. In educational
attainment, 40% of Chinese Americans in Chicago
have a college degree or higher, while 71% in the
suburbs are college graduates. Despite the common
proportions of foreign-born Chinese in the city and
suburbs, only 40% of Chicago’s Chinese Americans
are English proficient, compared to 65% of
47
suburban Chinese.
Based on social and economic indicators, city
resident profiles reflect a widening gap in human
capital. Tending toward a bi-modal distribution,
Chicago’s Chinese Americans are disproportionately
represented in opposite groupings. For example,
though there are large numbers of college-educated
professionals and highly-skilled technicians, there
are significant numbers of illiterate service and lowwage workers. Chinese immigrants particularly, are
represented in a wide range of occupations, reflecting
varying human capital, immigration entry periods,
and regions of origin. For foreign-born Chinese
women and men, the four largest niches of industrial
concentrations are found in: manufacturing; food
services; professional, management, administration;
and education, health, and social services.
A visit to the south side Chinatown points to the
growing inequality among residents, of access to
goods or services including housing. Chinatown’s
real estate ranges from old, substandard dwellings to
new luxury town homes on the same blocks. Some
residents are linguistically isolated, bound to jobs
in the ethnic enclave often tied to menial, low-wage
work. Others are white-collar professionals, commuting daily to their downtown corporate offices.
In contrast, suburban Chinese Americans are more
homogeneous in socioeconomic status, with
sufficient human, social, and cultural capital to
access the resources and lifestyle associated with
suburban communities. Chinese Americans are
more likely to live beyond Chinatown and in the
suburbs if they have a college or advanced degree,
reflecting a higher socioeconomic status.
For Chinese American families with children,
the priority given to “good” public schools is
paramount in the decision to move out of the city.
Gravitating toward new housing developments,
reputable school districts, high tech corporate
corridors, and lured by the emerging “ethnosuburbs,” (e.g. Naperville, Skokie, Palatine,
Schaumburg, Arlington Heights) which offer ethnic
goods and services, suburban Chinese Americans
are more integrated into the dominant suburban
culture. They are not dependent on the traditional
Chinatown for jobs, services, or products, but
rather “visit” Chinatown on special occasions.
Languages
In the Argyle-Broadway enclave, Cantonese and Vietnamese are commonly spoken. The fifty distinct
dialects of Chinese include Mandarin (the official
PRC dialect), Cantonese, Toishan, Teochiu, Taiwanese, and Fukien. Many of these dialects are distinctive from each other with different tones and idiomatic expressions. A speaker of one dialect may not
be able to understand another spoken dialect.
While the written characters were traditionally
understood by literate Chinese from different
regions of China, the contemporary development
of different writing systems between the PRC and
overseas Chinese communities – including Taiwan –
has led to two different schools of Chinese language
training in the U.S. Mainland Chinese prefer to use
the simplified characters and strokes as developed
in the PRC. Chinese originally from overseas
communities including those in Southeast Asia,
Taiwan, North America, the Caribbean islands,
South and Central America, and Australia, prefer
using the traditional characters and stroke system.
Religion
Chinese Americans identify with a number of
religions and philosophies including Buddhism,
Christianity, ancestral worship, Taoism, and
Confucianism. These are not necessarily mutually
exclusive. One of the largest Chinese churches
is located in south side Chinatown, the Chinese
Christian Union Church which holds eight different
Sunday services in different languages or dialects
in three different locations, attracting many
worshippers from the Chicago vicinity and suburbs.
Chinese churches and temples may also be found in
the new ethno-suburbs around the six-county area.
Family harmony and filial piety emphasize the
interdependence of family members and respect
for authority accorded to the older generation. The
younger generation should defer to the values and
preferences of their parents. Such traditions may be
problematic for some Chinese American families
where second-generation members prioritize the
American value of placing the individual first and
the need to assert oneself and claim individual rights.
Other traditions include when babies are born, there
is often a “one-month celebration,” a family and
community event heralding a healthy future for the
child. When people pass on, the Chinese preference is
for burial in a Chinese-receptive cemetery. Older, first
generation Chinese still would like to be buried in
their ancestral family home or have their bones sent
back to their native village for burial.
Many Chinese Americans maintain practices related to ancestral worship in the home or in public
by burning incense, paper money and candles, and
providing food or other necessities for the afterlife
on altar tables at home or at gravesites. The Lunar
New Year is the most celebrated Chinese holiday,
usually occurring in late January until late February. Lucky or red envelopes containing money are
usually given to children to help start the new year
appropriately in an auspicious way. Other holidays include the Chingming/Ghost Festival (usually
April) and the August Moon Festival.
Names
In most traditional or first-generation families,
same-sex siblings receive a common name selected
according to its meaning and/or possible homonyms (e.g. for sisters, a popular name would be
“Mei” meaning beautiful – they might be named
Mei Li and Mei Ling). Most Chinese Americans
who were born here have Western first names,
though they may also be given a Chinese name to
be used by family or close friends. There are only
100 Chinese surnames. Common ones are Chan,
Moy, Liu, and Wong. Moys were the first Chinese
residents to establish a family association in Chicago. Early immigrants often joined name societies which were very powerful. Post-1965, more
Chinese immigrants have joined regional, professional, or dialect organizations.
Major issues for the Community
As the Chicago Chinese American community
expands, it becomes increasingly daunting and
challenging to generalize about the entire population.
Issues vary by distinct groups and cohorts,
48
ranging from differences across nativity, regions,
age, occupational and educational backgrounds,
immigration periods, dialect groups, residential
communities, etc. With new waves of immigrants
from mainland China and Southeast Asia, there are
acute needs for many services, including ESL classes,
job training, bilingual/interpretive services, childcare
and eldercare. For those restricted by language
barriers to the ethnic enclave, access to affordable
housing is paramount. The increasing inequality
reflected in upwardly mobile enclaves like south side
Chinatown serves both to punish and reward those
who are most dependent on it. While they provide
social capital or ethnic networks of support, in
addition to ethnic resources, they also prolong new
immigrants’ limited pools of human capital.
Dependence on Chinatown or Argyle as the only
sites for jobs and housing creates a habit of using the
enclave to provide for all immigrant needs, creating
an economic and cultural “ghetto,” according to one
agency staffer. The popular stereotype of Chinatown
as a self-sufficient community is a myth. Some adult
immigrants languish in ESL classes, drifting in and
out for years without gaining full-time employment.
Without basic formal education, working class
immigrant parents cannot help their kids with school
work which also exacerbates problems linked to the
growing numbers of “latch-key” kids.
Many working class families are under enormous
stress to survive and provide for their families.
Rising unemployment and underemployment also
contribute to the limited opportunities for mobility.
From face-to-face interviews with community leaders
and staffers in non-profit groups serving Chinatown
and the Argyle communities, the following groups
have been highlighted:
1.Youth – Youth especially in urban Chicago face a
continuum of issues, including racial harassment in
the Chinatown and Argyle vicinities and in schools,
academic and school-based problems, cultural and
personal identity issues, and intergenerational
issues. Native-born Chinese Americans are
searching for their identity, sometimes feeling
invisible as stereotyped “model minority” members.
Among Chinese-Vietnamese immigrant youth,
some feel caught between two-three cultures.
49
Chinese immigrant and native youths face higher
school drop-out rates than are commonly assumed
and experience academic problems in elementary
and secondary schools. Chinese English language
learners (ELLs) like other Asian ELLs, have limited
access to appropriate programs and services
targeting ELL students, in area school districts
where Hispanic ELLs represent the vast majority.
Many are also “latch-key” kids who are members
of new immigrant/refugee families that are trying
to survive in a new society. Youth are also members
of dysfunctional families where family conflicts
may exacerbate domestic abuse. Chinese American
youth also are found in non-nuclear families
including single-parent households, large extended
families, and separated/divorced parents. Older
youth from new immigrant families are more likely
to juggle family, work, and school responsibilities,
and are constantly worried about the family’s
economic survival. They may also be involved
in gangs and activities that may jeopardize their
safety and well- being. Overall, a prevailing attitude
among Chinese American youth who are known by
social service staffers reflects living “day-to-day,”
unable to focus on clear personal or academic/
job/career goals.
2.New working class immigrants – With new
waves of immigrants from mainly PRC and
Southeast Asia, there are acute needs for many
services including ESL classes, job training,
bilingual and interpretive services. For those
restricted by language barriers to ethnic enclaves,
access to affordable housing is paramount. The
duality of the ethnic enclave serves to both reward
and punish those who are most dependent on
it. The communities of Chinatown and Argyle
provide social capital or ethnic networks of
support, in addition to ethnic resources. While this
counteracts the new immigrants’ limited amount
of human capital including: lower skills in English,
lower education levels, or restricted transfer of
occupational skills (e.g. lack of English proficiency
may impede successful transfer of job skills or career
credentials, leading to underemployment), relying
on Chinatown brings on other consequences.
Dependence on Chinatown or Argyle as the only
site for jobs and housing creates a habit of using the
enclave to provide for all immigrant needs, creating
an economic and cultural “ghetto,” according to
one staffer. Many working class families are under
enormous stress to meet household expenses and
provide for their families. They are struggling to
sustain an adequate standard of living while facing
limited opportunities for mobility.
3.Workers – Chinatown and Argyle agencies point
to the rising unemployment in the community.
With a downward economy, two groups of
workers prevail: those being laid off and those
struggling to keep their jobs. Being largely
confined to the secondary labor market or service
sector jobs, enclave residents are most vulnerable
to rapidly changing market trends and business
climates. With the restructuring of industries
and businesses in the Chicago vicinity, better job
opportunities may be increasingly available in
the suburbs or outside of the enclave. Immigrant
workers or enclave residents have less access to
affordable transportation to seek higher-paying
jobs in the primary labor market
4.Elderly – Chicago’s Chinese American elderly
complain about being victims of crimes including
burglaries. They encounter more transportation,
parking, and public safety problems. Recently,
according to 2010 DePaul student community
surveys, some Chinatown residents have reported
higher incidences of street muggings and home
burglaries. Suburban elderly express more loneliness
and isolation from community life, particularly
when they are dependent on their working children
for daily care or for transportation to medical
services. In general, some elderly feel that they
are not getting enough attention and respect from
their family members. Those who are linguistically
dependent on family members for basic services
may feel particularly marginalized if they live away
from a Chinese-dominant enclave.
5.Taiwanese Americans – This community
is geographically concentrated in the ethnosuburbs
including
Naperville,
Westmont,
Schaumburg, Skokie, and Evanston. They are
disproportionately represented in the high-tech
occupations as engineers, scientists, computer
specialists, and researchers and in the health
professions. The peak of Taiwanese immigration
to Chicago occurred between 1981 and 1985 after
Taiwan was permitted a separate quota. Many
Taiwanese Americans identify strongly as “Taiwan
ren” or Taiwan people and feel patriotic toward
the Taiwanese government. Their interests and
concerns mirror those of other middle- and upperclass suburban residents including sustaining their
upward mobility and affording a comfortable
lifestyle for their family. Concerns that may be
more unique to this group include their efforts to
maintain strong ties to their Taiwanese families,
friends, and national agendas. An example of their
need to maintain cultural ties to being “Taiwanese”
may be viewed by their network of Chinese language
schools in the suburbs. It is estimated that there are
about 20 Chinese language schools in the six-county
area which offer weekend classes in Mandarin and
Chinese culture. While most language programs
are targeted for other Taiwanese American youth
whose parents want them to learn traditional
calligraphy and script, there are some that are
open to the public (particularly Chinese adoptee
families). Taiwanese tend to be highly organized,
favoring cultural and professional organizations
that are networked across the suburbs.
6.Entrepreneurs – Chinese Americans have
been attracted to self-employment especially
in the ethnic enclave for a number of reasons.
First, starting your own business may result
from encountering a glass ceiling or restricted
opportunities in the mainstream economy. Facing
barriers to attaining professional credentials or
other kinds of certification, Chinese American
immigrant professionals may gravitate toward
self-employment as a means to survival. Also,
self-employment allows for the inclusion of more
family members and co-ethnics to help compete in
a new area. There is a diverse range of businesses
in the Chinatown area. The entrepreneurs are
concerned about the changing public perception
of Chinatown. Overall, they are interested in
improving the business climate of the ethnic
enclave, infrastructure supportive of customers
and tourists, and improving relationships between
Chinatown, city agencies, and the local economy.
50
Other concerns that were mentioned by community
agency staffers include the increasing number of
undocumented residents. Some feel that the needs of
this group remain hidden and unrecognized, leading
to greater exploitation of undocumented workers.
Lack of adequate resources and government
funding exacerbate the needs of community-based
social service groups. Another issue focused on
the conflict between pro-Taiwan and pro-PRC
supporters. In 1999, after the first “pro-PRC” parade
in Chinatown, undercurrents of tension between
different community and association groups have
prevailed. A third concern is the rising number of
community residents who are attracted to casino
gambling. For the north side Argyle-Broadway area,
a lack of consensus on the main “identity” of the
area is viewed as problematic. Names for the area
range from: “Little Saigon, Asian village, Argyle,
North side Chinatown, and New Chinatown.” The
lack of overall support for any one description
reflects the multi-faceted identities and interests of
this north side Asian enclave.
Future Challenges
Drawing from 2010 survey data based on interviews
with Argyle and Chinatown business and non-profit
staffers and residents compiled by DePaul students,
both major enclaves of Chinese Americans face
competing challenges in the next decade. Whose
interests should such enclaves prioritize: residents,
tourists, businesses, or non-profit agencies? Although
the last decade has brought major developments
including residential and business expansion to Argyle
and Chinatown, a lack of consensus remains on
how to strategically plan for continued growth and
supportive services.
Despite a growing number of non-profits and coalitions
promoting community empowerment – especially in
the larger Chinatown enclave – Chinese and other
Asian American communities in Chicago still have
limited access to political power and representation.
Even with the highest concentration of Chinese
Americans in Chinatown, the enclave is divided into
three city wards, making it difficult for a viable Chinese
American candidate for Chicago’s City Council. With
no Chinese or other Asian American elected officials
in the City of Chicago, nor in the county or state, it
51
becomes challenging to advocate for significant public
policy changes including redistricting, local school
reform, economic development zones, etc.
Survey respondents point to a myriad of concerns
including: the need for a high school serving
Chinatown students, safety including the need for
bilingual beat patrols, more affordable housing,
transportation including scarce supply of affordable
parking, late payment of government funding for nonprofit agencies risking services and payroll, increasing
demands placed on non-profit agencies to serve
more needy clients with less available government
resources, and the growing divide between economic
classes. The latter issue is also exacerbated by a
recession economy where keen competition for
scarce resources and customers may work against
developing a unified agenda for community planning
that serves all residents and other stakeholders. As
one respondent mentioned, “to survive in Chinatown
means to overcome competition.”
A significant majority of today’s Chinese immigrants
intend to stay permanently in the U.S., raising
children and families, and retiring in their adopted
country. The Chinese identity is closely tied to
one’s group, including extended family, and is not
individually-based. With 8 out of 10 of Chicago and
suburban Chinese Americans being foreign-born,
maintaining and reconstructing a sense of “jia” or
family and larger community represents then, a
major challenge. Fueled by the growing diversity
of the Chinese Americans, a common vision and
agenda of “community-building” will also be
challenging, but of great value in creating a strong
and empowered community.
As summarized by a DePaul student who had conducted her final research paper on Chinatown: “Chinatown isn’t just a Chinese community for Americans to stop by and eat Chinese food. Chinatown is
a place in which immigrants call home. It resembles
the home they had back in China. This community
is very important to many Chinese people, especially
to those who don’t step a foot out of Chinatown. To
them, Chinatown is the whole Chicago. … Chinatown needs to have representation in this city and
that there should be Chinese representatives out
there to speak for our people.”
Filipino Americans
By: Dr. Barbara Posadas, Associate Professor of History, Northern Illinois University; and Estrella Alamar, President, Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago; with contributors Justo Alamar, Willi Buhay and Romeo Munoz from The Ethnic Handbook (Illinois Ethnic Coalition, 1996).
Updated by Dr. Barbara Posadas (2010).
Demographics
In Chicago, Filipinos tend to live on the North and Northwest Sides. There are
concentrations in Albany Park and North Park, though in general they are scattered
throughout the metropolitan area. According to the 2000 Census, suburbs with
the largest numbers are Skokie (3,372), Glendale Heights (1,278), North Chicago
(1,061), Morton Grove (1,445) and Bolingbrook (794). Most Filipinos live in Cook
County (62,262) but there are 15,238 Filipino persons residing in DuPage County
and 8,420 in Lake County.
In Chicago, 10% do not have a high school diploma, while 56% have a bachelor’s
degree or higher; 27% do not speak English very well; and 31% are in professional
or managerial jobs while 2.6% have laborer jobs. The Filipino American median
family income is relatively higher; in Chicago it is $40,327, and it is $48,200 in the
metro area. Less than 3% in the metro area fall below the poverty line.
In the past, the Filipino American population was concentrated in Chicago. Before
World War II, those that came to Chicago basically stayed. When housing started
opening up for minorities in the suburbs in the late ‘70s, immigrants who came
here in the ‘60s and ‘70s started moving to the suburbs. In recent years, newer immigrants began to bypass the city and head straight to the suburbs. One reason is
that their relatives relocated to the suburbs, so the new immigrants went to stay with
them. Moving to the suburbs symbolized success, as did the ability to send money
back to the Philippines to support poor relatives.
Following the U.S. acquisition of the Philippines in 1898, young male Filipinos began
coming to the Chicago area as students, first on government-scholarship (pensionado)
or family-supported students and later as self-supporting students who expected to
combine attending classes with employment. Brothers, cousins, and town-mates
followed, creating enclaves on the Near West and Near North Sides. In 1920 and 1940,
the U.S. Census counted 154 and 1,740 Filipinos respectively. Unofficial estimates
put Filipino numbers at approximately 5,000 during the 1930s. Prior to WWII, the
typical Filipino in Chicago was a high school graduate with some college experience
who found work in the service sector - several hundred with the Pullman Co. - or
with the U.S. Post Office. In 1940, among those over the age of 20, Filipinos (men)
outnumbered Filipinas (women) 21:1. Ninety percent of marriages were interracial,
and most wives were American-born daughters of European immigrants.
Until the mid-1930s, Filipinos were classified as”nationals” and permitted unrestricted
entry into the U.S., but were not eligible for citizenship. The Tydings-McDuffie Act
of 1934 promised the Philippines independence after 10 years and limited Filipino
52
Filipino American Profile
English Fluency of Filipinos by Age
100%
reached 41,283 for the metro area. In addition, 2006
will commemorate the centennial of the Filipino
immigration to the United States.
Language
Coming from an archipelago of more than 7,000
islands, 8 major languages and an estimated 121
dialects, Filipinos are commonly multilingual.
Depending on their education, they typically learn
Tagalog--the language of Manila and nearby
provinces, which has been designated as the Philippine
national language and renamed Pilipino--as well as
English, which was used in school above the second
grade for many years. They also speak the dialect of
the locale in which they were raised. The eight major
languages are Tagalog, Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Ilocano,
Bicol, Samareño, Pampango, and Pangasinan.
80%
60%
40%
20%
Religion
0%
5 to 17
18 to 64
65+
All
Well
Not at all
Important Traditions and Holiday
Very Well
Not Well
In their immediate and extended families, many
Filipinos in the U.S. continue to prize the close family
ties and religious strength that are characteristic of
Filipino culture. The traditional practice of choosing
multiple godparents (compadrazgo or ritual coparenthood) for a baby’s Baptism, binds real and
fictive kin to the baby’s family and is typically
expected to provide on-going sustenance. Wedding
celebrations, debutante balls, and anniversary
parties bring together family and friends and further
serve to demonstrate a family’s social status.
Only English
Figure 1: English Fluency of Filipinos in Illinois by Age.
immigration to 50 per year. After independence,
Filipinos were totally barred from entering the United
States. In 1946, however, largely in recognition of
their valor during WWII, Filipinos in the U.S. became
eligible for naturalized citizenship and the annual
quota was symbolically raised from 50 to 100.
Between 1952 and 1965, however, most Filipinos
came as non-quota immigrants under the familyreunification provisions of the McCarran-Walter Act
of 1952. After the passage of the Immigration Act of
1965, Filipino immigration surged. Occupationalpreference provisions enabled many professionals,
especially nurses and doctors, to qualify for entry.
Over time, however, family reunification became
a more significant factor, permitting the chain
immigration of extended family units. By 1970,
the Filipino population in the Chicago area was
9,497, with more women than men. By 1980, it had
53
Catholics make up about 80% of the Filipino
American population. There are also some Protestants and Muslims.
Rizal Day (December 30) honors the death of Dr.
José Protacio Rizal Mrecado, a famous writer
whose works influenced the Philippine Nationalist
Movement. Philippine Week (on or after June 12),
the Christmas season (starting on December 16),
and Easter Sunday are also celebrated. Filipinos
celebrate Flores de Mayo (throughout the month of
May) to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary by attending numerous festivals. Santacruzan (in May) is a
procession which commemorates the finding of the
Holy Cross in Jerusalem by Saint Helena.
Filipino American Profile
Names
While some Filipino family names can be considered
indigenous--for example, Bacdayan and Macapagel-others derive from the Chinese, such as Cojuangco,
Soliongco and Sylianco, or from the Spanish, as in
Gonzales, Alamar, and Lopez. The mother’s family
name usually becomes the child’s middle name. A
Filipino first name is often the name of the saint
celebrated on that person’s birthday. Sometimes the
firstborn son is given his father’s first name. Less
typically, sons may be named after their father and
distinguished by their order of birth, such as Florentino, Florentino II and Florentino III. Or, children
in a family may be given first names starting with
the same letter or syllable - as in Arturo, Arlinda
and Arleen. Nicknames can shorten a name (Pedro
becomes ”Pido” and Guillermo, ”Mo”); or end in
”ing” for a daughter or ”oy” for a son (e.g. Benigno
becomes ”Ninoy”). A nickname might represent an
element of character or a physical attribute.
Major Issues For the Community
Like many other Americans, Filipino Americans
struggle to cope with the problems caused by
separation and divorce, teenage pregnancy, gang
affiliation, disinterest in education, and multiple
wage-earning. Many overseas contract workers
that have come to work in the U.S. (particularly
nurses and other medical staff who work in nursing
homes, hospitals and the like), are often exploited
because of their immigrant status and given low
pay and no benefits. Many community members
send money and other resources to relatives who
are struggling economically in the Philippines. In
order to do this, many Filipino Americans find
themselves working multiple jobs or working
long hours. Those who hope to be joined in the
U.S. by family members still in the Philippines are
concerned about proposed legislation that might
restrict immigration. Some Filipino Americans
have mobilized to win full pay and veterans
benefits for the almost 175,000 Philippine scouts
and Philippine Army soldiers who served in the
U.S. armed forces in the Pacific during WWII
and became eligible for U.S. citizenship in 1990.
Locally, Filipino Americans often lament the
absence of unity in the community.
Filipinos in Illinois
Counties
Filipinos
Total Asians
Cook County
56,061
264,041
DuPage County
13,905
72,173
Will County
3,043
11,313
234
2,102
7,177
25,439
Jackson County
63
1,814
St. Clair County
630
2,369
Champaign County
715
11,811
Peoria County
323
3,086
McLean County
208
3,125
Sangamon County
Lake County
Table 1: Filipinos in Illinois. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
Filipino Citizenship Status
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Male
Female
All
Non-citizen
Naturalized
Native
Figure 2: Filipino Citizenship Status in Illinois. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
54
Indian Americans
By: Dr. Padma Rangaswamy, Historian, South Asian American Policy Research Institute (SAAPRI), University of Illinois at Chicago, Ph.D.
Updated by Ann Kalayil (2005). Updated by Ann Kalayil (2010).
Demographics
The turn of the century saw a marked surge in the Asian Indian population of Illinois,
from 64,200 in 1990 to 124,723 in 2000 (a growth rate of 94.3%), making them
the largest Asian American group in the state. Continuing the trends established in
the previous decade, they remained concentrated in the Chicago metro area, favoring
the suburbs over the city. According to the 2000 Census, there were more than three
times as many Indians in the suburbs (88,696) as there were in the city of Chicago
(25,004) with Cook and DuPage Counties claiming the lion’s share of the Indian
population (71,194 and 30,730 respectively).
The suburbs with the highest concentration of Indians were in the west and northwest: Naperville (5,126), Schaumburg (4,864), Skokie (3,944), Hoffman Estates
(3,233), Mt. Prospect (3,166) and Glendale Heights (2,728). Indians constituted
more than 40% of the Asian American population in all these suburbs, except for
Skokie, where they accounted for nearly 30%.
In the city, Devon Avenue represents an area in which Indians can shop for distinctly
Indian goods. The area also houses a large number of Indian residents. Census tracts
205 to 209--whose parameters are generally defined by Pratt Avenue (north), Bryn
Mawr (south), Ridge (east) and Kedzie (west)--contain 5,310 Indians or one-fifth
of the city’s Indian population. Other parts of the city where Indians reside include
gentrified areas of the loop, the near north side, and more recently the Wicker ParkBucktown area, which has attracted young professionals into the city.
One major factor in the rapid growth of the Indian population in the United States
as well as in Illinois, may be attributed to the H1B visa program. Since 1992, this
program has permitted foreigners with special skills to come to the United States
on a six-year work visa and apply for a green card with an employer’s sponsorship.
Indians have accounted for 40% of all H1B visas granted since 1992 and since most
of these visas went to computer related professionals, there was an increased migration of people from India in the high tech industry. However, due to the decline in
the “dotcoms” and the tightening of visa restrictions after the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks, immigration to the U.S. declined, but India remains one of the top
countries where family-based immigrants continue to arrive. For example, in 2006,
India ranked at the top of the number of visas granted to siblings of U.S. citizens.
Sizable Indian immigration to Chicago began with the 1965 Immigration Reform
Act, which paved the way for professionals to enter the U.S. Professionals came
from every region of India, as well as from other countries such as England, Canada,
South Africa, Tanzania, Fiji, Guyana and Trinidad. At first, Indian immigrants settled
55
Indian American Profile
on the Far North Side – along Broadway and
Sheridan, and west along Lawrence and Devon
Avenues – where they found a congenial atmosphere
in the cosmopolitan mix of ethnic groups. Like other
immigrant groups before them, many moved to the
suburbs; wide dispersal in the suburbs is one of the most
striking characteristics of Indian settlement pattern in
Chicago. Also known as “Indiatown,” Devon Avenue
is a strong draw for the estimated 150,000 Indians in
the Midwest, who go there to shop for Indian goods
and eat Indian food. The growth of part of Devon
Avenue as an Indian ethnic neighborhood is tied to
the second wave of immigration in the 1980s, when
families of the first immigrants came. These relatives
of the earlier immigrants frequently were less skilled,
faced a local economy plagued by unemployment,
and took up occupations in retail trade or other small
businesses. This led to greater economic stratification
between city and suburban Indians.
The dual residential pattern, of concentration in the
city and dispersal in the suburbs, holds both promise
and frustration for Indians when it comes to political
participation. Because of their strength in numbers
in some neighborhoods, they hope that they may
someday elect one of their own, to an important local
office position. There has, however been some political
success stories. For instance, in Skokie and Niles
Township, the Asian Indian American population
has been able to successfully elect Indians (Pramod
Shah as Skokie Trustee, Dina Modi as Niles Township
Collector and Shajan Jose to the Skokie/Morton Grove
School Board). Moin Khan was re-elected in 2009 as
a Trustee of York Township. But since most Indians
are widely dispersed in the suburbs, they have yet to
gain the political clout that comes with redistricting.
Judicial appointments of Maria Kuriakos, Neera
Walsh, and Ketki Shroff are significant gains for the
community having increased the number to five Indian
American judges in the Cook County courts.
Also, while Indians in Illinois may identify strongly
with the Democratic Party given the fact that the
state itself is a Democratic stronghold, some Indians
in the western suburbs support the Republican Party.
Generally speaking, Indians tend to vote on issues
rather than party affiliation, so they cannot be taken
for granted as a monolithic vote bank.
Language
Most Indians speak English and their native
languages fluently. India has 18 major languages
that are officially recognized by the government,
each with its own rich history, literature and
cultural heritage. Most of the major languages are
represented in the Chicago area, namely Gujarati
(spoken by about 50%), Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu,
Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Sindhi, Urdu, and
Bengali. Many of the later-arriving immigrants to
Chicago lack English language skills, and children
from these families are swelling the ranks of those
who need special ESL classes in schools. Both Urdu
and Gujarati speaking teachers have been employed
in the schools to augment educational services to
the community.
Religion
An estimated 80% are Hindus (the same proportion
as in India). Muslims, who number 12% to 14% in
India, may also exist in the same proportion in the
Chicago area, but there is no separate count kept of
Indian Muslims, who tend to socialize and worship
with other Muslims, not only from other countries
in the sub-continent, such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, but also Central Asia. There also are Sikhs
and Janis, Christians, Zoroastrians, Buddhists and
Jews. Hindus, Sikhs and Jains have built houses of
worship in the Chicago area, each with a distinctive
architectural style.
Caste considerations are usually ignored in the
United States, but often become more important
when it comes to marriage. The four major groups
in the Indian Hindu community are: Brahmins,
Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Sudras. In the early
days of immigration in the 1960s and ‘70s, when
Indians were few in number, they were reconciled
to assimilation and intermarriage, if not with other
Americans, at least with other Indians, regardless of
caste or regional origin. Increased immigration in
the ‘80s and ‘90s has made many Indians observe
caste considerations more carefully. Some Indians
arrange marriages among their own caste because
they believe marriage needs family support to be
successful. The second generation appears to be
56
working toward a middle ground, anticipating that
they may marry another Indian, perhaps someone
their parents might introduce them to, but definitely
someone with whom they will be comfortable.
In addition to Independence Day (August 15), there
are many religious Indian holidays. The Hindu
population celebrate Janmashtami (in August);
Navratri, Dussehran, and Durga Puja (a ten day
festival in October or November); and Divali
(October or November). Muslims celebrate Eidul-Fitr and, seventy days later, Eidul-Adha. Jains
observe Mahavir Jayanti (March) and Sikhs observe
Baisaki (April).
One form of entertainment that has gained
popularity among Indians in Chicago, reflecting
a nationwide trend, is the Bollywood movie.
(Bollywood comes from Hollywood in Bombay,
now known as Mumbai, and home to the world’s
largest movie industry.) Live performances by
Bollywood stars touring the U.S. are also very well
attended in large venues such as the UIC Pavilion
and Rosemont Horizon. While videos and music
from Bollywood have been available in Devon
stores from the 1980s, what is new is that theaters
owned by Indians are now showing Indian movies
exclusively and there is no dearth of customers
who flock to theaters in Des Plaines and Skokie,
and AMC multiplex cinemas in Barrington to enjoy
spectacular Bollywood musicals and romances.
Names
There is tremendous variety in Indian names,
which usually refer to the natural environment
or human sentiments, such as Usha (the dawn)
or Priya (beloved). Other common names are the
names of gods, such as Gopal (another name for
Krishna) or Lakshmi (the goddess of prosperity).
It also is common to name a child after an elderly
grandparent. Surnames usually reveal a person’s
regional origins, caste or sub-caste. The naming
of a child is generally a religious ceremony on the
10th day after birth.
The September 11th terrorist attack in New York
continues to have a significant impact on the
57
community. It has brought about hostility that
is directed at Sikhs, who are often mistaken for
Muslims because of their long beards and turbans.
Many Indians, Muslims and others, continue to
report being harassed by authorities and unfairly
targeted by suspicious citizens. On a more general
level, racial discrimination, both at the social level
and on the job, hits highly paid executives in the
form of the glass ceiling and unskilled factory
workers facing unemployment.
