Artists Create Art to Promote AAPI Participation in the 2020 Census

In May of this year, we put a call-out for AAPI artists and community members to use their creative talents and create artwork inspiring hard to count AAPI communities to fill out the census. Asian Americans, along with Pacific Islanders, are the racial groups least likely to fill out the census. With COVID-19 preventing organizers from mobilizing the community through door-knocking and in-person events, we turned to digital art to inspire and inform our communities about the Census. Check the entries from these talented artist/activists below:

1st Place Winner - Teo Octavia Saragi

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Today, I wanted to share a reminder about participating in the 2020 Census (www.my2020census.gov) 📝 I want to highlight LGBTQIA+ Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in particular as we often lack funding for community resources such as mental health services. This year, it’s important to #CountUsIn and be recognized as part of the #AAPI2020 community! 🌈✨
A post shared by Southeast Asians RISE (@seasrise) on Apr 20, 2020 at 8:43pm PDT

2nd Place Winner - Anmoldeep Singh

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We as immigrants have a duty to represent the values and traditions of where we came from and fight to keep them alive in our new homes. It is often challenging to make ourselves visible in the American landscape, which is why it is paramount that we all complete the 2020 Census. By filling out the Census (www.my2020census.gov), we ensure that we get our fair share of representation and federal resources for schools, our communities, healthcare, public transportation, and much more. @aapiforceef #CountUsIn #AAPI2020 #Census2020 (I made this digital painting of my mother in Adobe Illustrator. Half of the painting shows her in her work uniform, while the other half shows her in traditional Punjabi clothing.)
A post shared by Anmol Singh (@sodhy.khaddar) on May 12, 2020 at 7:22pm PDT

3rd Place Winner - Tia Ng Groce

Jasmine Lee

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⠀ I AM AMERICAN TOO⠀ acrylic, paper & recycled materials in canvas⠀ 10" x 20"⠀ ⠀ in the spirit of census 2020, im submitting this piece to show the immense strength, hope and healing ⁣as the AAPI community, represented by chrysamthemums continues to fight for our existence, and how our resistence is ⁣grounded in the pain from being perceived as perpetual foreigners and un-Americans. i just want to say I am American too. my community is American too. ⠀ ⠀ Please fill out the census at www.my2020census.gov! ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #countusin #aapi2020 #art #artsubmissions #aapi #aapicensus #aapicensus2020 #asianamerican #asianamericans #asianamericanwomen #asianamericanartist #uscensus2020 #census2020 ⠀
A post shared by Jasmine Lee (@justflyproject) on Apr 21, 2020 at 6:08pm PDT

Eugene Vang

Joy Ming

Houa Lee

Yeej Moua

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Make who you are count. Complete your census. . . www.my2020census.gov . #CountUsIn #AAPI2020 . . *The 45 strings sewn onto this painting represents the 45 years of Hmong people being here in the US.
A post shared by Y E E J. (@yeej_theartist) on May 12, 2020 at 9:03am PDT

Linlin Yu

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Dandelions. Although acknowledged as abundant weeds, their seeds fly through time and space for the next germination. The next generation. They stand together in families, in pairs, in solos. They face hardship, yet they still flower. Every community has a voice, including Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander families. And voices are to be heard. As an Asian American, I believe my community will be represented in the #2020Census. Our community is ensured healthcare, infrastructure, and education funds by responding at www.my2020census.gov. Because #EveryoneCounts (Advocation art by Linlin) 5.12.20 #AAPI2020 #CountUsIn #Census #Census2020 #Art
A post shared by Linlin (@lin.squared) on May 12, 2020 at 4:39pm PDT

Jasmine Lee

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⠀ API COMMUNITY COUNTS⠀ pen and markers on paper⠀ 11" x 11"⠀ may 2020⠀ ⠀ the census matters to me and my community because it is one of the critical ways to fight for justice. when we fight for our existence, we also challenge for racial, social, economic, disability, reproductive and all forms of justice. i am submitting this piece to show this link between census and the fight for systemic change. ⠀ ⠀ Please fill out the census at www.my2020census.gov! ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ #countusin #aapi2020 #aapiheritagemonth #api #apimonth #asianamerican #uscensus2020 #census2020 #asianartist #asianamericanart #asianamericanpacificislanderheritagemonth #asianamerica #2020census #census #politicalart #artwork #instaart #artoftheday #artist #instaartist #bostonartist #bostoncreatives #artistsofinstagram #asianamericanwomen #asianamericanhistory #asianamericans #racialjustice #socialjustice #artistoninstagram #asianartist #beseenbecounted
A post shared by Jasmine Lee (@justflyproject) on May 12, 2020 at 8:33pm PDT

Karina Yang

All People of America, no matter the background or occupation, participate in the 2020 Census!
.
www.my2020census.gov
@aapiforceef
#CountUsIn #AAPI2020

