Dear Friends,

Our country has undergone a tremendous reimagination over the past two years, accelerated by a devastating pandemic, the largest protest movement in our history for racial justice, and a period in which more people in the U.S. are understanding and grappling with the effects of structural inequity in all of our lives.

Most of our clients at the Asian Law Caucus are low-income immigrant workers, parents, and seniors who have spent the last years struggling to put food on the table and fighting to stay with their families and in their homes. At the same time, our communities are grieving anti-Asian and anti-Black hate violence and the harms endured by our friends, relatives, and neighbors. And, we are witnessing the harrowing threat of white supremacy and political interests who have seized this moment to stoke fear and division, and sow distrust of our democratic system.

And still, in the face of this pain and trauma, we are endlessly inspired by our clients, by partners like you, and by the communities we serve. Restaurant workers fought for their rights on the job, unequivocal in their advocacy for a new normal that centers safety and dignity. Voters turned out in record numbers, heralding the growing importance of Asian American communities in a broad coalition alongside Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and young voters who are demanding a multiracial, inclusive democracy. Formerly incarcerated Californians and their families continued to lead city, county, and state campaigns to keep families together. Diverse and powerful coalitions drove unprecedented political and public support for policies that uphold people’s civil and constitutional rights, and dismantle systems of state-sanctioned violence.

As you read through this report, we hope you are equally inspired by these stories of community power and collective action, from how workers and tenants are pulling through the pandemic and affirming their rights to the myriad ways Asian American, Arab, Middle Eastern, and Muslim communities are building their political power at the ballot box, in new district maps, and more. Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the country and the group with the largest income gap, underscoring the urgent need to continue building power to shape our democracy and address the vast inequality that persists among our communities. As we have witnessed the heartbreaking fragility of our democracy and public safety systems, we know our work and the path to community safety, justice, and equity must be grounded in multiracial solidarity and a deep commitment to working with and in support of people who are directly affected by systemic harms.

While our latest annual report looks back at 2020 and 2021, this year marks our organization’s 50th anniversary and a time of valuable reflection on our history and future. Just as so much has changed externally, we also continue to evolve and grow as an organization. In the past year, we have grown to a staff of over 50 people, signed our first union contract, and started to invest more deeply in ourselves and what it means to do this work sustainably. We are coming out of a strategic planning process that is unpacking our ways of working, inviting questions and experimentation, and pushing us to bring renewed care and attention to how we work with each other and with our partners and allies. For decades, advocates in this country have been told that scarcity is a norm - we’re rejecting that mindset, both for our own selves and well-being and for the abundant world we want to build together.

As we navigate these changes, we’re grateful for the support of so many. It’s through your belief in our team and in a more just, loving world that we are able to do this work. Thank you for being our ally and for all you do.

In community,

Aarti Kohli, Executive Director

Lily Wang, Deputy Director

Jacob Smith Yang, Director of Human Resources and Administration