Community members also are concerned about
proposed anti-immigration laws that threaten to
reduce immigration from India. Three quarters of
the Indian population in Illinois are foreign-born
and cumbersome rules and processes in immigration
remains a huge concern for the community. As
more Indians try to become naturalized, they are
finding the process to be expensive and long as a
result of new security background checks.
Immigrant integration remains a constant issue
faced by the community. Many Indian Americans
are afraid their traditions will be lost unless vigorous
efforts are made to preserve them. Because language
is seen as vital to cultural preservation, classes are
offered at temples, mosques and gurudwaras (Sikh
houses of worship). The temple is also the venue
for christenings, upanayanam (initiation ceremony
for the young Brahmin male), and weddings, all
performed in traditional style by Indian priests.
At temples and mosques, Indian parents try to
offer, through religious education and social and
cultural activities, a viable alternative to “excessive
Westernization,” which is often equated with a
“permissive” lifestyle. There is conflict in many
Indian homes where teenage children, taught in
school to think independently, clash with Indian
parents who expect unquestioning obedience.
Community activists have created social service
programs to meet the needs of new immigrants and
address integration into American society. There
also is the plight of elderly immigrant parents who
have followed their children to America. In Indian
culture, aged parents are the responsibility of their
sons, but here many live isolated, lonely lives without
their traditional support system. Another issue of
concern to Indian Americans is the U.S. government’s
foreign relations with India contingent upon the
U.S.-Pakistan foreign-policy framework. India, like
China, has evolved into a key global economic power
and offers a labor force that is not only technically
skilled but also fluent in English, which is one of the
factors that have led U.S. companies to outsource
jobs to India. Hostility toward countries like China
and now India for being competitors to American
businesses have had a negative impact on Indians.
Unlike immigrants from many other countries who
have fled repression and persecution, Indians here
think fondly of their motherland, visit India often,
and are sympathetic to the Indian government.
Overseas remittances to India is higher than any
other country. The formation of the Caucus on
India and Indian Americans, a congressional body
of sympathetic to India, is a major step to ensure
that lawmakers in Washington understand and take
a proactive role in fostering Indo-U.S. relations and
also address issues facing Indian Americans. Against
this backdrop Indian Americans are anxious to see
their own elected to offices throughout the state,
but more so in the state assembly or in local (city
or township) governments. Illinois is yet to see an
Indian American elected to a state wide office or to
the state legislature.
58
By: Vita Iskandar with the assistance of Elly Mak, MD, and RJ Hariman, MD. Update by : Information – Consulate General of Indonesia in Chicago
(2005). Updated by Sylvia Shirley Malinton, Consulate General of Indonesia in Chicago (2010).
Demographics
Indonesian immigration to Illinois grew in the late 1960s as health care professionals
were needed in area hospitals and government-sponsored students came for advanced
training. Engineers and other professionals followed. Both government-sponsored
and self-funded students also increased significantly in the early 1980s. These were the
pioneers of the Indonesian American community in the Chicago area. The immigration of
medical professionals decreased in the 1980s, but since then engineers and entrepreneurs
have increased steadily, including the mix-marriage couples.
Between 1990 and 2000, the number of immigrants from Indonesia to Illinois has increased
ten-fold compared with the numbers of Indonesian immigrants in the 1960s. Community
leaders currently estimate that there are around 9,000 Indonesians living in the Midwest
area. According to the 2000 Census, there were 1,201 Indonesians in Illinois, with 642
in Cook County, 123 in DuPage County, and 359 in Chicago. Based on the data in 2009,
there are around 610 Indonesian students in the Midwest area, included 165 in Illinois.
Indonesian Americans in Illinois are generally well educated, and socially and
economically independent. However, Indonesians are not generally politically active.
Most gatherings are organized more on a social, cultural and religious basis. The
first-generation Indonesian Americans are consciously involved in providing good
education for their children. The fruit of this hard work has been proven by the
number of second-generation university graduates, with 75% of them graduating
from professional schools. Students, who have finished their studies, have either
returned to Indonesia or were hired by American companies. The community’s second
generation is represented by young physicians, dentists, lawyers, engineers, computerprogrammers, and businessman.
Language
While first-generation Indonesians who immigrated to the U.S. mostly speak the native
language “Bahasa Indonesia”, their children are less likely to speak fluently, but can
still understand the language.
Indonesian families still hold strong ties to their cultural heritage and traditions.
Indonesian Americans proudly present cultural programs and performances at major
civic celebrations sponsored by the local government offices, Congressman Offices,
festival’s committees, Asian American Communities, Universities, and the Consulate
General of the Republic of Indonesia in Chicago. The Consulate provides free Gamelan’s
(Indonesian Traditional Music) and Dance lessons for Indonesian and Americans. In
Chicago, there are two Indonesian Arts Group owned by Indonesian Community
in Greater Chicago, namely IPAC (Indonesian Performing Arts of Chicago) and IDI
(Indonesian Dance of Illinois). There is also a Javanese Gamelan Group in Chicago
owned by Americans namely “Friends of Gamelan” (FROG).
59
Indonesian American Profile
Religion
The Republic of Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world. Presently, Indonesian
Americans in the Chicago area consist of Christians, Catholics, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists.
Indonesians celebrates Independence Day on August
17, Christmas, New Year, Lunar New Year, and the
Eid Mubarak (the celebration of the end of Ramadan
on the 1st day of Sjawal of the Muslim Calendar
year) and Eid Adh. Hindus celebrates “Nyepi” (Day
of Silent) each year in March and Buddist.
Food
Indonesian food is appreciated and acknowledged
as one of the most delightful cuisines in the culinary
arts. Unfortunately, there are only few Indonesian
restaurants in the Greater Chicago-land area. However,
authentic Indonesian restaurants do exist in Chicago
– namely Angin Mamiri, located at 2739 West Touhy
Avenue (Touchy-California). There are some Asian
Restaurant provide Indonesian foods. There are some
other Indonesian Restaurant outside Chicago, such
as Bandung Restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin, Bali
Restaurant in Ohio, and Garuda in Indiana.
Indonesian Community Organizations
PMKI (Indonesian Christian Community), PWKI
(Indonesian Catholic Community), Indonesian
Moslem Community in Chicago, City Blessing Chicago, Bethel Chicago, Bethany Chicago, JCC (Joy
Connect Contribute), and PERMIAS (Indonesian
Students Association).
The Indonesian-American community in Chicago
has no major issues in Chicago. Indonesian Community are easily adapting with other communities and American cultures. Being the most Muslim
populous country in the world, the only concern is
the “misperception” of Americans toward Indonesian, especially after the 9/11 incidents. Since then,
it is difficult for Indonesian to obtain U.S. visa, including students sisa. This matter caused the reduce
number of Indonesians immigrants and students in
the US, particularly in Chicago.
60
Japanese Americans
By: William Yoshino, Midwest Director, Japanese American Citizens League from The Ethnic Handbook (Illinois Ethnic Coalition, 1996).
Updated by William Yoshino (2005). Updated by Jean Mishima and Jean Fujiu (2010).
Demographics
The Japanese American population is dispersed throughout several Chicago
neighborhoods with concentrations in Uptown, Edgewater, Lake View, Albany Park,
Rogers Park, and West Ridge. In the metropolitan area, Japanese Americans also tend
to be dispersed, although larger concentrations are in the north and northwest suburbs
of Evanston, Morton Grove, Skokie, Lincolnwood, and Arlington Heights. There are
27,702 Japanese in Illinois. According to the 2000 Census, the Japanese population
declined approximately 7%. However, when one considers those of multiethnic or
multiracial heritage including Japanese, the population has increased over 30%. This
is due to low immigration, low birthrates, and high rates of out-marriage.
Most Japanese Americans are descendants of immigrants who came to the United
States between 1900 and 1924, prior to passage of the 1924 Asian Exclusion Act,
which banned immigration from most Asian countries for a period of twenty years.
Current immigration from Japan is negligible, consisting of students who choose to
stay following their studies, artists and businesspeople with their families who remain
in the United States after serving short stints with the U.S. branches of their company.
Although Japanese first came to Chicago to take part in the 1893 Colombian
Exposition, the internment of the 120,000 West Coast Japanese Americans during
World War II was the stimulus for migration to urban areas like Chicago. Many
internees were given permission to leave the concentrations camps to find jobs in
cities that were not located on the West Coast. In the early 1940s, a few hundred
Japanese families lived in Chicago, but as a result of the migration from the camps,
Chicago became the leading destination for those resettling to inland areas. Over
25,000 internees and West Coast evacuees settled here during the ‘40s and many
found work in the manufacturing-based companies and the service industries of
that era. Their resettlement in Chicago was assisted by organizations such as the
Chicago Resettlers Committee, which later became the Japanese American Service
Committee and the Japanese American Citizens League, which provided advocacy
for the community. The initial areas of resettlement were on the South Side in
Kenwood, Hyde Park, and Woodlawn, and in the area of Division and Clark Street
on the North Side. By 1950, most who had resettled to Chicago returned to the
West Coast, leaving a population of about 11,000. Eventually, the majority of
the Japanese American population would settle in Uptown and Edgewater on the
North Side of the city and, during the 1950s, in the suburbs of Lincolnwood,
Morton Grove, and Skokie.
The 1990 Census reported that Japanese Americans have a high school graduation
rate (for males 25-64) of nearly 98%, with 37% employed as managers or
61
Japanese American Profile
professionals, a per-capita income of $19,373,
with 7% in poverty. In Illinois, the likelihood of
intermarriage for a U.S.-born Japanese American
male is 38%, and for a U.S. born Japanese American
female, it is 43%. The rate of out-marriages increases
with each generation. The perception is that the
Japanese American community consists mainly of
senior citizens. However, 2000 Census data indicate
that more than 60% of the Illinois Japanese American
population is under 40 years old.
related to their environment or to sentiments that
appealed to them, such as Yamamoto (foot of the
mountain), Yoshino (good field), or Ogawa (large
river). In Japan, women’s names are generally those
of flowers, seasons, and sentiments, such as Haruko
(spring child). Men’s names often refer to their
numerical position in the family, like Goro (fifth
son). Today, Japanese Americans rarely choose
Japanese first names for their children, but Japanese
middle names are frequently used.
Religion
Although there are no precise figures, many
Japanese Americans identify with Buddhism, the
dominant religion of Japan. A large percentage of
the community is Christian.
The Chicago Japanese American community
is concerned about the welfare of its aging and
elderly population. Over the past two decades,
this resulted in construction of Heiwa Terrace, a
retirement residence, and Keiro, (now known as
Harmony) a long-term care facility. Generally,
there is the perception that the Japanese American
community is not a community of need. In reality,
the community has diverse economic levels and
geographic dispersion makes community support
for individuals difficult. Particularly for the
elderly, there is a significant number for whom
their low income and isolation makes them
extremely vulnerable.
Language
Most of the population is second-(Nisei), third(Sansei), or fourth-(Yonsei) generation and therefore
speak English fluently, but many of the Nisei can
also speak Japanese.
Many of the traditions practiced by first-generation
immigrants who came to America at the turn of
the century have been altered or lost with the
passage of time. Among those still maintained
are Buddhist funerals where priests recite sutra
to the accompaniment of bells and gongs, and
New Year’s Day celebration. Many Sansei and
Yonsei Japanese Americans have displayed a
curiosity about the culture and traditions of their
ancestral homeland. This is demonstrated by
their participation in ethnic festivals and pursuit
of classes in Japanese language, ikebana (flower
arranging), judo, kendo, and musical instruments
such as taiko drums.
Names
Before 1868, Japanese commoners were known
by their first name and where they worked or
lived (e.g. Jiro from Kobe). After the abolition of
the feudal system, people chose family names that
There is also concern for the degree of community
attachment among third and fourth generation Japanese Americans, which has ramifications for the
continuation of strong leadership in the community.
Some Japanese American organizations are trying
to engage the fourth and fifth generations through
cultural and heritage programming.
They are also documenting individual stories
and developing exhibits that present the unique
history and experience of Japanese Americans
in the Chicagoland area. Japanese Americans
remain concerned about issues of defamation and
discrimination. Stemming from their historical
experience in America, Japanese Americans are
very conscious about acts of defamation and
incidents of anti-Asian sentiment and violence
inflicted on Asian Americans.
62
Japanese American Profile
Advocacy
R e l i gi o u s O r ga n i z at i o n s
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
Buddhist Council of the Midwest
Advocacy
Buddhist Temple of Chicago
Japanese Language Classes; Cultural Events
Art s & Cu ltu re
Angel Island Theatre Company
Performing Arts
Chicago Jodo Shu Buddhist Temple
Cultural Performances; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Services
Chicago Nichiren Buddhist Temple
Health and Hu man S erv i c es
Chicago Zen Center
Chicago Futabakai
Church of Christ, Presbyterian
School taught in Japanese
Sunday School; Service; Special Nisei Groups; Fellowships
Japanese American Service Committee (JASC)
Devon Church of Jesus Christ
Arts; Case Management; Cultural Performances; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Ethnic Language Instruction; Health Education;
Translation Services; Newsletter; Senior Citizen Programs; Youth
Konko-kyo Chicago Church
Programs
Lakeside Christian Church
Japan America Society of Chicago
Youth Programs
Business Development
Midwest Buddhist Temple
Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
Business Development
Japan Information Center
Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; JET Program; Scholarships
Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago
International Zen Dojo Sogenkai
North Shore Japanese Baptist Church
Northwest Japanese Church
Ravenswood Fellowship United
Methodist Church
Burial Society; Interpretation Services
Risshokosei-kai of Chicago
Mid America Japanese Club
Tenrikyo Illinois Kyokai
Social and Cultural programs for permanent residents
Tensho Kotai Jingu Kyo
Winnetka Japanese Church
Media
Chicago JACLer
Other
Print
Consulate General of Japan
Chicago Shimpo, Inc.
Print
Japan-America Society Newsletter
Print
JASC Newsletter
Print
Jiji Press - Illinois
Wire service
Nihon Keizai Shimbun
Print
Prarie Publication, Inc.
Print
Q Community Magazine
Print
Shinpu
Print
63
Korean Americans
By: InChul Choi, Executive Director, Korean American Community Services; and Jae Choi, Founder and Past President, Korean American Citizens
Coalition, from The Ethnic Handbook (Illinois Ethnic Coalition, 1996). Updated by DooHwan Kim. Updated by Kay Rho, Vice President, The Korean
American Association of Chicago (2005). Updated by Hyeyoung Lee, MA, Acting Director of Senior Services and Public Benefits, Korean American
Community Services (2010).
Demographics
The 2000 U.S. Census reveals that the density of the Korean population in Cook
County is the fifth highest of all counties in the nation. Approximately 70,000 Korean
Americans live in Chicago and its surrounding northern and northwestern suburbs.
Although the population is not centralized in any one suburb, there is a growing
community in Skokie, Niles, Glenview, Northbrook, Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove, and
Mount Prospect, as well as the Naperville area in DuPage County. Over the past
decade, the trend has been toward further suburbanization, expanding outward to
Lake and DuPage Counties.
The community is still heavily first-generation immigrant, with 72% of its members
foreign born. Of those, a third entered the U.S. since 1990. About 12% of Korean
Americans have incomes below the poverty level, including an alarming 43% of all
Korean seniors. Many first-generation Korean Americans do not speak English well
and rely on their English-speaking children to act as an intermediary with mainstream society. Today, 73% of Korean Americans in the Chicago metro area live in
the suburbs, of which 31% have immigrated since 1990.
In a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau survey, an estimated 432,907 Koreans in the U.S. were
native-born Americans, and 973,780 were foreign-born. Korean American naturalized
citizens numbered 530,100, while 443,680 Koreans in the U.S. were not American citizens.
According to community estimates, half of all Korean American families are engaged
in small businesses, one-quarter of which represent dry-cleaning operations; the
Korean American Dry Cleaners Association has a membership of more than 1,200
businesses. Aside from dry-cleaning operations, many Koreans are engaged in the
selling of general merchandise, the operation of beauty supply and clothing stores,
snack shops, and the import/export business. The Korean business community is
evident in Albany Park, along Lawrence Avenue, as well as the growing commercial
presence along Milwaukee Avenue north of Dempster Street, and on Dempster Street
west of the Edens Expressway. Korean businesses within the city limits also run
along Bryn Mawr, Lincoln, Foster, Clark, Peterson, and Devon.
First, unlike most other new immigrant groups, there has been a significant decrease
in Korean immigration to the United States since the early 1990s. Second, the number
of visa status adjusters has increased consistently. These adjusters are Koreans who
had already been residing in the U.S. when they adjusted their visa status to that of
permanent residents. A great majority of them were previously students, employees of
U.S. branches of Korean companies and their family members, and visitors. (According
to the Korean Consulate General, there were 2,520 Korean students and their family
64
Korean American Profile
members in the Chicago metropolitan area in 2001.)
Third, the Midwest share of Korean Americans has
gradually decreased. As a result of this trend, the
ranking of Illinois in terms of Korean American
population dropped from third to fourth nationwide.
Lastly, in recent years, international Koreans such
as Korean Mexicans and Korean Brazilians have
emigrated to the U.S., bringing further diversity to the
Korean American community.
Although Koreans began immigrating to the U.S. at
the turn of the 20th century, the massive influx of immigrants entering the U.S. from South Korea began
in the late 1960s as a result of the 1965 immigration
amendment. Those who came prior to 1965 were
students, often children of the wealthy Korean elite
who could afford to send their children abroad for
better education and greater economic opportunities.
Koreans who arrived in the late 1960s and early
1970s settled in Uptown. Some qualified for
subsidized housing, but most lived in cheaper rental
apartments until they saved enough money to buy
a modest home. The Koreans of this decade were
employed as nurses as well as bus drivers and other
unskilled labor positions.
From the early 1970s on, the Koreans who
immigrated to the U.S. were college-educated and
tended to be in their 30s. Those who worked in
this time period were nurses, engineers, and entrylevel workers in manufacturing sector that did not
require much English proficiency. Eventually, many
Koreans invited their parents to come to the U.S.
As for South Korea, the 1970s was a time when
economic and political instability were rampant.
Things did not turn around until the economic
boom of the 1980s, with the 1988 Seoul Olympics
marking the turning point.
Along with other Asian Americans, Korean
Americans were noted in headlines and magazine
covers in the 1980s for their numbers in prestigious
universities and highly skilled white-collar
professions. Favorable economics and education
have led to the painting of Asian groups such as
Koreans as a “model minority.” Throughout the
65
Koreans in Illinois
Counties
Koreans
Total Asians
Cook County
34,927
264,041
DuPage County
4,619
72,173
Will County
936
11,313
Sangamon County
212
2,102
4,155
25,439
Jackson County
301
1,814
St. Clair County
434
2,369
2,506
11,811
Peoria County
241
3,086
McLean County
248
3,125
Lake County
Champaign County
Table 1: Korean & Total Asian Population in Illinois. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
1980s until today, Korean Americans and other
East Asian groups continue to attend prestigious
universities in high numbers and make up a
large percentage of the professional white collar
work force including such fields as medicine, law,
computer science, finance, and investment banking.
A number of U.S. states have declared January 13 –
in commemoration of the arrival of the first group
of Korean immigrants to America on January 13,
1903, in Honolulu – as Korean American Day in
order to recognize Korean Americans’ impact and
contributions.
Language
All Koreans speak and write the same language,
which has been a decisive factor in forging their
strong national identity. The spoken language varies
by region with different dialects. Sejong created the
Korean alphabet, Hangeul, the Great during the 15th
century. Hangeul is easy to learn and write and has
greatly contributed to Korea’s high literacy rate and
advanced publication industry. Hangeul is uniquely
Korean, although some Chinese characters are used
in writing.
As for Koreans in Illinois, a majority of secondgeneration children learn Hangeul on Saturday at
various Korean language schools.
Religion
Since the very first Koreans immigrated to the U.S.,
religion has played an important role for the Korean
American community. In addition to providing
spiritual guidance, the religious groups have helped
Koreans become acculturated in Chicago and
handed down their culture and language to the
next generation in the creation of network building.
Illinois Koreans are predominantly Protestant,
with about 200 Protestant churches in the Chicago
metropolitan area. There are also four Catholic
churches and three Buddhist temples.
Traditional Korean culture is hierarchical: respect for
elders is essential. For example, when a person greets
someone who is older, he or she is expected to bow
and greet the person in respectful terms befitting the
elder. In this situation, saying “Hi, how are you?” in
the American casual way would not be acceptable.
Koreans traditionally observe two major holidays:
Seol and Chuseok. Seol is the first day of the first
month in the lunar calendar: two days around this
day are public holidays. On Seol, it is traditional to
wear Korean dress; visit parents and grandparents;
and bow on one’s knees (jul) in respect to, and in front
of, the elders. The elders, in response to this show of
respect, wish the young people to good health and fortune, and on top of this, give them cash gift.
There are four major issues that affect the Korean
American community. The first issue that affects
the Korean community in Chicago is that of
socioeconomic mainstreaming; Korean Americans
tend to be relegated to labor-intensive trades. The
second concern is political participation, including
attaining U.S. citizenship, voter registration and
electoral participation. The third concern is the
growing health needs of the first generation, who
are often uninsured or underinsured, and social
services for the aging first generation.
The fourth major concern is the generation gap that
exists between the parents and their children. Often,
second-generation youth are detached from their
culture and community, which can be attributed to
Koreans in Poverty by Age in Chicago
Be
low
4%
Names
Most first-generation Korean Americans have
transliterated their names, placing the surname last
(as opposed to the traditional Korean way of having the surname before one’s given name). Many
Korean American immigrants are naming their
second-generation children with English first names
and Korean middle names.
Most Korean first names have two syllables, one
shared by all siblings and the other unique; each
l
leve
19%
rty
ve
po
Chuseok is one of the biggest national holidays of
the year. It occurs on the 15th day of the eighth
month by the lunar calendar. Families hold memorial services at home or at family graves. Viewing
the full moon and making a wish is an important
feature of the evening.
syllable has a distinctive meaning. Korean names
reveal what hopes the family has for the newborn.
Traditionally, the second syllable of a name is
actually a shared syllable of the generation of that
particular branch of the family. For instance, the
37th generation of a particular branch of the Lee
line would share a common syllable. Some families
have modified this practice so that all siblings may
share one of the syllables. The surname Kim is held
by more than 20% of all Koreans. Other common
last names include Lee, Park, Choi, and Chung.
6%
71%
Income in 1999 at or above poverty level
75+
65-74
Under 65
Graph 1: Koreans and Poverty in Chicago. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
66
the fact that few schools in the U.S. cover Korean
or Korean American history. Therefore, Korean
youth remain unaware of their parents’ background
unless they take the initiative to study on their own.
Furthermore, the lives of Korean Americans are
directly affected by U.S. policy toward Korea – both
South and North. Peace and reunification between
the Koreas are very important to the Korean
American community.
Koreans in Poverty by Age in Chicago
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Native
Naturalized
At/Above poverty level
Non-citizen
Below poverty level
Graph 2: Poverty According to Citizenship in Chicago. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
67
Laotian Americans
By Sommala Vilaysane. Updated by Thomas Pravongviengkham (2010).
Demographics
The 2000 Census reported 5,973 Laotians living in Illinois. This includes 517 residing
in Chicago and 1,190 living in Rockford. Also, over 4,000 Laotians are reported in
Elgin and its surrounding areas, which include Hanover Park, Streamwood, South
Elgin, St. Charles, Carpentersville, Algonquin, and Niles. Community leaders believe
that these figures represent an undercount. In the City of Chicago, most Laotians
reside in the Albany Park and Uptown neighborhoods. Because of job opportunities
and more affordable housing, many Laotian families have moved further northeast
or to the northwest suburbs as far as Rockford or Belvidere, and southwest suburbs
such as Aurora and Joliet. The median household income for a Lao family is
$42,445. Most first-generation Laotians are factory workers. The second generation,
which has grown up in the U.S., tends to have more education and higher income. Historical Background & Current Migration Pattern
The Lao population is very ethnically diverse. A 1985 census conducted in Laos
listed 47 ethnic groups, each of which has its own distinct language, religion, culture
and traditions. These ethnic groups are categorized into three subgroups: the largest
group is Lao Loum or lowland Lao (i.e. Lao, Lue, Tai Dam, etc…), the second group
is Lao Theung or midland Lao such as the Kammu, Katang, Makong, Loven, Lawae,
and the last and smallest group is Lao Sung which includes Hmong, Mien (Yao),
Akha, and Lahu. The Lao Sung subgroups originally migrated from China in the
mid-nineteen century, and the Hmong are the largest of this subgroup.
In 1975, the withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam allowed the Communist
Party in Laos to strengthen and take over the country, forcing many Laotians
to cross the Mekong River and take refuge in Thailand, fearing persecution and
starvation. The first refugees from Laos to Chicago arrived in late 1975 and early
1976, and the number of refugees significantly increased in 1979. Most Lao refugees
were in the refugee camps in Thailand for at least two years before being accepted
into the U.S. or France. The initial Lao refugees were better educated and more
highly skilled. The later waves of refugees were rural and village people. Many of
the latter groups were illiterate even in their own language. Lao refugees came with
extended family members, including children and elderly parents. The refugee camps
in Thailand were shut down in 1995. It was estimated that 12,000 Hmong refugees
were voluntarily repatriated to Laos. Some remained in Thailand and others were
resettled in third countries.
The largest concentrations of Lao Americans are in California (almost 60,000,
according to the 2000 Census). The second largest is in Texas (about 10,114). In
the U.S. the highest concentration of Tai Dam are found in Des Moines, Iowa, Lue
in Seattle, and Hmong in Minnesota. Many Laotians settled in Chicago’s Uptown
neighborhood, where inexpensive housing was more available. In Illinois, there is
a community of Lue residing around the Rockford area. A larger group of Lao
refugees settled in the Elgin area, where there were refugee settlement programs that
68
Lao American Profile
provided social services, ESL classes, job counseling,
job placement and training. Currently, only a small
number of Lao immigrants still arrive in the U.S,
and nearly all of these new arrivals are immigrants
reuniting with family members.
How did the Lao come to settle in Elgin? Local
historian E.C. Alft, a former Mayor of Elgin, noted
that the first contact between Elgin and Laos
was a 1956 visit by His Royal Excellency Chao
Saykham, governor of the Lao province of Xieng
Khouang: subsequently, a sister city relationship
was established between Elgin and Vientiane
in 1968. In addition, Elgin was home to many
good Samaritans, and through churches and civic
organizations, citizens sponsored many planeloads
of refugees. While these organizations could have
sponsored Vietnamese or Cambodian refugees,
almost all of the refugees sponsored to Elgin were
from Laos because of the sister city relationship.
According to E.C. Alft, Elgin Community College
started receiving funding in 1977 to provide language
and vocational skills training for the Lao refugee
community, and the Elgin YMCA received refugee
resettlement and adjustment funds starting in 1979.
These and other established resources encouraged
the secondary migration of Laotians to Elgin.
Language
Lao is the official language of Laos. It is a tonal
language of the Tai Family. It is very similar to
Thai. The Lao language is divided into five main
dialects: Vientiane Lao, Northern Lao, NorthEastern Lao, Central Lao, and Southern Lao. The
Lao alphabet is made up of 33 consonants and 28
vowels representing 21 and 27 sounds written left
to right. The Lao language is phonetic, meaning
that the words are spelled the way they are spoken
or the way they sound.
Religion
Theravada (or Hinayana) Buddhism is the principal
religion or practice of most Laotians. In the U.S.
about 85% of Laotians are Buddhists; the remaining 15% are Catholics or Protestants. Currently,
there are five Lao Buddhist Temples (or wats) in the
state of Illinois: two of the temples are in Elgin, one
is in Hampshire, and two more are in Rockford.
69
The Lao community and Lao temples are working
very hard to preserve and follow Buddhist practices,
teaching, and culture. The temple is a place where
people in happy or troubled times seek solitude,
peace and/ or shelter. Buddhist temples welcome all
regardless of ethnic background.
Lao New Year typically falls in the second week of
April: the actual date depends on the lunar calendar. The New Year festival lasts for three days. The
first day is the day of Sankhan Long or the last day of
the old year. On this day, people traditionally clean
their house in preparation for the New Year. The
second day is Mueu Nao, the day between the old
and New Year. It is believed that misfortunes can
easily happen on this day, because the spirit of the
old year has departed, while the New Year spirit
has yet to arrive. Most people stay home and rest
on this day. The third day is Sangkhan Kheun or
the day of the New Year and celebration. People go
to the temple and make offerings to the monks by
bringing food and flowers. After the offering at the temple, many people go
home and celebrate their New Year with a Baci
or su-kwan ceremony. Baci is the most important
ceremony and is symbolic of Lao culture. Su-Kwan
can be translated to “the calling of Kwan.” Kwan
refers to the 32 spirits believed to watch over our
body’s 32 organs, which are thought to constitute
a person’s spiritual essence. Baci is a ritual binding
the spirits to their possessor and is a means of
expressing goodwill and good fortune to others. Baci
is practiced during a celebration or for a disruptive
event for positive reinforcement or blessing. The
ceremony must be completed before the sun
goes down. The most important Baci ceremony
is for a wedding. There must be a Baci Su-Kwan
ceremony, at Lao weddings; it can not be skipped
or substituted. The one thing that differentiates the
Baci ceremony for weddings and other events are the
presents of two Pha Khouan (see below) and two
boiled whole chickens at a wedding. Boiled chickens
and eggs symbolize the new lives of the bride and
groom. Serious care is taken during the preparation
and cooking of the chickens and eggs. Other events
require only one Pha Khouan.
Baci is also performed at a New Year celebration,
a farewell party, a welcoming home after a long
absence, a welcoming of a first-born child, and to
honor an achievement or a recovery from serious
illness. The Baci is performed by a MorPhorn, a well
respected older man who has been a monk. The
center of the Baci is the Pha Khouan, a centerpiece
which is made of banana leaves that are shaped into
a cone tower. The cone is then decorated with bright
flowers and studded with bamboo sticks laced with
white cotton strings. Fruit, drinks, both cooked and
uncooked rice, boiled eggs, boiled whole chicken, and
different types of desserts and pastries are at the base
of the PhaKwan. Two candles are lit at the tower’s
summit. Participants sit around the PhaKwan. The
MorPhorn performs the ceremony by calling or
invoking the Kwan in a loud song-like voice. The
MorPhorn calls on the spirits to cease wandering
and return to the bodies of the guest(s) of honor (i.e.
bride and groom or a newborn baby, etc…). He then
asks the Kwan to come back home if the Kwan is
wandering during a major illness, to bring happiness
and prosperity to the newly wed, or to come protect
and watch over a newborn baby. After the invocation of the Kwan is finished, the
MorPhorn is the first elder to start tying white cotton
string around the guest of honor’s wrists (one on each
wrist) binding the Kwan in place. While tying the
string, he places an egg or a fruit on the palm of the
guest(s) of honor and expresses goodwill, good health,
prosperity, and happiness. Again, he asks the Kwan to
come back and stay. After the MorPhorn completes
his task, other participants can then tie strings to the
guest(s) of honor or other participants. The white
string remains on the wrists for three days. If the string
is removed too soon after the ceremony, it is believed
that good spirits and well wishes will not remain and
protect them. When the strings are removed, they
must be broken or untied, not cut.
During the New Year celebration, after the ceremony is completed, most people traditionally take to
the street for Boon Haut Nam. At Boon Haut Nam,
people throw water at each other until they are
soaked. This activity is symbolically cleansing your
body of bad karma and getting ready to receive
good karma and good luck for the New Year. In the
U.S., Boon Haut Nam often occurs at the Temple
after the food offering ceremony. This tradition is
kept where the weather permits.
Traditional Lao Food: Glutinous or sticky rice is the
staple food for Laotians. Sticky rice is soaked in water all night and then steamed to cook. Sticky rice
is eaten by hand and goes well with Laap and Tam
Mak Houng. Laap is made from fish, chicken, turkey,
shrimp, beef, or pork. Laap, which signifies luck in
Lao culture, is a main dish that is served at a New Year
celebration and other celebrations in order to bring
good luck to family and friends. Another popular Lao
dish is Tam Mak Houng (spicy green papaya salad),
which is served anytime that there is a gathering.
