Colorado Lotus Project
1
Colodo
Lotus Proje
Funded by the
Colorado AAPI Circle
May 2024
A Statewide Look at the
Strengths and Barriers Facing
Colorado’s Asian American
and Native Hawaiian and Other
P
acic Islander Communities
Abo e Colodo Lotus Proje
The Colorado Lotus Project is funded by the Colorado Asian
American and Pacic Islander (AAPI) Circle. The Colorado
AAPI Circle, in partnership with the Colorado Health Institute
(CHI), created the project to uplift the unique voices and
experiences of Asian American and Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander (AANHPI) people living in the state.
The Colorado Lotus Project involves a thorough analysis
of data on AANHPI communities and delves into deeper
insights, integrating rst-person storytelling to underscore
strengths and disparities within the community. This dual
approach aims to call attention to an essential need for better
data while fostering a nuanced understanding of the diverse
experiences within these communities. The goal is to achieve
a more equitable allocation of resources and to tear down
the idea that AANHPI communities are one monolithic group.
Abo e Ne
The lotus ower has a long, rich history across different
AANHPI cultures, often spanning thousands of years.
Naturally occurring in many countries in Asia, the lotus is
the national ower for countries such as India and Vietnam
and grows abundantly in Hawaii. The lotus grows upward
from the mud and silt of a pond and creates a striking ower
that is impossible to miss. In the same way the lotus ower
is unforgettable, born out of the murkiest of conditions, the
Colorado Lotus Project raises experiences of the overlooked
but resilient AANHPI communities. Also drawing inspiration
from the lotus, the project’s name symbolizes the potential
for growth, transformation, and resilience for Colorado’s
AANHPI communities, even in the face of barriers.
Abo e Cov
The 2024 Colorado Lotus Project
report cover is designed by local
artist Nalye Lor. The lotus ower is
the representative icon for Colorado’s
AANHPI communities and is showcased
in the image with the use of human hands
as the ower petals themselves. These hands sprout
from the water’s deep, dark depths, a metaphor that the
community possesses the same characteristics of this
perennial plant. Silhouettes of the iconic Denver skyline,
mountain ranges, forest, and plains represent the diversity
of Colorado and the communities across the state where
AANHPI people live.
Anowledgts
Special thanks to the community members and leaders who supported our efforts, including those who shared
yers and invitations, and to the 51 AANHPI people who shared their lived experiences with CHI in focus groups.
We would also like to thank the staff of Aurora Mental Health and Recovery’s Cultural Development and Wellness
Center and Happy Living and Wellness Adult Daycare for their partnership in hosting focus group discussions.
We are also grateful to the following partners who shared their expertise and insights during the development
of the Colorado Lotus Project.
Abo e Colodo AAPI Ccle
The Colorado Asian American and Pacic
Islander Circle (The Circle) was founded in
late 2021. Our vision is authentic, visible, and
interconnected Asian, Pacic Islander, and Desi
communities. We do this by elevating our many
communities and increasing resources, lifting
voices, and growing our civic engagement.
Giving circles help democratize philanthropy,
welcoming people of all giving levels to the
power of giving.The Circle connects individuals
who donate their money to pooled funds
shared with other donors. We decide together
which nonprot organizations or community
projects to support. Through the process,
donors build strong connections and increase
their engagement in the community.
Abo e Colodo Heal Inste
The Colorado Health Institute is a nonprot, mission-
driven research and convening group advancing equity
and well-being in our communities. CHI’s team of analysts,
program managers, data managers, and directors led the
research, data disaggregation, focus groups, key informant
interviews, project coordination, and development of this
report. CHI is honored to have partnered with The Circle
and AANPHI community leaders and members across
Colorado in developing this report and is thankful for
all the thought leadership, insights, and personal stories
shared by everyone who participated in this effort.
CHI team members who contributed to this report:
• Kimberly Phu
• Karam Ahmad
• Lindsey Whittington
• Rachel Bowyer
• Suman Mathur
Advisory Gro Mbs
• Andrew Ho, Recht Kornfeld PC
• Daranee Teng, Graduate Student,
University of Colorado Denver
• Harry Budisidharta, Aurora Mental
Health and Recovery*
• Jin Tsuchiya, Health Policy
Professional*
• June Homdayjanakul, DrPH,
Public Health Professional
• Kai Vong, Student Leader and
Activist
• Kay Ramachandran,
MarillacHealth
• Kristi Keolakai, Nonprot
Consultant*
• Rachele C Espiritu, PhD, Change
Matrix*
• Yangmee Lor, People’s Advisory
Board for New Educational and
Economic Goodwill
* Denotes a member of the
Colorado AAPI Circle
Ps
• Gil Asakawa, Writer
• Joanne Liu, Asian Girls Ignite*
• Joie Ha, Community Organizer, CORE
• Melovy M. Melvin, Writer
• Nalye Lor, Illustrator
Key Informt Intview Pcts
• Adam Anderson
• Amy (last name withheld upon request), Community Member
• Annie VanDan, Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network
• Bich-Ngoc Phan, PhD, University of Colorado Denver
• Fran Campbell, Asian Chamber of Commerce
• Indira Duggirala, Colorado South Asian Democrats
• June Homdayjanakul, DrPH, Public Health Professional
• Sarita Reddy, Adeo
• Som Baral, Everest Home Care
• Viet Nguyen, The Center on Colfax
• William Wei, PhD, University of Colorado at Boulder, History Colorado
• Experienced leaders in criminal justice, supporting people with
disabilities, and adult home and day care services who wished to
remain anonymous
Contts
k You to e Colodo Lotus Proje Donors
5 From the Colorado AAPI Circle
6 Background on Creating the Colorado Lotus Project
13 Philanthropic Analysis
18 Domains
20 Demographics and Colorado Population
27 Health
37 Housing
46 Income and Economic Opportunity
53 Education
60 Crime and Justice
64 Democracy
71 Strengths in Full Bloom
74 Looking Ahead: Recommendations to Advance Equity for AANHPI Coloradans
76 Conclusion
77 Appendix A: Community Engagement
81 Appendix B: Data Disaggregation and Reportability Standards
82 Appendix C: Philanthropic Data Analysis Limitations
83 Endnotes
Colorado Lotus Project
5
From e Colodo AAPI Ccle
Picture a future where AANHPI and Black, Indigenous, and
other communities of color don’t need to show our worth
to be valued and recognized. Where the inadequacy of
resources is no longer a debate.
This is the future the Colorado AAPI Circle is working
toward.
