Reports/Publications
SAALT has developed the following reports, factsheets, and publications. All are available for download free of charge, or contact SAALT at saalt@saalt.org for hard copies.
A National Action Agenda: Policy Recommendations to Empower South Asian Communities in the United States (2008)
This report sets forth issues affecting the South Asian community and provides recommendations for policymakers, community-based organizations, stakeholders, allies, media, and the general public. A National Action Agenda is a product of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO), a network of groups around the country that provide services to, organize, and advocate on behalf of South Asian communities, and individual experts and advocates in various fields. A National Action Agenda includes the following components with detailed recommendations: Civic and Political Participation, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Data Collection, Economic Justice, Gender Equity, Health Care, Immigrant Rights, LGBTIQ Rights, and Youth Empowerment.
Building Community Strength

This report provides critical insights into the needs and opportunities faced by organizations serving, advocating for, and organizing South Asians in America. Building Community Strength synthesizes the results of a needs assessment and interviews with 31 community-based organizations serving South Asians around the country, while highlighting best practices and recommendations for stakeholders to better assist South Asian organizations - and by extension - South Asian community members. The report, made possible through support from the Citi Foundation, includes examples of best practices used by South Asian groups, and recommendations to guide further research and action. We hope that organizations, community members, grantmakers, and stakeholders will use the report as a tool and resource to increase awareness of the South Asian community; to garner additional resources; and to access policymakers.
"What You Need to Know to Become a U.S. Citizen: A Guide for South Asians
(April 2008) (English; Bangla; Hindi; Gujarati;)
Check out this new informational guide on citizenship for the South Asian community which will assist immigrants in understanding the changes and requirements of the naturalization process. This guide provides answers to frequently asked questions about how the naturalization process works; obstacles faced by South Asian applicants; the content of the new naturalization exam to be implemented in October 2008; and information to assist elderly immigrants seeking naturalization.
Developed through the generous support of the Murthy Law Firm, this brochure is the first in a series of immigration-related resources that SAALT will be producing this year.
American Backlash: Terrorists Bring War Home in More Ways Than
One
The purpose of this report is to document an ugly, but nonetheless, important section of American history. News accounts of the tragedy are justifiably replete with stories of heroism, courage, and strength in the wake of the September 11 attacks. News of the backlash, however, was not widely reported, especially in the national media during the first week after the attacks. Most news accounts merely repeated the same horrific incidents of backlash, giving the impression that it was limited to a few, isolated incidents scattered around the country. The reality, however, was that bias incidents were far more widespread than were reported. These fears were captured more accurately in stories reported by local press which form the foundation of this report. Rather than let these local stories slip into obscurity, this report is designed to
compile the stories to provide a more accurate picture of American reaction to this tragedy.
Other Reports/Publications Include:
About the Community
"Raising Our Voices: South Asian Americans Address Hate" ![]() Raising Our Voices is the 26-minute award-winning documentary, released in 2002, that
community leaders, students, educators, government officials and companies have
used to raise awareness and understanding of bias and hate crimes against the
South Asian community. View the documentary online: Part I & Part II Download: Fact Sheet |
Building Community Strength
This report provides critical insights into the needs and opportunities faced by organizations serving, advocating for, and organizing South Asians in America. Building Community Strength synthesizes the results of a needs assessment and interviews with 31 community-based organizations serving South Asians around the country, while highlighting best practices and recommendations for stakeholders to better assist South Asian organizations - and by extension - South Asian community members. The report, made possible through support from the Citi Foundation, includes examples of best practices used by South Asian groups, and recommendations to guide further research and action. We hope that organizations, community members, grantmakers, and stakeholders will use the report as a tool and resource to increase awareness of the South Asian community; to garner additional resources; and to access policymakers.
"What You Need to Know to Become a U.S. Citizen: A Guide for South Asians
(April 2008) (English; Bangla; Hindi; Gujarati;)
Check out this new informational guide on citizenship for the South Asian community which will assist immigrants in understanding the changes and requirements of the naturalization process. This guide provides answers to frequently asked questions about how the naturalization process works; obstacles faced by South Asian applicants; the content of the new naturalization exam to be implemented in October 2008; and information to assist elderly immigrants seeking naturalization.
Developed through the generous support of the Murthy Law Firm, this brochure is the first in a series of immigration-related resources that SAALT will be producing this year.
American Backlash: Terrorists Bring War Home in More Ways Than
The purpose of this report is to document an ugly, but nonetheless, important section of American history. News accounts of the tragedy are justifiably replete with stories of heroism, courage, and strength in the wake of the September 11 attacks. News of the backlash, however, was not widely reported, especially in the national media during the first week after the attacks. Most news accounts merely repeated the same horrific incidents of backlash, giving the impression that it was limited to a few, isolated incidents scattered around the country. The reality, however, was that bias incidents were far more widespread than were reported. These fears were captured more accurately in stories reported by local press which form the foundation of this report. Rather than let these local stories slip into obscurity, this report is designed to
Other Reports/Publications Include:
About the Community
- Demographic Characteristics of the South Asian Community
- Making the Case: Why Build a South Asian Identity?
- New Jersey Issue Briefs
- A Community of Contrasts
- About SAALT in New Jersey
- Demographics of South Asians in New Jersey
- Impact of Bias and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment in New Jersey
- Linguistic and Cultural Barriers for South Asians in New Jersey
- New Jersey Community Needs Assessment
- Organizations and Resources in New Jersey
- Middlesex County Resources Brochure
- The 2004 Elections: South Asian Voting Trends and Patterns
- The 2006 Elections: South Asian Voting Trends and Patterns
- Documented Incidents of Xenophobia and Intolerance in Political Discourse --Part 1:Comments Aimed at South Asians, Muslims and Sikhs” Community education toolkit documenting xenophobic rhetoric made in the political sphere (October 2008 Update)
- Documented Incidents of Xenophobia and Intolerance in Political Discourse --Part 2: Comments Aimed at South Asian Candidates for Political Office” Community education toolkit documenting xenophobic rhetoric made in the political sphere (October 2008 Update)
- Documented Incidents of Xenophobia and Intolerance in Political Discourse --Part 3: Tips for Community Members Responding to Xenophobic Rhetoric” (October 2008 Update)
- Immigration Reform and the South Asian Community: Myths and Realities(September 2007 Update)
- "What You Need to Know to Become a U.S. Citizen: A Guide for South Asians (April 2008) (Bangla; Hindi; Gujarati)
- SAALT’s Testimony before House Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (April 2006) Hear a clip of the testimony here.
- The DREAM Act: Empowering Immigrant Youth and Opening Closed Doors
- The Continuing Impact of the Special Registration Program) (December 2005)
- Hate Crimes: A Quick Information Sheet for South Asians
- Hate Crimes: Community Wide Impact Factsheet
- The Impact of Operation Meth Merchant on South Asians (October 2006 Update)
- The Impact of Katrina on the South Asian Community (September 2005)
- "Raising Our Voices - South Asian Americans Address Hate" - A guide to the documentary
- "Raising Our Voices - South Asian Americans Address Hate" - Fact sheet
- South Asian Summit 2007 Report
- About the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations
- Quotes from the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations
- Diversity of the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations
- About A National Action Agenda