Names
Traditionally, grandparents name the newborn
grandchild. Most Laotian names have meanings
that reflect the hopes that the family has for that
child. The most common surname is Vong, which
means king. Most, if not all, Laotians have a nickname (a name that is known and used by family
and friends). Most nicknames are created from a
personal characteristic or trait.
The first generation of Lao Americans is aging; most
have retired or are close to retirement. In order
to provide for their families, most of them started
work as soon as there was an opportunity. As a result, they did not have a chance to properly learn
English. Many took jobs in factories and earned the
minimum wage, and many did not understand the
health care or retirement systems, including Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security or 401(k) plans. As a
result, when they retire, they often have to depend
on their children for financial help. They also have to
rely on their children to take them to doctor’s visits
and to help apply for benefits. The language barrier
plays a major role in the livelihood of the first generation of Lao Americans. At the same time, many
of them are struggling to make ends meet. With little
savings and small amount of social security benefits,
they can not afford to live on their own.
Furthermore, according to community leaders,
many Lao seniors have been diagnosed with health
70
problems such as diabetes, liver cancer, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, and heart disease. Many
delay seeking medical care because they can not afford
to pay for a visit to a doctor. As a result, by the time
they see a doctor, they are seriously ill. Community
leaders and volunteer groups are working hard to
reach out to Lao seniors to inform, educate, advocate
and disseminate information about preventive care
and various assistance programs provided by local,
state and federal government. Members of the Lao American community have
been trying to take care of themselves since they arrived in the U.S. But now, the community is actively
seeking help from local health care providers and
is working to attract the attention of local city officials. Community leaders feel that this has been
a struggle because the Lao American community
is small compared to other minority groups in the
area, and as a result, are often left out of the picture. In 2007, the Lao-American Organization of Elgin
began approaching many local elected officials for
assistance. As a result, Illinois State Senator Michael Noland responded with funding that allowed
Senior Services Associated, Inc. to hire an Information Assistance Specialist to help Lao American
senior citizens. With the help of the Lao-American
Organization of Elgin, a Lao American was hired
for this position.
The economic downfall of 2008 caused Lao Americans to lose their jobs and savings, and experience
foreclosure of their homes. Language barriers made
it difficult for many Lao Americans to apply for
jobs, food stamps, and other benefits, as well as to
seek health care. Realizing this, the Lao American
Organization of Elgin continues to seek funding to
hire staff that could coordinate services for these
families.
In addition, the Lao community has been affected
by recent weather-related emergencies across the
country. For example, the community responded to
the needs of Lao and Cambodian families who were
71
displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Many families took
refugee in the Lao Temple in New Iberia, Louisiana,
and the Lao communities in Elgin and Rockford
organized a food drive and collected donations,
with the Lao Temple in Elgin serving as a drop-off
point. A group of volunteers drove a van loaded
with food and other items to the temple in New
Iberia. The Lao community in Mobile, Alabama is
asking the broader community to again extend their
generosity and support to the people who have been
affected by the hurricane there. A new food drive is
being organized and donations are being collected,
so that another load of supplies can be delivered.
Organizations
Lao American Community Center – DV coun-
seling, Immigration/ Citizenship
Lao American Organization of Elgin
Lao Buddhist Temple of Elgin
(Wat Lao Buddha samaggi of Elgin) – enables
Buddhism practice and Buddhist teaching
(Siridhammaram Temple Of Illinois)
Lao Buddhist Temple of Dundee (Wat Lao
Santidhammaram)
Laotian Catholic Community of Chicago-Elgin
Lao Community Alliance Church of South Elgin
Lao Buddhist Temple of Rockford
(Wat Phothikaram and Wat Ratanaram)
Lao Buddhist Temple of Hampshire
(Wat Lao Buddharam of Northern Illinois)
Lao Community Health Project
(volunteer based project)
Lao American Organization of Illinois
(volunteer based organization)
Southeast Asian Youth Program
(the YWCA of Elgin)
Native Hawaiian & other Pacific Islanders of the Midwest Region
By: C. Lanialoha Lee, Executive Kupa’a Pacific Island Resources. Updated by C. Lanialoha Lee (2010).
Demographics
In addition to the U.S. Census, other avenues have been created as an alternative
means by which to measure the demographics of our Midwest Native Hawaiian
and other Pacific Island communities. As Native Hawaiians are still seeking Federal
recognition, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has developed two important
programs that assist in identifying where our Native Hawaiians reside abroad.
Kau Ìnoa is a registry that is focused on locating Native Hawaiians who wish to
participate in building a governing entity. This would allow the 504 Native Hawaiians residing in the Midwest to have a voice and be a part of planning a future for
the betterment of native Hawaiians everywhere.
The OHA also maintains a Native Hawaiian Registry to certify ancestry and to determine eligibility for current OHA programs.
A third program was developed by the first Chicago-based Native Hawaiian nonprofit
organization, Kupaà-Pacific Island Resources. Through this program, a Midwest
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island Questionnaire is distributed throughout the
Midwest Region to identify the Pacific Island population in the region, and includes
Hawaiians-at-Heart. Our constituents are given the opportunity to share how they
identify themselves ethnically. In addition, the questionnaire reaches beyond statistical
data to include cultural interests, affiliations, and fluently spoken languages.
The continued migration to the Midwest of Native Hawaiians, Tahitians, Samoans,
Fijians, Tongans, Guamanians, and Chamorro would continue throughout
the remaining part of the century. Reasons for this migration included military
enlistment, internment camps on the mainland, seeking a more affordable way of life
for growing families, education, and entertainment.
Hawaiian dignitaries first visited Chicago as far back as 1874, and later in 1889.
King David Kalakaua and Princess Kaìulani graced our àina [land] in Chicago,
paving the way for many more to follow.
In 1893 the Chicago’s World Fair-Columbian Exposition would become the “stage”
for representing Pacific Islanders from throughout the South Pacific to perform on
“the Midway.” Though Princess Kaìulani was not among them, there is evidence
that she was thought of by one of Chicago’s forefathers, as a postcard was sent from
Daniel Burnham inviting her to participate in the Exposition.
The acquisition of the Ruatepupuke II [whare, or Maori meeting house] by the
Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History in 1905 would later draw Maori from
all over the world. For the next one hundred and five years Maori would continue to
pay their respects to Ruatepupuke II before continuing on their journey. Viewed as
the only “sacred” space in the entire Midwest region, it has become the only “home
away from home” for all Pacific Islanders.
72
Native Hawaiian & other Pacific Islanders of the Midwest Region Profile
In the early 1930s, the inventor of the Hawaiian
Steel Guitar, Joseph Kekuku, offered classes at the
Langdon Music School in downtown Chicago on
Wabash Avenue. And less than ten years later, the
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association would form in
Joliet, Illinois.
Important Traditions
The arrival of the Hawaiian civic movement in
the Midwest in 2005 brought newly established
traditions that honor our Aliì [ruling chiefs]. A
joint vigil is held annually on October 16th to
honor Princess Kaìulani, namesake of the Ke Aliì
Victoria Kaìulani Hawaiian Civic Club-Chicago,
and Princess Pauahi Bishop of the Kamehameha
Schools Alumni Midwest Chapter.
Midwest residents belonging to Benevolent
Fraternal Societies are invited to the annual Lei
Draping Ceremony celebrated on the birth date of
King Kamehameha I at the Capitol in Washington
D.C. Members of the Association of Hawaiian
Civic Clubs, Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian
Affairs, Hawaiì Society, and members of the
United States Senate and House of Representatives,
join together in recognition of his great work of
uniting the islands of Hawaiì Nei. Participating in
meaningful events of such importance allows us to
continue to sustain cultural practices like these on
the mainland still strong in Hawaiì today.
Celebrated Holidays
May Day Lei Day
Polynesian Camp Out
Pacific Island New Years Luàu
Support for the Reauthorization of the Native
Hawaiian Education Act, which was first enacted
under the Improving America’s Schools Act of
1994, reauthorized under No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001 is slated for reauthorization under
Blueprint for Reform. The first demonstration
program to develop family-based education centers
73
throughout the Hawaiian Islands resulted in the
growth of Àha Punana Leo preschools statewide
to further meet the needs of families desiring to
perpetuate the Hawaiian language as a living
language. The challenges Native Hawaiians face
are monumental if we are to recreate this model
for our Midwest Native Hawaiian and other Pacific
Islanders who feel the same. It is essential to look
to subsequent grants by the Secretary of Education
under the Native Hawaiian Education Act, as it has
already resulted in an increase in Native Hawaiian
language curriculum development and indigenous
teacher preparation programs that could benefit
our Midwest constituents.
Native Hawaiians experience disproportionate
health disparities in heart disease, cancer, diabetes,
lung, and other chronic illnesses. As a result, the Ke
Aliì Victoria Kaìulani Hawaiian Civic Club-Chicago’s Health Initiative guides us in the promotion
of health education, early detection screening, and
healthy lifestyle changes to reduce Native Hawaiian
health disparities.
Another Initiative of the Ke Aliì Victoria Kaìulani
Hawaiian Civic Club-Chicago is Ùke Nation, which
addresses the issue of mistreated Native Hawaiians
incarcerated on the mainland. Ùke Nation’s purpose
is to provide the means for more resources either
unavailable or inaccessible to the displaced Native
Hawaiians incarcerated and moved off-island to secured facilities throughout the mainland. Separated
from their loved ones, children, and extended family members, while surrounded by unfamiliar lands,
foods, and faces, these Hawaiians are less likely to reenter society without proper rehabilitation sensitive
to their heritage that is rich with culture.
Our hopes are to empower these Hawaiians with
the ability to research, study, and practice their language and cultural art forms as a means of rehabilitation, to assist in strengthening and nourishing
a renewed respect for themselves and others, and
to re-instill their values and traditions of Hawaiì
through the Hawaiian ideals of sharing.
Native Hawaiian & other Pacific Islanders of the Midwest Region Profile
Na t i v e Ha w a i i a n & o t h e r P a c i f i c i s l a n d e r p o p u l a t i o n , c e n s u s 2 0 0 0
National origin
Population1
Percent
874,414
100.0%
Native Hawaiian
401,162
45.9
Samoan
133,281
15.2
Tongan
36,840
4.2
Tahitian
3,313
0.4
574
0.1
8,796
1.0
92,611
10.6
Mariana Islander
141
< 0.1
Saipanese
475
0.1
3,469
0.4
Carolinian
173
< 0.1
Kosraean
226
< 0.1
Pohnpeian
700
0.1
Chuukese
654
0.1
Yapese
368
< 0.1
6,650
0.8
175
< 0.1
9,940
1.1
13,581
1.6
Papua New Guinean
224
< 0.1
Solomon Islander
25
< 0.1
Ni-Vanuatu
18
< 0.1
Melanesian
(not specified)
315
< 0.1
Other Pacific
Islander
174,912
20.0%
Total2
Polynesian
Tokelauan
Polynesian
(not specified)
Micronesian
Guamanian/Chamorro
Palauan
Marshallese
I-Kiribati
Micronesian
(not specified)
Melanesian
Fijian
1 The numbers by national origin
do not add up to the total population figure because respondents may have put down more
than one country. Respondents
reporting several countries are
counted several times.
2 Total includes Native Hawaiian
and other Pacific Islanders alone
or in combination with other
races or groups. Native Hawaiian
and Pacific Islander population
alone in 2000 was 398,835.
Source
U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000
Read more
Native Hawaiian and Other U.S.
Pacific Islander Population,
Census 2000 — Infoplease.com
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/
A0779063.html#ixzz1563QeBkn
74
Nepali Americans
By Sharda Thapa. Updated by Sharda Thapa (2010)
Demographics
Community leaders estimate that the Chicago area is home to well over 7,000 immigrants of Nepali origin. The first families settled here in the early to mid-seventies;
most were professionals who lived in diverse locations throughout the city and suburbs. Most of the immigrant population, however, arrived within the last twenty
years and are still getting established. The community is currently concentrated in
Chicago’s Uptown and Rogers Park neighborhoods, as well as scattered throughout
the suburbs like Skokie and Aurora.
The community prefers to be referred to as Nepali or Nepalis rather than the generally accepted anglicized term Nepalese.
Nepali immigration is a relatively recent phenomenon, with the first Nepali immigrant admitted as a permanent resident of the United States in 1952. Until 1965,
when a new immigration act was passed, only a handful of Nepali had immigrated
to the U.S. Beginning in 1968, the number of Nepali admitted began to increase.
By 1990, 1,749 Nepali resided in the United States, according to the U.S. Census, or
just over 0.02% of all immigrants, 0.05% of all Asian immigrants and 0.4% of all
South Asian immigrants. Although the 2000 Census indicates that only 9,399 people
identified themselves as Nepali, community leaders believe that the total number of
Nepali immigrants in the U.S. was closer to 25,000 at that time. Substantial numbers
of Nepalis are now in the U.S. by overstaying non-immigrant visas or on even on
non-Nepali passports. A majority of all newly arrived Nepalis settle in large cities of
over 100,000 people in states such as Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, California,
Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois. Unofficial estimates of the current Nepali
population place it at approximately 250,000 across all 50 states.
Migration from Nepal to the U.S. originally involved a small number of highly educated and technically trained people who either came to be educated and stayed on
afterward, or brought in a required professional skill. They were followed by an influx of students after 1990, many of which have stayed in the U.S. after completing
their schooling.
Recent immigrants, especially with the advent of diversity visas, have arrived with a
more diverse background and also have included parents and relatives of already established Nepalis. These immigrants are, as a group, less educated and require more
assistance in getting established.
Finally, in 2007, the U.S. government started admitting some 60,000 refugees of
Nepali ethnicity who had been expelled from Bhutan in the mid-eighties and had
spent nearly 20 years in internment camps in southeastern Nepal. Repatriation
negotiations were ultimately unsuccessful, resulting in this addition to the Nepali
ethnic population. About half of this group has been resettled thus far, including
75
Nepali American Profile
nearly 2,000 in Illinois. This is largely a farmer/
shopkeeper/laborer population with little education
within the older generation.
The late entry of Nepali immigrants into the United
States was caused by a number of reasons. Nepal is
a landlocked country between India and China and
this has greatly influenced Nepali foreign policy.
Before Nepal embarked on the path to democracy
in 1951, Nepalis were restricted from emigrating,
except to India. In addition, Nepal was virtually
closed off to foreigners. Furthermore, for 40 years
following 1951, the government continued to impose passport restrictions, which made it difficult to
travel or emigrate.
There has been a general lack of a well-educated
and technical labor force in Nepal, which is still in
an early stage of economic development. Approximately 40% of the population is literate and some
90% of the economically active population over ten
years of age is engaged in agriculture.
Community Notes
Most community members here belong to regional
or local Nepali organizations that are generally notfor-profits geared to meet their social and cultural
needs, as well as a global Nepali diaspora organization that was established in Nepal in 2003.
The organized political activity within the NepaliAmerican community in most of the U.S. tends to
follow the political currents of the motherland,
and there is little political activity within the
American context. The community is currently
very preoccupied with the efforts in Nepal to deal
with the post-Maoist insurgency comprising the
establishment of a republic and the framing of a
new constitution that addresses the abolition of the
monarchy in 2006, among other things.
Efforts have been initiated to create a lobbying
group to address the needs of the community in
the U.S. A tax treaty between the U.S. and Nepal
is perceived to be a priority for many resident immigrants, especially those with long tenure here or
wishing to engage in business in both countries.
Languages
A majority of the Nepali speaks Nepali, which is
the predominant language of Nepal. Most early
immigrants spoke Nepali or Newari/Nepal Bhasa,
the main languages of Kathmandu valley, from which
most of them emigrated. Languages also spoken in
the community include Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tharu,
Tamang, Magar, Awadhi, Rai, and Limbu. Hindi is
also spoken and fairly widely understood by Nepalis.
Many Nepalis speak or understand English as well.
Religions
The community is largely Hindu, with many Buddhists among them since Hinduism and Buddhism
are practiced side-by-side in Nepal, often in the
same temples. There are also some Muslims and a
few Christians. The Nepali-American community
relates culturally with the South Asian immigrant
population, generally using Indian-established Hindu temples.
The main holiday celebrated is the Nepali New
Year, which occurs in mid-April, corresponding to
the Thai and other Southeast Asian New Years. It
is based on the Bickram calendar, established 57
years before the Christian calendar. Nepali-Americans also celebrate Dasain (October) and Tihar
(November), both of which are determined by the
lunar calendar and are Hindu festivals celebrating
the triumph of good over evil. There are also many
celebrations that are celebrated, like Lhosar, Chath,
and Bhintuna, which are more important within
various ethnic sub-groups.
The community is focused on maintaining essential life cycle ceremonies, helping members
of their community in times of bereavement and
need, and celebrating a few major holidays and
communal events.
Food
Nepalis consume a wide variety of foods, many of
which are similar to both Indian and Tibetan/Chinese dishes. Rice is generally the staple food of most
immigrants. Many of them, being Hindus, abstain
from beef.
76
Nepali American Profile
Names
Organizations
In many of the ethnic subgroups, naming practices
are generally similar to Western conventions, with
a woman adopting her husband’s surname, and
the child carrying the surname of his/her father.
First names are generally adopted from Hindu
religious mythology, or desirable human qualities
or objects in nature. Other ethnic groups have
diverse naming conventions; some base names
upon the day of birth and others use different
considerations.
Organizations established to date have generally
catered to the social interaction needs of the
community. The community has mounted efforts
to establish a physical facility, the Nepali-American
Center, to cater to the wider needs of the population.
This will address the primary concern of the
community. The establishment of a communitybased and dedicated service organization is still
some ways off and the existing social organizations
and individuals have been providing sporadic
service, largely on a volunteer basis. Otherwise
the community has relied on other ethnic service
organizations like Metropolitan Asian Family
Services and the Indo-American Center.
The primary concern of the Nepali community
is the ability to maintain their social and cultural
heritage and traditions and to impart to its young
members a sense of identity with Nepal.
As the population increases and diversifies, there
will be an increasing need to rely on the established
infrastructure for aid in housing, senior services,
and immigration. A social service provider to deal
with the following is sorely needed: advocacy, case
management, ESL, employment counseling and
placement, health education and services, immigration and citizenship assistance, interpretation and
translation services, legal assistance, mental health
services, aid for immigrants in need, and domestic
violence services.
77
Association of Nepalese in Midwest America
(ANMA)
Nepali-American Center and Chicagoland
Nepali Friendship Society
Newsletters, cultural adjustment advice,
cultural celebrations and performances,
immigration referrals, and occasional
limited financial aid to the needy.
Hon. Consul General of Nepal
Business promotion of Nepal, visas
and official representation of Nepal.
Pakistani Americans
By: Sadruddin Noorani
Demographics
According to the 2000 Census, 17,906 Pakistanis live in the six-county region of
Illinois. However, community leaders estimate the actual number to be much higher,
at around 100,000 to 110,000. According to community leaders, 90% of Pakistanis
are above the U.S. national poverty level. Among them are large numbers of
professionals and small and large business owners. Pakistani Americans are dispersed
in the Chicago metropolitan area; there is a large concentration on the city’s north
and northwest sides, in Rogers Park, Peterson Park, Lakeview, Uptown, North Town,
Edgewater, Andersonville, and Albany Park, as well as in nearby suburbs and other
communities throughout the state. Current Migration Patterns
According to community leaders, Pakistani immigration to Chicago began in the
early 1950s. One very well known Pakistani American pioneer of this era was Dr.
Fazlur Rahman Khan, a Pakistani engineer of Bangali origin. He made significant
contributions to Chicago, creating the “tubular design” structural system for tall
buildings, which was incorporated in the 100-story John Hancock Center and the
110-story Sears Tower and other innovative skyscrapers in Chicago.
The number of Pakistanis arriving increased greatly in the late 1960s and early
1970s. Many came as students to pursue higher education, or as medical residents
completing their training at local hospitals. However, a majority of these immigrants
had completed their education prior to coming to the United States, and immigrated
in pursuit of a better quality of life for their families. As a result, there are many
Pakistanis in the field of medicine, engineering, accounting, information technology,
and other professions. During the late 1970s and the 1980s, Pakistani Americans began to sponsor their
family members to join them in the U.S. Many of these newly arrived immigrants
started small businesses to serve the local South Asian community. As a result,
there are many Pakistani-owned stores on Devon Avenue in Chicago, Schaumburg,
Naperville, and other communities. Some recent immigrants temporarily work
as chauffeurs and as cab and limousine drivers as a first step in achieving their
goals. While traditionally, women did not drive or work outside of the home, many
Pakistani immigrant women in the U.S. are now doing both.
In recent years, both the City of Chicago and State of Illinois have acknowledged the
contribution made by this vibrant community and have honored many Pakistanis
with civic awards. Many Pakistani physicians and surgeons hold key positions in
local hospitals. A number of Pakistani professors and lecturers teach at local universities and colleges.
Pakistani immigrants recognize the need for higher education, and an increasing
number of Pakistanis are pursuing masters and doctorate degrees at local
universities. The children of first generation immigrants are acquiring higher
78
Pakistani American Profile
levels of education than their parents; many from
this generation have started to venture into other
professions such as law and journalism. Community
members have established five full-time schools;
the primary function of these schools is to provide
a secular education in an Islamic environment.
The curriculum includes Islamic studies in
addition to courses required to obtain high school
certification. According to community leaders,
students attending these schools have consistently
attained higher ACT and SAT scores compared to
the average for the state of Illinois.
Language
Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, remains the
preferred language of first generation immigrants
at home and during community social gatherings. Besides Urdu, there are many other regional
languages and dialects spoken, such as Punjabi,
Sindhi, Pashto, and Baluchi. Most Pakistanis are
able to communicate in English, and those children
born and/or raised in the U.S. generally prefer to
communicate in English. Religion
Islam is the religion practiced by the vast majority
of Pakistanis. The community has helped establish
over 70 community centers that serve as places
of worship. The centers also provide religious
education to youth and sponsor seminars on various
topics to help new immigrants integrate. In addition
to Islam, other religions that are practiced among
Pakistani Americans are Buddhism, Christianity,
Hindu, Sikhs, and Zoroastrian (Parsi).
Muslim community members observe a variety of
religious holidays, including Eid-ul-Fitr, which is
observed at the end of the Islamic fasting month
Ramadan, and Eid-ul-Adha, which is celebrated
seventy days after Eid-ul-Fitr and is observed in
remembrance of the sacrifice offered by the Prophet
Abraham. Muslims of various nationalities and
backgrounds gather in mosques to pray and to visit
friends and relatives.
The Pakistani community observes Pakistani Day in
celebration of Pakistan’s declaration of independ79
P A KIST A NI s i n I l l i n o i s
Counties
Pakistanis
Total Asians
Cook County
10,703
264,041
DuPage County
3,387
72,173
Will County
462
11,313
Sangamon County
79
2,102
Lake County
393
25,439
Jackson County
41
1,814
St. Clair County
61
2,369
Champaign County
131
11,811
Peoria County
73
3,086
McLean County
24
3,125
Table 1: Pakistani Population in Illinois by County. www.census.gov
ence, which is observed on March 23rd. This day
commemorates the 1940 resolution to separate Pakistan from British India. Pakistan Independence
Day is observed on the 14th of August with several
festivals around the state and a parade on Devon
Avenue in Chicago. The community also celebrates
Christmas and the birth of Mohammed Ali Jinnah,
the founder of Pakistan, on December 25th.
Food
Because most Pakistanis are Muslims, many follow
Islamic dietary laws; Muslims refrain from eating
pork and drinking alcohol. Pakistani cuisine is a
blend of Indian and Mediterranean foods. Most
Pakistani Americans celebrate major events, such
as weddings and breaking fast during Ramadan, by
preparing rich dishes made of chicken, lamb, and beef
and offering them to relatives, friends, and neighbors.
There are many restaurants in the Chicagoland area
that specialize in traditional Pakistani dishes. Major Issues for the Community
Community leaders report that the events of and
following September 11th 2001 have gravely
concerned the community: the community fears being
wrongly held accountable for the actions of a few
misguided Muslims. Pakistani Americans are also
concerned about immigration laws, as many of them
Pakistani Citizenship Status
Pakistani Home Ownership
100%
80%
Illinois
60%
40%
Chicago
20%
0%
0%
Male
Female
20%
40%
Owner
Non-citizen
Naturalized
60%
80%
100%
All
Renter
Native
Figure 1: Pakistani Citizenship Status. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
Figure 2: Pakistani Home Ownership. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
wish to sponsor family members to join them in the
U.S. Religious and racial discrimination, at the social,
employment, and political levels, are of concern.
also beset with the same concerns of cross-cultural
adjustment. The community is struggling with
social issues such as drug abuse, domestic violence,
and child abuse. In order to address such issues,
community leaders have established the Hamdard
Center, which provides a variety of social services
including temporary shelter for battered women
and children, mental health services, transitional
housing, and child welfare services.
In addition, many Pakistani Americans closely
monitor U.S. foreign policy toward Pakistan.
Within the Pakistani American community, there
are some who show some sort of affiliation with
Pakistani political parties, but they tend to be more
involved with local U.S. politics.
The National Security Exit-Entry Registration
System (NSEERS) was implemented in September
2002 to fulfill a congressional mandate to establish
a comprehensive system to track the entry and
departure of certain non-immigrants, including
Pakistanis, in the United States. Non-immigrants
enrolled in NSEERS, also known as Special
Registration, were required to register in person
at a local office of the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS). Out of fear, about 8,000 people left
for Pakistan and some headed to Canada. However,
over the last decade, community leaders estimate that
about 6,000 new immigrants arrived from Pakistan
through employment and family-based immigration.
While Pakistanis are acculturating to life in the U.S.,
they remain very proud of keeping their traditions
alive, and first-generation Pakistanis are concerned
about keeping their family values, religion, and
culture alive among the younger generation. Like
other newly arrived communities, Pakistanis are
O r ga n i z at i o n s
Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services
http://www.hamdardcenter.org
Advocacy; Case Management; DV Counseling/Shelter; Employment; Health
Care; Immigration/Citizenship and Legal Assistance; Mental Health;
Senior & Youth Programs; Battered Education; Transitional Housing
Pakistani American Bar Association
http://pabalaw.org
Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Social Services and organize
professional development panel program, conduct cover letter/
resume review and mock interview for law students, visit public
schools through the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago
Lawyers in the Classroom program
Human Development Foundation (HDF)
http://hdf.org.pk/hdf
HDF) is a non-profit, non government, non-political organization,
registered under the Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies
Thaakat Foundation
http://thaakat.wordpress.com
Promotes charitable giving among students and young professionals in the South Asian community and beyond. To drive a movement of creative altruism, unparalleled giving and preservation of
diversity and culture. To bring hands on volunteerism to our local
communities and hope to our global society.
80
Pak-American Medical Center
Print Media
Medical Clinic for under privileged immigrants and neighbors; health seminars and Social Services
Pakistan Link
Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent
of N. America (APPNA)
http://www.appna.org
The Association is organized for educational and scientific purposes, including for such purposes: To support medical education
and research. To advance the interests of medicine and medical
organizations. To foster scientific development and education in
the field of medicine for the purpose of improving the quality of
medicine and delivery of better health care, without regard to race,
color, creed, sex or age.
OPEN, Chicago
http://open-chicago.org
A network of socially conscious executives in the Chicagoland area
who are just as committed to human causes.
Print-Weekly, Urdu and English: http://pakistanlink.org
Pakistan Times
Print-Weekly, Urdu and English: http://pakistantimesonline.com
Urdu Times
Print-Weekly, Urdu and English: http://www.urdutimesusa.com/chicago
Pakistan News
Print-Weekly, Urdu: http://www.weeklypakistannews.com
Sada-E-Pakistan
Print-Weekly, Urdu: http://www.sada-e-pakistan.net
5 Star Tribune
Print- By-Weekly, English: http://www.5startribune.com
Association of Pakistani Americans, Bolingbrook, IL.
E l e c t r o n i c M e d i a - Rad i o
http://apabolingbrook.blogspot.com
Arranges Taste of Pakistan food festival, promotes cultural harmony
among others, and has a Youth Cricket training program. Involved in
strengthening the community thru outreach in strengthening IndoPak relations between two communities
Sargam Radio
Zindagi Trust
http://www.zindagitrust.org
Zindagi Trust is a philanthropic organization that aims to provide
quality education to the underprivileged children of Pakistan. It has
established I am Paid to Learn schools with over 2800 children currently being educated across Pakistan.
Nat ional Inst it uti o n s
Bank
National Bank of Pakistan
333 N. Michigan Ave.,
Chicago, IL. 60601
Ph: 312-578-1880
Airline
Pakistan International Airlines
1815 S. Meyers Road Suite 520
Oakbrook Terrace, IL. 60181
Ph: 630-932-6254, 1-800-578-6786
Government
Pakistan Consulate Office
333 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 728
Chicago, IL. 60601.
Ph: 312-781-1831
Consulate of Pakistan
Trade & Commercial Section
Chicago, IL. 60601
Ph: 312-782-2383
81
www.sargamradio.us
Weekly Radio (Sunday) @ 9pm to 11pm
WSBC 1240 AM & WCFJ 1470 AM
Music/entertainment; Community Service announcements and
talk show of south Asians.
Dil Se Talk Radio
www.dilsetalkradio.com
Weekly Radio (Saturday) @ 10pm to 11pm
WSBC 1240 AM & WCFJ 1470 AM
Entertainment; Community Service announcements and talk
issues of south Asians.
Sohni Dharti
www.wcgo1590.com
Weekly Radio (Sunday) @ 10 PM-12 Midnight @ 1590AM
Music/entertainment; Community Service announcements
and talk issues of south Asians.
Electronic Media - Television
AYAN Television (Voice Of Pakistanis’)
www.ayantv.com
Streaming Live Programs, Youth Talk Shows, Interviews, Live
Coverage of Community events, Morning Shows, Family Shows,
Promoting Culture, Talents & Businesses
Thai Americans
By the Thai American Association of Illinois. Updated by Vallapa Pchccu (2010).
Demographics
According to the 2000 Census, there are a total of 7,231 Thais living in Illinois, with
5,829 in the six-county area, and 2,385 in Chicago. Community leaders, however, estimate that a total of 60,000 Thai Americans are currently living in Illinois, with about
half of them residing in Chicago. Thai communities are scattered throughout Illinois,
with a condensed population in Chicago and the north and northwest suburbs.
As for income levels, the majority of the Thai community are in the middle to upper
income brackets. Thais work in a variety of professions, including: medical doctors,
nurses, engineers, lawyers, architects, and entrepreneurs. Approximately 24.9% of
Thais work in education, health and social services; 14.5% of Thais are employed in
the manufacturing sector; and 10.7% are employed in the retail trade sector.
The United States-Thailand relationship has been close and cordial since the first
contact between the two countries in 1833, when Edmund Roberts, the first American envoy, arrived in Thailand to write the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. During
the Korean War, when Thailand became a U.S. ally under the supervision of the
United Nations, Thais answered the call for nurses who were needed to work for
allied forces in Japan and Korea.
According to community leaders, significant Thai immigration to Illinois began in
the early 1960s, when health care professionals were needed in urban hospitals.
Government-sponsored Thai students came for advanced training, engineers and
other professionals followed, and both government-sponsored and self-funded students also increased significantly in the mid to late 1960s. These were the pioneers
of the Thai community in Chicago. The immigration of medical professionals decreased in the 1990s, but engineers, computer programmers, and entrepreneurs
continued to arrive.
In the early stages of Thai immigration, political participation was relatively limited,
due to the fact that Thais were concentrating primarily on their careers and businesses. However, as second generation Thais came of age, political participation has
gradually increased.
Language
Most Thai immigrants speak their native language, Thai, which is widely used within
the Thai community. Second generation Thais are generally more comfortable with
English. Most Thais, however, are able to speak and understand English fairly well.