But the current reality is that for too long, AANHPI
communities have been severely underfunded and
overlooked.
The Colorado Lotus Project marks an inaugural step that is essential and long overdue to address
this issue. This work takes a rst-of-its kind, in-depth look at AANHPI communities in our beloved
Centennial State.
Within this report are detailed data points and stories that break down the AANHPI category to
understand the unique experiences of the people who are included in this descriptor across areas
like health, housing, civic engagement, and many more.
By doing so, we break down the idea that AANHPI communities are a monolith, highlighting just
how different the AANHPI diaspora in Colorado really is. We come from very different places and
have very different experiences.
The most recent AANHPI migrants to Colorado, including those from Bhutan, Burma (now known
as Myanmar), and Nepal, have different needs, such as language resources and access to health
care. This differs from Colorado’s more-established Korean population who report high rates
of poor mental health, or the Bangladeshi community who report higher rates of housing cost
burden.
From the beginning, our objective with the Colorado Lotus Project has been to identify where
our AANHPI communities exist, what they need to thrive, and how our partners in government,
philanthropy, and advocacy can support these efforts.
Data collection across various sectors, like health care and education, must be revamped to
capture the nuances of identity more accurately, including race and ethnicity, gender identity,
sexual orientation, and other identities and lived experiences. Service providers and funders must
be equipped with this information to be equitable and culturally responsive. We need greater
AANHPI representation and engagement to inform public discourse and to authentically raise the
voices of those experiencing trauma, hardship, and barriers to living their best lives.
The unique and rst-of-its-kind nature of the Colorado Lotus Project is a step forward for AANHPI
advocacy efforts in Colorado and across the country. It is a call to recognize that AANHPI people
have different experiences. But at the heart of this work is the recognition that Colorado is also a
place for all. It is our hope that this work will serve as a blueprint for other populations in Colorado
seeking their voice and representation; that it sends the unequivocal message that Colorado is
everyone’s home. No matter where you came from or how you got here, we love this place and
will do anything to support your desire to call it home, too.
Signed,
Jin Alexander Tsuchiya
Co-Chair, Colorado AAPI Circle
Kristi Keolakai,
Co-Chair, Colorado AAPI Circle
Colorado Lotus Project
6
The phrase Asian Americans and Native
Hawaiians and Other Pacic Islanders
(AANHPI) encompasses more than 50
distinct ethnic groups, includes more than
100 different languages, and represents 75
countries across East, Southeast, and South
Asia and the Pacic Islands of Melanesia,
Micronesia, and Polynesia. In Colorado, about
260,000 people trace their roots to these
regions of Asia (alone or in combination with
another race or ethnicity, including Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander).
1
Over
22,000 trace their roots to the Pacic Islands
(alone or in combination with another race or
ethnicity, including Asian).
1
Each has a unique
history and culture. In the past few decades,
AANHPI people have become the fastest
growing racial or ethnic group in the United
States, and by 2055, Asians could become its
largest immigrant group.
2,3
But in most U.S. data, this diversity is lost.
People are lumped together as “Asian
Americans” and “Native Hawaiians and Other
Pacic Islanders” in one or two categories.
As a result of this data practice, key social,
economic, and health indicators often show
that AANHPI communities are better off
than other racial or ethnic groups. In reality,
variations in the data are masked, hiding
the full extent of the experiences of people
included in these categories. For example,
research shows that income inequality in
the U.S. has been rising most rapidly among
Asians. The gap between the highest earners
and the lowest earners is also greater among
Asians than for any other racial or ethnic
group.
4
Meanwhile, misconceptions — the model
minority myth, healthy immigrant effect, and
perpetual foreigner stereotypes — continue to
exclude and misrepresent the experiences of
people who identify as AANHPI.
5
The model
minority myth paints Asian Americans as a high-
achieving, wealthy, and obedient group. While
many may perceive this as a positive stereotype,
it is detrimental to AANHPI communities and
hides the existence of AANHPI people who
struggle. Further, the myth denies the effects
of racial inequality for all people of color in the
U.S., creating a wedge between Asians and
other people of color to uphold the narrative of
white supremacy.
These are just some of the issues that can drive
inequities for AANHPI communities across
multiple systems, including philanthropy. In
2021, Asian Americans/Pacic Islanders in
Philanthropy (AAPIP) found that for every
$100 awarded by foundations for work in the
U.S., only 20 cents is designated for AANHPI
communities.
6
To highlight these disparities and call attention
to the need for improved data collection
systems and more equitable allocation of
resources, the Colorado AAPI Circle, in
partnership with the Colorado Health Institute
(CHI), created the Colorado Lotus Project.
Bagrod on Creg
e Colodo Lotus Proje
For every $100
awarded by foundations
for work in the U.S.,
only 20 cts
are designated for
AANHPI communities
Colorado Lotus Project
7
May 2024
7
While some AANHPI people are newer to
the U.S., others have been here since its
beginning. Native Hawaiian and some Pacic
Islander communities, such as the Samoan
and Chamorro, trace their ancestral roots to
land that is now a state or territory of the U.S.
In 1848, when the U.S. only consisted of 30
states, the California gold rush brought Asian
immigrants, especially Chinese people, to the
West.
But throughout the history of the U.S.,
AANHPI communities have been subjected
to systemic discrimination and disparities.
The U.S. participated in the seizure and
forced annexation of Pacic Islands, including
the indigenous lands of Melanesians,
Micronesians, and Polynesians. In 1890s, the
U.S. government participated in the overthrow
and illegal annexation of the Kingdom
of Hawai’i, an act Congress apologized
for 100 years later.
7
American Samoa and
Guam remain U.S. territories. Under the
Compacts of Free Association, communities
from Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and
the Republic of Palau were granted access
to social and health services as partial
compensation for the loss of life, health, land,
and resources due to U.S. nuclear weapons
tests in these nations. However, a 1996 law
inadvertently restricted these benets and
wasn’t rectied until December 2020.
8
Historically, race-based policies have sought
to limit the rights and economic opportunities
of Asian people and ban Asian immigration to
the country.
9
In 1942, after Pearl Harbor, a federal
executive order led to the forced relocation
and imprisonment of 120,000 Japanese
Americans, with over 7,000 held at the
Granada Relocation Center in Colorado,
known as Camp Amache.
10,11
Denver’s current Lower Downtown
neighborhood, known as LoDo, was once a
thriving Chinatown until a pub brawl in 1880
escalated into a riot. Thousands of white
Denverites attacked Chinese residents, resulting
in destruction of homes and businesses, including
the tragic death of Look Young, who was beaten
to death and hung.
