2018 A COMMUNITY OF CONTRASTS Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the San Gabriel Valley SAN GABRIEL VALLEY CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Introduction . 1 The SGV . disaggregated by ethnic group . Recognizing sig- Executive Summary . 2 nificant social and economic diversity among Asian The 626 . Map . 4 Americans, it includes data on immigration, lan- guage, education, income, housing, health, and Demographics . 5 The Asian American community in the San Gabriel Valley is one of the most iconic in the United States . environmental justice for eight ethnic groups . Economic Contributions . 8 Located in Los Angeles County just south of the Second, this report makes the data accessible to com- Civic Engagement . 9 San Gabriel Mountains, the region is home to over munity organizations, community members, policy Immigration . 10 half a million Asian Americans, more than in makers, foundations, businesses, and others look- Language . 11 Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Chicago . It is known ing to better understand and serve Asian American Education . 14 for its vibrant Chinese American community and, of communities . By soliciting feedback on content from Income . 15 course, its food . key stakeholders, consolidating important data from disparate government and academic sources, Employment . 16 Yet both the history and current reality of the and presenting them in a way that is easy to digest, Housing . 18 San Gabriel Valley challenge this simplistic view, the report makes a valuable contribution to our Health . 19 drawing attention to its diversity and ongoing understanding of one of the largest Asian American Environmental Justice . 20 struggles for racial justice . communities in the country . Policy Recommendations . 21 Perhaps its most recognizable landmark, the We would like to thank the sponsors who made this Resources . 23 San Gabriel Mission stands in testament to the colo- report possible, including Bank of America, AARP, Glossary . 24 nization of the region’s indigenous Tongva people . and the Wallace H . Coulter Foundation . Appendices . 25 The valley’s subsequent agricultural history fostered We would also like to thank everyone who con- Notes . 28 the growth of large Mexican American communities that now make up nearly half of the San Gabriel tributed to this report, including Asian Americans Technical Notes . 29 Valley’s total population . After the elimination of Advancing Justice – Los Angeles staff Jeffer Giang, discriminatory federal immigration policies in 1965, Daniel Ichinose, Joanna Lee, Shelly Chen, Povi-Tamu the region’s Asian American population grew dra- Bryant, Kimberly Wu, Natalie Bui, Deanna Kitamura, matically and faced considerable backlash from Anthony Ng, Li’i Furumoto, Nikki Dominguez, Nicole residents . Monterey Park, recognized as the first Ochi, and Heng Foong, as well as the community majority Asian American city in the continental partners, community members, policy makers, and United States following the 1990 Census, required corporate leaders who contributed to and provided business signs to include English and attempted to critical feedback on its content . Community part- establish English as its official language . ners included API Forward Movement, Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Asian Youth Center, California Today, the region hosts considerable social and Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, East San Gabriel Founded in 1983 as the Asian Pacific American Advancing Justice – LA is based in downtown economic diversity . It is home to some of the highest Valley Japanese Community Center, Pilipino Workers Legal Center, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles, with offices in Orange County and poverty rates among Asian Americans countywide . Center, Restaurant Opportunities Center of Los Los Angeles (Advancing Justice – LA) is the nation’s Sacramento as well as a community center in the There are large Filipino and Vietnamese American Angeles, and the Wilderness Society . Policy makers largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian San Gabriel Valley . Visit advancingjustice-la .org . populations, and Alhambra is home to the largest included Anthony Duarte, Mike Eng, Henry Lo, Jason Americans and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders number of Burmese Americans countywide outside Our affiliates include Asian Americans Advancing Pu, and Calvin Sung . Finally, Stephanie Lomibao, (NHPI) . Through direct services, impact litigation, the city of Los Angeles . Yet this diversity often goes Justice – AAJC (Washington, DC), Asian Americans Gilbert Tong, Vinh Ngo, and Millie Yamaki from Bank policy advocacy, leadership development, and capac- unrecognized . As a result, community needs go Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco), of America provided additional guidance from a ity building, Advancing Justice – LA focuses on the unmet . A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta, and business perspective . most vulnerable members of Asian American and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago . NHPI communities while also building a strong voice San Gabriel Valley attempts to address that . for civil rights and social justice . This report does two things . First, it provides key The statements and views expressed in this report are solely the All photos were taken by M. Jamie Watson unless otherwise noted. Data design and layout were provided by SunDried Penguin. characteristics of Asian American communities responsibility of the authors. Please email any questions regarding the report to [email protected]. INTRODUCTION A Community of Contrasts: SAN GABRIEL VALLEY 1 Educational outcomes vary greatly among Asian As housing costs in the San Gabriel Valley increase EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Americans and NHPI. dramatically, more affordable housing is needed. Chinese American adults in the San Gabriel Valley are Average rental rates in the region increased 4 .9% less likely than Whites to hold both high school and between the fourth quarters of 2015 and 2016, Over half a million Asian Americans and 7,000 While Asian Americans and NHPI are becoming college degrees; Vietnamese American adults have and vacancy rates were at 2 .7% at the end of 2016 . Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) live citizens, registering to vote, and casting ballots, some of the lowest educational attainment among Nearly 69,000 Asian Americans in the San Gabriel in the San Gabriel Valley: its Asian American popu- coalition building with Latino communities around Asian American ethnic groups . Over 14,300 English Valley are housing-cost burdened, spending 30% or lation alone is larger than it is in 42 states and the issues of mutual concern remains important. language learner students in the region’s K–12 public more of their household income on housing costs . cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Chicago . During the 2016 presidential election, Asian American schools speak an Asian or Pacific Island language . More affordable housing would mitigate vulnerable A Community of Contrasts: Asian Americans, Native voter registration exceeded the margin of victory Despite prevailing stereotypes about Asian American groups’ continuing struggle with rising housing costs . Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the San Gabriel in United States Congressional Districts 27 and 39, success in education, disparities risk being overlooked Valley provides community organizations, policy California State Senate District 29, and California when disaggregated data are not collected . The While Asian Americans and NHPI in the San Gabriel makers, foundations, businesses, and others with State Assembly Districts 49 and 55 . Yet Asian growing number of immigrant students and parents Valley are disproportionately impacted by disease, essential data on these diverse communities . Americans and NHPI remain minorities in most legis- require more culturally and linguistically appropriate many lack access to health insurance and culturally Highlights include the following: lative districts in the San Gabriel Valley and benefit curricula, programs, and parent engagement . and linguistically appropriate care. from coalition building around immigrant rights Asian Americans are more likely to die of cancer The San Gabriel Valley’s large Asian American popu- issues . More culturally and linguistically tailored Nearly a third of Asian Americans in the San Gabriel than any other racial group in the San Gabriel Valley; lation continues to grow. naturalization, voter registration, and get-out-the- Valley are low-income. influenza is the third leading cause of death among The region’s total population grew only 2% between vote efforts would help increase civic engagement Over 66,700 Asian Americans in the San Gabriel Chinese Americans . Yet one in five Asian Americans 2000 and 2010 . In contrast, its Asian American popu- among communities of color in the region . Valley are living in poverty, including 15% of Asian in the region do not have a usual source of care lation grew 22%, significantly faster than any other American seniors and 17% of Vietnamese Americans . when sick or requiring health advice . Culturally and racial group . Among Asian American and NHPI ethnic The Asian American population in the region is Despite model-minority myths that characterize linguistically appropriate care would improve health groups, South Asians are among the region’s fastest overwhelmingly immigrant, including an estimated