Religion
Buddhism is observed as the national religion in Thailand. Presently, an estimated
80% of Thai Americans are Buddhists, while a small percentage of other Thais
are Christians and Muslims. The local Thai American community has built many
82
Thai American Profile
temples, where monks have been invited to reside,
supervising religious functions and playing an
important role in shaping Thai American culture.
The first Thai Buddhist Temple in the Chicago
area is “Wat Dhammaram,” located at 7059 West
75th Street. Thai community members gather
at the temple for religious, cultural, and social
activities. Children who attend the temple have the
opportunity to take Buddhism and Thai language
classes that are offered.
The most important traditions and holidays are
Songkran and Loy Krathong. Songkran celebrates
the traditional Thai New Year on April 13th; Loy
Krathong occurs on the night of the full moon on
the twelfth lunar month (November). Religious rites,
merry making, and celebration mark Songkran. It is
a boisterous affair in which water is splashed and is
symbolic of cleansing.
Loy Krathong is a quieter, more romantic event
in which homage is paid to the Mother of Waters.
People gather at rivers, ponds, and lakes under the
moonlight to float krathongs (small lotus-shaped
offerings containing incense, a candle, and a coin).
It is believed that bad luck and evil will be carried
away in the water.
The largest gathering of Thai Americans in Illinois
occurs during His Majesty the King’s birthday
(December), at an event that is organized by the
Thai American Association of Illinois. In August,
the Queen’s birthday is celebrated with a gala
dinner sponsored by the Thai Nurses’ Association.
Names
According to Thai custom, there are many factors
that are involved in choosing a name for a child.
It ranges from astrological compatibility to the
significance and meaning of the name. The name is
used to bring luck, happiness, fortune, health, and
prosperity for the child.
83
Thais in Illinois
Counties
Thais
Total Asians
4,010
264,041
DuPage County
588
72,173
Will County
128
11,313
Sangamon County
54
2,102
Lake County
245
25,439
Jackson County
50
1,814
St. Clair County
145
2,369
Champaign County
222
11,811
Peoria County
32
3,086
McLean County
70
3,125
Cook County
Table 1: Thai and Total Asian Population in Illinois counties. www.census.gov
Food
Thai cuisine presents an enormous range of dishes
and a subtle blend of flavors. Thai culinary art
possesses an abundance of vegetables and fruits,
herbs and spices, succulent seafood, poultry, and
meats. Although Thais generally prefer hot, spicy
food, not all dishes are equally fiery.
The majority of Thais do not have any dietary
restrictions. Exceptions to the rule include Thai
Muslims who refrain from eating pork, and others
who either do not eat pork or other meat for other
religious or health reasons.
Within the Thai community, there continues to
be the need for stronger unification and communication. The Thai community would greatly
benefit from outreach programs to provide care
for the elderly, childcare for working families, as
well as English classes for new immigrants. These
issues have yet to be adequately addressed within
the community itself.
Thai American Profile
Org anizations
Thai American Association of Illinois
and the TAAI Community Service Center
Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Health Care Services &
Education; Advocacy; Cultural Performances/Celebrations
Buddhadharma Meditation Center
Buddhism, Religious Programs
Thai Buddhist Temple (Wat Dhammaram)
Royal Thai Consulate General Chicago
Thai Trade Center Chicago
Government agency under Department of Export Promotion
Thai American Real Estate Association
Thai Communication Assoc. of Illinois
Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute
Thai Easterner Association of Illinois
Thai Golf Club Chicago
Thai Northerner Association of Illinois
Thai Nurse Association of Illinois
Thai Physicians Association of Illinois
Thai Southerner Association of Illinois
Chicago Thai Midwest Lion Club
Women’s Hospital Alumni
Siriraj Hospital Alumni
Thammasart University Alumni
84
Tibetan Americans
By: President of Tibetan Alliance of Chicago.* Updated by Lhakpa Tsering (2005, 2010).
*NOTE: The Tibetan Alliance of Chicago and the Tibetan Association Chicago merged in 2004.
Demographics
Although no statistics were available about the Tibetan population in the 2000
Census, community leaders estimate that approximately 300 Tibetans reside in
the Chicago metropolitan area. The majority of local Tibetan community lives in
Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood and in suburban Skokie. Tibetans are employed
in many different fields, ranging from downtown hotel staff to cab drivers to Cook
County governmental offices. A number of Tibetan women also work in childcare
and housekeeping.
Tibetans are fairly new to the area, with the first influx of Tibetans arriving in
Chicago in the 1990s. Prior to 1992, there were only two Tibetans living in Chicago.
In 1990, 1000 immigrant visas were granted to Tibetans, 100 of which went to
Chicago Tibetans. These newly arrived immigrants later sent for their families
through family reunification provisions, which have led to a recent increase in the
number of children, now estimated at 80 (out of a total of 300 Tibetans in metro
Chicago). In addition, Illinois has a group of Tibetan asylees.
According to community leaders, following the Chinese occupation of Tibet in the
1950s, and the subsequent uprising of the Tibetan people in 1959, thousands of
Tibetans fled across the Himalayas to India, Nepal, and Bhutan in order to avoid
reprisal. China’s occupation of Tibet has led to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to flee
to India, where he currently resides along with several hundred Tibetan refugees. He
was granted refuge in Dharamsala, India, where he established his government-inexile. From this base, he remains leader of and an inspiration to his people.
Tibetan leaders believe that their entire culture is at risk of extinction because of
the Chinese government’s policy of sinicization. For this reason, friends of Tibet
around the world believe it to be vital for special humanitarian provisions to be
made available to Tibetans in exile in order to sustain their way of life. In 1989,
the Tibetan U.S. Resettlement Project (TUSRP), a coalition of Tibetans-in-exile and
their American supporters, persuaded the U.S. Congress to provide 1,000 visas for
Tibetans as part of the Immigration Act of 1990. The Tibetan Alliance of Chicago
was established to coordinate the resettlement of one hundred Tibetans, making up
one of the largest cluster sites in the country. When the first group of Tibetans arrived
at O’Hare Airport in 1992 to 1994, dedicated volunteers worked to provide services
for the new arrivals.
Today, there is a Tibetan Community Center that enables interaction within this
tight-knit community, and Tibetan Americans in Chicago often help each other with
issues regarding employment, benefits, healthcare, etc.
85
Tibetan American Profile
Language
Tibetans live in many regions of Asia, including
Tibet, Nepal, and India, which explains the large
number of languages spoken by this population.
Those in Nepal and Northern India speak Nepali,
Hindi, and English; those in Southern India speak
Tamil, Kannada, Malayam, and English; and those
in Tibet speak Chinese and English. The majority of
Tibetans are bilingual, if not tri-lingual, because of
nature of their existence in various parts of India,
Nepal, and China.
Tibetans are among the newest immigrants in Chicago,
and in 2007, the Tibetan community purchased a
community center in Evanston. Although they do
not have any staff to run the community center,
everyone volunteers to maintain the center. Academic
enrichment for children is held on Saturdays, and
Tibetan language and cultural practices are held on
Sundays. All community members pay dues and fees
to upkeep the community center.
Religion
The Tibetan community in Chicago is primarily
Buddhist. Although there are no Tibetan religious
institutions in the Chicago area, Tibetans organize
prayers and religious festivals at the Tibetan Community Center.
Many Tibetans have shrines in their homes for daily
rituals. In addition, Tibetans celebrate Buddhist
festivals at home, in Buddhist centers, or in the Tibetan
Community Center. During festivals, weddings, and
when going to the monastery, traditional Tibetan
clothing is worn.
The most important holidays celebrated by Tibetans are the Tibetan New Year and the Dalai Lama’s
birthday. Because the lunar calendar is used, the
dates of these celebrations vary from year to year.
Names
Many Tibetans do not have surnames, and if they do,
these are rarely used. Names are given by parents, the
high monk, or the Dalai Lama, usually a day or two
after birth. A common name is Tenzing, which means
“strong believer.” Usually, two names are given, and
when coming to the U.S., the second name is used
as a surname. Those who have only one name may
choose to adopt one of their parents’ first names as
a surname.
Most Tibetan Americans still have family members
in Tibet and often discuss the possibility of bringing
them over. Family is very important to Tibetans and
money is often sent back to parents and other relatives.
Immigration laws and restrictions affect Tibetans as
much as they affect other ethnic communities, and are
a constant concern. Many Tibetans are also greatly
concerned about U.S. foreign policy as it relates to
human rights, China, and Tibet.
A r t s & C u lt u r e
Tibet Center
H e a lt h a n d H u man S e r v i c e s
Registered as Tibetan Alliance of Chicago but also
known as Tibetan Association of IL. Two organizations were merged in 2004.
Immigration, Interpretation; Youth Programs; Cultural Programs;
Workshops to educate high school students on the process of
applying to colleges. Cultural Performances; Cultural Celebrations/
Festivals; Ethnic Language Instruction; Training/Education;
Youth Programs
Media
Website
www.tibetan-alliance.org
R e l i gi o u s
Chicago Karma Thegsum Choling
86
By: Ngoan Le, Vice President of Programs, The Chicago Community Trust. Updated in 2005 from the original version published in The Ethnic
Handbook (Illinois Ethnic Coalition, 1996). Updated by Lhakpa Tsering (2010).
Demographics
The majority of Vietnamese in Chicago live in Uptown, Edgewater, Rogers Park, Albany Park, and West Ridge. Outside Chicago, Vietnamese can be found in suburbs within
DuPage, Lake, Will, and Champaign Counties. One-third of the Vietnamese population in Chicago is below the poverty level and about one-quarter in the metro area fall
below the poverty level. About 37% of Vietnamese adults in the U.S. over the age of
25 do not have a high school diploma. Occupational distribution in the labor force
is as follows: executive/administrative/professional, 30%; service, 20%; blue collar,
31%. About 34% of Vietnamese find work in manufacturing industries, 13% in education, health and social services, 15% in the white collar/ professional sector and 8%
in retail and trade. Nationwide, about 48% of Vietnamese households are considered
“linguistically isolated.” In 1990, no Vietnamese Americans age 14 or older reported
speaking English “very well.” Close to 80% of Vietnamese households nationwide
speak Vietnamese at home. More than half of Vietnamese Americans are U.S. citizens.
Since 1975, the number of Vietnamese arriving in the U.S. as refugees has been
reduced significantly. Since 2000, an average of 30,000 Vietnamese have entered
the U.S. annually as refugees or legal immigrants reuniting with family members.
According to the 2000 Census, there were 1.2 million Vietnamese in the U.S., 21,212
in Illinois, and 8,925 in Chicago. A number of Vietnamese who were resettled in
the Chicago area relocated to other states to reunite with family and friends living
elsewhere or because they had difficulty adjusting to Chicago’s cold winters. At the
same time, there were Vietnamese that came to Illinois from other states for education
or employment opportunities. A few have gone back to Vietnam to seek business
opportunities. Many more are still petitioning to have their families in Vietnam join
them here in the Chicago area.
The Vietnamese community in Chicago is a fairly recent phenomenon. Before 1975,
there were only about a dozen Vietnamese families in Illinois. The fall of Saigon in
April 1975 resulted in an unprecedented exodus of Vietnamese fleeing South Vietnam in fear of persecution by the communist government. Many Vietnamese escaped
by boat across the South China Sea or walked through Cambodia and into Thailand
to seek political asylum. In 1975 alone, 128,250 Vietnamese were admitted to the
U.S. as refugees under the Indochina Refugee Assistance Program.
The Refugee Act of 1980 enabled the U.S. to establish a framework for federal
refugee assistance for the first time. A number of special programs were instituted
to assist Vietnamese seeking resettlement in the U.S. The Vietnamese population
in the U.S. represents widely diverse socioeconomic strata. A large percentage of
those arriving in the first wave of refugees in 1975 were former South Vietnamese
87
Vietnamese American Profile
found themselves more welcome. Vietnamese
community leaders have worked closely with leaders
of other refugee communities, such as Cambodians,
Chinese, Ethiopians, and Laotians, on joint projects
to find jobs for new arrivals and to provide necessary
adjustment services. Joint efforts also have resulted
in an economic development program, helping to
create and expand small businesses and build new
homes. In addition to the major commercial center
around Argyle Street on the north side of Chicago,
Vietnamese stores and restaurants can now be found
in Wheaton, Carol Stream, and Lombard.
Vietnamese Citizenship Status
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Male
Female
All
Language
Non-citizen
Naturalized
Native
Figure 1: Citizenship Status of Vietnamese in Illinois.
government officials, religious leaders, writers,
journalists, businessmen, and military commanders.
Among the second wave of arrivals were fishermen,
farmers and urban dwellers. Amerasians (children of
American men and Vietnamese women) and former
political prisoners are the most recent arrivals. The
majority of Vietnamese now living in Chicago have
survived many traumas. Prolonged armed conflicts
and the perilous escapes from Vietnam left many
without intact families. Former political prisoners
were isolated from their families and tortured.
Many require extensive counseling and assistance
to rebuild their lives. Many Amerasians, separated
from their fathers and discriminated against in their
homeland, are still looking for their place in the U.S.
The first group of Vietnamese arrivals in the Chicago
area settled in Uptown because of its affordable
housing and the presence of a few key voluntary
agencies, which provided refugee resettlement services.
This first group established a social and economic
foundation on the north side, through the creation
of religious and community-based organizations and
the development of a vibrant small-business strip
on and around Argyle Street, between Broadway
and Sheridan. The area then became a magnet for
later arrivals, which spread farther north and west
to Edgewater, Rogers Park, and Albany Park. These
all were communities with affordable housing and
an ethnically diverse population, where Vietnamese
The official language of Vietnam is Vietnamese.
There are minimal differences in vocabularies and
intonations among people from North, Central,
and South Vietnam.
Religion
The majority of Vietnamese practice a combination
of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Catholicism also has a significant following. There is also a
growth of Vietnamese Protestants, partially due to
the active participation and assistance provided to
Vietnamese refugees by many Protestant-churches.
A smaller number practice Cao Daism. There are
five Vietnamese Buddhist temples in the Chicago
area. Two Catholic churches have significant Vietnamese congregations (St. Thomas of Canterbury
in Chicago and Trinity in Lombard). The Uptown
Baptist Church is a gathering place for Vietnamese
Baptists living in the city.
Vietnamese culture has adapted to many other
cultures as the result of colonization and survival
needs. Traditional values, heavily influenced by
Confucian teaching, include: reverence for education
and learned individuals, respect for the elderly
and people in positions of authority, and pursuit
of harmony rather than confrontation. Men are
traditionally assumed to hold a superior social
position. A traditional family expects the woman to
defer to the wishes of her father, husband, and sons.
According to tradition, there are special celebrations
the first full month after birth and the first full year.
88
Vietnamese American Profile
For marriage, contrary to U.S. practices, Vietnamese
tradition dictates that the groom’s family assumes the
cost of both the engagement and wedding ceremonies.
The wedding usually includes a ceremony at the
home of the bride, where the groom’s family pays
respect to the bride’s family and formally asks to
take her away to become a member of his family.
Another ceremony is held at the home of the groom
to formally welcome the bride to her new family. At
death, for Buddhists, a monk may pray for the soul
of the departed to reach Nirvana. White is the color
of mourning.
Many Vietnamese holidays are based on the lunar
calendar. For this reason, the dates of the events differ
each year on the Gregorian calendar, which is usually
a month ahead of the lunar calendar. TET/Lunar
New Year (first day of the year), the Trung Sisters’
Anniversary (sixth day of the second month), Ancestor
Day (third month) and the Mid-Autumn Festival (full
moon in August) are important Vietnamese holidays.
The Trung sisters led a rebellion in Vietnam against
the Chinese from 39-40 C.E. They are now revered
and considered to be the heroines of Vietnam.
Names
There are only about 100 family names for the
whole population of 70 million Vietnamese; the
most common are Nguyen, Le, Tran, Pham, Phan,
Vo, and Huynh. People with the same family name
are not always related to one another. Contrary
to the U.S. practice, in Vietnam, the family name
comes first and the given name comes last. Many
Vietnamese Americans reverse the order to conform
to U.S. custom. Traditionally, Vietnamese women
do not change their last name when they marry. In
formal settings, married women may be addressed
by their husband’s surname (e.g. Mrs. Nguyen),
but their names are never legally changed. Given
names generally have a meaning selected with
89
great care by the parents to reflect their aspirations.
Names normally express a quality or a virtue. For
men, Hung (courage), Liem (integrity) and Trung
(fidelity) are examples. Women’s names can also be
of beautiful things; for example, Hong (rose), Lan
(orchid), or Van (cloud).
The Vietnamese community has been in the U.S.
for approximately 35 years. In the beginning, the
majority of Vietnamese were newly arrived refugees
or recent immigrants who need to seek any jobs to
be self-sufficient, adjust to their new environment,
and overcome language barriers. While many
Vietnamese have made progress in the workplace,
due in part to receiving a higher education, there
are still a number of Vietnamese who remain in
low-wage jobs due to language barriers and lack
of technical skills. For low-income households,
being able to stay in the city near the Vietnamese
commercial center has become more challenging
due to the rising cost of housing. As the Vietnamese
community matures, community leaders and
organizations have begun to focus on long-term
issues, which include the promotion of citizenship
and civic participation, and the provision of
linguistic and culturally sensitive services to seniors
and young children.
Additionally, because one out of four Vietnamese
Americans are U.S. born, the community is also
seeking ways to better understand and more
effectively address the needs of this new generation.
Among the younger generation, many no longer
practice traditional ways because they conflict with
values and beliefs commonly held in the U.S. Many
younger people may no longer speak, read or write
Vietnamese. Cultural and language differences can
result in intergenerational tension between the
elderly and the young children.
American Profile
Vietnamese Education in Illinois
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Male
Female
Bachelor+
0-9
10-Associate
Figure 3: Vietnamese Educational Attainment in Illinois. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
Vietnamese: Voter Eligibility in Illinois
10000
8,068
8000
6000
5,578
4,310
4000
2000
1,166
1,090
411
0
Native
Naturalized
Native
Naturalized Under 18
Under 18
Eligible Voters
Over 18
Non-citizen
Non-Eligible Voters
Figure 2: Vietnamese Voter Eligibility in Illinois. 2000 Census. www.census.gov
90
05
Small
business
section
Asian Americans and Small Business
M
ost Asian American immigrants to the United States came in search of
the “American Dream,” seeking a better life for themselves and their
families. Asian American entrepreneurs have made progress towards fully participating in the mainstream American economy. However, Asian Americanowned businesses lag behind their white counterparts, suggesting that Asian
Americans still face unequal access to business opportunities. Like other minority groups, Asian Americans have been denied opportunities and advancement because of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, and
other aspects.
To combat systemic discrimination, Asian Americans are working in
partnership with other minority and women business owners to voice their
collective concerns. Government minority-contracting programs are one
strategy to remedy discrimination. Such programs are a type of affirmative
action, meaning that they aim to level the playing field for all business owners. Locally, the pervasive discrimination against Asian American-owned businesses
in the Chicago area prevents them from competing on equal footing for public
contracts; this justifies their inclusion in government minority-contracting
programs such as the City of Chicago’s Minority and Women-Owned Business
Enterprise Program for construction contracts (“Chicago MBE Program”).1
The MBE Program reflects the City of Chicago’s continued efforts to remedy
past and existing discrimination against Asian American-owned businesses in
the construction industry. As the Chicago City Council concluded in 2007 and
again in 2009, there is indeed a sufficient evidentiary and legal basis for the
continued inclusion of Asian Americans in the Chicago MBE Program.
Evidence of discrimination against Asian Americans is documented in various
sources, including Asian American Institute’s July 10, 2009 testimony to the
Chicago City Council.2 Asian American-owned businesses continue to face
discrimination in obtaining government contracts – as well as in obtaining
bonding, credit, fair prices from suppliers, access to social networks, appropriate
return on education, and information about contracting opportunities. Asian
American-owned businesses also have concerns regarding enforcement and
monitoring of government minority-contracting programs due to practices
such as fraud and pass-throughs. Policymakers should undertake future
research to further investigate the effect of such problems on Asian Americans
as well as other minority and women business owners.
1
Chicago Mun. Code ch. 2-92 § 2-92-690 (2010)
(Other provisions govern the MBE program and goals for non-construction contracts.).
2
Asian American Institute Testimony Before the Chicago City Council Subcommittee on MBE/WBE Affirmative Action Matters in Support of Proposed Amendment to MBE/WBE Program (Jul. 10, 2009), available at http://aaichicago.org/PDF%20
Files/AAI%20Written%20Testimony%20for%207-10-09%20Subcommittee%20Meeting.pdf.
93
Even though Asian American-owned businesses have experienced significant
discrimination both historically and in the present day, their inclusion in government
minority-contracting programs is sometimes questioned or even dismissed. Unfortunately,
the misperception that Asian American-owned businesses do not face discrimination
and are not disadvantaged is still prevalent in the United States and in Chicago. Asian
Americans were previously removed from the categories of presumptively socially
disadvantaged minorities in the Chicago MBE Program.3 Even though they have
subsequently been re-included, Asian American construction contractors in Chicago
have suffered ongoing repercussions from previously being excluded. Confusion still
exists among contractors and the general public regarding whether Asian Americans
are considered a “minority” for the purpose of the Chicago MBE Program.
Asian Americans have a unique history of discrimination and, as such, a one-size-fitsall assessment will not sufficiently measure the discrimination that Asian Americans
face. There are inherent limitations of traditional research in measuring discrimination
against Asian Americans. Asian Americans in Chicago are quite diverse in terms
of ethnicities, socio-economic status, languages spoken, and several other factors.
In order for researchers and policymakers to obtain more comprehensive facts
regarding discrimination against Asian American contractors, data on the subgroups
within the Asian American community should be disaggregated.
Discrimination is indeed a significant barrier for Asian American-owned businesses.
They should be included in affirmative action programs and they should have a voice
in guiding research and policy formation moving forward.
E c o n o m y - W i d e E s t i m a t e s o f B u s i n e s s O w n e r s h i p b y Ra c e i n t h e U . S .
Number of firms
Receipts ($1,000)
Number of
employer firms
Receipts for
employers
($1,000)
Number of
employees
Annual payroll
($1,000)
American Indian
and Alaska Native
201,387
26,872,947
24,498
21,986,696
191,270
5,135,273
Asian
1,103,587
326,663,445
319,468
291,162,771
2,213,948
56,044,960
Black or African
American
1,197,567
88,641,608
94,518
65,799,425
753,978
17,550,064
Hispanic or
Latino
1,573,464
221,927,425
199,542
179,507,959
1,536,795
36,711,718
White
19,899,839
8,277,812,084
4,712,119
7,603,717,868
51,966,004
1,541,628,880
Total
22,974,655
22,603,658,904
5,524,784
21,836,249,354
110,766,605
3,812,427,806
3
In Builders Association of Greater Chicago v. City of Chicago, 298 F. Supp. 2d 725 (N.D. Ill. 2003), a federal court struck
down Chicago’s MBE Program, in part because the program included Asian Americans, which the court did not consider
as a disadvantaged minority that faced discrimination. The Chicago City Council then removed Asian American business
owners as a presumptive socially disadvantaged minority group from the Chicago MBE Program. It was not until the presentation of additional empirical evidence that Asian Americans were reinstated as a presumptive group in the Chicago
MBE Program.
94
E c o n o m y - W i d e E s t i m a t e s o f B u s i n e s s O w n e r s h i p b y Ra c e i n I l l i n o i s
Number of firms
Receipts ($1,000)
Number of
employer firms
Receipts for
employers
($1,000)
Number of
employees
Annual payroll
($1,000)
American Indian
and Alaska Native
3,379
440,748
490
349,424
4,054
96,925
Asian
44,477
14,544,716
13,278
13,366,682
98,305
2,722,085
Black or African
American
68,699
4,980,181
4,218
3,906,273
38,457
1,106,700
Hispanic or
Latino
39,539
7,389,214
6,574
6,411,802
60,576
1,553,919
White
813,342
399,305,808
206,858
374,008,309
2,401,990
76,487,769
Total
958,120
1,149,671,984
244,352
1,120,490,722
5,091,721
188,762,041
Source
C o m pa n y S t a t i s t i c s S e r i e s : S t a t i s t i c s f o r A s i a n - O w n e d F i r m s i n I l l i n o i s
Number of firms
Receipts ($1,000)
Number of
employer firms
Receipts for
employers
($1,000)
Number of
employees
Annual payroll
($1,000)
Asian
44,477
14,544,716
13,278
13,366,682
98,305
2,722,085
Asian Indian
13,823
4,718,774
5,198
4,342,290
41,688
1,132,781
Chinese
7,562
3,913,193
2,655
3,701,457
23,240
609,742
Filipino
6,210
677,431
885
553,767
4,474
(35,825
Japanese
2,041
1,082,986
501
D*
I*
D*
Korean
8,503
2,109,823
2,556
1,859,924
12,578
282,442
Vietnamese
2,051
195,973
408
D*
G*
D*
Other Asian
4,696
1,712,307
1,140
1,602,741
7,714
304,981
D* Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies; data are included in higher level totals
I* 5,000 to 9,999 employees
G* 1,000 to 2,499 employees
95
C o m pa n y S t a t i s t i c s S e r i e s : S t a t i s t i c s f o r A s i a n - O w n e d F i r m s i n I l l i n o i s
Number of firms
Receipts
($1,000)
Number of
employer firms
Receipts for
employers
($1,000)
Number of
employees
Annual payroll
($1,000)
Total for all sectors
40,998
13,179,515
11,842
D
l
D
Forestry, fishing &
hunting, & ag support
services (113-115)
S
D
S
S
S
S
Mining
0
0
0
0
0
0
Utilities
2
D
0
0
0
0
Construction
819
D
176
308,486
1,616
80,249
Manufacturing
953
1,307,826
451
1,286,561
8,009
(r)271,130
Wholesale trade
1,501
D
834
D
i
D
Retail trade
5,233
D
2,350
D
i
D
Transportation &
warehousing
3,853
292,113
179
D
f
D
Information
423
D
129
D
e
D
Finance & insurance
1,484
D
261
D
g
D
Real estate &
rental & leasing
2,313
D
259
D
f
D
Professional, scientific,
& technical services
6,358
D
1,401
D
i
D
Management of
companies & enterprises
17
D
17
D
g
D
Administrative &
support & waste
management &
remediation service
1,530
D
319
D
j
D
Educational services
620
23,563
37
D
c
D
Health care & social
assistance
5,951
1,493,841
2,077
1,355,700
12,715
603,728
Arts, entertainment,
& recreation
903
20,643
S
D
c
D
Accommodation &
food services
2,709
D
2,039
D
j
D
Other services (except
public administration)
6,330
450,174
1,276
282,458
4,249
71,961
Industries not classified
17
D
17
D
b
D
b - 20-99
c - 100-149
e - 250-499 employees
f - 500-999 employees
g - 1,000 to 2,499 employees
96
i - 5,000 to 9,999 employees
j - 10000 to 24,999 employees
D - Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies;
data are included in higher level totals
S - Withheld because estimate did not meet publication standards
Source:
06
COMPASS
Directory
ALPHABETICAL
Alphabetical Directory
A
Aikido Association of America
1016 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(312) 525-3141
www.aaa-aikido.com
[email protected]
So’zan Daitetsu
Year Founded: 1979
Community Served: Japanese
Category: Arts & Culture
American Association of Physicians
of Indian Origin (AAPI)
600 Enterprise Dr., Suite 108
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(630) 990-2277
(630) 990-2281
www.aapiusa.org
[email protected]
Dr. Ajeet R. Singhvi, President
Year Founded: 1986
Mission Statement: To facilitate and
enable Indian American Physicians to
excel in patient care, teaching and
research and to pursue their aspirations
in professional and community affairs.
Community Served: Indian
Category: Professional
Apna Ghar, Inc. (Our Home)
4753 N. Broadway St., Suite 632
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-0173
(773) 334-0963
www.apnaghar.org
[email protected]
Ms. Rambha Radhakrishnan, Director
Year Founded: 1990
Mission Statement: To provide multicultural, multilingual, comprehensive
services including shelter to South Asian
women and children seeking lives free
from violence.
Community Served: Asian American
Programs & Services: Domestic Violence counseling/shelter
Category: Social Service
Arvey Clinic - Weiss Health Center
4646 N. Marine Dr.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 564-7400
(773) 564-7846
98
www.weisshospital.com/medical-servic
es/clinical-programs/internal-medicine/
arvey-clinic.aspx
Choulie Hok, Office Manager
Community Served: Vietnamese
Asian American Action Fund
(AAAF) - Chicago
(773) 271-2847
www.aaa-fund.org
Mr. Alan Fu, Chairman
Mission Statement: To encourage
Asian American Democrats to participate
in the political process and to empower
the Asian American community so that
we can address the under-representation
of Asian Americans in the political life of
the Greater Chicago area.
Category: Advocacy
Asian American Artists Collective Chicago (AAAC)
3105 N. Ashland Ave., #293
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 492-7833
(312) 492-6303
www.thecollectivechicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Sam del Rosario, Executive Director
Year Founded: 2002
Mission Statement: To explore and
nurture APIA artistry through educational programs and workshops, promote
the work of APIA artists in the literary,
visual, performance and emerging arts,
serve as the bride between artists and
the larger APIA community.
Programs & Services: Arts; Cultural
Performances; Cultural Celebrations/
Festivals; Youth Programs
Asian American Bar Association of
the Greater Chicago Area
P.O. Box A3782
Chicago, IL 60690
(312) 554-2044
(312) 554-9843
www.aabachicago.com
[email protected]
Mr. Rishi Agrawal, President
Year Founded: 1987
Mission Statement: To increase awareness among elected officials on Asian
American issues, document the need and
urge for increased representation in all
areas of the profession, to serve the legal needs of the community through pro
bono legal clinic.
Programs & Services: Legal assistance;
Media/newsletter; Professional Development/Networking; Research; Social
/Recreational Programs; Law Student
Services; Community Programs
Asian American Coalition
Committee (AACC) - UIC
750 S. Halsted St., Room 340 CCC,
MC118, Campus Programs Box #A29
Chicago, IL 60607
aacc.pages.uic.edu
Year Founded: 2007
Category: Education
Asian American Coalition of
Chicago
www.aacchicago.org
Year Founded: 1983
Mission Statement: To organize and
promote equal opportunities in government, education, economic development and international affairs to advance
the integration of all Asian Americans
into the mainstream of society.
Asian American Cultural Center - UIUC
1210 W. Nevada St., MC-149
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-9300
(217) 244-6623
studentaffairs.illinois.edu/diversity/aacc/
index.html
[email protected]
Mr. David Chih, Director
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To provide UIUC
campus leadership in programs and
services for Asian American students
with culturally sensitive advising, advocacy, and counseling.
Community Served: Asian Amercian
Programs & Services: Advocacy, Case
Management, Cultural performances,
Cultural celebrations/festivals, Training/
Education
Category: Education
Asian American Health
6212 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 588-5770
Mr. Chris Chon
Year Founded: 1996
Programs & Services: Health Care ServicesCategory: Health
Asian American Industrial Alliance
(AAIA)
4500 W. Fillmore St.
Chicago, IL 60624
(773) 638-6771
aaia.logomall.com
[email protected]
Category: Chamber of Commerce/
Small Business
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-0899
(773) 271-1982
www.AAIChicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Tuyet Le, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To empower the
Asian American community through advocacy, by utilizing research, education,
and coalition-building.
Programs & Services: Civic Participation; Community Organizing; Legal Advocacy; Promoting Equality and Inclusion; Leadership Development; Research
and Education
Category: Advocate
Asian American Journalists
Association
P.O. Box 577639
Chicago, IL 60657
(312) 464-4876
www.aaja.org
[email protected]
Ms. Lorene Yue, President
Year Founded: 1989
Mission Statement: To provide a
means of association and support
among Asian American and Pacific
Islander journalists.