12
Today, xenophobia continues to fuel AANHPI
hate. The 2021 Atlanta spa shooting is just one
example. Although the COVID-19 Hate Crimes
Act aims to address anti-Asian violence, the
underlying racism persists, requiring ongoing
efforts to combat discrimination.
13
A Brief History: Systic Racism
d AANHPI Commies
An illustration depicting the 1880 riot in
Denver’s Chinatown.
Library of Congress
Colorado Lotus Project
8
The lack of funding designated for AANHPI
communities, as well as continuous calls for
better data by community leaders, prompted
the Colorado AAPI Circle to act.
These efforts began in 2021, when the
Colorado AAPI Circle partnered with CHI
to conduct a landscape analysis to better
understand the extent to which detailed
data and literature about Colorado’s AANHPI
communities exist. CHI found that very little
data on AANHPI people are separated into
racial and ethnic subgroups and that there is
a lack of comprehensive literature that speaks
to the needs of these communities. Further,
community leaders said that the lack of available
data prevents them from effectively advocating
on behalf of the community, including working
to reduce disparities and delivering culturally
responsive services.
From this initial scan, the Colorado AAPI Circle
and CHI partnered in 2023 to conduct a broader
state-of-the-state analysis for Colorado’s AANHPI
communities. This work was inspired by efforts
such as We the Resilient, a report on stories
and data of California’s American Indian/Alaska
Native peoples, and AAPI Data’s 2022 State of
AANHPIs in California Report, among others.
This effort became the Colorado Lotus Project.
O Process
To ensure the Colorado Lotus Project was driven
and led by community members, CHI and the
Colorado AAPI Circle established an advisory
group of 10 members working across different
sectors. The members adopted a strategic
framework to guide this work.
Sec
Fmework
Vision
Equitable opportunity for all people
in Colorado to reach their full potential
and thrive.
Mission
Uplift the unique voices and experiences
of AANHPIs living in Colorado with respect
to health, education, income and economic
opportunity, housing, civic engagement,
and crime and justice by dismantling the
perception of AANHPI communities as a
monolith.
Goals
Short-Term
• Educate policymakers, service providers,
advocates, philanthropic institutions,
and other community partners with a
statewide snapshot of the strengths and
challenges experienced by AANHPI
communities in Colorado.
Long-Term
• Use learnings to elevate and advance
the needs of AANHPI communities in
Colorado.
• Increase transparent, accurate, and
accessible disaggregated data on
Colorado’s AANHPI communities. (See
What is Data Disaggregation? for more
information.)
• Increase equitable resource allocation to
support Colorado’s AANHPI communities.
Creg
e Colodo
Lotus Proje
May 2024
9
Strategies
Break apart existing datasets to understand
the makeup of Colorado’s AANHPI
communities, such as strengths of and
challenges within these communities.
Use rst-person storytelling to understand
what is not being captured by existing data
and to elevate what is being shown.
Determine what is needed — state-level
policy changes, partnerships, something else
— and make recommendations to improve
data collection systems and transparency.
Values
To uphold the principles of authentic
community engagement and ensure the
work was driven by the community, CHI and
its partners adopted the following shared
values.
• Foster Trust — Establish relationships
and work with members and leaders of
AANHPI communities. Listen actively
and deeply to uncover key community
concerns and raise the voices of those
rarely heard.
• Work in Partnership With the
Community — Ensure members and
leaders of AANHPI communities have
voices throughout all phases of work. The
goal is to work with the community, not for
or on behalf of them.
• Support Community-Led Solutions —
Include AANHPI communities in
cocreating solutions to identied issues.
• Convey Reliability and Accuracy —
Ensure transparency, accuracy, and
reliability in the data and ndings
presented.
• Be Responsive — Meet AANHPI
communities where they are. Respond to
community needs and questions as they
arise or shift.
CHI conducted a literature review and extensive
data scan to source as much existing data
as possible on AANHPI communities. In
partnership with the advisory group and the
Colorado AAPI Circle, CHI identied relevant
key data metrics organized into seven domains.
(See Domains for more.) These key data
metrics were disaggregated — a technique to
see beyond the Asian American and Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander labels to
see what the data look like for different AANHPI
identities, such as Chinese, Hmong, or Nepali.
(See What is Data Disaggregation? for more
information.)
Simultaneously, CHI conducted a philanthropic
analysis to understand what foundation funding
looks like for AANHPI people in Colorado.
Finally, to supplement this rich information and
to better understand lived experiences of the
people reected in the data, CHI conducted a
multifaceted community engagement process.
This community engagement process included:
12 Key Informant Interviews
CHI spoke with 12 community leaders and
subject matter experts. These leaders also
supported further community outreach and
connections.
60 Comments Collected
via a Thought Exchange
CHI and its partners used a Thought Exchange —
an online polling platform — to ask the broader
AANHPI community to provide perspective
on their strengths and challenges. In total, 107
people participated in the Thought Exchange,
contributing 60 comments to the platform.
Six Focus Group Discussions
CHI partnered with AANHPI community
leaders to host and facilitate six focus group
discussions to better understand nuanced,
Colorado Lotus Project
10
lived experiences and to hear from people who
are disproportionately impacted, historically
excluded, or geographically underrepresented.
Focus groups were organized by four AANHPI
regional identities: East Asian, South Asian,
Southeast Asian, and Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacic Islanders. Two discussions were held by
prioritized intersecting identities (determined
in partnership with the Colorado AAPI Circle):
youth and recent immigrants and refugees.
Overall, 51 people joined these discussions.
Five Storytelling Proles
CHI partnered with two AANHPI writers to tell
ve stories that further elevate community
voices and the people behind the data and
highlight stories of strength and leadership.
See Appendix A: Community Engagement
for the demographics of focus group and
Thought Exchange participants.
To explore all Thought Exchange responses,
visit the Colorado Lotus Project webpage
The report synthesizes this information. It
is organized into ve sections, including
background on creating the Colorado Lotus
Project, a philanthropic analysis of foundation
funding in Colorado’s AANHPI communities, a
summary of key ndings on priority domains
(seven subject areas: demographics, health,
housing, income and economic opportunity,
education, crime and justice, and democracy),
strengths discussed by members and leaders
across Colorado’s AANHPI communities,
and recommendations for policymakers,
researchers, and data collection partners.
