If data can speak why muzzle it? If data can engender conversations, then lets have them. If data can spark a few new fires, why not let the blaze develop?

The South Asian Forum aims to tell the story of South Asians through the lens of its organizations and organizing work. From one-one-one interviews with community organizations to an extensive history and framework of South Asians in the U.S., this Forum hopes to capture the deep and rich history of South Asian collective action in the U.S.

In addition, the Forum brings together a collection of various resources and tools, such as an online directory of organizations and a census fact sheet, to aid those working in or interested in the South Asian community.

Through the collection of data, sharing of resources, and storytelling we can identify current and emerging issues, barriers and gaps, and develop sustainable strategies for the future. By examining our history and determining our future as a community here in the United States as well as within the Diaspora, we can understand our critical role in the local, national and international issues that favor on the side of a just and equitable world. Finally, we celebrate our victories as a community but also as a powerful network that is strong because of its richness, its flexibility, and its care for the world, the environment and the people.

We are looking back in order to move forward.

Let the conversations begin …

Who We Are

The National South Asian Task Force is a group of local community-based organizations and individuals that work on labor, LGBT, women’s and anti-violence, and civil rights issues. The task force had initially come together in the winter 2002 to discuss the impact of September 11th and its accompanying policies on South Asian/immigrant communities.

We had monthly conference calls to discuss the state of our organizations, the issues and public policies that are affecting our communities and understood that there needed to be a space to promote networking, collaboration, and information-sharing in order to ensure the sustainability of our local communities and organizations. This culminated into the development of a documentation project that would highlight the history, work and issues as well as provide resources for and about the South Asian community and organizations.

Current Task Force Members

Nirva Parikh - South Asian Network - Los Angeles, CA
Aleyamma Mathew
Biju Mathew - New York Taxi Workers Alliance - New York, NY
Bari Samad
Silky Shah - Grassroots Leadership, RadDesis - Austin, TX
Aparna Sharma - South Asian Progressive Action Collective - Chicago, IL
Saba Waheed - DataCenter, SAMAR Magazine - Oakland, CA

Acknowledgements

Since its inception, we have been honored to have various individuals and organizations that have worked in different cities and around different issues. Thanks to previous task force members that provided insight, direction and support to the task force project over the past four years: Seema Agnani, Muneer Ahmad, Aparna Bhattacharya, Shamita Das Dasgupta, Soniya Munshi, Deepa Iyer, Hamid Khan, and Javid Syed. Though them and others we were able to engage such organizations as Chhaya CDC, Raksha, Manavi, South Asian American Leaders for Tomorrow (SAALT), South Asian Lesbian and Gay Association (SALGA), Trikone, Youth Solidarity Summer and many others.

Also, special thanks to the APA Community Development Data Center at UCLA and Melany de la Cruz for their support on the Census work and to the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (NCAPACD) for their assistance throughout the project and financial support. NCAPACD is a national network of community-based organizations that advocate, organize and provide services for the AAPI communities.

Additional thanks to those that provided assistance on the project: Mohan Sikka, Youth Solidarity Summer (for the South Asian History Timeline) and the Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center including intern Saulat Ajmal.

Finally, to the SINGH Foundation for providing the financial support that will keep the website running for the next few years.

Picture Credits: SAPAC, Charisse Domingo
Artwork: Rini Templeton