Another great Somos panel in the books! This year we were joined by @thenyic.bsky.social, @amitsinghbagga.bsky.social @jeffwice.bsky.social, @stevenraga.bsky.social, and the New York Community Trust to discuss the 2030 Census and why reliable data is critical for all New Yorkers!

Our exit poll data with @aaldef.bsky.social shows strong support for Zohran Mamdani among South Asian voters with 87.3% of Indian, Bangladeshi, and Pakistani voters we spoke to on Tuesday backing the new mayor. Thanks @documentedny.bsky.social for sharing! documentedny.com/2025/11/06/n...

BREAKING: 49% of Asian New Yorkers voted for Zohran Mamdani, according to analysis from AAF and @aaldef.bsky.social on the 2025 NYC Asian American Exit Poll.

AAF congratulates @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social on his election as the next mayor of New York City as well as the first-ever Asian American, South Asian, and Muslim mayor.

Zohran Mamdani’s historic campaign shows us what is possible when voters who are too often left out of the political process are reached out to in their languages and cultures, and around specific issues they care deeply about.

Affordability is a major issue for most New Yorkers, including the 55.4% of Korean renters who are rent burdened and especially the 32.1% who spend more than half their income on rent. Explore the data for Korean, Filipino, Chinese, Indian, Japanese & Vietnamese New Yorkers at bit.ly/AAFProfiles

The federal shutdown has left 315,000 Asian Americans statewide, including 253,000 in New York City alone, without SNAP benefits. 91% of working-age Asian SNAP recipients are employed—our communities are working hard, but it's just gotten even harder to make ends meet.

Today's the day! Locked in your vote for mayor but still unsure about the other offices and ballot proposals? Learn about all your choices in your language at Ballot Builder: aaf.branch.vote!

All eyes are on the NYC mayoral race on Nov 4. But do you know who else is on your ballot? How about the six ballot proposals? Meet the candidates and learn about the decisions shaping your neighborhood—all in 8 Asian languages!—on AAF Ballot Builder! aaf.branch.vote

Our Community Development Manager recently attended @aafederation.bsky.social's in-person Feedback session at South Asian Youth Action - SAYA's office. This event was held to discuss nonprofit support programming with partners to foster inter-organization connections.

At 42.3%, English-only speakers make up a significant portion of Indian NYers, nearly double the English-only rate for Asians overall. Explore the data for Indian New Yorkers, plus five other major Asian ethnic groups at bit.ly/AAFProfiles!

AAF recently attended Korean Community Services' 10th anniversary celebration of their mental health clinic! Congratulations and here's to many more years! + Bonus throwback to 10 years ago when our former ED Jo-Ann Yoo was present at the clinic's opening!

Today is the first day of early voting and the last day to register to vote, New York! My office's Election Protection Hotline is available and ready to answer questions and address any problems: ☎️ 866-390-2992

AAF condemns Tuesday's raid of Canal Street vendors and arrest of community members by militarized immigration enforcement.

39% of eligible Asian households in NYC rely on SNAP to get food on the table. Those families and millions others are at risk of going hungry in November, right around the holidays. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/u...

Millions are tuning into the mayoral debate tonight—but the debates aren't accessible in Asian languages, leaving many out of the loop. But with AAF's Ballot Builder, you can still learn about the candidates (+ballot proposals!) in EIGHT different Asian languages. Check it out at aaf.branch.vote!

With Election Day soon and the final mayoral debate tonight, AAF CEO Catherine Chen spoke with @spectrumnewsny1.bsky.social on issues Asian voters care about like affordability and safety and how AAF's Ballot Builder is helping New Yorkers make more informed choices. ny1.com/nyc/all-boro...

As Asian New Yorkers continue to grapple with a nationwide tripling of ICE arrests, federal agents swarm Chinatown in a surprise action. We want ICE out of our communities. gothamist.com/news/federal...

Have questions about voting? Call 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683) for answers you can trust. 📞 Voicemail support is open now through Election Day — and we’ll be answering calls LIVE from 7 AM to 11 PM EST on November 4 to make sure your vote counts.

🪔 Happy Diwali to all who celebrate! May your festival of lights be full of warmth, brightness, and love!

In a time when marginalized communities are under threat, it's just become harder to tell our stories. Talented journalists like Kimmy Yam at NBC Asian America shared vital perspectives that are often underrepresented or silenced elsewhere. But the fight to tell our stories continues.

This is devastating. NBC Asian America has done incredible work covering our community, especially given their greater resources and institutional clout relative to indie outlets like us. www.thewrap.com/nbc-news-lay...

Talking about mental health with loved ones is hard. But the right words can be a starting point for conversation and healing. AAF's Mental Health Hub has free mental health worksheets, exercises, and other resources in multiple Asian languages! Check it out at mentalhealth.aafederation.org

CAA's Jose Ng tells Mission Local about the insurmountable challenges facing undocumented Chinese immigrants seeking legal help during the asylum process. missionlocal.org/2025/10/bay-...

🗳️ Got questions about voting? Call 1-888-API-VOTE (1-888-274-8683) for help in various Asian languages! 🗓️ Voicemail support before Election Day and 🕖 LIVE help 7am–11pm EST on Election Day. Make your voice heard!

39% of eligible Asian households in NYC rely on SNAP, meaning thousands of Asian New Yorkers have likely been impacted by SNAP skimming fraud and must literally choose between food and other necessities like rent.

🪔 We joined @governor.ny.gov last night to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, which represents the triumph of light over dark, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Always lovely to celebrate our state's great cultural diversity and the contributions of South Asian New Yorkers!

