CENSUS OUTREACH

•Met with U.S. Census officers and local community leaders to increase response rate among Indian American population

•Authored articles in local newspaper (Austin South Asian) regarding 2010 Census

•Received pass-through grant from Census for outreach material (flyers, tote bags, etc.)

•Disseminated outreach materials to community through local places of worship, small

businesses, community organizations, and other high-traffic areas

•Notable: IACT’s outreach efforts were recognized in Austin American-Statesman articleregarding census outreach (March 13, 2010 article)

ENGAGING THE POLITICAL PROCESS

•Took proactive actions to encourage Indian Americans to vote in House/State/City Council elections

•       Organized successful Candidate Forums for midterm & mayoral elections

•        Conducted voter registration prior to several elections

•       Disseminated candidate information to Indian Americans

 •Cosponsored with Network of Asian American Organizations (NAAO) a Town Hall Meeting with Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell; this town hall meeting had an incredible turnout (600+) that signaled the importance of working with other Asian American groups

•Held meetings with legislative and policy staff of federal elected officials (e.g., Sen. John Cornyn [Chairman of Senate India Caucus], Rep. Lamar Smith)

•Approached by Capital Area Asian American Democrats (CAAAD) and Travis County Democratic Party for AAPI Outreach efforts

•Prepared and disseminated election issue summaries for IACT membership and Austin South Asian readership

•Met with Austin City Councilmember Randi Shade on behalf of IA community

•Voiced concerns through public and private channels concerning unfounded accusations against one of the longest-tenured Indian Americans working for the City of Austin. After investigation, this individual was fully exonerated and returned to his high-ranking position with the City.

BILLS AND TASK FORCES

 •Voter ID Bills

    •Attended House committee hearing and provided testimony against bill

    •Bills have passed, but now has provisions for “corner-cases”

•Immigration Bills

    • Similar in concept to Arizona laws (latter being challenged)

    • Eliminates “sanctuary cities”

•Bills for redistricting congressional districts

    •Total of 5 districts to cover Travis County

    •Splits major part of Asian American community into 2 districts, rest in 3 others

    •Submitted protest letter to Senate committee driving this effort

    •Lawsuit brewing, being coordinated through Lloyd Doggett’s office

•Hate Crimes Task Force (sponsored by ADL)

    •Participating in 3 working groups

COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION

•Through Census outreach efforts, IACT board members met with numerous Indian owned small businesses to understand their needs

•Coordinated meetings with leaders of numerous community organizations serving the Austin-area Indian American community

•Worked with ICC (Indian Community Center) on common goals to improve communication among Indian American community

•Assisted ICMCA in attracting local public officials to event raising funds for local nonprofits

•Individually and as an organization, IACT board members have written numerous letters to the media and to community leaders regarding portrayal of Asian Americans or Indian Americans (e.g., racial profiling, negative stereotyping of Indian Americans or immigrants generally, etc.).

•Key partner organization in “Be the change” events on Gandhi Jayanti(Oct 1, 2011)

ASIAN-AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER (AARC)

For several years, IACT members have played an active role in steering the scope, vision, and mission of the AARC, a multi-million project funded in part by the City of Austin. Within the last year, IACT has:

•appointed three of our IACT members to the AARC Board of Directors

•received input from community members and leaders as to the needs and expectations of the Indian American community with respect to the AARC project

•Multi-purpose facility planned on land provided by City of Austin along with $5M bond as partial down payment for initial construction

• work progressing well for Phase 1 facility (~16,500 sq. ft)

• will contain central hall plus classrooms and offices

          • Fundraising gala held on 09/10/2011

          • Expected completion: 3Q-4Q/2012

•Intense NAAO (& IACT) feedback on architectural features led to design with Asian “look-and-feel”

•On-going discussions on business plan to ensure it is self-sustaining

•Discussion on Phase 2 (includes business incubator) started

•Participated through NAAO (Network of Asian American Organizations) in “An Evening in Asia,” a gala event to raise funds and awareness about AARC

For more information about any of these activities, please contact Mrs. Debashree  Dasgupta, IACT President, at ddasgupta74@gmail.com.