Programs & Services: Professional Development/Networking; Media Watch;
Media Workshop; Community & Student Outreach; Social/Recreational
Asian American Law Enforcement
Association
P.O. Box 56652
Chicago, IL 60656
www.aalea.org
[email protected]
Mr. Norman Kwong, President
Year Founded: 1983
Mission Statement: To assist in the
civic advancement and cultural development of the Asian American communities through means consistent with the
policies of the various law enforcement
agencies we represent.
Asian American Resource and
Cultural Center (AARCC) - UIC
826 S. Halsted St., Rm. 101
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 413-9569
(312) 413-9732
www.uic.edu/depts/oaa/AARCC/index.
html
[email protected]
Ms. Karen Su, Director
Year Founded: 2001
Mission Statement: The Asian American Resource and Cultural Center officially opened in spring of 2005 as a
result of student efforts to ensure that
UIC support the needs of Asian Americans. 20% of the total UIC student body
and 13% of faculty and staff are Asian
American.
Programs & Services: Provide education and resources for and about
Asian Americans; increase awareness of
diverse Asian American issues, cultures,
and communities; strengthen the Asian
American campus community; support
the growth of Asian American Studies
Category: Education & Student
Asian American Students in
Alliance - UIC
750 S. Halsted St., SCE 380C
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-2321
uicaasia.org
[email protected]
Ms. Alyson Kung, President
Year Founded: 1987
Mission Statement: To increase Asian
American awareness and address issues
surrounding the Asian American community through our cultural workshops,
events, performances, services, and
social gatherings.
Category: Student
Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP)
230 W. Superior St., 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 266-1176
(312) 266-0990
www.aapip.org
Ms. Kathy Im, Chairman
Year Founded: 1990
Mission Statement: To advance philanthropy and Asian American/Pacific
Islander (AAPI) communities.
Asian Broadcasting Network (ABN)
5235 N Kedzie St.
Chicago, IL 60625
(847) 475-1555
www.urdupublish.blogspot.com
Dr. Mujahid Ghazi, Founder & Artistic
Director
Media Type: Internet
Primary Media Language: English
Category: Media
Asian Community Online Network
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 508-9102
(773) 271-1982
www.acon.org
[email protected]
Mr. Elvin Chan, Administrative Director
& Chicago Coordinator
Year Founded: 1995
Media Frequency: Daily
Media Type: Email
Category: Media
99
Asian Health Coalition of Illinois
180 W. Washington St., Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 372-7070
(312) 372-7171
www.asianhealth.org
[email protected]
Mr. Edwin Chandraseka, Executive
Director
Year Founded: 1996
Mission Statement: To improve the
health and well-being of Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders in Illinois through
advocacy, technical assistance, education, and community-based research.
Programs & Services: Medical Services
Category: Advocate
Asian Human Services
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 728-2235
(773) 728-4751
www.asianhumanservices.org
[email protected]
Mr. John Lee, President
Year Founded: 1978
Mission Statement: To provide quality
and compassionate human services to
Asian American commuinty in metropolitan Chicago.
Management, ESL, Employment counseling/placement, Health Care Services,
Health Education, Immigration/Citizenship assistance, Interpretation/Translation services, Legal Assistance, Newsletter, Mental Health Services, Social/
Recreational
Asian Improv aRts Midwest
(AIRMW)
410 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 943
Chicago, IL 60605
(708) 386-9349
(708) 575-1869
www.airmw.org
[email protected]
Ms. Tatsu Aoki, Founder & Artistic Director
Year Founded: 1996
Mission Statement: To empower Asian
American art.
100
Programs & Services: Cultural Performances; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals
Asian Youth Services
4809 N. California Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 517-8525
www.asianyouthservices.org
[email protected]
Ms. Shari Fenton, Executive Director
Mission Statement: AYS serves as a
concerned and supportive parent. We
care for the youths unconditionally and
act as a protection to prevent them
from engaging in gang activeity. These
children desperately need guidance
and protection, and AYS attempts to
provide this.
Asian/Asian American Student
Services (A/AASA) - Northwestern
University
Multicultural Center, 1936 Sheridan Rd.
Evanston, IL 60208
(847) 467-7583
(847) 491-3128
www.northwestern.edu/msa/departments/a-aasa.html
[email protected]
Mr. Louie Lainez, Director
Year Founded: 2001
Mission Statement: To provide guidance,
support, and empowerment for students,
primarily those of Asian descent.
Category: Student
Association of Asian Construction
Enterprises
333 N. Odgen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(312) 563-0746
[email protected]
Mr. Perry Nakachi, President
Year Founded: 2002
Mission Statement: To address the
needs of Illinois’ Asian American-owned
construction-related businesses, and
promote their participation in public
and private construction projects.
Small Business
Association of Chinese Scientists
and Engineers (ACSE)
P.O. Box 59715
Schaumburg, IL 60159
(312) 733-7000
(312) 432-7000
www.acse.org
[email protected]
Mr. Lujiang Fang, President
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To promote
friendships and exchange professional
information and experiences among
members and enhance exchanges of
science, technology, and culture between the United States and China.
Community Served: Chinese
Association of Nepalese in Midwest
America (ANMA)
6033 N. Sheridan Rd., 36J
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 334-7101
www.anmausa.org
Mr. Rajendra Khatiwada, President
Year Founded: 1982
Mission Statement: To promote, coordinate, and facilitate close cooperation
among Nepalese and friends of Nepal
in North America, particularly in the
Midwest Region of the United States,
for maintaining and fostering Nepalese
identity and cultural heritage.
Community Served: Nepalese
Programs & Services: Cultural Assimilation Advice; Cultural Celebrations/
Performances; Immigration Referrals
Association of Pakistani Descent
of North America
6414 S. Cass Ave.
Westmont, IL 60659
(630) 968-8585
(630) 968-8677
www.appna.org
[email protected]
Dr. Manzoor Tariq, President
Year Founded: 1976
Mission Statement: To foste scientific
development and education in the field
of medicine and to delivering better
health care, irrespective of race, color,
creed, or gender.
Community Served: Pakistani
B
Bangladesh Association of
Chicagoland
P.O. Box 59849
Chicago, IL 60659
(815) 919-4947
(773) 588-8220
www.bacillinois.org
[email protected]
Ms. Sabina Ahmed, Member-at-Large
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To help the Bangladesh community in providing programs
socially and culturally for the community.
Community Served: Bangladeshi
Programs & Services: Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Senior & Youth
Programs
Bible Presbyterian Church
of Chicago
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 878-1976
(773) 784-1033
Ms. Suk Jin Lee
Category: Religious
Bong Boolsa Korean
Buddhist Temple
5114 N. Elston Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 286-0307
Ven. Young Joo Lee
Category: Religious
8910 S. Kingery Hwy.
Hinsdale, IL 60521
(630) 789-8866
(630) 789-0024
www.buddhistbmc.org
[email protected]
Mr. Varasak Varadhammo
Year Founded: 1990
Mission Statement: To spread dharma,
teaching of the Buddha.
Community Served: Buddhist
Programs & Services: Buddhism, Religious Programs
Category: Religious
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi
Foundation
1430 Plainfield Rd.
Darien, IL 60561
(630) 963-6601
(630) 963-9360
chicago.us.tzuchi.org/chicago/home.
nsf/home/index
[email protected]
Ms. Amy Hsieh, Director
Year Founded: 1989
Category: Religious
1812 Washington St.
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 869-5806
(847) 869-5806
www.buddhistcouncilmidwest.org
[email protected]
Ms. Asayo Horibe, President
Year Founded: 1984
Mission Statement: To foster the
learning and practice of Buddhism; to
represent the Midwest Buddhist community in matters affecting its membership;
to pool resources and coordinate efforts
by its membership to create an atmosphere of fellowship and cooperation.
Category: Religious
1151 W. Leland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-4661
(773) 334-4726
www.budtempchi.org
[email protected]
Rev. Yukei Ashikaga, Pastor
Year Founded: 1944
Category: Religious
Bultasa Buddhist Temple of Chicago
4360 W. Montrose Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 286-1551
(773) 282-2663
www.bultasa.com
[email protected]
Ven. Hyeonseong Sunim, Head Monk
Year Founded: 1974
Category: Religious
Burmese Buddhist Association
15 Forest Ln.
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(630) 941-7608
www.bba.us
[email protected]
Dr. Zaw Win, President
Year Founded: 1984
Mission Statement: To welcome everyone who came from Burma and anyone
who is interested in our religion, friendship, and fellowship.
Community Served: Buddhism
Category: Religious
C
Cambodian Association of Illinois
2831 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 878-7090
(773) 878-5299
www.cambodian-association.org
[email protected]
Ms. Dary Mien, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1975
Mission Statement: To enable refugees
and immigrants from Cambodia residing in Illinois, especially in the Chicago
metropolitan area, to become self-sufficient, productive citizens, while preserving cultural identity.
Community Served: Combodian
Performances; ESL; Employment Counseling/Placement; Health Care Services;
Immigration/Citizenship
Assistance;
Senior & Youth Programs; Social/Recreational Programs; Training/Education
Cambodian Buddhist Association
(Wat Khemararan)
1258 W. Argyle St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-8226
(773) 942-6255
www.khemararam.com
[email protected]
Mr. Savat Khem
Year Founded: 1984
Mission Statement: To provide a place
for meditation and the teachings of the
Buddha.
101
(Wat Khemararan) (continued)
Community Served: Cambodian
Programs & Services: Arts
Category: Religious
Center for Asian Arts and Media Columbia College Chicago
600 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 369-7870
(312) 344-8010
www.colum.edu/asianartsandmedia
[email protected]
Ms. Nancy Tom, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1998
Mission Statement: To produce festivals and exhibitions by and about Asians
and Asian Americans.
Community Served: Asian & Asian
Amercian
Programs & Services: Advocacy; Arts;
Cultural Performances and Celebrations;
Professional Development/Networking;
Youth Programs; Helen Fond Dare
Scholarship Fund for Asian American
college students
Center for East Asian Studies University of Chicago
5835 S. Kimbark Ave., Judd Hall 302
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-8647
(773) 702-8260
ceas.uchicago.edu
[email protected]
Mr. Theodore N. Foss, Associate Director
Year Founded: 1965
Mission Statement: To enhance opportunities available to scholars both in the
United States and abroad, and to foster
communication and inter-disciplinary collaboration among the community of professors and students at the University of
Chicago and throughout the wider East.
Community Served: Chinese, Japanese
& Korean
Programs & Services: Arts; Research
Category: Research
Center for Seniors
5320 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 478-1245
(773) 478-4070
[email protected]
102
Ms. Jae Kwan Ha, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1995
Community Served: Korean
Programs & Services: Senior Citizen
Programs
Chicago Chinatown Chamber of
Commerce
2169B S. China Pl.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-5320
(312) 326-5668
www.chicagochinatown.org
[email protected]
Mr. Tony Hsu, President
Year Founded: 1983
Mission Statement: To facilitate the
economic development and welfare of
Chicago’s Chinese community.
Programs & Services: Business Development; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals;
Newsletter; Professional Development/
Networking; Sanitation Certification
Classes in Cantonese
Small Business
Chicago Chinese News
424 Fort Hill Dr., Bldg. 100
Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 717-4567
(630) 717-7999
www.chicagochinesenews.com
[email protected]
Mr. Danny Lee, Editor
Year Founded: 1991
Mission Statement: To create awareness about daily updates.
Media Frequency: Weekly
Media Type: Newspaper
Primary Media Language: Chinese
Category: Media
Chicago Chinese Times
2155 S. China Pl., #2
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 881-0133
Mr. Danny Lee, President
Media Type: Print
Category: Media
Chicago Futabakai Japanese School
2550 N. Arlington Heights Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
(847) 590-5700
(847) 590-9759
www.chicagojs.com
[email protected]
Mr. Sasaki Eiichi, President
Programs & Services: School taught in
Japanese
Category: Education
2100 S. Central Ave.
Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 652-9722
(708) 652-9722
www.chicagoktc.org
[email protected]
Ven. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, Resident
Abbot
Year Founded: 1976
Category: Religious
Chicago Korean American Chamber
of Commerce
5601 N. Spaulding Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 583-1700
(773) 583-9724
www.ckacc.org
[email protected]
Mr. Ray Kim, President
Year Founded: 1976
Programs & Services: Business Development; Cultural Performances; Health
Care Services
Small Business
Chicago Korean Broadcasting
2454 E. Dempster St., Suite 207
Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847) 296-1125
(847) 296-2944
www.chicagoradiokorea.com
[email protected]
Mr. Youl Cho, Director of Business Admin
Media Frequency: On Air 9 - 5
Monday to Friday
Media Type: Radio
Primary Media Language: Korean
Category: Media
4216 N. Paulina St.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 348-2028
(773) 348-2028
www.nichiren-shu.org
Rev. Benyu Ikeda, Resident Minister
Mission Statement: To vow to the Buddha and Nichiren Shonin that we will
strive to engender peace within ourselves and throughout the world by disseminating the teaching expounded in
the Lotus Sutra.
Category: Religious
4670 N. Manor Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 478-6170
(773) 478-9360
[email protected]
Ms.Yoshiko Urayama, President & Editor
Year Founded: 1945
Media Frequency: Semi-weekly
Media Type: Print
Primary Media Language: EnglishCategory: Media
Chicago Taiwanese American
Professionals (TAP-Chicago)
Chicago, IL
www.tapchicago.org
[email protected]
Mission Statement: To strengthen
our community and provide Taiwanese Americans with social, cultural,
professional, and community service
opportunities.
Programs & Services: Professional
Development/Networking; Advocacy;
Social/Recreational Programs; Arts; Cultural Celebrations
Chicago Zen Center
2029 Ridge Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-3015
(847) 475-7625
www.chicagozen.org
Mr. Sevan Ross, Sensei
Year Founded: 1974
Mission Statement: To offer the entire
Harada-Yasutani Koan Curriculum, resting on a Soto Zen meditation base.
Programs & Services: Zazen is at once
a method used to attain an ever-deepening realization of our true self, and is
at every moment the natural unfolding
of this true self.
Category: Religious
China Journal
2146-A S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-3228
(312) 326-3503
www.chinajournalus.com
[email protected]
Ms. May Zhang, Director
Year Founded: 1991
Category: Media
China News and Digest
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
(630) 739-2838
(630) 929-3776
www.cnd.org
[email protected]
Mr. David Zhang, President & Publisher
Year Founded: 1989
Media Frequency: Bi-weekly
Category: Media
China Star Media Corporation
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 753-3200
(312) 225-7513
www.chinastarmedia.com
[email protected]
Mr. Daway Zhou
Media Type: Print
Category: Media
Chinatown Museum Foundation
238 W. 23rd St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 949-1000
(312) 949-1001
www.ccamuseum.org
[email protected]
Mr. Timkee Tee
Year Founded: 2005
Mission Statement: To maintain a
museum in Chicago for the purpose of
promoting exhibitions, education, and
research relating to Chinese-American
culture and history in the midwestern
United States.
Chinatown TV
2167-B S. China Pl.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-5600
(312) 225-8849
[email protected]
Mr. James Chang, Director
Year Founded: 1988
Media Type: Television
Category: Media
Chinese American Bar Association
P.O. Box 641885
Chicago, IL 60664
www.cabachicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Beibei Que, President
Year Founded: 1990s
Mission Statement: To foster the exchange of ideas and information among
and between members and members of
the legal profession, the judiciary and
the community.
Chinese American Civic Council
(CACC)
P.O. Box 166082
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-0234
(312) 842-6368
Ms. Helen Moy, President
Year Founded: 1951
Programs & Services: Cultural Performances & Celebrations; Employment
Counseling/Placement; Professional Development; Training/Education; Health
Care Services & Education; Translation
Services; Senior and Youth Programs;
Social/Recreational Programs
103
Chinese American News
733 W. 26th St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-3929
(312) 225-8849
www.canews.com
[email protected]
Mr. James Chang, Editor
Media Type: Print
Category: Media
Chinese American Service League
2141 S. Tan Ct.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 791-0418
(312) 791-0509
www.caslservice.org
Ms. Esther Wong, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1978
Mission Statement: To strengthen the
physical, economic, and mental health
of all ages and backgrounds of the Chinese community in the greater Chicago
area.
Programs & Services: Advocacy; Case
Management; ESL & Ethnic Language
Instruction; Employment counseling/
placement; Health Education; Immigration/Citizenship and Legal assistance;
Interpretation/Translation services; Senior Citizen; Social/Recreational, & Youth
programs
Chinese Christian Mandarin Church
9 S. 565 Clarendon Hills Rd.
Willowbrook, IL 60527
(630) 655-1148
www.aimhi.com/~ccmc
Mr. Nick Scarpuzzi, English Pastor
Year Founded: 1972
Mission Statement: To bring youth to
Christ, to develop them spiritually, to
become devoted servants to Christ.
Programs & Services: Senior & Youth
Programs; Sunday Small Groups
Category: Religious
Chinese Christian Union Church
2301 S. Wentworth Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-8545
104
(312) 225-0423
www.ccuc.net
[email protected]
Mr. Donald Moy, Pastor
Year Founded: 1915
Mission Statement: To seek to be a
great commission church that glorifies
God by reaching out to Chinatown,
Greater Chicago, and the world at-large.
Community Served: Chinese & Americans
Programs & Services: Youth Programs;
Sunday Service; Bible Study
Category: Religious
(North)
1506 Half Day Rd.
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 443-6543
(847) 443-6560
www.ccuc.net
[email protected]
Mr. Alan Chan, Pastor
Year Founded: 1915
Category: Religious
(South)
3000 S. Wallace St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-5564
(312) 674-1892
www.ccuc.net
[email protected]
Mr. Alan Kwok, Pastor
Year Founded: 1915
Greater Chicago, and the world atlarge.
Category: Religious
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent
Association of Chicago (Chinese
Community Center)
250 W. 22nd Pl.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-6198
(312) 225-1155
www.ccbachicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Philip Ou, President
Year Founded: 1904
Mission Statement: To unite overseas
Chinese, promote their welfare, enhance the Sino-American friendship,
promulgate Chinese heritages, and conduct community services and charity
events for the public interests.
Chinese ePaper
2116 S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-8080
(312) 842-3749
www.chineseworld.com
Ms. Monica Chen, Reporter
Year Founded: 1986
Media Type: Print
Category: Media
Chinese Fine Arts Society
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 369-3197
(312) 369-3199
www.chinesefinearts.org
[email protected]
Ms. Julie Tiao Ma, President
Year Founded: 1984
Mission Statement: To promote Chinese musical arts and culture.
Community Served: Chinese & American
Programs & Services: Arts; Cultural Performances
Chinese-American Republican
League
445 S. Bodin St.
Hinsdale, IL 60521
(630) 778-4293
League (continued)
(630) 778-4898
Mr. John Lai
Category: Political
Chitrahar Broadcasting
2215 Pebble Creek Dr.
Lisle, IL 60532
(312) 986-9000
(312) 431-1310
www.chitrahar.com
[email protected]
Ms. Anjali Julka, Main Producer
Year Founded: 1984
Christ Church of Chicago
6047 N. Rockwell St.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 338-8170
(773) 338-8170
www.christchurchchicago.net
[email protected]
Rev. Paulo Franca, Pastor
Year Founded: 1946
Community Served: Christian
Programs & Services: Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; DV Counseling/Shelter;
Food Pantry/Meal Service; Newsletter;
Senior Citizen Programs; Social/Recreational Programs; Youth Programs
Category: Religious
Chua Truc Lam
1521 W. Wilson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 506-0749
chuatruclamchicago.org
Category: Religious
Church of the Cross
475 W. Higgins Rd.
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195
(847) 885-1199
(888) 726-2543
www.cotc-pcusa.org
[email protected]
Mr. Jule Nyhuis, Pastor
Category: Religious
Comprehensive Korean Self-Help
Community Center
4934 N. Pulaski Rd.
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 545-8349
(773) 545-0054
Ms. Helen Um, Director
Year Founded: 1980s
Programs & Services: Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Translation Services;
Case Management; DV Counseling; Employment Counseling; ESL; Ethnic Language Instruction; Health Care Services;
Legal Assistance; Mental Health Services;
Food Services; Training/Education
Consulate General of India, Chicago
455 N. City Front Plaza Dr., Suite 850
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 595-0405
(312) 595-0418
www.indianconsulate.com
Mrs. Mukta Duta Tomar, Consul General
Category: Diplomat
Consulate General of Japan in Chicago
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 280-0400
(312) 280-9568
www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/
[email protected]
Mr. George Hisaeda, Consul General
Year Founded: 1978
Mission Statement: To promote knowledge of Japan in the four state area of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, & Wisconsin.
Programs & Services: Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; JET Program; Scholarships
Category: Diplomat
Consulate General of Pakistan Chicago
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 781-1831
(312) 781-1839
www.cgpkchicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Zaheer Pervaiz Khan, Consul General
Category: Diplomat
Consulate General of the People’s
Republic of China in Chicago
100 W. Erie St.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 803-0095
(312) 803-0110
www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/eng
[email protected]
Mr. Xu Jinzhong, Consul General
Category: Diplomat
Consulate General of the Republic of
Indonesia
211 W. Wacker Dr., 8th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 920-1880
(312) 920-1881
www.indonesiachicago.org
Mr. Beny Bahanadewa, Consul General
Community Served: Indonesian
Category: Diplomat
Council of Islamic Organizations of
Greater Chicago
231 S. State St., Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60604
(708) 599-3200
www.ciogc.org
Mission Statement: To be the unifying
federation of Islamic organizations of
Greater Chicago, the leading advocate
of Muslim community interests and a
catalyst for enriching American Society.
Community Served: Muslim
Category: Religious
Council of Pan-Asian Americans Loyola University
6525 N. Sheridan Rd., #21
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 508-8840
(773) 508-3895
copaaluc.blogspot.com
[email protected]
Mr. Garin Vann, Director
Year Founded: 1870
Mission Statement: To seek the further
University recognition of the needs of
the Asian/Asian American population, to
raise campus-wide awareness of the current issues facing the Asian/Asian American community, and to unify the Loyola
Asian/Asian American population within.
Category: Student
105
Culture Center of Taipei Economic
and Cultural Office in Chicago
750 Pasquinelli Dr., Suite 212
Westmont, IL 60559
(630) 323-2440
(630) 323-8147
www.ocac.gov.tw/chicago
[email protected]
Ms. Forrest Chen, Director
Year Founded: 1960
Mission Statement: To provide diversified services, including liaison services
aimed at overseas Chinese and their
organizations, overseas cultural and
educational work, assistance to overseas
businesses, correspondence education,
and overseas news broadcasting and information dissemination.
D
Department of East Asian Languages
and Civilizations(EALC) - University
of Chicago
1050 E. 59th St., Wieboldt 301
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-1255
(773) 834-1323
ealc.uchicago.edu
[email protected]
Mr. Edward Shaughnessy, Department
Chair
Year Founded: 1968
Category: Education
Devon Church
1630 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 381-0074
www.devonchurch.org
[email protected]
Rev. Kei Satoh, Japanese Speaking Pastor
Year Founded: 1946
Mission Statement: To glorify God
through (worship) and reaching unbelievers for Jesus (evangelism), by building community (fellowship), growing
believers (discipleship), and serving God
and the community (ministry).
Community Served: Japanese & All
Category: Religious
106
Dhammakaya International Meditation Center
6224 W. Gunnison St.
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 763-8763
(773) 763-7897
www.dimc.net
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1997
Community Served: Thai
Category: Religious
Dong-A Daily
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 282-5533
english.donga.com
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1920
Primary Media Language: KoreanCategory: Media
E
Epoch Times Chicago
234 W. Cermak Rd.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 808-9410
(312) 808-9411
www.epochtimes.com
Mr. Andrew Tu, Director
Year Founded: 2000
Category: Media
F
Filipino American Center for Seniors
300 N. State St., #5135
Chicago, IL 60601
(773) 262-9911
(773) 262-9931
[email protected]
Ms. Carmen Estacio
Community Served: Filipino
Filipino American Community
Builder
5232 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 275-4540
(773) 334-4994
[email protected]
Ms. Carmelita V. Madridejos, Reporter
Media Frequency: Monthly
Filipino American Council of Chicago
1332 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 281-1210
(773) 281-9586
www.faccrizalcenter.org
[email protected]
Ms. Herminio Poblete, President
Programs & Services: Immigration/
Citizenship Assistance; Legal Assistance;
Training/Education; Advocacy; Senior
& youth Programs; Social/Recreational
Programs; Business Development; Food
Pantry/Meal Service; Cultural Performances & Celebrations; Arts
Filipino American Historical Society
5472 S. Dorchester Ave.
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 947-8696
(773) 955-3635
www.sahschicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Estrella Ravelo Alamar, Founding
President
Year Founded: 1986
Mission Statement: To record the
Filipino American history in the Chicago area, preserve selected artifacts
and documents of that history, provide exhibits, educate and involve in
an appreciation and understanding of
the Philippine heritage of Philippine
heritage.
Filipino American Network (FAN) Chicago
516 N. Ogden, #151
Chicago, IL 60622
www.FAN-Chicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Edgar Jimenez, President
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To bring together
young Filipino American adults to facilitate, encourage, & nurture their cultural,
personal, & professional development.
Programs & Services: Professional Development/Networking
Filipino American Social Services
and Human Resources Center
1511 W Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 296-4532
(773) 728-0413
Mr. Danny Norta, Office Manager
Programs & Services: Immigrant
Service; Case Management; Domestic Violence; Emergency Food/Shelter Referrals; Advocacy; Employment
Referrals; Senior & Youth Programs;
Food Pantry/Meal Service; Health Care
Services/Education; Mental Health Services; Professional Development
Filipino Civil Rights Advocates (FilCRA)
5051 Main St.
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 568-9338
[email protected]
Mr. Jerry Clarito, Midwest Coordinator
Year Founded: 1994
Mission Statement: To build community by addressing the needs of the most
vulnerable through direct action and
volunteerism, and by strengthening the
capacity to participate as equals in the
larger society.
Programs & Services: Advocacy;
Research; Voter Education and Registration; Filipino Veterans of WWII Benefits
Category: Advocate
Foundation for Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM)
P.O. Box 5435
Chicago, IL 60680
(773) 562-6265
www.faaim.org
[email protected]
Mr. Tim Hugh, Festival Director
Year Founded: 1996
Mission Statement: To provide a venue
for Asian American artists to present their
works, from films, visual arts, music, literary readings, and poetry performances.
Programs & Services: Arts, Cultural performances, Cultural celebrations/festivals, Media/Newsletter, Youth programs
Friends of Humanity
Chicago, IL
(773) 592-1534
thestrandedpakistanis.com
[email protected]
Mr. Syed Wahaj Ahmed, President
Year Founded: 2006
G
Global Radio
2126-B S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-5363
(312) 326-5361
Ms. Anita Hsueh, General Manager
Media Type: Radio
Category: Media
H
Hamdard Center for Health and
Human Services
1542 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 465-4600
(773) 465-4666
www.hamdardcenter.org
[email protected]
Ms. Kiran Sidaqui
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To promote physical and emotional health and psychological well-being of individuals and families
by offering hope, help, and healing.
Management, DV Counseling/Shelter,
ESL, Employment, Health Care, Immigration/Citizenship and Legal Assistance, Mental Health, Senior Citizen,
and Youth Programs, Batterer Education, Transitional Housing
Hataw Pinoy Chicago
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 510-5413
(773) 271-7516
www.hatawpinoy.com
[email protected]
Mr. Leonardo L. Gonzales, Reporter
Media Frequency: Every Sunday
Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago
(HTGC)
10915 Lemont Rd.
Lemont, IL 60439
(630) 972-0300
(630) 972-9111
htgc.org
Mr. L. Bhima Reddy, President
Year Founded: 1977
Mission Statement: To establish and
maintain Hindu Temples build and serviced in the traditional Hindu style; to
promote Hindu Dharma (religion and
traditions) and culture; to promote
inter-religious, social, and cultural
understanding; to support humanitarian causes.
Category: Religious
Homeland Center
4858 N. Kenmore Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 506-9570
(773) 784-9338
107
Homeland Center (continued)
Mr. Paul Dinh Nguyen
Year Founded: 1993
Senior Programs; Social/Recreational
Programs; Advocacy; Cultural Celebrations
I
Illinois Department of Human
Services
401 S. Clinton St., 7th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 793-2354
www.dhs.state.il.us
[email protected]
Ms. Grace Hou, Assistant Secretary
Year Founded: 1981
Mission Statement: To assist our
customers to achieve maximum selfsufficiency, independence and health
through the provision of seamless, integrated services for individuals, families
and communities.
Community Served: All
Category: Government
Illinois Health Education Consortium
310 S. Peoria St., Suite 404
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 996-8115
(312) 996-0723
www.ihec.org
[email protected]
Mr. Rajesh Parikh, Executive Director
Category: Advocate
Illinois Tenrikyo Church
5057 N. Hamlin Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 463-6898
Mr. Goro Oki
Category: Religious
Illinois Veterans Equity Center
Chicago, IL
(847) 568-9338
icirr.org/en/node/1702
[email protected]
Mr. Jerry Clarito
108
India Abroad
2915 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 338-1118
(773) 338-2045
www.indiaabroad.com
[email protected]
Mr. Abhishek Gandhi, Manager
Year Founded: 1970
Media Type: Print
Indian American Medical Association
of Illinois
2645 W. Peterson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 275-8630
(773) 275-8635
www.iamaill.org
Dr. Ashok Fulambarker, President
Mission Statement: To be committed
to professional excellence in quality patient care, education and community
healthcare.
India Post
2335 W. Devon Ave., Suite 203
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 973-7394
(773) 973-7396
www.indiapost.com
[email protected]
Mr. Ramesh Soparwala, Editor
Year Founded: 1995
Indo-American Center
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 973-4444
(773) 973-0157
www.indoamerican.org
[email protected]
Mr. Jay Luthra, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1990
Mission Statement: To promote the
well-being of Indo-Americans through
services that facilitate their adjustment,
integration and friendship with the
wider society, nurture their sense of
community, and foster appreciation for
their heritage and culture.
Community Served: South Asian American
Programs & Services: Case Management; Cultural performances; ESL;
Employment
counseling/placement;
Health Education; Immigration/Citizenship assistance; Translation Services;
Legal Assistance; Senior Citizen Programs;
Youth Programs; Voter Education &
Registration
India Tribune
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 588-5077
(773) 588-7011
www.indiatribune.com
[email protected]
Mr. Prashant Shah, Editor
Year Founded: 1977
Media Type: Print
India TV
2720 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 274-6300
(773) 274-6301
www.indiatv4u.com
Ms. Kruti Purohit, Reporter
Category: Media
Indo-American Democratic
Organization
8026 N. Lawndale Ave.
Chicago, IL 60076
(312) 479-7611
www.iado.org
[email protected]
Dr. Ram Gajjela, President
Year Founded: 1980
Mission Statement: To educate and
empower Indian Americans through
grassroots action. The goal is to get
more Indian Americans to participate in
the political process from voting to running for elected office.
Indo-American Democratic
Organization (continued)
Programs & Services: Advocacy
Category: Political
International Buddhism Friendship
Association
Chicago, IL 60616
(773) 881-0177
(773) 881-0177
www.freewebs.com/ibfa
[email protected]
Ven. Ji Ru, Chairman
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To spread the
dharma to the west, spread to the Caucasians the teachings of the Buddha.
Celebrations/Festivals; Ethnic Language
Instruction; Meditation
Category: Religious
International Chamber of Commerce
(USA) Inc.
1333 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 761-5119
(773) 761-5193
internationalchamberofcommerceusa.
com
[email protected]
Dr. J.B. Singha, President
Mission Statement: To promote privatization of trade in developing countries
where the immediate impetus is outsourcing of front and back room parks.