Storytelling proles are woven throughout
these sections. Finally, the report concludes
with overall themes of the AANHPI
communities’ strengths and overarching
recommendations to improve data collection
and transparency and to further uplift the
community.
Participants in an AANHPI youth focus
group also received a lesson in weaving
with yarn from Colorado Health Institute
research analyst Emily Leung.
Brian Clark/CHI
May 2024
11
Wh is Da Disaggreon?
Systemic misrepresentation and erasure of
diverse AANPHI communities leads to a lack
of comprehensive and nuanced data, and that
lack of understanding hinders the equitable
allocation of resources.
When researchers combine people from such
wide-ranging backgrounds and cultures into
one or two data groups, they miss crucial trends.
For example, while median income among Asian
households is typically high compared with
the average of all racial/ethnic groups, Asians
experience high income inequality within their
own community. The income gap between
the highest-earning Asian households and the
lowest-earning Asian households is wider than
any other racial/ethnic group. In fact, the gap is
also growing at the fastest pace.
4
Separating data into subgroups — also known
as data disaggregation — is therefore necessary
to fully understand the experiences of people
represented by the overarching racial or ethnic
group.
There are ongoing efforts to support
disaggregating AANHPI data nationwide. In
January 2023, the White House released the
National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice,
and Opportunity for Asian American, Native
Hawaiian, and Pacic Islander Communities.
The strategy created a subcommittee to focus
on data disaggregation, with a priority to collect
and report disaggregated data as a norm across
the federal government.
In 2021, the state of New York passed Assembly
Bill A6896A, which requires state agencies,
boards, departments, and commissions to
collect data specic to Asian and Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander groups.
The advocacy work of the Invisible No More
Campaign was critical to passing the law.
Community organizations have also focused on
collecting and providing better data on AANHPI
communities. AAPI Data routinely releases in-
depth reports on the state of AANHPI people in
California and the U.S. featuring disaggregated
data. In November 2023, AAPI Data partnered
with NORC at the University of Chicago to
deliver regular polling insights on issues
affecting AANHPI people.
These efforts are a fundamental step toward
ensuring that community needs are met.
Disaggregating data elevates people who are
overlooked by typical racial/ethnic constructs
and provides a better understanding of
community needs, which in turn can facilitate
more equitable resource allocation.
This report presents a foundational set of
disaggregated data about Colorado’s AANHPI
communities.
Data Disaggregation and Data Safety
While data disaggregation can provide better
information, there are risks to disaggregating
data. For example, U.S. Census Bureau data
has been historically used as a tool to target
people of color.
14,15
In the 1940s, the Census
Bureau assisted with the internment of
Japanese Americans by providing detailed
local information. Recently, advocacy groups
opposed the Trump administration’s attempts
to add questions about U.S. citizenship to the
census, with internal documents revealing their
intention to manipulate electoral maps.
16
In recognition of these risks, CHI established a
minimum reporting standard to ensure that all
quantitative data presented are not identiable.
See Appendix B: Data Disaggregation and
Reportability Standards for more.
Colorado Lotus Project
12
A Note on Ides is Rort
This report uses the term Asian American
interchangeably with Asian; however, it’s
important to acknowledge that labels such
as Asian or Asian American are embraced
by some but often imposed on others.
17
Similarly, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic
Islander is a panethnic label that may not
resonate with people who wish to identify
with a more specic term. People with
multiethnic or multiracial backgrounds
may also have unique ways of embracing
their identity. Terminology used to describe
identity, particularly with regards to race
and ethnicity, varies among different
groups, personal preferences, and contexts.
Different terms resonate with different
people.
The term AANHPI is also used in this report
to refer to the Asian and Native Hawaiian
and Other Pacic Islander community as
a whole. However, we recognize this term
often fails to capture the vast and diverse
people and experiences that are included
in this term. Where possible, we reference
specic subidentities, such as Vietnamese,
Samoan, or Indian. We also recognize
that there are subgroups within AANHPI
identities. For example, people with ties to
the country of Myanmar (formerly known
as Burma) may identify as Burmese or as
Rohingya, Karen, Karenni, Pa’O, among
others. Unfortunately, at the time of this
analysis of 2021 data from the U.S. Census
Bureau and other sources, this level of detail
is not available. Therefore, our data and
ndings are limited to what is included in
these existing sources, which encompasses
the identities listed at right. For example,
U.S. Census Bureau data lists Burmese as
opposed to other identities.
This report denes AANHPI communities as
the following identities. In some instances,
we refer to grouped AANHPI identities by
region. These denitions are in alignment
with existing sources.
18
Asian and Asian Americans
• East Asians: people from China (including
Hong Kong and Macau), Japan, Korea,
Mongolia, Okinawa, and Taiwan.
• South Asians: people from Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan,
and Sri Lanka. Ethnic groups include
Gujarati, Punjabi, Sindhi, Tamil, and others.
• Southeast Asians: people from the following
countries and ethnic groups: Burma (now
known as Myanmar), Cambodia (Cham,
Khmer, Khmer Loeu), Hmong, Indonesia,
Laos (Iu Mien, Khmu, Lao, Lao Loum,
Tai Dam, Tai Leu, and others), Malaysia,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and
Vietnam (Montagnards, Khmer Kampuchea
Krom, Vietnamese).
Native Hawaiians and
Other Pacic Islanders
• Native Hawaiians and Other Pacic
Islanders: people whose origins are
connected to the original inhabitants of
Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
Melanesia includes Fiji, Papua New Guinea,
Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Micronesia
includes Chuuk, Guam (Guamanian or
Chamorro), Kiribati, Kosrae, Mariana Islands,
Marshall Islands, Palau, Pohnpei, Saipan, and
Yap. Polynesia includes American Samoa,
Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, Tokelau, and Tonga.
This report does not include all people with
ties to the continent of Asia, for example West
Asian and Central Asian identities — such
as people from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and others. We
recognize these groups also face systemic
barriers related to data disaggregation and
their identities are not well-represented by
current data structures. Future work is needed
to explore the needs of people living in
Colorado who trace their roots to these areas
of Western and Central Asia.
Colorado Lotus Project
13
May 2024
13
Phropic Analysis
In 2021, Asian Americans/Pacic
Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP)
released the report Seeking to
Soar: Foundation Funding for
Asian American and Pacic Islander
Communities. This report examined
the state of philanthropic support
for AANHPI communities in the
U.S. AAPIP found that in 2018, only
0.2% of all U.S. grantmaking by
foundations was designated for
AANHPI communities. That’s only
20 cents of every $100. Moreover,
data showed that the percentage
of overall foundation grantmaking
explicitly for AANHPI communities
has been decreasing since 2009.
