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South Asian Summit 2007 Report
March 16-18 Washington, DC

Over 150 individuals from nearly 40 organizations working with underserved South Asian community members gathered in Washington D.C. between March 16th and 18th for a landmark national summit, cosponsored by SAALT and the South Asian Law Students Association at American University, Washington College of Law. The Summit provided a unique opportunity for local organizations, advocates, and community members to come together at the national level and articulate progressive policy priorities, access peer learning opportunities, and build coalitions.

"…Three meaningful days that truly transformed the way I look at my
work and the issues we as South Asians face in our lives."
- Meena Hewett
Saheli (Boston)

The Summit marked the first time that many of the community-based groups met with national policymakers or with others involved in similar work throughout the country. The weekend of events opened with a congressional staff briefing at the Capitol, during which Representative Mike Honda, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, emphasized the importance of South Asian involvement and visibility in influencing decision-makers at the national level. Prominent South Asian leaders from across the country amplified this message by highlighting emerging issues in their local communities. The briefing was followed by roundtables with community members and government agency representatives from the Office of Minority Health, the Office of Violence Against Women, the Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and others.

"It was really great to meet on the Hill and realize that
there is a space for us to share our needs and demands,"
-Padma Rangaswamy
South Asian Policy and Research Institute (Chicago)

"Our group talks to people locally about what's going on,
but it was helpful to hear the work that is going on at
the national level from a civil rights standpoint,"
- Anirvan Chatterjee
Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA) (San Francisco)

Not only did the Summit provide a way for advocates from Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco to connect and address policymakers, it also created a dynamic opportunity for organizational development and peer learning. The Summit offered a range of resources, including workshops, an action center, keynote speakers, networking, and skills building,

Workshops at the Summit offered participants tools relevant to their work, while engaging them in conversations about taking that work to a national level. Topics included building broader coalitions, engaging in legislative advocacy, and using participatory research in organizing work, as well as substantive discussions around civil rights, the criminalization of immigrants, and access to basic social services and benefits.

"[The summit] was not only educational, but also stimulating and inspiring.
I met so many amazing people that I came away with a deep sense of wonder
at the skill, knowledge, strength, resilience and resourcefulness of the men
and especially the women attending the summit."
- Rehmah Sufi
Apna Ghar (Chicago)

Rinku Sen, publisher of ColorLines Magazine and Director of the Applied Research Center, who addressed conference attendees at a reception, encouraged advocates to build partnerships with other progressive and ethnic groups.

Finally, the Summit armed participants with tools, action steps, strategies, and a renewed drive. Before leaving the conference, participants met with others from their cities in regional caucuses and discussed ways to continue the momentum of the Summit in their respective communities. SAALT plans to work in collaboration with local organizations to ensure that the issues affecting underserved community members are being voiced at the national level.

"I had a great time and found it very productive - from both a substantive,
learn-something-from-the-panel viewpoint, as well as from the opportunity to network…"
- Farhana Khera
Muslim Advocates (Bay Area)

"It is important for the South Asian community to organize ourselves
so that we can fight for immigration reform, or other issues, together.
It has to be all of us together, and not just one organization."
- Nahar Alam
Andolan (New York)