Programs & Services: Business Development; Professional Development/
Networking; Training/Education; Social/
Recreational Programs
Small Business
International Ramayana Institute of
North America
799 Roosevelt Rd., Bldg 6, Suite 208
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(630) 858-6161
(630) 858-8787
www.ramayanainstitute.com
[email protected]
I Nyoman Mahartayasa, President
Year Founded: 1998
Mission Statement: To promote a better understanding of various cultural
traditions related to the Ramayana epic.
For details on the conference, registration, and abstract submission, visit
www.cseas.niu.edu.
Community Served: Hindu & Asian
Programs & Services: To foster
interaction on Ramayana-related studies among various academic institutions worldwide.
Islamic Medical Association of North
America
101 W. 22nd St., Suite 106
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 932-0000
(630) 932-0005
www.imana.org
[email protected]
Dr. Abida Haque, President
Year Founded: 1967
Mission Statement: To provide a forum
and resource for Muslim physicians
and other health care professionals, to
promote a greater awareness of Islamic
medical ethics and values among Muslims
and the community-at-large, to provide
humanitarian and medical relief, and to
be an advocate in health care policy.
Ismaili Community Center
100 Shermer Rd.
Glenview, IL 60025
(773) 262-1818
(847) 729-1818
[email protected]
Mr. Nigar Giwani, Member for Communication and Publication
Year Founded: 1987
Programs & Services: Services in Arabic
and Urdu
Category: Religious
J
Japan American Society of Chicago
20 N. Clark St., Suite 750
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 263-3049
(312) 263-6120
www.jaschicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Mitsukuni Baba, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1930
Mission Statement: To foster understanding between our two cultures to
cultivate personal friendship between
our two people
Small Business
Japan External Trade Organization
(JETRO)
1 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 832-6000
(312) 832-6066
www.jetro.org
Mr. Muneo Takashi, Chief Executive
Director
Year Founded: 1958
Mission Statement: To promote mutually beneficial trade and economic
relationships between Japan and other
nations
Programs & Services: Business Development
Small Business
Japanese American Citizens League
(JACL)
5415 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 728-7171
(773) 728-7231
www.jaclchicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Megan Makano, President
Year Founded: 1943
Mission Statement: To secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans
as well as others who are victimized by
injustice and prejudice. As a national organization, JACL supports cultural, educational and social values, and works to
preserve the heritage and legacy
Category: Advocacy
Japanese American Service
Committee (JASC)
4427 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 275-0097
(773) 275-0958
www.jasc-chicago.org
109
Japanese American Service
Committee (JASC) (continued)
[email protected]
Ms. Susan Tybon, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1946
Programs & Services: Arts; Case
Management; Cultural Performances;
Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Ethnic
Language Instruction; Health Education;
Translation Services; Newsletter; Senior
Citizen Programs; Youth Programs
Japanese Chamber of Commerce
and Industry of Chicago (JCCC)
541 N. Fairbanks Ct., Suite 2050
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 245-8344
(312) 245-8355
www.jccc-chi.org/en
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1966
Mission Statement: To deepen mutual
understanding and improve relations
between Japanese and U.S. businesses
through a wide variety of cultural, educational, and charitable programs.
Programs & Services: Business Development; Take Teachers to Japan
Small Business
Japanese Mutual Aid Society of
Chicago
2249 W. Berwyn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 907-3002
Fax: (773) 907-3008
[email protected]
Ms. Karen Kanemoto, Executive Secretary
Year Founded: 1946
Programs & Services: Cemetery Assistance and Japanese American Community Memorial Day Service
Jhankar Radio (WEEF, WONX)
178 Hillandale Dr.
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
(630) 893-5156
(630) 893-5835
www.jhankarradio.com
[email protected]
110
Ms. Manjit Gill, Host
Media Frequency: Weekends
Media Type: Radio
Primary Media Language: Hindi
Category: Media
Jiji Press LTD
175 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite A-655
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 427-5865
(312) 427-5870
[email protected]
Mr. Atsushi Masuda, Chicago Correspondent
Primary Media Language: Japanese
Category: Media
K
Khuli Zaban
1142 S. Taylor Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60304
(312) 409-2753
w w w. g e o c i t i e s . c o m / We s t H o l l y wood/9993/index.
[email protected]
Ms. Neena Hemmady, Co-founder
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To provide a safe
space for, and a forum for advocacy and
expression by South and West Asian lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women
Category: Advocate
Korea Central Daily News
790 Busse Rd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 228-7200
(847) 427-9628
Yong Yil Kim, Editor in Chief
Media Type: Print
Korea Times
4447 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 463-1050
(773) 267-3336
www.koreatimes.com
[email protected]
Mr. Dustin Lee, Editor in Chief
Year Founded: 1972
Media Type: Print
Korean American Association of
Chicago
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 878-1900
(773) 878-9075
www.koreachicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Gil Y. Kim, Vice President
Year Founded: 1962
Korean American Broadcasting Co., Inc
5235 N Kedzie St.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 588-0070
(773) 588-8750
Mr. Hyeok Bae, News Director
Korean American Coalition Chicago
5903 N. Campbell Ave., Unit 2
Chicago, IL 60659
(312) 602-2541
www.kac-chicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Jane Lee, President & National Representative
Year Founded: 2001
civic participation of Korean Americans
through advocacy, community service,
leadership development, and cultural
education.
Korean American Community Services
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 583-5501
(773) 583-7009
www.kacschgo.org
Korean American Community Services
(continued)
[email protected]
Ms. Inchui Choi, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1972
Mission Statement: To celebrate Korean
ethnicity and empower all members of
the community by providing educational, legal, health and social services
Management; DV Counseling/Shelter;
ESL; Employment Counseling/Placement; Food Pantry/Meal Service; Health
Education; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Translation Services; Research;
Senior Citizen & Youth Programs; Training/Education
Korean American Resource &
Cultural Center (KRCC)
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 588-9158
(773) 588-9159
www.chicagokrcc.org
[email protected]
Ms. Sik Son, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To provide education on issues affecting the Korean
American community, advocate for the
civil rights of Korean Americans, facilitate grassroots organizing and political/
civil participation, provide needed social
and community services
Cultural Performances; ESL; Ethnic Language Instruction; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Translation Services;
Training/Education; Youth Programs
Category: Community Organizing
Korean American Senior Center
5008 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 878-7272
(773) 878-4461
www.chikasc.org
[email protected]
Mr. Paul Seog Yun, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1980s
Community Served: Korean American
Korean American Seniors Association of Chicago
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 685-5551
(773) 685-5553
Mr. Buhan Kim
Korean American Women In Need
(KAN-WIN)
P.O. Box 59133
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 583-1392
(773) 583-2454
www.kanwin.org
[email protected]
Ms. Youngju Ji, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1991
Mission Statement: To provide comprehensive services to women and children affected by domestic violence and
works within the larger community towards women’s empowerment and social
change .
Korean Central Covenant Church
950 Northbrook Ave.
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-9522
(847) 272-0799
www.covchurch.org
Mr. Young Jae Lee, Pastor
Year Founded: 1885
Mission Statement: To cultivate communities of worship committed to:
prayer, preaching, and study of the
word; the celebration of the sacraments;
and fellowship across gender, race, age,
culture, and class
Community Served: Multiethnic denomination
Programs
Category: Religious
Korean Central Daily
790 Busse Rd.
Elk Grove, IL 60007
(847) 228-7200
(847) 427-9628
www.koreadaily.net
[email protected]
Ms. Kwang Ho Jang, Executive Director
Media Type: Print
Korean Christian Broadcasting
System (1590 AM)
5817 Dempster St.
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 583-0191
(847) 583-8295
www.kcbschicago.com
[email protected]
Korean Consulate General in
Chicago
455 N. Cityfront Plaza Dr., Suite 2700
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 822-9485
(312) 822-9849
www.chicagoconsulate.org
[email protected]
Mr. Chul Huh, Consul General
Category: Diplomat
Kupa’a - Pacific Island Resources
2314 W. Winnemac Ave., #2R
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 728-8797
(773) 728-8947
www.kupaa-pacificislandresources.org
[email protected]
Ms. Carole Lanialoha Lee, Executive
Director
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To increase public
awareness of Hawaiì and its heritage that
is rich with culture, guided by Hawaiian
principles and a philosophy of community-building toward common goals.
Pacific Islander
Programs & Services: Arts; Cultural Performances; Ethnic Language Instruction;
111
L
Lao American Community Services
4750 N. Sheridan Rd., Suite 369
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-0004
(773) 271-1682
www.lacschicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Thavone Nyatso, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1984
Mission Statement: To assist refugees
and immigrants from Laos residing in
Illinois to become self-sufficient, productive participants in American society
while preserving and enhancing their
cultural heritage, identity, and sense of
belonging to a community.
Community Served: Lao Amercian
Programs & Services: DV Counseling/
Shelter; ESL; Immigration/Citizenship
assistance; Translation services; Youth
Programs
50 King Arthur Ct.
Elgin, IL 60120
(847) 741-2535
(847) 741-2908
Ven. Phimpha Inthavong
Category: Religious
Lightly Toasted Toastmasters
836 W. Aldine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 918-2454
(978) 945-2454
[email protected]
Mr. Eddy Chen, President
Year Founded: 2005
Programs & Services: Leadership; Public Speaking
Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple
1035 W. 31st St.
Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 927-8807
(773) 927-0134
www.tbsn.org
[email protected]
Mr. Kevin Wang
112
Category: Religious
Lutheran General Children’s
Day Care
9375 W. Church St.
(847) 824-5180
[email protected]
Mr. Jerry Clarito, Supervisor, Systems
and Finance
M
Metropolitan Asian Family Services
(MAFS)
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 465-3105
(773) 465-0158
www.mafsinc.com
[email protected]
Ms. Santosh Kumar, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To provide health
& human Services to South East Asian.
Programs & Services: Advocacy; ESL;
Employment Counseling/Training; Food
pantry/Meal service; Health Education;
assistance;
Translation services; Legal Assistance;
Professional Development; Research;
Senior Citizen, Youth & Social Programs
Mid America Japanese Club (MAJC)
855 E. Golf Rd., Suite 2127
(847) 593-1663
(847) 253-6763
www.japaneseclub.org
[email protected]
Ms. Kiyota Takeuchi, President
Year Founded: 1993
Mission Statement: To improve status of the Japanese in American society; promote mutual assistance and
cooperation among the Japanese who
immigrated or intended to live in the
U.S. permanently; inherit our Japanese
predecessors’ achievements.
Community Served: Japanese & Permanent Residents
Midwest Asian American Center
2534 W. Devon Ave., 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 262-8650
(773) 252-8651
maacedu.org
[email protected]
Ms. Vandana Dalal, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1998
Mission Statement: To improve intergenerational, intercultural understanding among Chicago area residents
through programs to promote education, health, and recreation (Mind,
Body, Community).
Programs & Services: ESL; Employment Counseling/Placement; Health
Education; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Interpretation/Translation Services; Senior Citizen & Youth Programs;
Social/Recreational Programs; Training/
Education
435 W. Menomonee St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 943-7801
(312) 943-8069
www.midwestbuddhisttemple.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1944
Programs & Services: Sunday Services
Category: Religious
Muslim Journal
1141 W. 175th St.
Hazel Crest, IL 60521
(708) 647-9600
(708) 647-0754
muslimjournal.net
[email protected]
Ms. Ayesha K Mustafaa, President
Year Founded: 1975
Category: Media
N
National Arab American Medical
Association - Illinois Chapter
29 E. Madison St., Suite 806
Chicago, IL 60602
(708) 642-4896
(630) 837-2722
www.naama.com
[email protected]
Dr. Ted Yaghmour, President
Year Founded: 1975
Community Served: Arab
National Asian Pacific Council on Aging (NAPCA)
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 913-0979
(312) 913-0982
www.napca.org
[email protected]
Ms. Mei Syun Lin, Project Director,
Region 5
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To serve as the nation’s leading advocacy organization
committed to the dignity, well-being, and
quality of life of Asian American and Pacific
Islanders (AAPIs) in their senior years.
Pacific Islander
Programs & Services: Employment
Counseling/Placement; Senior Programs;
Senior Environmental Employment Program
National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) - Chicago
P.O. Box 1619
Chicago, IL 60690
(773) 918-2454
(866) 355-8132
www.naaapchicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Rose Olea, President
Year Founded: 1987
career advancement and leadership
development of Asian American professionals in all fields through networking,
respecting Asian multi-culturalism, and
supporting diversity and community
service.
National Association of
Japan-America Societies
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 263-3049
(312) 263-6120
www.us-japan.org
[email protected]
Ms. Erika Kono, Associate Director
Year Founded: 1930
Mission Statement: To strengthen cooperation and understanding between
the peoples of Japan and the United
States by providing programs, services,
and information to and facilitating cooperation among its member societies
throughout North America.
Community Served: Japanese American
Media Frequency: Quarterly
Media Type: Print
Nehemiah Medical and Charitable
Mission
3100 W. Wilson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 213-6613
www.nnmcm.com
[email protected]
Mr. Christian Van, President
Mission Statement: To work with any
district hospitals in free clinics through
local believers and churches, who
play the role of moderators between
NMCM and local governments; to provide medical equipment, medication,
and supplies needed for the health care
of local people.
Category: Health
Network of Indian Professionals
(NetIP)
P.O. Box 804305
Chicago, IL 60680
www.netipchicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Sharad Agrawal, President
Year Founded: 1990
Mission Statement: To be the
facilitating vehicle used by South Asian
professionals to improve and enhance
the communities in which we work
and live. NetIP lays the foundation for
the best and brightest to forge cohesive relationships to work together for
a lifetime.
Programs & Services: Professional Development/Networking; Business Development; Training/Education; Community Service Project Volunteers; Social/
Recreational Programs; Informational
Forums; Arts; Cultural Performances &
Celebrations
New Chinese Media, Inc.
232B W. Cermak Rd.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 791-9645
(312) 791-9644
www.ncmtv.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 2002
Category: Media
News Pakistan
6033 N. Sheridan Rd., Suite 40-J
Chicago, IL 60660
773443-9200
(773) 271-4024
[email protected]
Ifti Nasim, Editor-In-Chicago
Year Founded: 2002
Media Type: Print
Primary Media Language: Urdu
Category: Media
Nghia Sinh International, Inc.
Chicago, IL 60647
(312) 235-9838
(312) 394-9548
nghiasinh.org
Ms. Hieu Trung Nguyen, President
Year Founded: 1970s
Programs & Services: Immigrant & Refugee Services; Education; Interpretation;
Employment Placement
113
North American Taiwan Medical Association (NATMA)
11650 Country Club Rd.
W. Frankfurt, IL 62896
(618) 932-3287
(618) 932-3287
www.natma.org
[email protected]
Dr. Yinnan Norman Chiou, President
cultural and educational exchange of
Taiwanese American medical, dental
and allied health professionals.
Community Served: Taiwanese
North Shore Baptist Church
5244 N. Lakewood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 728-4200
(773) 728-1582
www.northshorebaptist.org
[email protected]
Rev. Douglas Harris, Pastor
Category: Religious
Northern Illinois Conference of The
United Methodist Church
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 346-9766
(312) 346-9730
www.umcnic.org
Rev. Hee-soo Jung, Bishop
Community Served: United Methodist
Category: Religious
NTDTV
232B W Cermak Rd., 2F
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 933-7598
(312) 791-9644
english.ntdtv.com
Year Founded: 2002
Category: Media
114
O
Organization of Chinese Americans
(OCA) Chicago
P.O. Box 365
Chicago, IL 60690
(312) 458-0832
www.ocachicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. George Mui, Chapter President
Year Founded: 1977
Mission Statement: To promote the active participation of Chinese and Asian
Americans in civic and community
affairs; secure justice, equal treatment
and equal opportunity for Chinese and
Asian Americans; eliminate ignorance
about and bigotry against Chinese and
Asian Americans.
Community Served: Chinese & American
Business Development; Research; Training/Education; Professional Development/Networking
Category: Advocate
P
Pakistan Link
Westmont, IL 60559
(630) 233-0227
(630) 233-0227
www.Pakistanlink.com
Shamim Bano, Bureau Chief
Year Founded: 1991
Media Type: Print
Category: Media
Pakistan News
6033 N. Sheridan Rd, Suite 40-J
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 443-9200
(773) 271-4024
www.weeklypakistannews.com
[email protected]
Mr. Ifti Nasim, Editor-In-Chicago
Year Founded: 2002
Media Type: Print
Category: Media
Pakistan Post
6355 N. Claremont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 381-3766
(773) 262-5489
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1992
Media Type: Print
Category: Media
Pakistan Times Online
P.O. Box 597549
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 973-3551
(773) 973-3560
www.pakistantimesonline.com
Category: Media
Pakistani American Association of
North America
200 E. Rand Rd.
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
(847) 845-9241
(847) 342-1202
www.paana.us
[email protected]
Mr. Shaukat M. Sindhu, Chairman
Mission Statement: To promoting understanding of Pakistani-American culture and fostering its integration in our
great American democracy and culture.
Philippine Chamber of Commerce
of Chicago
3413 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 545-4330
(632) 899-1727
www.philippinechamber.com
[email protected]
Mr. Luis C. Bautista, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1978
Philippine Chamber of Commerce
of Chicago (continued)
Networking; Training/Education
Small Business
Philippine Consulate General
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 332-6458
(312) 332-3657
www.chicagopcg.com
[email protected]
Mr. Leo Herera-Lim, Consul General
Year Founded: 1948
Mission Statement: To foster close and
mutually beneficial relations between
the Philippines and the Midwest region
of the United States, particularly in the
fields of trade, investments, tourism, culture and people-to-people relations.
Category: Diplomat
Philippine Medical Association of
Chicago
3046 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 528-5851
(773) 528-9790
Dr. Edgar Borda, President
Pinoy Monthly
4916 Dempster Ave.
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 329-1073
www.pinoymonthly.net
[email protected]
Ms. Mariano Santos, Editor
Category: Media
Pintig Cultural Group
800 S. Wells St., Suite 1449
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 353-0138
(773) 973-2448
www.pintig.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1991
Mission Statement: To reinterpret Filipino and Filipino American history to
expose and link their struggles with that
of other persons of color/immigrants/
citizens of oppressed countries, organize
& advocate for the community as part of
city-wide social change efforts.
Community Served: Filipino American
Programs & Services: Theater performances and celebrations; Trianing/Education
Presbytery of Chicago
100 S. Morgan St.
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 243-8300
(312) 243-8409
www.chicagopresbytery.org
[email protected]
Rev. Robert Reynolds, Executive Prebyster
Year Founded: 1942
Mission Statement: To serve God and
community through worship.
Programs & Services: Sunday School;
Service; Special Nisei Groups; Fellowships
Category: Religious
Pui Tak Center
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 328-1188
(312) 328-7452
www.puitak.org
[email protected]
Mr. David Wu, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1994
Mission Statement: To provide a Christian witness to Chinese in Chicago
through education, family, and community services.
Programs & Services: ESL; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Senior &
Youth Programs; Social/Recreational
Programs; Preschool; Early Elementary
School; Computer Training
Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago
P.O. Box 1244
Palatine, IL 60078
(847) 359-5727
(847) 359-1107
www.pcschicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Ronny Singh Kular, President
Year Founded: 1993
Mission Statement: To promote Pun-
jabi culture, language, sports, and performing arts through the Midwestern
states.
Community Served: Indian & American
Programs & Services: Cultural Performances; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals;
Ethnic Language Instruction; Translation
Services; Newsletter; Senior & Youth
Programs; Social/Recreational Programs
R
Radio Voice of Asia
6052 N. Mozart Street
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 274-8598
(773) 274-9003
Mohd. Shamsul Islam, President
Media Type: Radio
Royal Nepalese Consulate
100 W. Monroe St., 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 263-1250
(312) 263-3480
[email protected]
Mr. Marvin Brustin, Consul General
Category: Diplomat
Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago
700 N. Rush St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 664-3129
(312) 664-3230
www.thaiconsulate.us
[email protected]
Mr. Narong Sasitorn, Consul General
Category: Diplomat
S
Sandesh International
2544 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 338-0292
(773) 338-0688
www.sandeshusa.com
115
Sandesh International (continued)
[email protected]
Mr. Hemand Bhrahmbhatt, Editor
Media Type: Print
Primary Media Language: GujaratiCategory: Media
Sargam Radio
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 271-6400
(773) 271-4024
www.sargamradio.us
[email protected]
Mr. Ifti Nasim, Host
Year Founded: 2002
Community Served: East Indian, Pakistani & Bangladeshi
Media Type: Radio
Primary Media Language: English, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu
Category: Media
Sikh Religious Society of Chicago
1280 Winnetka St.
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 358-1117
(847) 358-1701
www.srschicago.com
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1972
Community Served: Sikh
Category: Religious
Silk Road Theatre Project
680 S. Federal St., Suite 301
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 857-1234
(312) 577-0849
www.srtp.org
[email protected]
Mr. Malik Gilliani, Managing Director
Year Founded: 2006
Mission Statement: Silk Road Theatre
Project showcases playwrights of Asian,
Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean
backgrounds, whose works address
themes relevant to the peoples of the
Silk Road and their Diaspora communities. Through the mediums of theatre,
video, education, and advocacy, we aim
to deepen and expand representation in
American culture.
116
Sing Tao Daily
2143-B S. China Pl.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-5888
(312) 225-8882
www.singtaousa.com
Year Founded: 1938
Category: Media
South Asian American Policy
Research Institute
c/o Asian American Institute
4753 N. Broadway St. 502
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 743-1109
(773) 271-0899
www.saapri.org
[email protected]
Ms. Ann Kalayil, Director
Year Founded: 2002
Mission Statement: through the use of
cutting edge research, the formulation of
equitable and socially responsible public
policy affecting South Asian Americans.
Programs & Services: Research
Category: Research
South Asian Family Services
1329 W. Loyola Ave., Suite G1
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 761-5119
[email protected]
Mr. J.B. Singha, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1991
Community Served: South Asian
Programs & Services: ESL; Employment
Counseling/Placement;
Immigration/
Citizenship Assistance; Social/Recreational Programs; Youth Programs
South Asian Progressive Action
Collective (SAPAC)
Chicago, IL
www.sapac.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 2000
Mission Statement: To take up progressive issues pertinent to South Asia and
the Diaspora through direct action, creative expression, and discussion.
Category: Advocate
South-East Asia Center
1134 W. Ainslie St.
Chicago, Il 60640
(773) 989-7433
(888) 831-5471
www.se-asiacenter.org
[email protected]
Mr. Peter Porr, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1982
Mission Statement: To build bridges of
understanding and cooperation between
peoples of Old and New World cultures.
Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji)
Temple
1145 W. Sullivan Rd.
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 844-2252
(630) 844-2254
balaji.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1986
Programs & Services: Service
Category: Religious
St. Henry Parish
6335 N. Hoyne Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 764-7413
(773) 764-5994
www.ololchicago.parishesonline.com
/scripts/HostedSites/org.asp?p=1&ID
=5245
[email protected]
Rev. Vin V. Ha, Pastor
Year Founded: 1851
Category: Religious
St. Thomas de Canterbury
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-5507
www.stcuptown.com
Fr. Daniel Costello, Pastor
Community Served: Catholic
Category: Religious
Stir Friday Night!
P.O. Box 268560
Chicago, IL 60626
312725-8670
www.stirfridaynight.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1995
Programs & Services: Asian American
Comedy
SuncasTV
150 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60601
(866) 775-4008
(847) 305-4007
www.suncastv.com
[email protected]
Year Founded: 2006
Mission Statement: To offer a wide
range of information and entertainment
content from around the world.
Category: Media
Super Broadcasting Company/
India View
4332 W. Emerson St.
Sokie, IL 60076
(847) 674-2204
(847) 674-6161
Mr. Yogesh Shah
Category: Media
T
Taipei Economic & Cultural Office
(TECO) in Chicago
180 N. Stetson Ave., Suite 5701
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 616-1677
(312) 616-1486
www.taiwanembassy.org/US/CHI
[email protected]
Mr. Perry Shen, Director General
Mission Statement: The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago
(TECO-Chicago), overseen by the Taipei
Economic and Cultural Representative
Office in the United States , serves Taiwan
citizens in the Midwestern United States
and the interests of the Republic of China.
Category: Diplomat
3846 N. Nordica Ave.
Chicago, IL 60634
(708) 485-5832
Yoshio Yamashita
Category: Religious
Teo Chew Association
1022 W. Argyle St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-5535
Sing Lee
Year Founded: 2005
Community Served: Southeastern Asian
Thai Association of Illinois
2850 Dunstan Ln.
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
(847) 403-3016
(847) 478-0592
www.thaiassociationofillinois.com
[email protected]
Poxie Xumsai, President
Year Founded: 1973
Programs & Services: Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Health Care Services
& Education; Advocacy; Cultural Performances/Celebrations
The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TIE) Midwest
P.O. Box 06498
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 244-3757
www.tie-midwest.org
[email protected]
Mr. Adarsh Arora, President, Midwest
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To foster entrepreneurship and to nurture entrepreneurs;
to network and to facilitate networking
among members; to help membership
integrate with the mainstream community.
The Pakistani
P.O. Box 25870
Chicago, IL 60625
(630) 483-9018
(630) 837-4652
www.thepakistaninewspaper.com
[email protected]
Mr. Hafiz Siddiq
Media Type: Print
Category: Media
Tian Long Temple
106 W. Cermak Rd.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-2398
Category: Religious
Tibet Center
6073 N. Paulina St.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 743-7772
(847) 492-0809
www.tibetcenterchicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Tashi Tsering Phuri, President
Year Founded: 1999
Mission Statement: To preserve and
promote the cultural heritage of Tibet,
as well as providing a venue for Tibetan
studies.
Community Served: Tibetan
Tibetan Alliance of Chicago
2422 Dempster St.
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 773-1111
[email protected]
Mr. Lobsang Wangdak, President
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To empower
Chicago’s Tibetan community and foster its further development, by providing
services to enable the community and
each Tibetan to meet their needs and
achieve their economic, social, cultural, and political goals.
117
U
Uptown Community
Health Center
4867 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-8098
(773) 878-1954
www.nearnorthhealth.org/sites/uptown.
htm
[email protected]
Young Cheon-Klessig, RNC, ENP
Year Founded: 1970
health and well-being of the people and
community it serves; to operate programs and services using community
primary care concepts, emphasizing
prevention of illness and the promotion
of healthy lifestyles.
Urdu Times
6229 N. Richmond St.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 274-3100
(733) 274-9490
www.urdutimesusa.com/
[email protected]
Mr. Tariq Khawaja, Bureau Chief
Year Founded: 1980
Mission Statement: To link our communities and keep them in touch with
news, events and changes which are
taking place very rapidly not only in
South Asia but all over the world.
Programs & Services: Urdu Times
targets the South Asian market living
around the world specially ones using
the Urdu language as a means of communication
Category: Media
118
V
VIA Times
3108 W. Belmont Ave., Apt 2
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 866-0811
(773) 866-9207
www.viatimes.com
[email protected]
Ms. Veronica Leighton
Year Founded: 1990
Media Type: TV
Vietnamese Association of Illinois
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 728-3700
(773) 728-0497
www.hnvi.org
[email protected]
Mr. Howard Vu, President
Year Founded: 1976
Mission Statement: To foster and
strengthen the development of various
Vietnamese American organizations in
Illinois, to promote, support, and develop
various cultural, social, and educational
programs to serve Vietnamese Americans
and other ethnic communities.
Programs & Services: Advocacy; Business Development; Case Management;
Cultural Performances; ESL; Employment Counseling/Placement; Health
Care Services & Education; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Translation
Services; Senior & Youth Programs;
Vietnamese Methodist Church
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 561-6422
Vinh Van
Community Served: Methodist
Category: Relgious
Vietnamese Professionals Society
6750 N. Artesian Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 465-5130
www.vps.org
[email protected]
W
Wat Dhammaram and Vipassana
Meditation Center - The Thai
7059 W. 75th St.
Chicago, IL 60638
(708) 594-8100
(708) 594-8114
www.buddhapia.com/hmu/bcm/directory/temples/watdhamm.html
[email protected]
Ven. Phra Thepprasitdhimont, President
Year Founded: 1974
Category: Religious
Wat Khmer Metta
4716 N. Winthrop Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 989-0969
(773)-345-8365
www.kbsmetta.com
[email protected]
Mr. Sakun Mam, President
Category: Religious
Wat Phrasriratanamahadhatu
4735 N. Magnolia Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 784-0257
(773) 784-0235
www.watphrasrichicago.org/index.asp
[email protected]
Mr. Venerable Ratana Thongkrajai,
President
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To propagate and
promote the teachings of the Buddha.
To fulfill the spiritual needs of the Buddhists and other groups of people.
(continued)
To assist and promote educational and
cultural activities in Thai, Laotian and
Cambodian communities in Chicago
and surrounding areas.
Programs & Services: A number of annual festival and ceremonies are held
and celebrated regularly on a much
larger scale for Buddhist holidays and
other traditional holidays.
Category: Religious
West Ridge Chamber of Commerce
2540 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 743-6022
(773) 743-2893
www.westridgechamber.org
[email protected]
Ms. Barbara Singal, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1991
Mission Statement: To attract shoppers
and increase business, improve the physical
appearance of the area, and improve the
safety of business owners and shoppers.
Programs & Services: Advocacy; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Professional
Development/Networking
Small Business
Windy City Radio (WWWR 88.7 FM)
c/o Vietnamese Association of Illinois
2nd floor, 5252 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 728-3700
(773) 728-0497
windycityradio.wordpress.com
[email protected]
NA Tam Duc Nguyen, Host
Media Frequency: Weekly (Sunday)
Media Type: Radio
Primary Media Language: Vietnamese
Category: Media
World Journal
2116 S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-8080
(312) 842-3749
www.worldjournal.com/wjenglishnews
[email protected]
Ms. Jessica Hui-lin Huang, Reporter
Year Founded: 2002
Category: Media
X
Xilin Asian Community Center
1163 E. Ogden Ave., Suite 301
(630) 355–4322
(630) 355-4326
www.Xilin.org
[email protected]
Ms. Linda Yang, Director
Year Founded: 1994
Mission Statement: 11. To provide an
innovative education system for children’s academic development which
combines Eastern and Western philosophies; promote and improve the healthy
transition of Asian immigrants into the
American society.
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 372-6600
(312) 372-4673
www.ywcachicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Christine Bork, C.E.O.
Year Founded: 1876
Mission Statement: To eliminate racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity
for all.
Y
YAWP: Young Asians with Power
Youth Group
5415 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(312) 933-4426
(312) 492-6303
www.thecollectivechicago.org/yawp
[email protected]
Ms. Anida Esguerra, Program Coordinator
Year Founded: 2002
need for a consious, multi-disciplinary,
for-youth-by-youth arts program for
Asian/Pacific Islander American (APIA)
teens in the Chicagoland area.
Programs & Services: Arts; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Youth Programs
119
06
COMPASS
Directory
categorical
Categorical Directory
ADVOCACY
Asian American Action Fund
(AAAF) - Chicago
(773) 271-2847
www.aaa-fund.org
Mr. Alan Fu, Chairman
Mission Statement: To encourage Asian
American Democrats to participate in
the political process and to empower
the Asian American community so that
we can address the under-representation of Asian Americans in the political
life of the Greater Chicago area.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-0899
(773) 271-1982
www.AAIChicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Tuyet Le, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To empower the
Asian Pacific American community
through advocacy, by utilizing research,
education, and coalition-building.
Programs & Services: Civic Participation; Community Organizing; Legal
Advocacy; Promoting Equality and
Inclusion; Leadership Development;
Research and Education
Asian Health Coalition of Illinois
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 372-7070
(312) 372-7171
www.asianhealth.org
[email protected]
Mr. Edwin Chandraseka, Executive
Director
Year Founded: 1996
health and well-being of Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders in Illinois through
advocacy, technical assistance, education, and community-based research.