6
To understand foundation funding
in Colorado, CHI used the same
methods in AAPIP’s analysis of
philanthropic funding on the national
level to examine AANHPI foundation
support statewide.
Abo e Da
Philanthropic funding can take many
different forms and ow through many
types of mechanisms, organizations, and
communities. There is no standardized way
of reporting philanthropic investments;
therefore it is challenging to obtain
a complete picture of how funding
is dispersed in Colorado. In order to
examine how foundations support AANHPI
communities in the state, CHI used publicly
available data from Candid’s Racial
Equity Map and Philanthropy Southwest’s
Dashboard, which also draws from
Candid’s database. The data are compiled
from direct reporting by grantmakers,
Internal Revenue Service lings, and other
public sources like websites and articles.
Since the data are largely self-reported,
they come with certain limitations. See
Appendix C: Philanthropic Data Analysis
Limitations for more detail.
Fodion Fng for AANHPI
Commies Colodo Is Low
Between 2011 and 2018, foundation funding explicitly designated for
AANHPI people in Colorado totaled $17 million.
• This includes 152 grants from 58 grantmakers across the country
to 63 grant recipients in Colorado.
In 2018, $0.60 of every $100.00 awarded by foundations explicitly supported
AANHPI communities in Colorado.
• This is higher than the national rate of $0.20 of every $100.00 awarded
by foundations in 2018, yet is still under 1%.
Colorado Lotus Project
14
Fng for AANHPI Commies Has Mnally Ineased Ov e Yes
As shown in the funding trend line in Figure 1, Colorado’s AANHPI communities have seen a
slight increase in foundation funding since 2011. However, the overall funding level remains low.
Figure 1. Foundation Funding for Colorado’s AANHPI Communities (2011-2018)
Source: Candid. Foundation Maps: Racial Equity. (2011-2018) Retrieved February 2024.
e Pct of Fng Designed for AANHPI Commies
Has Be Low Ov e Yes
Data on foundation funding for
Colorado’s AANHPI communities as
a percentage of overall foundation
funding is limited. However as shown
in Table 1, funding has stayed under
0.60% from 2016-2018.
Sources:
Candid. Foundation Maps: Racial Equity.
(2016-2018) Retrieved February 2024.
Philanthropy Southwest. Southwest Regional
Giving Dashboard. (2016-2018) Retrieved
February 2024.
Table 1. Foundation Funding for Colorado’s
AANHPI Communities as a Percentage of
Total Foundation Funding (2016-2018)
$0
$1M
$4M
$2M
$3M
$6M
$5M
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
$2.20
$0.38
$0.61
$3.50
$4.20
$1.10
$0.36
$4.60
Funding Trend Line
2016
0.16%
0.05%
0.60%
2017
2018
Colorado Lotus Project
15
May 2024
15
Five Fds Compse Ov 90% of Fng
for Colodo’s AANHPI Commies
Foundation funding for AANHPI communities is primarily supported by a small handful of
funders. Notably, 91.6% of the funding for Colorado’s AANHPI communities comes from
foundations outside of Colorado. Figure 2 shows that the top ve funders make up 93.6% of
all foundation funding for Colorado’s AANHPI communities.
Figure 2. Concentration of Foundation Funding for Colorado’s AANHPI Communities (2011-2018)
Top Issues Fded for AANHPI Commies Colodo
Between 2011 and 2018, funding for Colorado’s AANHPI communities primarily supported
issues related to education, human rights, and health.
Figure 3. Top Issues Funded for Colorado’s AANHPI Communities (2011-2018)
0% 20%
40% 60% 80% 100%
Top Funder 85.9%
Top 5 Funders 93.6%
Top 10 Funders 96.8%
All Funding for Colorado’s AANHPI Communities
Source: Candid. Foundation Maps: Racial Equity. (2011-2018) Retrieved February 2024.
Note: Funding could go toward multiple areas, so categories are not mutually exclusive.
Source: Candid. Foundation Maps: Racial Equity. (2011-2018) Retrieved February 2024.
24.0%
of funding included
Education
15.7%
of funding included
Human Rights
12.8%
of funding included
Health
Colorado Lotus Project
16
Fdg for AANHPI Commies
Is Pry Distribed e
Dv Meo Area
Information about where funding was
distributed to AANHPI communities across
Colorado is limited. Only about 50% of grants
reported a location (either a city or county).
Additionally, information about regranting
is not available, so it is possible that these
funds were granted to an organization in one
location that could have used the funds for
programs/services in other areas.
• As shown in Table 2, the top ve counties
where organizations received funding
for AANHPI people were Denver, Adams,
Arapahoe, El Paso, and Jefferson counties.
• Broken down by city, Table 3 shows the
top ve cities where organizations received
funding for AANHPI people were Denver,
Aurora, Littleton, Colorado Springs, and
Greenwood Village.
• Notably, rural areas outside the Interstate
25 corridor are not represented, and this
data gap presents opportunities for a more
comprehensive understanding of funding
disparities and needs throughout the state.
County Percentage
Denver 82.2%
Adams 11.8%
Arapahoe 4.1%
El Paso 1.1%
Jefferson 0.4%
All Other Counties 0.4%
Table 2. Home Counties of Organizations That
Received Foundation Funding to Support
Colorado’s AAHNPI Communities (2011-2018)
Note: Geographic data for grantees was limited. Only
about 50% of grants designated for AANHPI communities
had a county associated with the grant recipient.
Source: Candid. Foundation Maps: Racial Equity. (2011-
2018) Retrieved February 2024.
Note: Geographic data for grantees was limited.
Only about 50% of grants designated for AANHPI
communities had a city associated with grant recipient.
Source: Candid. Foundation Maps: Racial Equity.
(2011-2018) Retrieved February 2024.
Figure 4. Percentage of Foundation
Funding for Colorado’s AANHPI
Communities by Category (2011-2018)
Table 3. Home Cities of Organizations
That Received Foundation Funding
to Support Colorado’s AAHNPI
Communities (2011-2018)
City Percentage
Denver 82.1%
Aurora 11.9%
Littleton 3.0%
Colorado Springs 1.1%
Greenwood Village 1.1%
All Other Cities 0.8%
Fng by Cegory
Most of the foundation funding for AANHPI
communities in Colorado supported efforts
for policy, advocacy, and systems reform.
See Figure 4. Program support and general
support for grantees were also widely
funded categories.