James Dinh

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Ellie Yang Camp

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Happy AAPI Heritage Month! And what better way to celebrate than to get counted on the U.S. Census? 🤗 If you identify as Taiwanese like I do then make sure you check “Other Asian” and write in Taiwanese. We have our own unique history, culture, and community needs, so it’s important that we be counted and not lumped in with other groups that don’t accurately represent us. Representation matters and being counted matters! www.mycensus.gov #aapi2020 #countusin #aapicensus2020 #census2020 #aapiheritagemonth #taiwaneseamerican #taiwanesecensus2020 #countta
A post shared by Ellie Yang Camp (@eeewhysee) on May 1, 2020 at 10:40am PDT

Ellie Yang Camp

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Being Asian in the U.S. can mess with your head. Constantly being stereotyped as the perpetual foreigner can make us feel like outsiders in our own home, like we’re here but we don’t really count. Well, that’s a lie. We are here and we DO count and it’s important that we get counted. The U.S. Census helps determine our number of Congressional representatives as well as funding for so many community needs like schooling, health services, and even roads. Make sure we count! www.my2020census.gov #aapi2020 #countusin #aapicensus2020 #census2020 #aapiheritagemonth
A post shared by Ellie Yang Camp (@eeewhysee) on Apr 30, 2020 at 2:23pm PDT

Weiran Zhang

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#census2020 #aapi2020 #countusin
A post shared by Weiran Art_ (@weiranzhang6) on May 9, 2020 at 1:13pm PDT

Joy Wang

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Hey everyone! It’s already several weeks into May, aka Asian American & Pacific Islander heritage month. Take time to celebrate your roots, but remember to complete the 2020 Census online, mail, or phone (www.my2020census.gov). All your information is protected, and you will not be asked for Social Security numbers, bank/credit card accounts, donations, or political involvement – just a basic family headcount. Simple as it seems to be, AAPI communities are severely underrepresented, and filling out the 2020 Census is very important! The Census decides how $1.5 trillion of federal funding is put into schools, hospitals, fire departments, housing, and health care, which ultimately impacts you in some way! It’s been a busy start of the year, and with COVID-19 going around, it’s up to you to join and spread the word. Do it for your state; do it for your community, your family, maybe your dog. Everyone counts. #CountUsIn #AAPI2020 #ProudABC
A post shared by J0Y (@scrapping_it) on May 11, 2020 at 8:22pm PDT

Grace Sun

Hello everyone!! We are well into the month of May, which you may know is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As you may know also, the 2020 Census is being held this year. The 2020 Census is really crucial because even though you might not realize it, the Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flows into states and communities each year. So, you are a huge part of helping the United States and everyone around you. Because of you participating in the Census, the results determine how many seats in Congress each state gets, which influences so many things that happen in our daily lives. Doing the Census is very simple: You can respond online at www.my2020census.gov, by phone at 844-330-2020, or by a letter that you receive in the mail. Unfortunately, many members of the AAPI community don’t participate because they don’t realize the importance of the Census. It is our job to inform these people of our Asian-American community, whether they are juniors or seniors, that every voice counts. In this difficult time with COVID-19, this is a call to action for all of us to make our voices heard and proudly represent our Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage! ♡
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#countusin #countusin2020 #AAPI2020 #aapi2020 #aapiheritagemonth #2020census #census2020 #censusart #americanbornchinese #proudabc #aapicommunity #aapi #aapiforceef #southasiannetwork #digitalart #photoshop #firstdigitalart #uscensus #wacom #wacompad

Zilin (Lynn) Jin

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One’s community shouldn’t remain quiet just because the stereotypes says we are this way. We are worthy. #countusin #aapi2020 is a opportunity for us to be counted. The census could earn our community more resources, benefits as well as more representations. Especially within this time during COVID-19, your effort will help us to be counted. Fill out the census! @aapiforceef www.my2020census.gov
A post shared by Lynn Jin (@lynnjin8964) on May 12, 2020 at 4:16pm PDT

Elsa Ly

The Census is a survey that counts the number of people living in the United States and the five U.S. territories. The Census decides how much money is distributed for funding for schools, hospitals, fire departments, and also improving neighborhoods. It also helps determine the number of seats your state has in the House of Representatives, and a whole lot more. All in all, completing the Census will only better help you and your community, so please don’t forget to fill it out!! #countusin #aapi2020census #aapi2020 #hmong#census#census2020

Teo Octavia Saragi

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worker rights are human rights! ✊🏼 ✨ asian american pacific islander workers fight to protect their labor rights and resources each day. by visiting www.my2020census.gov we can ensure a complete count during these difficult times! 🌿 #CountUsIn #AAPI2020
A post shared by Southeast Asians RISE (@seasrise) on Apr 24, 2020 at 5:42pm PDT

Teo Octavia Saragi

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✨ asian american pacific islander youth matter ✨ the 2020 Census impacts communities across the age spectrum! take a moment to visit www.my2020census.gov and make sure your voice is heard! 🗣️ let's uplift the voices of young people who are so critical to building our present and growing our future 🌱 #CountUsIn #AAPI2020
A post shared by Southeast Asians RISE (@seasrise) on Apr 23, 2020 at 4:31pm PDT

Richa Dihal

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