Filipino Civil Rights Advocates (FilCRA)
5051 Main St.
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 568-9338
[email protected]
Mr. Jerry Clarito, Midwest Coordinator
Year Founded: 1994
Mission Statement: To build community by addressing the needs of the most
vulnerable through direct action and
volunteerism, and by strengthening the
capacity to participate as equals in the
larger society.
Research; Voter Education and Registration; Filipino Veterans of WWII Benefits
Illinois Health Education Consortium
310 S. Peoria St., Suite 404
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 996-8115
(312) 996-0723
www.ihec.org
[email protected]
Mr. Rajesh Parikh, Executive Director
Japanese American Citizens League
(JACL)
5415 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 728-7171
(773) 728-7231
www.jaclchicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Megan Makano, President
Year Founded: 1943
Mission Statement: To secure and
maintain the civil rights of Japanese
Americans as well as others who are
victimized by injustice and prejudice.
As a national organization, JACL supports cultural, educational and social
values, and works to preserve the heritage and legacy.
Khuli Zaban
1142 S. Taylor Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60304
(312) 409-2753
www.geocities.com/WestHollywood
/9993/index.
[email protected]
Ms. Neena Hemmady, Co-founder
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To provide a safe
space for, and a forum for advocacy and
expression by South and West Asian lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women.
Organization of Chinese Americans
(OCA) Chicago
P.O. Box 365
Chicago, IL 60690
(312) 458-0832
www.ocachicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. George Mui, Chapter President
Year Founded: 1977
Mission Statement: To promote the active participation of Chinese and Asian
Americans in civic and community affairs;
secure justice, equal treatment and equal
opportunity for Chinese and Asian Americans; eliminate ignorance about and bigotry against Chinese and Asian Americans.
Community Served: Chinese &
American
Business Development; Research; Training/Education; Professional Development/Networking
South Asian Progressive Action
Collective (SAPAC)
Chicago, IL
www.sapac.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 2000
Mission Statement: To take up progressive issues pertinent to South Asia and
the Diaspora through direct action, creative expression, and discussion.
ARTS &
CULTURE
Aikido Association of America
1016 W. Belmont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(312) 525-3141
www.aaa-aikido.com
[email protected]
So’zan Daitetsu
Year Founded: 1979
Asian American Artists Collective Chicago (AAAC)
3105 N. Ashland Ave., #293
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 492-7833
(312) 492-6303
www.thecollectivechicago.org
121
Asian American Artists Collective Chicago (AAAC) (continued)
[email protected]
Mr. Sam del Rosario, Executive Director
Year Founded: 2002
Mission Statement: To explore and
nurture APIA artistry through educational programs and workshops, promote
the work of APIA artists in the literary,
visual, performance and emerging arts,
serve as the bride between artists and
the larger APIA community.
Performances; Cultural Celebrations/
Festivals; Youth Programs
Asian American Coalition of Chicago
www.aacchicago.org
Year Founded: 1983
Mission Statement: To organize and
promote equal opportunities in government, education, economic development and international affairs to advance
the integration of all Asian Americans
into the mainstream of society.
Programs & Services: Cultural Assimilation Advice; Cultural Celebrations/Performances; Immigration Referrals
Center for Asian Arts and Media Columbia College Chicago
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 369-7870
(312) 344-8010
www.colum.edu/asianartsandmedia
[email protected]
Ms. Nancy Tom, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1998
Mission Statement: To produce festivals and exhibitions by and about Asians
and Asian Americans.
Community Served: Asian & Asian
Amercian
Cultural Performances and Celebrations;
Professional Development/Networking;
Youth Programs; Helen Fond Dare
Scholarship Fund for Asian American
college students
Asian Improv aRts Midwest (AIRMW)
Chicago, IL 60605
(708) 386-9349
(708) 575-1869
www.airmw.org
[email protected]
Ms. Tatsu Aoki, Founder & Artistic Director
Year Founded: 1996
Mission Statement: To empower Asian
American art.
Chinatown Museum Foundation
238 W. 23rd St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 949-1000
(312) 949-1001
www.ccamuseum.org
[email protected]
Mr. Timkee Tee
Year Founded: 2005
Mission Statement: To maintain a museum in Chicago for the purpose of promoting exhibitions, education, and research
relating to Chinese-American culture and
history in the midwestern U.S.
Association of Nepalese in Midwest
America (ANMA)
6033 N. Sheridan Rd., 36J
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 334-7101
www.anmausa.org
Mr. Rajendra Khatiwada, President
Year Founded: 1982
Mission Statement: To promote, coordinate, and facilitate close cooperation
among Nepalese and friends of Nepal
in North America, particularly in the
Midwest Region of the United States,
for maintaining and fostering Nepalese
identity and cultural heritage.
Chinese Fine Arts Society
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 369-3197
(312) 369-3199
www.chinesefinearts.org
[email protected]
Ms. Julie Tiao Ma, President
Year Founded: 1984
Chinese musical arts and culture.
American
Programs & Services: Arts; Cultural Performances
122
Filipino American Historical Society
5472 S. Dorchester Ave.
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 947-8696
(773) 955-3635
www.sahschicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Estrella Ravelo Alamar, Founding
President
Year Founded: 1986
Mission Statement: To record the
Filipino American history in the Chicago
area, preserve selected artifacts and
documents of that history, provide
exhibits, educate and involve in an
appreciation and understanding of the
Philippine heritage of Philippine heritage.
Foundation for Asian American
Independent Media (FAAIM)
P.O. Box 5435
Chicago, IL 60680
(773) 562-6265
www.faaim.org
[email protected]
Mr. Tim Hugh, Festival Director
Year Founded: 1996
Mission Statement: To provide a venue
for Asian American artists to present their
works, from films, visual arts, music, literary readings, and poetry performances.
Programs & Services: Arts, Cultural performances, Cultural celebrations/festivals, Media/Newsletter, Youth programs
International Ramayana Institute of
North America
799 Roosevelt Rd., Bldg 6, Suite 208
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(630) 858-6161
(630) 858-8787
www.ramayanainstitute.com
[email protected]
I Nyoman Mahartayasa, President
Year Founded: 1998
Mission Statement: To promote a better understanding of various cultural
traditions related to the Ramayana epic.
For details on the conference, registration, and abstract submission, visit
www.cseas.niu.edu.
Community Served: Hindu & Asian
Programs & Services: To foster interaction on Ramayana-related studies among
various academic institutions worldwide
Kupa’a - Pacific Island Resources
2314 W. Winnemac Ave., #2R
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 728-8797
(773) 728-8947
www.kupaa-pacificislandresources.org
[email protected]
Ms. Carole Lanialoha Lee, Executive
Director
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To increase public
awareness of Hawai’I, its people and
the heritage rich with culture, promote
Pacific Island cultures through education, provide the greater Chicago area
with ongoing programs and annual
events, enabling us to reach and unite
greater audiences.
Pacific Islander
Programs & Services: Arts; Cultural Performances; Ethnic Language Instruction;
Mid America Japanese Club (MAJC)
855 E. Golf Rd., Suite 2127
(847) 593-1663
(847) 253-6763
www.japaneseclub.org
[email protected]
Ms. Kiyota Takeuchi, President
Year Founded: 1993
Mission Statement: To improve status
of the Japanese in American society;
promote mutual assistance and cooperation among the Japanese who immigrated or intended to live in the U.S.
permanently; inherit our Japanese predecessors’ achievements.
Community Served: Japanese & Permanent Residents
Pakistani American Association of
North America
200 E. Rand Rd.
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056
(847) 845-9241
(847) 342-1202
www.paana.us
[email protected]
Mr. Shaukat M. Sindhu, Chairman
Mission Statement: To promoting
understanding of Pakistani-American
culture and fostering its integration
in our great American democracy and
culture.
Pintig Cultural Group
800 S. Wells St., Suite 1449
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 353-0138
(773) 973-2448
www.pintig.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1991
Mission Statement: To reinterpret
Filipino and Filipino American history
to expose and link their struggles with
that of other persons of color/immigrants/citizens of oppressed countries, organize and advocate for the
community as part of city-wide social
change efforts.
Community Served: Filipino American
Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago
P.O. Box 1244
Palatine, IL 60078
(847) 359-5727
(847) 359-1107
www.pcschicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Ronny Singh Kular, President
Year Founded: 1993
Mission Statement: To promote Punjabi
culture, language, sports, and performing arts through the Midwestern states.
Community Served: Indian & American
Programs & Services: Cultural Performances; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Ethnic Language Instruction;
& Youth Programs; Social/Recreational
Programs
Silk Road Theatre Project
680 S. Federal St., Suite 301
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 857-1234
(312) 577-0849
www.srtp.org
[email protected]
Mr. Malik Gilliani, Managing Director
Year Founded: 2006
Mission Statement: Silk Road Theatre
Project showcases playwrights of Asian,
Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean
backgrounds, whose works address
themes relevant to the peoples of the
Silk Road and their Diaspora communities. Through the mediums of theatre,
video, education, and advocacy, we
aim to deepen and expand representation in American culture.
Stir Friday Night!
P.O. Box 268560
Chicago, IL 60626
312725-8670
www.stirfridaynight.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1995
Programs & Services: Asian American
Comedy
Tibet Center
6073 N. Paulina St.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 743-7772
(847) 492-0809
www.tibetcenterchicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Tashi Tsering Phuri, President
Year Founded: 1999
Mission Statement: To preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Tibet, as well
as providing a venue for Tibetan studies.
YAWP: Young Asians with Power
Youth Group
5415 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(312) 933-4426
(312) 492-6303
www.thecollectivechicago.org/yawp
[email protected]
Ms. Anida Esguerra, Program
Coordinator
Year Founded: 2002
need for a consious, multi-disciplinary,
for-youth-by-youth arts program for
Asian/Pacific Islander American (APIA)
teens in the Chicagoland area
Programs & Services: Arts; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Youth Programs
123
CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE/
SMALL
BUSINESS
Asian American Industrial Alliance
(AAIA)
4500 W. Fillmore St.
Chicago, IL 60624
(773) 638-6771
aaia.logomall.com
[email protected]
Association of Asian
Construction Enterprises
333 N. Odgen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(312) 563-0746
Association of Asian Construction
Enterprises (continued)
[email protected]
Mr. Perry Nakachi, President
Year Founded: 2002
needs of Illinois’ Asian American-owned
construction-related businesses, and
promote their participation in public
and private construction projects.
Chicago Chinatown Chamber
of Commerce
2169B S. China Pl.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-5320
(312) 326-5668
www.chicagochinatown.org
[email protected]
Mr. Tony Hsu, President
Year Founded: 1983
Chicago Chinatown Chamber of
Commerce (continued)
Mission Statement: To facilitate the
economic development and welfare of
Chicago’s Chinese community.
Programs & Services: Business Development; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals;
Newsletter; Professional Development/
Networking; Sanitation Certification
Classes in Cantonese
124
Chicago Korean American Chamber
of Commerce
5601 N. Spaulding Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 583-1700
(773) 583-9724
www.ckacc.org
[email protected]
Mr. Ray Kim, President
Year Founded: 1976
Programs & Services: Business Development; Cultural Performances; Health
Care Services
International Chamber of Commerce
(USA) Inc.
1333 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 761-5119
(773) 761-5193
internationalchamberofcommerceusa.
com
[email protected]
Dr. J.B. Singha, President
privatization of trade in developing
countries where the immediate impetus is outsourcing of front and back
room parks.
Networking; Training/Education; Social/
Recreational Programs
Japan American Society of Chicago
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 263-3049
(312) 263-6120
www.jaschicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Mitsukuni Baba, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1930
Mission Statement: To foster understanding between our two cultures to
cultivate personal friendship between
our two people.
Japan External Trade Organization
(JETRO)
1 E. Wacker Dr., Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 832-6000
(312) 832-6066
www.jetro.org
Mr. Muneo Takashi, Chief Executive Director
Year Founded: 1958
Mission Statement: To promote mutually beneficial trade and economic relationships between Japan and other nations.
Programs & Services: Business
Development
Japanese Chamber of Commerce
and Industry of Chicago (JCCC)
541 N. Fairbanks Ct., Suite 2050
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 245-8344
(312) 245-8355
www.jccc-chi.org/en
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1966
Mission Statement: To deepen mutual
understanding and improve relations
between Japanese and U.S. businesses
through a wide variety of cultural, educational, and charitable programs.
Programs & Services: Business Development; Take Teachers to Japan
Philippine Chamber of Commerce of
Chicago
3413 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 545-4330
(632) 899-1727
www.philippinechamber.com
[email protected]
Mr. Luis C. Bautista, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1978
Networking; Training/Education
2540 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 743-6022
(773) 743-2893
www.westridgechamber.org
[email protected]
Ms. Barbara Singal, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1991
Mission Statement: To attract shoppers and increase business, improve the
physical appearance of the area, and
improve the safety of business owners
and shoppers.
(continued)
Programs & Services: Advocacy; Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Professional
Development/Networking
COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING
Korean American Resource &
Cultural Center (KRCC)
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 588-9158
(773) 588-9159
www.chicagokrcc.org
[email protected]
Ms. Sik Son, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To provide education on issues affecting the Korean
American community, advocate for the
civil rights of Korean Americans, facilitate grassroots organizing and political/
civil participation, provide needed social
and community services.
Cultural Performances; ESL; Ethnic Language Instruction; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Translation Services;
DIPLOMAT
Mission Statement: To promote knowledge of Japan in the four state area of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, & Wisconsin.
Programs & Services: Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; JET Program; Scholarships
Consulate General of Pakistan in
Chicago
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 781-1831
(312) 781-1839
www.cgpkchicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Zaheer Pervaiz Khan, Consul General
Consulate General of the People’s
Republic of China in Chicago
100 W. Erie St.
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 803-0095
(312) 803-0110
www.chinaconsulatechicago.org/eng
[email protected]
Mr. Xu Jinzhong, Consul General
Consulate General of the Republic
of Indonesia
211 W. Wacker Dr., 8th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 920-1880
(312) 920-1881
www.indonesiachicago.org
Mr. Beny Bahanadewa, Consul General
Community Served: Indonesian
Consulate General of India, Chicago
455 N. City Front Plaza Dr., Suite 850
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 595-0405
(312) 595-0418
www.indianconsulate.com
Mrs. Mukta Duta Tomar, Consul General
Korean Consulate General in Chicago
455 N. Cityfront Plaza Dr., Suite 2700
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 822-9485
(312) 822-9849
www.chicagoconsulate.org
[email protected]
Mr. Chul Huh, Consul General
Consulate General of Japan in Chicago
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 280-0400
(312) 280-9568
www.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/
Mr. George Hisaeda, Consul General
Year Founded: 1978
Philippine Consulate General
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 332-6458
(312) 332-3657
www.chicagopcg.com
[email protected]
Mr. Leo Herera-Lim, Consul General
Year Founded: 1948
Mission Statement: To foster close and
mutually beneficial relations between
the Philippines and the Midwest region
of the United States, particularly in the
fields of trade, investments, tourism,
culture and people-to-people relations
Royal Nepalese Consulate
100 W. Monroe St., 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 263-1250
(312) 263-3480
[email protected]
Mr. Marvin Brustin, Consul General
Royal Thai Consulate-General, Chicago
700 N. Rush St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 664-3129
(312) 664-3230
www.thaiconsulate.us
[email protected]
Mr. Narong Sasitorn, Consul General
Taipei Economic & Cultural Office
(TECO) in Chicago
180 N. Stetson Ave., Suite 5701
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 616-1677
(312) 616-1486
www.taiwanembassy.org/US/CHI
[email protected]
Mr. Perry Shen, Director General
Mission Statement: The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago
(TECO-Chicago), overseen by the Taipei
Economic and Cultural Representative
Office in the United States, serves Taiwan
citizens in the Midwestern United States
and the interests of the Republic of China.
EDUCATION
Asian American Coalition Committee
(AACC) - UIC
750 S. Halsted St., Room 340 CCC,
MC118, Campus Programs Box #A29
Chicago, IL 60607
aacc.pages.uic.edu
Year Founded: 2007
125
Asian American Cultural Center - UIUC
1210 W. Nevada St., MC-149
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-9300
(217) 244-6623
studentaffairs.illinois.edu/diversity/aacc/
index.html
[email protected]
Mr. David Chih, Director
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To provide UIUC
campus leadership in programs and
services for Asian American students
including culturally sensitive advising,
advocacy, and counseling.
Management, Cultural performances,
Cultural celebrations/festivals, Training/
Education
Programs & Services: School taught in
Japanese
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 413-9569
(312) 413-9732
html
[email protected]
Year Founded: 2001
Mission Statement: The Asian American
Resource and Cultural Center officially
opened in spring of 2005 as a result of
student efforts to ensure that UIC support
the needs of Asian Americans. 20% of the
total UIC student body and 13% of faculty and staff are Asian American.
Illinois Department of Human Services
401 S. Clinton St., 7th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 793-2354
www.dhs.state.il.us
[email protected]
Ms. Grace Hou, Assistant Secretary
Year Founded: 1981
Mission Statement: To assist our
customers to achieve maximum selfsufficiency, independence and health
through the provision of seamless, integrated services for individuals, families
and communities.
Chicago Futabakai Japanese School
2550 N. Arlington Heights Rd.
(847) 590-5700
(847) 590-9759
www.chicagojs.com
[email protected]
Mr. Sasaki Eiichi, President
126
Department of East Asian Languages
and Civilizations(EALC) - University
of Chicago
1050 E. 59th St., Wieboldt 301
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-1255
(773) 834-1323
ealc.uchicago.edu
[email protected]
Mr. Edward Shaughnessy, Department
Chair
Year Founded: 1968
GOVERNMENT
HEALTH
Asian American Health
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 588-5770
Mr. Chris Chon
Year Founded: 1996
Programs & Services: Health Care Services
MEDIA
Asian Broadcasting Network (ABN)
5235 N Kedzie St.
Chicago, IL 60625
(847) 475-1555
www.urdupublish.blogspot.com
Dr. Mujahid Ghazi, Founder & Artistic
Director
Asian Community Online Network
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 508-9102
(773) 271-1982
www.acon.org
[email protected]
Mr. Elvin Chan, Administrative Director
& Chicago Coordinator
Year Founded: 1995
Media Type: Email
Chicago Chinese News
424 Fort Hill Dr., Bldg. 100
(630) 717-4567
(630) 717-7999
www.chicagochinesenews.com
[email protected]
Mr. Danny Lee, Editor
Year Founded: 1991
Mission Statement: To create awareness about daily updates
Chicago Chinese Times
2155 S. China Pl., #2
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 881-0133
Mr. Danny Lee, President
Media Type: Print
2454 E. Dempster St., Suite 207
(847) 296-1125
(847) 296-2944
www.chicagoradiokorea.com
[email protected]
Mr. Youl Cho, Director of Business Admin
(continued)
Media Frequency: On Air 9 - 5
Monday to Friday
Media Type: Radio
4670 N. Manor Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 478-6170
(773) 478-9360
[email protected]
Ms.Yoshiko Urayama, President & Editor
Year Founded: 1945
Media Frequency: Semi-weekly
Media Type: Print
China Journal
2146-A S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-3228
(312) 326-3503
www.chinajournalus.com
[email protected]
Ms. May Zhang, Director
Year Founded: 1991
China News and Digest
Bolingbrook, IL 60440
(630) 739-2838
(630) 929-3776
www.cnd.org
[email protected]
Mr. David Zhang, President & Publisher
Year Founded: 1989
Media Frequency: Bi-weekly
China Star Media Corporation
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 753-3200
(312) 225-7513
www.chinastarmedia.com
[email protected]
Mr. Daway Zhou
Media Type: Print
Chinatown TV
2167-B S. China Pl.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-5600
(312) 225-8849
[email protected]
Mr. James Chang, Director
Year Founded: 1988
Chinese American News
733 W. 26th St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-3929
(312) 225-8849
www.canews.com
[email protected]
Mr. James Chang, Editor
Media Type: Print
Chinese ePaper
2116 S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-8080
(312) 842-3749
www.chineseworld.com
Ms. Monica Chen, Reporter
Year Founded: 1986
Media Type: Print
Chitrahar Broadcasting
2215 Pebble Creek Dr.
Lisle, IL 60532
(312) 986-9000
(312) 431-1310
www.chitrahar.com
[email protected]
Ms. Anjali Julka, Main Producer
Year Founded: 1984
Dong-A Daily
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 282-5533
english.donga.com
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1920
Epoch Times Chicago
234 W. Cermak Rd.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 808-9410
(312) 808-9411
www.epochtimes.com
Mr. Andrew Tu, Director
Year Founded: 2000
Filipino American Community
Builder
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 275-4540
(773) 334-4994
[email protected]
Ms. Carmelita V. Madridejos, Reporter
Media Frequency: Monthly
Global Radio
2126-B S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-5363
(312) 326-5361
Ms. Anita Hsueh, General Manager
Media Type: Radio
Hataw Pinoy Chicago
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 510-5413
(773) 271-7516
www.hatawpinoy.com
[email protected]
Mr. Leonardo L. Gonzales, Reporter
Media Frequency: Every Sunday
127
India Abroad
2915 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 338-1118
(773) 338-2045
www.indiaabroad.com
[email protected]
Mr. Abhishek Gandhi, Manager
Year Founded: 1970
Media Type: Print
India Post
2335 W. Devon Ave., Suite 203
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 973-7394
(773) 973-7396
www.indiapost.com
[email protected]
Mr. Ramesh Soparwala, Editor
Year Founded: 1995
India Tribune
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 588-5077
(773) 588-7011
www.indiatribune.com
[email protected]
Mr. Prashant Shah, Editor
Year Founded: 1977
Media Type: Print
India TV
2720 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 274-6300
(773) 274-6301
www.indiatv4u.com
Ms. Kruti Purohit, Reporter
Jhankar Radio (WEEF, WONX)
178 Hillandale Dr.
Bloomingdale, IL 60108
128
(630) 893-5156
(630) 893-5835
www.jhankarradio.com
[email protected]
Ms. Manjit Gill, Host
Media Frequency: Weekends
Media Type: Radio
Jiji Press LTD
175 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite A-655
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 427-5865
(312) 427-5870
[email protected]
Mr. Atsushi Masuda, Chicago
Correspondent
Korea Central Daily News
790 Busse Rd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
(847) 228-7200
(847) 427-9628
Yong Yil Kim, Editor in Chief
Media Type: Print
Korea Times
4447 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 463-1050
(773) 267-3336
www.koreatimes.com
[email protected]
Mr. Dustin Lee, Editor in Chief
Year Founded: 1972
Media Type: Print
Korean American Broadcasting Co., Inc
5235 N Kedzie St.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 588-0070
(773) 588-8750
Mr. Hyeok Bae, News Director
Korean Central Daily
790 Busse Rd.
Elk Grove, IL 60007
(847) 228-7200
(847) 427-9628
www.koreadaily.net
[email protected]
Ms. Kwang Ho Jang, Executive Director
Media Type: Print
Korean Christian Broadcasting
System (1590 AM)
5817 Dempster St.
Morton Grove, IL 60053
(847) 583-0191
(847) 583-8295
www.kcbschicago.com
[email protected]
Muslim Journal
1141 W. 175th St.
Hazel Crest, IL 60521
(708) 647-9600
(708) 647-0754
muslimjournal.net
[email protected]
Ms. Ayesha K Mustafaa, President
Year Founded: 1975
National Association of JapanAmerica Societies
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 263-3049
(312) 263-6120
www.us-japan.org
[email protected]
Ms. Erika Kono, Associate Director
Year Founded: 1930
Mission Statement: To strengthen cooperation and understanding between
the peoples of Japan and the United
States by providing programs, services,
and information to and facilitating cooperation among its member societies
throughout North America.
National Association of JapanAmerica Societies (contnued)
Community Served: Japanese American
Media Frequency: Quarterly
Media Type: Print
New Chinese Media, Inc.
232B W. Cermak Rd.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 791-9645
(312) 791-9644
www.ncmtv.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 2002
News Pakistan
Chicago, IL 60660
773443-9200
(773) 271-4024
[email protected]
Ifti Nasim, Editor-In-Chicago
Year Founded: 2002
Media Type: Print
NTDTV
232B W Cermak Rd., 2F
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 933-7598
(312) 791-9644
english.ntdtv.com
Year Founded: 2002
Pakistan Link
Westmont, IL 60559
(630) 233-0227
(630) 233-0227
www.Pakistanlink.com
Shamim Bano, Bureau Chief
Year Founded: 1991
Media Type: Print
Pakistan News
6033 N. Sheridan Rd, Suite 40-J
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 443-9200
(773) 271-4024
www.weeklypakistannews.com
[email protected]
Mr. Ifti Nasim, Editor-In-Chicago
Year Founded: 2002
Media Type: Print
Pakistan Post
6355 N. Claremont Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 381-3766
(773) 262-5489
[email protected]
Chicago Bureau Chief
Year Founded: 1992
Media Type: Print
Pakistan Times Online
P.O. Box 597549
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 973-3551
(773) 973-3560
www.pakistantimesonline.com
Pinoy Monthly
4916 Dempster Ave.
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 329-1073
www.pinoymonthly.net
[email protected]
Ms. Mariano Santos, Editor
Radio Voice of Asia
6052 N. Mozart Street
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 274-8598
(773) 274-9003
Mohd. Shamsul Islam, President
Media Type: Radio
Sandesh International
2544 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 338-0292
(773) 338-0688
www.sandeshusa.com
[email protected]
Mr. Hemand Bhrahmbhatt, Editor
Media Type: Print
Primary Media Language: Gujarati
Sargam Radio
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 271-6400
(773) 271-4024
www.sargamradio.us
[email protected]
Mr. Ifti Nasim, Host
Year Founded: 2002
Community Served: East Indian, Pakistani & Bangladeshi
Media Type: Radio
Primary Media Language: English, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu
Sing Tao Daily
2143-B S. China Pl.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-5888
(312) 225-8882
www.singtaousa.com
Year Founded: 1938
SuncasTV
150 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60601
(866) 775-4008
(847) 305-4007
www.suncastv.com
[email protected]
Year Founded: 2006
Mission Statement: Suncastv may just
be what you’ve been hoping for: more
channels, greater variety and the shows
you can’t get over here — until now. With
our growing list of programming partners, we bring some of the most popular
TV shows in Asia into your living room.
129
SuncasTV (continued)
Super Broadcasting Company/India
View
4332 W. Emerson St.
Sokie, IL 60076
(847) 674-2204
(847) 674-6161
Mr. Yogesh Shah
The Pakistani
P.O. Box 25870
Chicago, IL 60625
(630) 483-9018
(630) 837-4652
www.thepakistaninewspaper.com
[email protected]
Mr. Hafiz Siddiq
Media Type: Print
Urdu Times
6229 N. Richmond St.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 274-3100
(733) 274-9490
www.urdutimesusa.com/
[email protected]
Mr. Tariq Khawaja, Bureau Chief
Year Founded: 1980
Mission Statement: To link our communities and keep them in touch with
news, events and changes which are
taking place very rapidly not only in
South Asia but all over the world.
Programs & Services: Urdu Times
targets the South Asian market living
around the world specially ones using
the Urdu language as a means of communication.
VIA Times
3108 W. Belmont Ave., Apt 2
Chicago, IL 60618
130
(773) 866-0811
(773) 866-9207
www.viatimes.com
[email protected]
Ms. Veronica Leighton
Year Founded: 1990
Media Type: TV
Windy City Radio (WWWR 88.7 FM)
c/o Vietnamese Association of Illinois
2nd floor, 5252 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 728-3700
(773) 728-0497
windycityradio.wordpress.com
[email protected]
NA Tam Duc Nguyen, Host
Media Frequency: Weekly (Sunday)
Media Type: Radio
Primary Media Language: Vietnamese
World Journal
2116 S. Archer Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-8080
(312) 842-3749
www.worldjournal.com/wjenglishnews
[email protected]
Ms. Jessica Hui-lin Huang, Reporter
Year Founded: 2002
POLITICAL
League
445 S. Bodin St.
Hinsdale, IL 60521
(630) 778-4293
(630) 778-4898
Mr. John Lai
Indo-American Democratic Organization
8026 N. Lawndale Ave.
Chicago, IL 60076
(312) 479-7611
www.iado.org
[email protected]
Dr. Ram Gajjela, President
Year Founded: 1980
Mission Statement: To educate and
empower Indian Americans through
grassroots action. The goal is to get
more Indian Americans to participate in
the political process from voting to running for elected office.
PROFESSIONAL
Asian American Law Enforcement
Association
P.O. Box 56652
Chicago, IL 60656
www.aalea.org
[email protected]
Mr. Norman Kwong, President
Year Founded: 1983
Mission Statement: To assist in the
civic advancement and cultural development of the Asian American communities through means consistent with the
policies of the various law enforcement
agencies we represent.
American Association of Physicians
of Indian Origin (AAPI)
600 Enterprise Dr., Suite 108
Oak Brook, IL 60523
(630) 990-2277
(630) 990-2281
www.aapiusa.org
[email protected]
Dr. Ajeet R. Singhvi, President
Year Founded: 1986
Mission Statement: To facilitate and
enable Indian American Physicians to
excel in patient care, teaching and research and to pursue their aspirations in
professional and community affairs.
Asian American Bar Association of
the Greater Chicago Area
P.O. Box A3782
Chicago, IL 60690
(312) 554-2044
(312) 554-9843
www.aabachicago.com
Asian American Bar Association of the
Greater Chicago Area (continued)
[email protected]
Mr. Rishi Agrawal, President
Year Founded: 1987
Mission Statement: To increase awareness among elected officials on Asian
American issues, document the need
and urge for increased representation in
all areas of the profession, to serve the
legal needs of the community through
pro bono legal clinic.
Programs & Services: Legal assistance;
Media/newsletter; Professional Development/Networking; Research; Social/
Recreational Programs; Law Student
Services; Community Programs
Asian American Journalists
Association
P.O. Box 577639
Chicago, IL 60657
(312) 464-4876
www.aaja.org
[email protected]
Ms. Lorene Yue, President
Year Founded: 1989
Mission Statement: To provide a means
of association and support among Asian
American and Pacific Islander journalists.
Development/Networking; Media Watch;
Media Workshop; Community and Student Outreach; Social/Recreational
Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP)
230 W. Superior St., 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 266-1176
(312) 266-0990
www.aapip.org
Ms. Kathy Im, Chairman
Year Founded: 1990
Mission Statement: To advance philanthropy and Asian American/Pacific
Islander (AAPI) communities.
Association of Chinese Scientists and
Engineers (ACSE)
P.O. Box 59715
Schaumburg, IL 60159
(312) 733-7000
(312) 432-7000
www.acse.org
[email protected]
Mr. Lujiang Fang, President
Year Founded: 1992
friendships and exchange professional
information and experiences among
members and enhance exchanges of
science, technology, and culture between the United States and China.
Association of Pakistani Descent of
North America
6414 S. Cass Ave.
Westmont, IL 60659
(630) 968-8585
(630) 968-8677
www.appna.org
[email protected]
Dr. Manzoor Tariq, President
Year Founded: 1976
Mission Statement: To foste scientific
development and education in the field
of medicine and to delivering better
health care, irrespective of race, color,
creed, or gender.
Chicago Taiwanese American Professionals (TAP-Chicago)
Chicago, IL
www.tapchicago.org
[email protected]
Mission Statement: To strengthen our
community and provide Taiwanese Americans with social, cultural, professional,
and community service opportunities.
Development/Networking; Advocacy;
Social/Recreational Programs; Arts; Cultural Celebrations
Chinese American Bar Association
P.O. Box 641885
Chicago, IL 60664
www.cabachicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Beibei Que, President
Year Founded: 1990s
Mission Statement: To foster the exchange of ideas and information among
and between members and members of
the legal profession, the judiciary and
the community.
Filipino American Network (FAN) Chicago
516 N. Ogden, #151
Chicago, IL 60622
www.FAN-Chicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Edgar Jimenez, President
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To bring together
young Filipino American adults to facilitate, encourage, & nurture their cultural,
personal, & professional development.