Source: Candid. Foundation Maps: Racial Equity.
(2011-2018) Retrieved February 2024.
Policy, advocacy,
and system reform 37.6%
General support 24.1%
Program support 16.8%
Capacity building and
technical assistance 10.2%
Network building
and collaboration 8.6%
Research and evaluation 1.6%
Other 1.1%
Colorado Lotus Project
17
May 2024
17
Song Phropic Sport Is Needed
for AANHPI Commies Stewide
The data presented demonstrate a need for a
stronger philanthropic presence in Colorado’s
AANHPI communities, especially for those living
beyond the Denver metro area. The overall
funding level has remained low, and just a
handful of funders support AANHPI communities.
This observation was echoed by community
members, with one Thought Exchange
participant stating, “We have a lack of [a]
signicant funder for our community. The lack
of signicant funding makes it hard for AANHPI
community organizations to grow and increase
their sophistication.”
Funding must therefore be sustained and
responsive to community needs, not driven by
the topic of the moment. Philanthropic partners
must also recognize the importance of technical
assistance and data support in their funding
strategies and consider long-term, multiyear
grantmaking.
Notably, while the data in this analysis are limited
to 2018, efforts have been made to increase
foundation funding for AANHPI communities
in more recent years, especially after the rise in
anti-Asian hate due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although data collection is not yet complete for
years beyond 2018, Candid’s database shows
that since 2020, there have been at least four
grants from Colorado foundations that are
intended to serve Colorado’s AANHPI community
— three of which were over $100,000 and one
that was over $1 million. Databases on some
Colorado foundation websites show grantmaking
that supports AANHPI-serving community
organizations between 2020 and 2023.
Nationwide, in July 2021, Asian Americans
Advancing Justice and Kaiser Permanente
partnered to grant $3.6 million to 33 community-
based organizations across the nation to “combat
the surge in violence against Asian Americans
and to support the rights, health, and wellness
of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and
Other Pacic Islander communities.”
19
In 2023,
AAPIP, in partnership with AAPI Data, surveyed
AANHPI-serving organizations to see how
they operated during the surge of demand
for their services resulting from the COVID-19
pandemic. These organizations reported
they were able to meet the needs of the
community, bolstered by increased funding.
20
These efforts reect growth in partnerships
between AANHPI communities and
philanthropic investors. However, a lack of
standardized information on philanthropic
funding makes it difcult to measure exactly
how much funding levels have changed in
recent years. There is no standardized way to
collect information from foundations and other
funders on what communities their funding
is intended for or, more crucially, is reaching.
The data presented in this analysis is largely
self-reported, but not all funders participate
in the reporting process, making it difcult
to get a clear picture of philanthropy for the
community as a whole. A better strategy
to collect information from philanthropic
partners is needed to truly understand the
extent to which this funding is reaching
AANHPI communities.
“We have a lack of (a) signicant
funder for our community. The
lack of signicant funding makes
it hard for AANHPI community
organizations to grow and
increase their sophistication.”
Thought Exchange participant
Colorado Lotus Project
18
Domas
Qualitative and quantitative data collected and analyzed for the Colorado
Lotus Project are organized into seven domains. The domains were identied
and prioritized in coordination with the Colorado AAPI Circle, the advisory
group, and through careful iterative analysis and renement from CHI.
The following are high-level descriptions of each domain:
Each domain section includes guiding
questions, key ndings, and an overview of
available data metrics, complemented by
qualitative ndings. Data availability is limited
with respect to the domains, as well as
identities captured in the data. Further, there
is a lack of data that reects the intersecting
identities of AANHPI people, such as those
who are older adults, youth, immigrants,
refugees, asylum seekers, people with
disabilities, and people who are LGBTQ+.
Where applicable, related data or discussion
are included. However, a clear gap in
available information exists, indicating that
more research and data are needed to better
understand these nuanced experiences.
Five storytelling elements are woven
throughout the domains to paint a fuller
picture of the people and organizations
in Colorado’s AANHPI communities. Our
process for collecting qualitative information
involved conducting key informant
interviews with a dozen leaders from AANHPI
communities across Colorado and holding
focus groups with community members. The
interviews and focus groups followed a semi-
structured format and explored barriers,
strengths, and opportunities to improve the
lives of AANHPI Coloradans across these
domains. Each domain section concludes
with opportunities for action, informed by
qualitative and quantitative ndings, to
address identied barriers specic to the
domain.
Dogphics
The overall composition of AANHPI communities
in Colorado and where they are living, including
identity and representation.
Heal
The state of health for AANHPI people in
Colorado, including physical and mental health
and access to care.
Housg
Access to affordable and high-quality housing.
Income d Economic Opporty
Factors needed to thrive, such as income,
livelihood, and entrepreneurship.
Educion
Opportunities and access to culturally and
linguistically responsive education and resources
for AANHPI students in Colorado, including
diversity of teachers and staff.
Crime d Juice
Topics such as representation in courts and
legal systems and experiences with crime,
racism, and policing.
Doacy
Opportunities or barriers to civic engagement and
voting and representation among elected ofcials.
May 2024
19
May 2024
19
How to Navite Chts is Seion
Navigating charts is essential to understanding the rich data presented
in this report. Here is a quick guide to help you make sense of the information:
Diverse Data Sources: Since the data is derived from multiple sources, each source is included under
the chart to promote transparency. Some data sources have more information than others. For example,
AANHPI identities, availability of condence intervals, and averages may differ across data sources. Be
sure to also reference the chart title to see if data is Colorado-specic or national.
Colorado, Asian, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander Averages:
Look out for distinct bars in graphs representing averages for the
overall Colorado population, Asians, or Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacic Islanders. These lines provide benchmarks for comparison.
Condence Intervals: To provide additional context on the data,
95% condence intervals are included on graphs, where available. Condence
intervals are lines that show the degree of certainty of the data — there is 95%
condence that the true value lies between the range indicated by the interval.
Notes and Identities Not Included: As data are derived from multiple sources,
racial and ethnic groups included vary acoss charts. Pay attention to the sources and notes
included under each chart that highlight limitations or caveats in the data or the AANHPI
identities that could not be included due to small sample sizes. This transparency ensures a
comprehensive understanding of the data presented.
The Mid-Autumn Festival at the Far East Center
in the Little Saigon Denver District featured
activities for people of all ages.
