Advancing Racial Justice and Equity in Sacramento, CA

BACKGROUND

Sacramento County is home to one of the largest Hmong American communities in California. Hmong American communities face significant health and socio-economic inequities that manifest into acute generational poverty, chronic educational inequities and on-going disenfranchisement. Already severely under-resourced, Sacramento County has had a long legacy of undermining community voice and reinforcing structural inequalities that disproportionately impact immigrant and other communities of color.  

Moreover, the recent wave in anti-Asian violence painfully crystallized the importance of representation. In Sacramento County, elected officials have been slow to even acknowledge the increase in xenophobic attacks on immigrants much less take concrete actions to make communities feel safer. As the largest Southeast Asian American power building organization in the Central Valley, Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP) believes combating the institutional inequalities and lack of investments in our region requires the enfranchisement of local residents through community organizing, sustained advocacy and youth led mobilizations.

OUR STRATEGIES

Youth Leadership Development and Empowerment grounded in Racial Justice and Healing

At the core of HIP’s organizing approach is a commitment to supporting young people and harnessing their ability to effectuate change. HIP provides training for our youth/young adults to better understand Hmong and Southeast Asian (SEA) history and how it intersects with the histories of other communities of color and US imperialism. Developing this stronger sense of self gives Hmong and Southeast Asian youth the agency to better manage their generational trauma and prepares them to take up the mantles of leadership required to advance our community. 

Examples of our work:

  • HIP provided counseling and support for youth and young adults coping with the pandemic and rise of anti-Asian hate. The support was provided through healing sessions and working closely with a Hmong licensed therapist whose background included providing culturally competent care and understanding how racism impacts mental health. We realized that there were still barriers to seeking and receiving mental health services because of the stigmas that were associated with mental health in our community. The space empowered our youth and young adults to speak up and amplify their support for an anti-racist future and society through HIP’s social media platforms and conversations they were having with their own families and friends. 

  • Trained 40 youth and young adults in HIP’s 2021 Summer Organizing Institutes focused on but not limited to history, identity, healing, 4Is of Oppression, and social justice. The connectedness that participants feel to other communities of color is critical to advancing racial justice as it deepens their understanding of their diverse communities and the social issues they face. In addition, their struggle against a legacy of White supremacy as they seek to exercise their voice and help shape policy decisions that impact their communities.

Advancing Racial Justice Through Institutional Change Begins Locally

While it is critical to secure progress on a national and statewide level, HIP was founded on the premise that transformational progress begins locally. From school boards to city council to county board of supervisors—the impact of local policies on the lives of our community cannot be understated. Thus, HIP is committed to training the next generation of leaders and advocates prepared to advance systems change on every level. 

We are creating the conditions in which our community can participate and engage and advocate for their own institutional objectives. We develop analysis and educate community members on issues that directly impact our community. 

Examples of our work: 

  • Sacramento is the 2nd most ethnically diverse city in the United States (US Census Bureau, 2015). In the district, residents speak over 44 languages and 38% do not speak English at home (SCUSD, 2015). HIP worked closely with a coalition known as Ethnic Studies Now Sacramento, made up of local educators and students to have the school district designate Ethnic Studies as a high school graduation requirement for all students. This campaign was successful and there were efforts to expand this same policy to a neighboring city in Elk Grove.

  • Increased in-language COVID-19 vaccine outreach and education through phone banking and canvassing efforts for our community and ensuring there are investments from the city to sustain this work for the long-term. 

  • Earlier this year, HIP actively worked on the passage of the Anti-Asian Racism and Hate resolutions in Sacramento and gained the support of local AAPI organizations, electeds, and government officials. 

  • In Sacramento, HIP worked with City Council and local AAPI CBOs to host 3 convenings focused on getting feedback from the AAPI community on developing community-led solutions that acknowledge the experiences of Sacramento’s Asian American residents and promoting racial equity and solidarity in the city. The goal is to continue advocating at the city level to redirect funds to support this work long-term.