5 Things We’re Learning About AAPI Communities in New York City
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Today, The Asian American Foundation is unveiling the State of AAPIs, a new research series focused on the lived experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country. The State of AAPIs New York City report takes an in-depth look at how AAPIs are doing across the five boroughs.
Home to nearly 1.4 million AAPIs, New York City has long been a historic hub for our communities. AAPIs are the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the city, and that’s why it’s critical that we gain a better understanding of the needs, challenges, and opportunities for AAPI New Yorkers. State of AAPIs: New York City is the first in a series of city reports that offers a granular look at how AAPIs are doing in key metropolitan areas across the United States. This report is the critical first step of our TAAF impact model: researching the needs of AAPI communities, bringing together cross-sector leaders to shape solutions, piloting the most promising ones locally, and scaling what works nationally.
We surveyed 1,400 AAPI New Yorkers to examine their current realities concerning safety, belonging, and prosperity. The results tell a story of a city that holds promise for AAPIs, but where challenges like affordability, uneven access to city services, and negative experiences based on race or ethnicity pose limitations. Here are a few things we learned:
1. More than 1 in 3 AAPIs (37%) experienced race- or ethnicity-based mistreatment in the past year, while 4 in 10 (43%) reported changing their behavior due to their race/ethnicity, immigration status, or their appearance.
2. 58% of AAPIs reported being stereotyped or misunderstood because of their race or culture and 36% said they felt unwelcome at least some of the time in public spaces for the same reason.
3. More than 1 in 4 AAPIs said they faced immigration, language, and civic access challenges including access to voting (27%), accessing immigration services (28%), and everyday communication due to language barriers (29%) in the past year.
4. 67% of AAPIs see NYC as a city of opportunity, but 55% say they have considered leaving NYC at least sometimes as the cost of living rises.
5. More than half (59%) of respondents struggled to save toward a financial future, and 50% worried about affording essentials like food, housing, and utilities in the past year.
These are just a few of the findings from the State of AAPIs: New York City, and we’re excited for you to explore the data. Read our full report here.
If you’re a journalist interested in covering the findings, please reach us at press@taaf.org.
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