Brian Clark/CHI
Colorado Lotus Project
20
Dogphics d
Colodo Populion
A fundamental step in understanding AANHPI people in Colorado,
particularly for policymakers and service providers, is knowing
what communities live here and where they live. This domain
provides information on the various racial and ethnic AANHPI
groups in the state, their languages, and recent patterns in
migration and also discusses nuances related to demographics,
such as identity and representation.
• Guiding Questions: What does the makeup of the AANHPI
population in Colorado look like? What do we know about their
racial and ethnic demographics in Colorado, including language,
geography, and migration patterns? What are AANHPI Coloradans
sharing about their lived experience?
Key Fngs
• Colorado has a large and diverse AANHPI community living
throughout the state.
• People from Bhutan, Burma (now known as Myanmar), and
Nepal are the most recent immigrants from Asian countries.
• AANHPI people in Colorado feel invisible.
AANHPI Ides of People Livg Colodo
Colorado has a large and diverse AANHPI community living
throughout the state.
Table 4 breaks down the number of AANHPI-identifying
Coloradans. These gures include people who identify with
multiple AANHPI identities. Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Korean,
Vietnamese, and Japanese communities are among the most
prominent Asian demographic groups in Colorado. Native
Hawaiian, Chamorro, and Samoan are the largest self-identied
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander groups living in the
state.
Overall, about 260,000 people in Colorado (4.5%) identify as
Asian (either Asian alone or in combination with another race or
ethnicity, including Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander).
Over 22,000 people in Colorado (0.4%) identify as Native Hawaiian
and Other Pacic Islander (either alone or in combination with
another race or ethnicity, including Asian).
1
Table 4.
AANHPI Identities of People
Living in Colorado (2021)
AANHPI
Identity
Number of
People*
Bangladeshi 565
Bhutanese 1,833
Burmese 4,095
Cambodian 3,624
Chamorro 3,987
Chinese 47,254
Fijian 489
Filipino 38,358
Hmong 4,068
Indian 35,926
Indonesian 2,857
Japanese 26,006
Korean 33,978
Laotian 2,876
Malaysian 458
Marshallese 185
Mongolian 1,332
Native
Hawaiian
8,479
Nepalese 6,738
Okinawan 126
Pakistani 3,155
Samoan 2,877
Sri Lankan 972
Taiwanese 2,635
Thai 6,061
Tongan 602
Vietnamese 33,914
*Note: Includes people with
multiple AANHPI identities
Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
American Community Survey,
2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates.
(2021)
DOMAIN 1
May 2024
21
Map 1 provides a visual representation of the
AANHPI community across Colorado counties,
spotlighting areas of higher concentrations.
AANHPI people in Colorado live throughout the
metro Denver region and also in rural areas of
the state. For example, Mineral, Hinsdale, and
Crowley counties have a high percentage of
AANHPI residents, and all are considered rural
or even frontier. The highest concentrations of
AANHPI people are in Broomeld, Arapahoe,
and Douglas counties.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
Map 1. AANHPI People as a Percentage of Total County Population (2021)
For an in-depth exploration of where
AANHPI communities live in Colorado, use
the interactive AANHPI Community Mapping
Tool on the Colorado Lotus Project webpage.
This tool allows you to view where AANHPI
live within Colorado, by disaggregated
identity, at the census-tract level.
Colorado Lotus Project
22
AANHPI Languages in Colorado
Much like the diversity present in cultures,
identities, races, and ethnicities in Colorado’s
AANHPI communities, languages spoken are wide-
ranging. Across Colorado, about 126,000 people
speak an Asian or Pacic Islander language.
1
Table 5 breaks down the number of Coloradans
who speak one of these languages at home. The
richness of AANHPI languages spoken in Colorado
requires equally rich support for language access.
This means thoughtful and exible translation
and interpretation services that can not only
accommodate many languages, but also regional
and cultural variations in language and ways of
speaking.
Rect Asi Migon Trds
People from Bhutan, Burma (now known as
Myanmar), and Nepal are the most recent
immigrants from Asian countries.
Migration has played a key role in shaping
Colorado. Most people who live in Colorado today
come from somewhere else, either a different
state or country — and that has been true for nearly
200 years.
21
Many complex social and political
factors drive inward migration of AANHPI people
to the U.S. and Colorado, including economic
opportunity and needs, U.S. immigration policy,
wars in Asia, climate change, and patterns of
race-based discrimination and xenophobia.
22
This complex dynamic continues today. For many
AANHPI people, migration is a recent family
experience.
As shown in Figure 5, most people from Bhutan,
Burma (now known as Myanmar), and Nepal
have been in the U.S. for 10 years or fewer. More
than half of Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Indian
communities also immigrated within the last 10
years.
1
Note: a signicant number of Asian people
are unaccounted for in ofcial census numbers.
Knowing the exact population of people living
without documentation is difcult; however based
on estimates from 2015, more than 1.7 million
Asian people are living without documentation in
the U.S. They accounted for 15.7% of the national
undocumented population in 2015.
23
Language or
Language Family*
Number of
Language
Speakers
Bengali 1,839
Chinese, including Mandarin
Chinese, Min Nan Chinese
(including Taiwanese),
Yue Chinese (Cantonese)
23,735
Gujarati 1,500
Hindi 7,445
Hmong 2,574
Ilocano, Samoan,
Hawaiian, or other
Austronesian languages
5,279
Japanese 6,443
Khmer 2,160
Korean 13,302
Malayalam, Kannada, or
other Dravidian languages
2,441
Nepali, Marathi, or other
Indic languages
8,780
Other languages of Asia,
including Burmese,
Karen, Turkish, Uzbek
7,261
Punjabi 1,323
Tagalog, including Filipino 8,072
Tamil 3,385
Telugu 3,483
Thai, Lao, or other
Tai-Kadai languages
3,861
Urdu 1,927
Vietnamese 21,143
*Note: Languages are listed as they are classied by
the Census Bureau. Some languages are combined
into “language families” by the census to preserve
data privacy and ensure a large enough sample size
to report the data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community
Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
Table 5. AANHPI Languages Spoken at Home
in Colorado (2021)
May 2024
23
0% 20%
40% 60% 80% 100%
Figure 5. Percentage of Colorado’s Foreign-Born Asian Populations (All Ages)
Who Have Been in the U.S. 10 Years or Less (2021)
Heg from AANHPI Commies
on Dogphic Idty
AANHPI people in Colorado feel invisible.
In Colorado, AANHPI people feel invisible,
wanting to be recognized beyond stereotypes.