Programs & Services: Professional Development/Networking
Indian American Medical Association
of Illinois
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 275-8630
(773) 275-8635
www.iamaill.org
Dr. Ashok Fulambarker, President
Mission Statement: To be committed
to professional excellence in quality patient care, education and community
healthcare.
Islamic Medical Association of North
America
101 W. 22nd St., Suite 106
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 932-0000
(630) 932-0005
www.imana.org
[email protected]
Dr. Abida Haque, President
Year Founded: 1967
Mission Statement: To provide a forum
and resource for Muslim physicians
and other health care professionals, to
promote a greater awareness of Islamic
medical ethics and values among Muslims
and the community-at-large, to provide
humanitarian and medical relief, and to
be an advocate in health care policy.
Korean American Coalition - Chicago
5903 N. Campbell Ave., Unit 2
Chicago, IL 60659
(312) 602-2541
www.kac-chicago.org
[email protected]
131
Korean American Coalition--Chicago
(continued)
Ms. Jane Lee, President & National
Representative
Year Founded: 2001
civic participation of Korean Americans
through advocacy, community service,
leadership development, and cultural
education.
Lightly Toasted Toastmasters
836 W. Aldine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 918-2454
(978) 945-2454
[email protected]
Mr. Eddy Chen, President
Year Founded: 2005
Programs & Services: Leadership; Public Speaking
National Arab American Medical Association - Illinois Chapter
29 E. Madison St., Suite 806
Chicago, IL 60602
(708) 642-4896
(630) 837-2722
www.naama.com
[email protected]
Dr. Ted Yaghmour, President
Year Founded: 1975
Community Served: Arab
National Association of Asian
American Professionals (NAAAP) Chicago
P.O. Box 1619
Chicago, IL 60690
(773) 918-2454
(866) 355-8132
www.naaapchicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Rose Olea, President
Year Founded: 1987
career advancement and leadership
development of Asian American professionals in all fields through networking,
respecting Asian multi-culturalism, and
supporting diversity and community
service.
132
Network of Indian Professionals
(NetIP)
P.O. Box 804305
Chicago, IL 60680
www.netipchicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Sharad Agrawal, President
Year Founded: 1990
Mission Statement: To be the facilitating
vehicle used by South Asian professionals
to improve and enhance the communities
in which we work and live. NetIP lays the
foundation for the best and brightest
to forge cohesive relationships to work
together for a lifetime.
Programs & Services: Professional Development/Networking; Business Development; Training/Education; Community Service Project Volunteers; Social/
Recreational Programs; Informational
Forums; Arts; Cultural Performances &
Celebrations
North American Taiwan Medical Association (NATMA)
11650 Country Club Rd.
W. Frankfurt, IL 62896
(618) 932-3287
(618) 932-3287
www.natma.org
[email protected]
Dr. Yinnan Norman Chiou, President
cultural and educational exchange of
Taiwanese American medical, dental
and allied health professionals.
Philippine Medical Association of
Chicago
3046 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 528-5851
(773) 528-9790
Dr. Edgar Borda, President
The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TIE) Midwest
P.O. Box 06498
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 244-3757
www.tie-midwest.org
[email protected]
Mr. Adarsh Arora, President, Midwest
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To foster entrepreneurship and to nurture entrepreneurs;
to network and to facilitate networking
among members; to help membership integrate with the mainstream community.
Vietnamese Professionals Society
6750 N. Artesian Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 465-5130
www.vps.org
[email protected]
RELIGIOUS
Bible Presbyterian Church
of Chicago
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 878-1976
(773) 784-1033
Ms. Suk Jin Lee
Bong Boolsa Korean
Buddhist Temple
5114 N. Elston Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 286-0307
Ven. Young Joo Lee
8910 S. Kingery Hwy.
Hinsdale, IL 60521
(630) 789-8866
(630) 789-0024
www.buddhistbmc.org
[email protected]
Mr. Varasak Varadhammo
Year Founded: 1990
Mission Statement: To spread dharma,
the teaching of the Buddha.
Programs & Services: Buddhism,
Religious Programs
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu
Chi Foundation
1430 Plainfield Rd.
Darien, IL 60561
(630) 963-6601
(630) 963-9360
chicago.us.tzuchi.org/chicago/home.
nsf/home/index
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu
Chi Foundation (continued)
[email protected]
Ms. Amy Hsieh, Director
Year Founded: 1989
1812 Washington St.
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 869-5806
(847) 869-5806
www.buddhistcouncilmidwest.org
[email protected]
Ms. Asayo Horibe, President
Year Founded: 1984
Mission Statement: To foster the learning and practice of Buddhism; to represent the Midwest Buddhist community
in matters affecting its membership; to
pool resources and coordinate efforts by
its membership to create an atmosphere
of fellowship and cooperation.
Bultasa Buddhist Temple of Chicago
4360 W. Montrose Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 286-1551
(773) 282-2663
www.bultasa.com
[email protected]
Ven. Hyeonseong Sunim, Head Monk
Year Founded: 1974
Burmese Buddhist Association
15 Forest Ln.
Elmhurst, IL 60126
(630) 941-7608
www.bba.us
[email protected]
Dr. Zaw Win, President
Year Founded: 1984
Mission Statement: To welcome everyone who came from Burma and anyone
who is interested in our religion, friendship and fellowship.
Community Served: Buddhism
(Wat Khemararan)
1258 W. Argyle St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-8226
(773) 942-6255
www.khemararam.com
[email protected]
Mr. Savat Khem
Year Founded: 1984
Mission Statement: To provide a place
for meditation and the teachings of the
Buddha.
Programs & Services: Arts
2100 S. Central Ave.
Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 652-9722
(708) 652-9722
www.chicagoktc.org
[email protected]
Ven. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, Resident
Abbot
Year Founded: 1976
4216 N. Paulina St.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 348-2028
(773) 348-2028
www.nichiren-shu.org
Rev. Benyu Ikeda, Resident Minister
Mission Statement: To vow to the Buddha and Nichiren Shonin that we will
strive to engender peace within ourselves and throughout the world by disseminating the teaching expounded in
the Lotus Sutra.
Chicago Zen Center
2029 Ridge Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 475-3015
(847) 475-7625
www.chicagozen.org
Mr. Sevan Ross, Sensei
Year Founded: 1974
Mission Statement: To offer the entire
Harada-Yasutani Koan Curriculum, resting on a Soto Zen meditation base.
Programs & Services: Zazen is at once
a method used to attain an ever-deepening realization of our true self, and is
at every moment the natural unfolding
of this true self.
Chinese Christian Mandarin Church
9 S. 565 Clarendon Hills Rd.
Willowbrook, IL 60527
(630) 655-1148
www.aimhi.com/~ccmc
Mr. Nick Scarpuzzi, English Pastor
Year Founded: 1972
Mission Statement: To bring youth to
Christ, to develop them spiritually, to
become devoted servants to Christ.
Programs; Sunday Small Groups
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-8545
(312) 225-0423
www.ccuc.net
[email protected]
Mr. Donald Moy, Pastor
Year Founded: 1915
Americans
(North)
1506 Half Day Rd.
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 443-6543
(847) 443-6560
www.ccuc.net
[email protected]
Mr. Alan Chan, Pastor
Year Founded: 1915
Americans
(South)
3000 S. Wallace St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-5564
(312) 674-1892
www.ccuc.net
[email protected]
Mr. Alan Kwok, Pastor
133
(South) (continued)
Year Founded: 1915
Americans
Christ Church of Chicago
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 338-8170
(773) 338-8170
www.christchurchchicago.net
[email protected]
Rev. Paulo Franca, Pastor
Year Founded: 1946
Programs & Services: Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; DV Counseling/Shelter;
Food Pantry/Meal Service; Newsletter;
Senior Citizen Programs; Social/Recreational Programs; Youth Programs
Chua Truc Lam
1521 W. Wilson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 506-0749
chuatruclamchicago.org
Church of the Cross
475 W. Higgins Rd.
Hoffman Estates, IL 60195
(847) 885-1199
(888) 726-2543
www.cotc-pcusa.org
[email protected]
Mr. Jule Nyhuis, Pastor
Greater Chicago
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 506-0070
(312) 506-0077
www.ciogc.org
[email protected]
Mr. Abdul Malik Mujahid, Chairman
Year Founded: 2003
134
Devon Church
1630 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 381-0074
www.devonchurch.org
[email protected]
Rev. Kei Satoh, Japanese Speaking Pastor
Year Founded: 1946
Mission Statement: To glorify God
through (worship) and reaching unbelievers for Jesus (evangelism), by building community (fellowship), growing
believers (discipleship), and serving God
and the community (ministry).
Dhammakaya International Meditation Center
6224 W. Gunnison St.
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 763-8763
(773) 763-7897
www.dimc.net
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1997
Illinois Tenrikyo Church
5057 N. Hamlin Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 463-6898
Mr. Goro Oki
International Buddhism Friendship
Association
Chicago, IL 60616
(773) 881-0177
(773) 881-0177
www.freewebs.com/ibfa
[email protected]
Ven. Ji Ru, Chairman
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To spread the
dharma to the west, spread to the Caucasians the teachings of the Buddha.
Celebrations/Festivals; Ethnic Language
Instruction; Meditation
Ismaili Community Center
100 Shermer Rd.
Glenview, IL 60025
(773) 262-1818
(847) 729-1818
[email protected]
Mr. Nigar Giwani, Member for Communication and Publication
Year Founded: 1987
Programs & Services: Services in Arabic
and Urdu
Korean Central Covenant Church
950 Northbrook Ave.
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-9522
(847) 272-0799
www.covchurch.org
Mr. Young Jae Lee, Pastor
Year Founded: 1885
Mission Statement: To cultivate communities of worship committed to:
prayer, preaching, and study of the
word; the celebration of the sacraments;
and fellowship across gender, race, age,
culture, and class.
Community Served: multiethnic denomination
Programs
50 King Arthur Ct.
Elgin, IL 60120
(847) 741-2535
(847) 741-2908
Ven. Phimpha Inthavong
Ling Shen Ching Tze Temple
1035 W. 31st St.
Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 927-8807
(773) 927-0134
www.tbsn.org
[email protected]
Mr. Kevin Wang
435 W. Menomonee St.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 943-7801
(312) 943-8069
www.midwestbuddhisttemple.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1944
Programs & Services: Sunday Services
Nehemiah Medical and Charitable
Mission
3100 W. Wilson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 213-6613
www.nnmcm.com
[email protected]
Mr. Christian Van, President
Mission Statement: To work with any
district hospitals in free clinics through
local believers and churches, who play
the role of moderators between NMCM
and local governments; to provide
medical equipment, medication, and
supplies needed for the health care of
local people.
North Shore Baptist Church
5244 N. Lakewood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 728-4200
(773) 728-1582
www.northshorebaptist.org
[email protected]
Rev. Douglas Harris, Pastor
Northern Illinois Conference of The
United Methodist Church
Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 346-9766
(312) 346-9730
www.umcnic.org
Rev. Hee-soo Jung, Bishop
Community Served: United Methodist
Presbytery of Chicago
100 S. Morgan St.
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 243-8300
(312) 243-8409
www.chicagopresbytery.org
[email protected]
Rev. Robert Reynolds, Executive
Prebyster
Year Founded: 1942
Mission Statement: To serve God and
community through worship.
Programs & Services: Sunday School;
Service; Special Nisei Groups; Fellowships
Sikh Religious Society of Chicago
1280 Winnetka St.
Palatine, IL 60067
(847) 358-1117
(847) 358-1701
www.srschicago.com
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1972
Community Served: Sikh
Sri Venkateswara Swami (Balaji)
Temple
1145 W. Sullivan Rd.
Aurora, IL 60506
(630) 844-2252
(630) 844-2254
balaji.org
[email protected]
Year Founded: 1986
Programs & Services: Service
St. Henry Parish
6335 N. Hoyne Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 764-7413
(773) 764-5994
www.ololchicago.parishesonline.com
/scripts/HostedSites/org.asp?p=1&ID=
5245
[email protected]
Rev. Vin V. Ha, Pastor
Year Founded: 1851
St. Thomas de Canterbury
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-5507
www.stcuptown.com
Fr. Daniel Costello, Pastor
Community Served: Catholic
3846 N. Nordica Ave.
Chicago, IL 60634
(708) 485-5832
Yoshio Yamashita
1151 W. Leland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-4661
(773) 334-4726
www.budtempchi.org
[email protected]
Rev. Yukei Ashikaga, Pastor
Year Founded: 1944
Greater Chicago
Chicago, IL 60604
(708) 599-3200
www.ciogc.org
Hindu Temple of Greater
Chicago (HTGC)
10915 Lemont Rd.
Lemont, IL 60439
(630) 972-0300
(630) 972-9111
htgc.org
Mr. L. Bhima Reddy, President
Year Founded: 1977
Mission Statement: To establish and
maintain Hindu Temples build and serviced in the traditional Hindu style; to
promote Hindu Dharma (religion and
traditions) and culture; to promote interreligious, social, and cultural understanding; to support humanitarian causes.
Tian Long Temple
106 W. Cermak Rd.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-2398
Vietnamese Methodist Church
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 561-6422
Vinh Van
Community Served: Methodist
Wat Dhammaram and Vipassana
Meditation Center - The Thai Buddhist Temple of Chicago
7059 W. 75th St.
Chicago, IL 60638
(708) 594-8100
(708) 594-8114
www.buddhapia.com/hmu/bcm/directory/temples/watdhamm.html
[email protected]
Ven. Phra Thepprasitdhimont, President
Year Founded: 1974
135
Wat Khmer Metta
4716 N. Winthrop Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 989-0969
(773)-345-8365
www.kbsmetta.com
[email protected]
Mr. Sakun Mam, President
4735 N. Magnolia Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 784-0257
(773) 784-0235
www.watphrasrichicago.org/index.asp
[email protected]
Mr. Venerable Ratana Thongkrajai,
President
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To propagate and
promote the teachings of the Buddha.
To fulfill the spiritual needs of the Buddhists and other groups of people.
To assist and promote educational and
cultural activities in Thai, Laotian and
Cambodian communities in Chicago
and surrounding areas.
Programs & Services: A number of annual festival and ceremonies are held
and celebrated regularly on a much
larger scale for Buddhist holidays and
other traditional holidays.
RESEARCH
Center for East Asian Studies University of Chicago
5835 S. Kimbark Ave.,
Judd Hall 302
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-8647
(773) 702-8260
ceas.uchicago.edu
[email protected]
Mr. Theodore N. Foss, Associate Director
Year Founded: 1965
Mission Statement: To enhance
opportunities available to scholars
both in the United States and abroad,
and to foster communication and
inter-disciplinary collaboration among
the community of professors and
students at the University of Chicago
and throughout the wider East.
136
Community Served: Chinese, Japanese
& Korean
Programs & Services: Arts; Research
South Asian American Policy
Research Institute
c/o Asian American Institute
4753 N. Broadway St. 502
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 743-1109
(773) 271-0899
www.saapri.org
[email protected]
Ms. Ann Kalayil, Director
Year Founded: 2002
Mission Statement: To facilitate,
through the use of cutting edge research, the formulation of equitable
and socially responsible public policy
affecting South Asian Americans.
Programs & Services: Research
SOCIAL
SERVICE
Apna Ghar, Inc. (Our Home)
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 334-0173
(773) 334-0963
www.apnaghar.org
[email protected]
Ms. Rambha Radhakrishnan, Director
Year Founded: 1990
Mission Statement: To provide multicultural, multilingual, comprehensive
services including shelter to South Asian
women and children seeking lives free
from violence.
Programs & Services: Domestic Violence counseling/shelter
Arvey Clinic - Weiss Health Center
4646 N. Marine Dr.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 564-7400
(773) 564-7846
www.weisshospital.com/medical-services/clinical-programs/internal-medicine/
arvey-clinic.aspx
Choulie Hok, Office Manager
Asian Human Services
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 728-2235
(773) 728-4751
www.asianhumanservices.org
[email protected]
Mr. John Lee, President
Year Founded: 1978
Mission Statement: To provide quality
and compassionate human services
to Asian American commuinty in
metropolitan Chicago.
Programs & Services: Advocacy,
Case Management, ESL, Employment
counseling/placement, Health Care
Services, Health Education, Immigration/Citizenship assistance, Interpretation/Translation services, Legal
Assistance, Newsletter, Mental Health
Services, Social/Recreational
Asian Youth Services
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 517-8525
www.asianyouthservices.org
[email protected]
Ms. Shari Fenton, Executive Director
Mission Statement: AYS serves as a
concerned and supportive parent. We
care for the youths unconditionally and
act as a protection to prevent them
from engaging in gang activeity. These
children desperately need guidance
and protection, and AYS attempts to
provide this.
Bangladesh Association of Chicagoland
P.O. Box 59849
Chicago, IL 60659
(815) 919-4947
(773) 588-8220
www.bacillinois.org
[email protected]
Ms. Sabina Ahmed, Member-at-Large
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To help the Bangladesh community in providing programs
socially and culturally for the community.
Community Served: Bangladeshi
Programs & Services: Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Immigration/Citizenship
Assistance; Senior & Youth Programs
Cambodian Association of Illinois
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 878-7090
(773) 878-5299
www.cambodian-association.org
[email protected]
Ms. Dary Mien, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1975
Mission Statement: To enable refugees
and immigrants from Cambodia residing in Illinois, especially in the Chicago
metropolitan area, to become self-sufficient, productive citizens, while preserving cultural identity.
Community Served: Combodian
Performances; ESL; Employment Counseling/Placement; Health Care Services;
Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Senior & Youth Programs; Social/Recreational Programs; Training/Education
Center for Seniors
5320 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 478-1245
(773) 478-4070
[email protected]
Ms. Jae Kwan Ha, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1995
Programs & Services: Senior Citizen
Programs
Chinese American Civic Council
(CACC)
P.O. Box 166082
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-0234
(312) 842-6368
Ms. Helen Moy, President
Year Founded: 1951
Programs & Services: Cultural Performances & Celebrations; Employment
Counseling/Placement; Professional Development; Training/Education; Health
Care Services & Education; Translation
Services; Senior and Youth Programs;
Chinese American Service League
2141 S. Tan Ct.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 791-0418
(312) 791-0509
www.caslservice.org
Ms. Esther Wong, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1978
Mission Statement: To strengthen the
physical, economic, and mental health of
all ages and backgrounds of the Chinese
community in the greater Chicago area
Case Management; ESL & Ethnic
Language Instruction; Employment
counseling/placement; Health Education; Immigration/Citizenship and
Legal assistance; Interpretation/Translation services; Senior Citizen; Social/
Recreational, & Youth programs
Chinese Consolidated Benevolent
Association of Chicago (Chinese
Community Center)
250 W. 22nd Pl.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-6198
(312) 225-1155
www.ccbachicago.org
[email protected]
Mr. Philip Ou, President
Year Founded: 1904
Mission Statement: To unite overseas
Chinese, promote their welfare, enhance the Sino-American friendship,
promulgate Chinese heritages, and conduct community services and charity
events for the public interests.
Comprehensive Korean Self-Help
Community Center
4934 N. Pulaski Rd.
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 545-8349
(773) 545-0054
Ms. Helen Um, Director
Year Founded: 1980s
Case Management; DV Counseling;
Employment Counseling; ESL; Ethnic Language Instruction; Health Care Services;
Legal Assistance; Mental Health Services;
Food Services; Training/Education
Culture Center of Taipei Economic
and Cultural Office in Chicago
750 Pasquinelli Dr., Suite 212
Westmont, IL 60559
(630) 323-2440
(630) 323-8147
www.ocac.gov.tw/chicago
[email protected]
Ms. Forrest Chen, Director
Year Founded: 1960
Mission Statement: To provide
diversified services, including liaison
services aimed at overseas Chinese and
their organizations, overseas cultural and
educational work, assistance to overseas
businesses, correspondence education,
and overseas news broadcasting and
information.
Filipino American Center for Seniors
300 N. State St., #5135
Chicago, IL 60601
(773) 262-9911
(773) 262-9931
[email protected]
Ms. Carmen Estacio
Filipino American Council of Chicago
1332 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 281-1210
(773) 281-9586
www.faccrizalcenter.org
[email protected]
Ms. Herminio Poblete, President
Programs & Services: Immigration/
Citizenship Assistance; Legal Assistance;
Training/Education; Advocacy; Senior
& youth Programs; Social/Recreational
Programs; Business Development; Food
Pantry/Meal Service; Cultural Performances & Celebrations; Arts
Filipino American Social Services and
Human Resources Center
1511 W Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 296-4532
(773) 728-0413
Mr. Danny Norta, Office Manager
Programs & Services: Immigrant Service; Case Management; Domestic Violence; Emergency Food/Shelter Referrals; Advocacy; Employment Referrals;
Senior & Youth Programs; Food Pantry/
Meal Service; Health Care Services/Education; Mental Health Services; Professional Development
137
Friends of Humanity
Chicago, IL
(773) 592-1534
thestrandedpakistanis.com
[email protected]
Mr. Syed Wahaj Ahmed, President
Year Founded: 2006
Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services
1542 W. Devon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 465-4600
(773) 465-4666
www.hamdardcenter.org
[email protected]
Ms. Kiran Sidaqui
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To promote physical and emotional health and psychological well-being of individuals and
families by offering hope, help, and
healing.
Management, DV Counseling/Shelter,
ESL, Employment, Health Care, Immigration/Citizenship and Legal Assistance, Mental Health, Senior Citizen,
and Youth Programs, Batterer Education, Transitional Housing
Homeland Center
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 506-9570
(773) 784-9338
Mr. Paul Dinh Nguyen
Year Founded: 1993
Senior Programs; Social/Recreational Programs; Advocacy; Cultural Celebrations
Illinois Veterans Equity Center
Chicago, IL
(847) 568-9338
icirr.org/en/node/1702
[email protected]
Mr. Jerry Clarito
Indo-American Center
Chicago, IL 60659
138
(773) 973-4444
(773) 973-0157
www.indoamerican.org
[email protected]
Mr. Jay Luthra, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1990
well-being of Indo-Americans through
services that facilitate their adjustment,
integration and friendship with the wider society, nurture their sense of community, and foster appreciation for their
heritage and culture.
Programs & Services: Case Management; Cultural performances; ESL;
Employment counseling/placement;
Health Education; Immigration/Citizenship assistance; Translation Services;
Legal Assistance; Senior Citizen Programs; Youth Programs; Voter Education & Registration
Japanese American Service Committee (JASC)
4427 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 275-0097
(773) 275-0958
[email protected]
Ms. Susan Tybon, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1946
Programs & Services: Arts; Case
Management; Cultural Performances;
Cultural Celebrations/Festivals; Ethnic
Language Instruction; Health Education;
Citizen Programs; Youth Programs
Japanese Mutual Aid Society of
Chicago
2249 W. Berwyn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 907-3002
Fax: (773) 907-3008
[email protected]
Ms. Karen Kanemoto, Executive Secretary
Year Founded: 1946
Programs & Services: Cemetery Assistance and Japanese American Community Memorial Day Service
Korean American Association of
Chicago
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 878-1900
(773) 878-9075
www.koreachicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Gil Y. Kim, Vice President
Year Founded: 1962
Korean American
Community Services
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 583-5501
(773) 583-7009
www.kacschgo.org
[email protected]
Ms. Inchui Choi, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1972
Mission Statement: To celebrate Korean
ethnicity and empower all members of
the community by providing educational, legal, health and social services
Management; DV Counseling/Shelter;
ESL; Employment Counseling/Placement; Food Pantry/Meal Service; Health
Education; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Translation Services; Research;
Senior Citizen & Youth Programs; Training/Education
Korean American Senior Center
5008 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 878-7272
(773) 878-4461
www.chikasc.org
[email protected]
Mr. Paul Seog Yun, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1980s
Community Served: Korean American
Korean American Seniors
Association of Chicago
Chicago, IL 60630
(773) 685-5551
(773) 685-5553
Mr. Buhan Kim
Korean American Women In Need
(KAN-WIN)
P.O. Box 59133
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 583-1392
(773) 583-2454
www.kanwin.org
[email protected]
Ms. Youngju Ji, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1991
Mission Statement: Provide comprehensive direct services to victims and survivors
of domestic violence and their children;
empower women to make informed
decisions about ending violence in their
lives; educate and outreach into the community towards violence prevention.
Lao American Community Services
4750 N. Sheridan Rd., Suite 369
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-0004
(773) 271-1682
www.lacschicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Thavone Nyatso, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1984
Mission Statement: To assist refugees
and immigrants from Laos residing in
Illinois to become self-sufficient, productive participants in American society
while preserving and enhancing their
cultural heritage, identity, and sense of
belonging to a community.
Community Served: Lao Amercian
Programs & Services: DV Counseling/
Shelter; ESL; Immigration/Citizenship
assistance; Translation services; Youth
Programs
Lutheran General Children’s Day
Care
9375 W. Church St.
(847) 824-5180
[email protected]
Mr. Jerry Clarito, Supervisor, Systems
and Finance
Metropolitan Asian Family Services
(MAFS)
Chicago, IL 60645
(773) 465-3105
(773) 465-0158
www.mafsinc.com
[email protected]
Ms. Santosh Kumar, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To provide health
& human Services to South East Asian.
Programs & Services: Advocacy; ESL;
Employment Counseling/Training; Food
pantry/Meal service; Health Education;
assistance;
Translation services; Legal Assistance;
Professional Development; Research;
Senior Citizen, Youth & Social Programs
Midwest Asian American Center
2534 W. Devon Ave., 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60659
(773) 262-8650
(773) 252-8651
maacedu.org
[email protected]
Ms. Vandana Dalal, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1998
Mission Statement: To improve intergenerational, intercultural understanding among Chicago area residents
through programs to promote education, health, and recreation (Mind,
Body, Community).
Programs & Services: ESL; Employment Counseling/Placement; Health
Education; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Interpretation/Translation Services; Senior Citizen & Youth Programs;
Social/Recreational Programs; Training/
Education
National Asian Pacific Council on Aging (NAPCA)
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 913-0979
(312) 913-0982
www.napca.org
[email protected]
Ms. Mei Syun Lin, Project Director, Region 5
Year Founded: 1995
Mission Statement: To serve as the nation’s leading advocacy organization
committed to the dignity, well-being,
and quality of life of Asian American
and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in their
senior years.
Pacific Islander
Programs & Services: Employment
Counseling/Placement; Senior Programs; Senior Environmental Employment Program
Nghia Sinh International, Inc.
Chicago, IL 60647
(312) 235-9838
(312) 394-9548
nghiasinh.org
Ms. Hieu Trung Nguyen, President
Year Founded: 1970s
Programs & Services: Immigrant & Refugee Services; Education; Interpretation;
Employment Placement
Pui Tak Center
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 328-1188
(312) 328-7452
www.puitak.org
[email protected]
Mr. David Wu, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1994
Mission Statement: To provide a Christian witness to Chinese in Chicago
through education, family, and community services.
Programs & Services: ESL; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Senior &
Youth Programs; Social/Recreational
Programs; Preschool; Early Elementary
School; Computer Training
South Asian Family Services
1329 W. Loyola Ave., Suite G1
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 761-5119
[email protected]
Mr. J.B. Singha, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1991
Programs & Services: ESL; Employment
Counseling/Placement;
Immigration/
Citizenship Assistance; Social/Recreational Programs; Youth Programs
South-East Asia Center
1134 W. Ainslie St.
Chicago, Il 60640
(773) 989-7433
(888) 831-5471
www.se-asiacenter.org
139
South-East Asia Center (continued)
[email protected]
Mr. Peter Porr, Executive Director
Year Founded: 1982
Mission Statement: To build bridges
of understanding and cooperation between peoples of Old and New World
cultures.
Teo Chew Association
1022 W. Argyle St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-5535
Sing Lee
Year Founded: 2005
Community Served: Southeastern Asian
Thai Association of Illinois
2850 Dunstan Ln.
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
(847) 403-3016
(847) 478-0592
www.thaiassociationofillinois.com
[email protected]
Poxie Xumsai, President
Year Founded: 1973
Programs & Services: Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Health Care Services
& Education; Advocacy; Cultural Performances/Celebrations
Tibetan Alliance of Chicago
2422 Dempster St.
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 773-1111
[email protected]
Mr. Lobsang Wangdak, President
Year Founded: 1992
Mission Statement: To empower Chicago’s Tibetan community and foster its
further development, by providing services to enable the community and each
Tibetan to meet their needs and achieve
their economic, social, cultural, and political goals.
Uptown Community Health Center
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-8098
(773) 878-1954
www.nearnorthhealth.org/sites/uptown
.htm
140
[email protected]
Young Cheon-Klessig, RNC, ENP
Year Founded: 1970
health and well-being of the people and
community it serves; to operate programs and services using community
primary care concepts, emphasizing
prevention of illness and the promotion
of healthy lifestyles.
Vietnamese Association of Illinois
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 728-3700
(773) 728-0497
www.hnvi.org
[email protected]
Mr. Howard Vu, President
Year Founded: 1976
Mission Statement: To foster and
strengthen the development of various
Vietnamese American organizations in Illinois, to promote, support, and develop
various cultural, social, and educational
programs to serve Vietnamese Americans and other ethnic communities.
Programs & Services: Advocacy; Business Development; Case Management;
Cultural Performances; ESL; Employment Counseling/Placement; Health
Care Services & Education; Immigration/Citizenship Assistance; Translation
Services; Senior & Youth Programs; Social/Recreational Programs
Xilin Asian Community Center
1163 E. Ogden Ave., Suite 301
(630) 355–4322
(630) 355-4326
www.Xilin.org
[email protected]
Ms. Linda Yang, Director
Year Founded: 1994
Mission Statement: Provide an innovative education system for children’s
academic development which combines
Eastern and Western philosophies; promote and improve the healthy transition
of Asian immigrants into the American
society; provide Asian culture, language
and art programs.
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 372-6600
(312) 372-4673
www.ywcachicago.org
[email protected]
Ms. Christine Bork, C.E.O.
Year Founded: 1876
Mission Statement: To eliminate racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity
for all.
STUDENT
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 413-9569
(312) 413-9732
html
[email protected]
Year Founded: 2001
Mission Statement: The Asian American
Resource and Cultural Center officially
opened in spring of 2005 as a result of
student efforts to ensure that UIC support
the needs of Asian Americans. 20% of the
total UIC student body and 13% of faculty and staff are Asian American.
Asian American Students in Alliance
- UIC
750 S. Halsted St., SCE 380C
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-2321
uicaasia.org
[email protected]
Ms. Alyson Kung, President
Year Founded: 1987
Mission Statement: To increase Asian
American awareness and address issues
Asian American Students in Alliance
- UIC (continued)
surrounding the Asian American community through our cultural workshops,
events, performances, services, and social gatherings.
Asian/Asian American Student
Services (A/AASA) - Northwestern
University
Multicultural Center, 1936 Sheridan Rd.
Evanston, IL 60208
(847) 467-7583
(847) 491-3128
w w w. n o r t h w e s t e r n . e d u / m s a /
departments/a-aasa.html
[email protected]
Mr. Louie Lainez, Director
Year Founded: 2001
Mission Statement: To provide
guidance, support, and empowerment
for students, primarily those of Asian
descent.
Council of Pan-Asian Americans Loyola University
6525 N. Sheridan Rd., #21
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 508-8840
(773) 508-3895
copaaluc.blogspot.com
[email protected]
Mr. Garin Vann, Director
Year Founded: 1870
Mission Statement: To seek the further
University recognition of the needs of
the Asian/Asian American population,
to raise campus-wide awareness of the
current issues facing the Asian/Asian
American community, and to unify the
Loyola Asian/Asian American population within.
141
4753 N Broadway St., Ste. 502
Chicago, IL 60640
T (773) 271-0899
F (773) 271-1982
www.aaichicago.org

Asian American Compass - Asian Americans Advancing Justice

Transcription

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