From now until Dec 31, SEARAC invites our community members, partner organizations, funders, and allies to support SEARAC during our annual fundraiser. We have an ambitious goal of raising $30,000 to support SEARAC's groundbreaking policy advocacy and leadership development. As we reflect on 2023, we are so proud of the work that we've done to uplift the education, health, and immigration needs of Southeast Asian Americans. Support SEARAC with a gift that will impact our communities for generations to come.

During this season of giving, SEARAC staff and community came together to share the meaningful work taking place at SEARAC and the impact of your donation. Check out their blog posts below.

Jenna reflects on this season of giving thanks

In this month’s staff blog, our Director of Development reflects on the importance of giving back during this season of giving thanks. “Nonprofit organizations like ours receive as much as 50% of our donations for the entire year during the months of November and December, according to Donorbox. From now until the end of the year, our team (and our extended SEARAC family, like former interns and alumni of our Leadership and Advocacy Training Program) will be hard at work fundraising for SEARAC’s groundbreaking work to build Southeast Asian American power.” Click here to read Jenna’s blog!

We were thrilled to gather with fellow members of the Data Disaggregation Action Network (D-DAN), convened by the Leadership Conference Education Fund, in Washington, DC. We shared our work in California passing – and now implementing – AB 1726 which requires the state to release public health data broken down by additional Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander subgroups, whose unique needs are often obscured inside the broad “AANHPI” category. With our D-DAN partners, we continue to advance disaggregated race/ethnicity data as a tool to uplift the health disparities our communities face and achieve equitable health outcomes for all. 

The 2024 Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare marketplace open enrollment period is here. SEARAC encourages uninsured individuals and those seeking to renew or change their healthcare coverage to enroll as soon as you are able. ACA enrollment ends on Sunday, Jan 15; individuals and families that enroll by Dec 15 can expect their coverage to start on Jan 1. For California residents, Covered California open enrollment runs from Nov 1 to Jan 31. You can learn more here.

Starting January 2024, full Medi-Cal will be available to all eligible Californians, regardless of age o immigration status. SEARAC is proud to be part of the #Health4All coalition, which has delivered historic victories to expand health coverage for our immigrant communities. Get your community covered using this toolkit in Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian, Mien, and Vietnamese. You can also help current Medi-Cal members renew their coverage with materials here. 

This past month, SEARAC collaborated with the USAging’s Aging And Disability Vaccination Collaborative (ADVC) to partner with four SEAA organizations – Iu Mien Community Services, Vietnamese American Roundtable, The Cambodian Family, and The Fresno Center – to execute COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics across California.

The USAging’s ADVC distributes funding to organizations across the aging and disability networks to support an array of vaccination education and promotion activities, including community vaccine clinics, in-home vaccinations, transportation to vaccination sites, and outreach and education for older adults and people with disabilities. Over 100 community members from the SEAA aging and disabled population have already been vaccinated across California. Click here for more information on upcoming dates for vaccination clinics.

Vaccine clinic hosted by Iu Mien Community Services

SEARAC’s annual end-of-year merchandise fundraiser is live, and we are thrilled to introduce a new, limited edition “Made by Immigrants” and “Made by Refugees” illustration from SEARAC’s 2023 artist-in-residence, Natalie Bui. In addition to our t-shirts and tote bags, we have new items available this year: hooded sweatshirts and infant onesies to keep your whole family cozy! Shop all items here for a limited time.

Calling all students! The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) is now accepting applications for their 2024 summer and fall internship cycles. Learn how to apply and get tips from current and former interns here. For questions, reach out to whiaanhpi.interns@hhs.gov.