Engaging NC’s Asian American Community to Build a Better State
North Carolina Asian Americans Together
North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT), a Raleigh-based nonprofit, was founded in 2016 with a clear mission: to address the stark lack of political engagement with the rapidly growing Asian American community in North Carolina.
This mission was born out of a shocking poll finding. In 2016, 80% of Asian American voters had never been contacted by a political party or candidate. No mailers, no calls, no events, no emails.
Fast forward to 2022. NCAAT had spent six years working to organize and empower Asian Americans statewide, and they decided to reassess. Had political engagement with the burgeoning Asian American community improved since NCAAT was founded?
NCAAT’s 2022 poll found that 61% of Asian Americans, who make up 4% of NC’s population and are the fastest-growing demographic in the state, had still never been contacted by a political party or candidate.
There had been improvement, but there was still a long way to go.
High school students at NCAAT’s Youth Leadership Institute participate in a food justice and sustainability workshop. Photo courtesy of NCAAT
Participants at NCAAT’s inaugural Adult Leadership Seminar discuss issues that affect Asian American communities in NC. Photo courtesy of NCAAT
Community members celebrate the conclusion of Asian American Advocacy Day. Photo courtesy of NCAAT
Civic education for a diverse community
A strong and vibrant democracy depends on the active engagement of its people. And for people to engage, they must be informed and empowered to participate.
NCAAT is dedicated to just that: educating Asian Americans in North Carolina on issues and policies; making sure information is accessible; and ensuring Asian Americans have opportunities to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.
After their 2022 survey confirmed that many Asian Americans weren’t getting the information they needed to engage in the political process, NCAAT continued their efforts to take voter education into their own hands. They issued multilingual mailers with nonpartisan information about issues and policies to every single Asian American household of voters in the state.
NC’s Asian American community represents more than 20 ethnicities and 40 languages, and 59% speak a language other than English at home. So, NCAAT translated mailers into multiple languages to ensure recipients could fully access the information.
According to Jimmy Patel-Nguyen, NCAAT’s communications director, the multilingual mailers held significance beyond voter education.
“People felt represented,” Jimmy says. “Even for those who didn’t need the language translation, they felt seen and validated as an important part of their community.”
“People felt represented. They felt seen and validated as an important part of their community.”
— Jimmy Patel-Nguyen, North Carolina Asian Americans Together
From information to action
Information is important, but NCAAT doesn’t stop there. Another critical part of their work is empowering Asian Americans to make their voices heard among their elected representatives.
Every year, for example, NCAAT hosts Asian American Advocacy Day, which brings dozens of people from NC’s Asian American community to Raleigh. They meet with legislators, including Asian American representatives, to share their personal stories, discuss pressing issues and learn how they can work together to advocate for their communities.
These activities are important for individual participants, but they also push our government to fulfill its purpose of representing and serving the people of North Carolina.
Toward a better North Carolina
According to research, states with higher civic participation see a range of benefits. They experience less crime and tend to have better health outcomes, including lower rates of disease and mental health problems. In fact, the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recognize voting as a social determinant of health.
Beyond health and safety, states with active civic engagement are often more economically prosperous, have healthier and better-educated children and are generally better governed.
In short, when people get involved, their communities thrive across multiple areas, from public health to governance. That’s why NCAAT’s work is so important: it strengthens the Asian American community but also contributes to a stronger North Carolina that benefits all of us.
As NC’s Asian American community continues to grow, perhaps NCAAT’s next poll will show increased efforts by political leaders and parties to engage them.
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