In partnership with the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI), the Asian Pacific American Legal Center announces the release of a new report examining whether providers of disaster preparedness and response services in Southern California are prepared to effectively aid the region’s large Asian American and Latino immigrant communities in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Prepared with assistance from the Asian American Justice Center, Disaster Preparedness in Urban Immigrant Communities finds that immigrant and limited English proficient populations have not been fully incorporated into disaster preparedness educational efforts and emergency response plans.

In advance of the June 2008 Statewide Primary Election, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) announce the release of a new report on Asian American voters in Orange County. Asian Americans at the Ballot Box: The 2006 General Election in Orange County provides the latest data on Asian American voter registration and turnout countywide, including information on Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, South Asian, and Vietnamese American voters.

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center announces the release of a new report, L.A. Speaks: Language Diversity and English Proficiency by Los Angeles County Service Planning Area. A companion to its previously released statewide report, California Speaks, L.A. Speaks provides detailed information on language, limited English proficiency, and related characteristics for 20 racial and ethnic groups in Los Angeles County and each of eight Service Planning Areas (SPAs). The report helps local policy makers better understand and respond to the language barriers faced by millions countywide.

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center announces the release its latest report, Asian Americans at the Ballot Box: The 2006 General Election in Los Angeles County. Based on an analysis of the Los Angeles County Registrar of Voters’ countywide Voter File and a multilingual exit poll of nearly 2,200 voters conducted during the 2006 General Election in randomly selected precincts, the report provides a comprehensive look at Asian American participation in last year’s gubernatorial election, including information on Asian American voter registration and turnout, support for candidates and ballot measures, views on immigration reform, and use of bilingual voter assistance.

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center announces the release of Asian Americans at the Ballot Box, a new report on Asian American political participation in Southern California. Based on data from the 2004 General Election, the report provides the latest information on Asian American voters in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, including their number, turnout rates, voting preferences, and need for language assistance.

Additional reports are available in publications.

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) is proud to announce the release of a new study, “California Speaks: Language Diversity and English Proficiency by Legislative District.” The report provides detailed information on language, limited English proficiency, and related characteristics for 20 racial and ethnic groups in every State Assembly, State Senate, and Congressional District in California. “California Speaks” helps policy makers understand how language barriers affect their constituents and aids in developing effective policy solutions.

Additional reports are available in publications.

Asian and Pacific Islander communities are among the fastest growing and most diverse in the United States. The ability to better understand and articulate their complex needs leads to new and improved programs, more effective advocacy, and better lives for Asians and Pacific Islanders.

But information on Asians and Pacific Islanders can be difficult to access and interpret. APALC’s Demographic Profiles compile data on API population, income, poverty, language, and other characteristics, presenting them in a clear, concise manner accessible to community organizations, government agencies, and elected officials.