No tricks, only treats in our October newsletter! In this issue: new data for 6 Asian ethnic groups, stories for #FAHM2025, a Diwali pop-up event with @padmalakshmi.bsky.social, and more! Sign up for our quarterly newsletter of all things Asian American in New York! aafederation.org/stay-in-touch/

Our Rooted In Community Gala, honoring MinKwon's 41-year anniversary, is less than three weeks away! We're looking forward to celebrating with you on October 30th at Riverside Church. Make sure to RSVP by October 23, 2025. 🎟️ bit.ly/MinkwonGala25

🌇 Who’s new to the neighborhood? 1 in 5 Japanese New Yorkers moved to the Big Apple within the past year, making them the most mobile Asian ethnic group. Explore the data for Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Indian, and Vietnamese New Yorkers at bit.ly/AAFProfiles

All eyes are on the NYC mayoral race on Nov 4. But do you know who else is on your ballot? How about the six ballot proposals? Meet the candidates and learn about the decisions shaping your neighborhood—all in 8 Asian languages!—on AAF Ballot Builder! aaf.branch.vote

We love walking past "Muk Ja Gol Mok", Murray Hill's newest and most colorful mural yet! Thanks QNS for highlighting this public art piece AAF commissioned and how it celebrates the delicious food and rich culture of Queens' Koreatown! qns.com/2025/10/new-...

We've just launched our search for a Chief Operating Officer! The COO will be AAF's internal leader, driving strategic planning, fostering a high-performance and inclusive culture, and leading organization development. To learn more and apply: www.aafederation.org/chief-operat...

Visiting Murray Hill? Take a moment to see the stunning new mural by Ji Yong Kim! Commissioned by @aafederation.bsky.social & supported by Council Member Sandra Ung & NYC Small Business Services, it is sure to catch your eye when you stop by the great restaurants & businesses in the neighborhood.

Asian Americans are among the least likely to seek mental healthcare. This #MentalIllnessAwarenessWeek, we're sharing two ways for Asian New Yorkers to find care the care we deserve. 💚Asian mental health directory: mhd.aafederation.org 🫂Asian mental health resources: mentalhealth.aafederation.org

🌕 Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! This festival is known by many names and traditions across Asia, but however you celebrate, we hope this holiday is full of family, food, and fun!

Want to help protect your neighbors from ICE in NYC? Check out: @maketheroadny.bsky.social @thenyic.bsky.social @aafederation.bsky.social @bkindivisible.bsky.social @socialists.nyc @cmalexaaviles.bsky.social @cmshahanahanif.bsky.social And all these groups: bsky.app/profile/greg...

Finally developed some film from the last few weeks. Here's @cmalexaaviles.bsky.social and @bradlander.bsky.social marching in Sunset Park fagainst ICE. Members of @aafederation.bsky.social Mixteca @socialists.nyc & others marching with! Nikon FM2n, Nikkor 24mm f2.8, Kodak Gold 200. #BelieveInFilm

Next time you're in Queen's Murray Hill for delicious Korean food or a night of karaoke, make sure you stop by the neighborhood's newest mural by artist Ji Yong Kim! This vibrant work of art was commissioned by AAF and supported by Councilmember Sandra Ung and NYC Dept of Small Business Services.

"We keep us safe." High five for coming out, @aafederation.bsky.social!

Fantastic #StandAgainstICE march in Sunset Park today organized by @nycprogressives.bsky.social and @cmalexaaviles.bsky.social! High five to Mixteca @aafederation.bsky.social @bkindivisible.bsky.social and all the other orgs that supported!

🔜 Is Staten Island the move? Some Chinese New Yorkers think so! Between 2018 and 2023, the percentage of Chinese New Yorkers in Staten Island nearly doubled. Explore the data Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Vietnamese New Yorkers at bit.ly/AAFProfiles

H.R. 1 will hurt not just Asian NYers but millions of Americans, gutting healthcare, SNAP benefits, and other social services that families rely on. AAF ED Catherine Chen and @meng.house.gov break down this bill and why we need to fight for better policies. empirereportnewyork.com/the-big-beau...

President Trump’s Big Ugly Bill puts programs that everyday people rely on to pay for massive tax cuts for billionaires. For AANHPI New Yorkers, the damage is stark. READ the op-ed from Chair @meng.house.gov and @aafederation.bsky.social's Catherine Chen. ⬇️ empirereportnewyork.com/the-big-beau...

Want up to $45,000 for your nonprofit? Join the Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund community briefing session today at 2 PM to learn more and how to apply! www.ccnsfund.org/community-br...

Are you a nonprofit serving communities of color? Applications for the Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund, powered by AAF, @cacfny.bsky.social, Hispanic Federation & NY Urban League, are open until Friday 10/17! Questions? We have an info session TOMORROW at 2PM: www.ccnsfund.org

The Trump administration is trying to detain & deport some green card holders because of past crimes or political activity. We urge all green card holders to learn what the law says about who can be deported & make a safety plan if you might be at risk. Read our guide: www.nilc.org/resources/gr...

AAF is cosponsoring this day of action against ICE with @nycprogressives.bsky.social on Saturday 9/27. We'll be marching at Sunset Park for our neighbors, friends, and loved ones—see you there!

Join @nycprogressives.bsky.social for a day of action against ICE on Saturday, September 27 @ 11AM! Council Members across the city will be participating in community flyering, tabling, marches, and rallies to demand an end to the disappearances

Talking about mental health with loved ones is hard. But the right words can be a starting point for conversation and healing. AAF's Mental Health Hub has free mental health worksheets, exercises, and other resources in multiple Asian languages! Check it out at mentalhealth.aafederation.org