Importantly, this goes beyond AANHPI identities
and should include other dimensions of identity
such as age, gender, sexuality, and immigration
status, among others. This poses opportunities
for better understanding the multifaceted
experiences of Colorado’s AANHPI communities
— and spotlights an opportunity to improve
data collection and disaggregation. Better data
means more people are being seen.
The following quotations are from our
community focus groups and Thought
Exchange exercise:
“Immigrants are more than just
one dimension. We are several
dimensions. [It’s] not just who
we are and where we are born.
Nobody really asked us, ‘Why
[did] you [come] to this country?’
People assume why you came here,
and you’re automatically placed
as a second-class citizen. We feel
invisible, not valued, or dismissed.”
Participant in the Southeast Asian-
identifying focus group
Identities not included due to small sample sizes: Laotian, Okinawan, Sri Lankan.
Note: Gray lines represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that
the true value lies between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
Bhutanese
Burmese
Nepalese
Pakistani
Bangladeshi
Indian
Thai
Indonesian
Chinese
Malaysian
Mongolian
Japanese
Vietnamese
Taiwanese
Filipino
Cambodian
Korean
Hmong
74.9%
62.9%
52.1%
50.9%
50.8%
39.2%
35.1%
35.0%
26.8%
24.8%
22.9%
20.9%
20.8%
20.4%
19.2%
14.3%
5.9%
89.0%
Colorado Lotus Project
24
“People know of our food and our
cultural festivals but not of any
social issues and challenges our
community faces. We need people
to know about social inequities
so that they can work towards
changing them and bringing
justice.”
Thought Exchange participant
“We’re more than just our AAPI
identities. If we’re not supported
as our full selves, sometimes being
with our community is more harmful
than helpful.”
Thought Exchange participant
“[I’m] constantly struggling to be
American enough while also being
AAPI enough. Being a third-culture
kid is exhausting and draining
and always has been; I just want
to feel welcomed, accepted, and
comfortable around my peers here.”
Thought Exchange participant
Opporties For Aion
Improve data collection and disaggregation for
AANHPI communities in Colorado.
Colorado has signicant opportunities to improve
and address the current gaps in demographic data
for AANHPI populations. By addressing these gaps,
Colorado can pave the way for a more inclusive and
accurate representation of AANHPI populations, better
understand their unique needs and experiences, and
ultimately, contribute to more targeted and effective
policies and services. The following considerations
can lead to more accurate and comprehensive
data collection and disaggregation for AANHPI
communities.
1. Enhance National, State, and Local Tools
• Collect and report data in more diverse ways,
allowing users the exibility to view disaggregated
and aggregated data.
• Include multiple choices in race and ethnicity
questions to avoid oversimplication, ensuring that
people can identify with their specic groups.
• Include a self-reporting option to avoid obscuring
the needs of people with multiple identities who may
not nd representation in predened categories.
2. Acknowledge Intersecting Identities
• Improve data collection and information on
intersecting identities, such as people who are
refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers, youth, older
adults, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and
people experiencing homelessness, among others.
Strengthen connections to these groups to gain a
more profound understanding of their unique needs.
• Develop targeted data collection strategies that
capture the nuances of the experiences and
challenges faced by these communities.
3. Consider Risk, Privacy, and Data Security with
Disaggregation
• Acknowledge the risks associated with data
disaggregation, particularly at the local level.
Implement procedures to ensure data anonymity and
condentiality.
Colorado Lotus Project
25
May 2024
25
Png Dv’s Forgo Chown
d e Hiory of Colodo’s AANHPI
People e Spotght
Few people know that Denver once hosted a thriving Chinatown, which was
almost wiped out in an 1880 anti-Chinese race riot. But thanks to the efforts of a
pan-Asian and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander group of community
leaders, more and more Coloradans are now aware of the ethnic enclave’s history.
The mission of Colorado Asian Pacic United,
or CAPU, is “to celebrate and preserve
Asian Pacic American cultures and histories
through education, allowing us to build
stronger communities and allies while taking
a step towards equitable empowerment,
collaboration, and representation.”
The group’s rst project was to celebrate
Denver’s Chinatown, which had been
largely (but not completely) destroyed in
an October 31, 1880 anti-Chinese race riot,
when thousands of white people rampaged
through the streets and alleyways of Lower
Downtown, or LoDo, chasing out Chinese
residents and damaging or burning their
businesses.
By Gil Asakawa
The inspiration for the project came from a
forgotten and unnoticed plaque on a brick wall
catty-corner from Coors Field on 20
th
Street and
just two blocks from Sakura Square, the heart of
the city’s Japanese community. The plaque was
titled “Hop Alley/Chinese Riot of 1880.”
The title and the text beneath it placed blame on
the Chinese residents for the riot and used the
demeaning name “Hop Alley” for the district, a
reference to opium dens that were frequented by
both Chinese and white people with addiction. It
also named three white business owners who took
in eeing Chinese to protect them, which was
great, but didn’t name the one Chinese man, Look
Young, who was beaten to death and hung from a
lamp post.
A mural by local artist
Nalye Lor depicts the history
of Chinese and AANHPI
immigrants to Colorado.
Brian Clark/CHI
Colorado Lotus Project
26
CAPU began looking into how to get the plaque
removed and a more accurate marker put in its
place to correct the historical record.
The history of Denver’s Chinatown began after
the Transcontinental Railroad was completed in
1869. Thousands of Chinese immigrant laborers
worked on that railroad and eventually made
their way south from Wyoming to Denver’s
Union Station.
Chinatown developed as the Chinese settled
a few blocks from the station and started
businesses along Blake and Market streets and
the alleys starting at 15
th
Street to 17
th
Street and
beyond.
After the riot, the Chinese didn’t just disappear.
They returned to LoDo. Into the 1950s, there was
a Chinese Masonic Temple on Market off 20
th
Street, and the American Chinese Association
was near 20
th
Street on Larimer.
That’s the history that CAPU wanted to bring
to life and share. “Part of it was we wanted
to talk about what else can we do,” says Joie
Ha, CAPU’s Executive Director. “And it was
the consensus amongst us that our histories,
especially locally in Colorado, aren’t very well
known.”
In just two years, CAPU’s efforts to memorialize
Chinatown have gone beyond updating an
old plaque. Former Mayor Michael B. Hancock
proclaimed October 31, 2020 as Denver
Chinatown Commemoration Day. In April 2022,
Mayor Hancock formally apologized for the anti-
Chinese riot of 1880, including to descendants
of original Chinatown families. And that August,
the city ofcially oversaw the removal of the
offensive plaque.
A mural depicting the history of the Chinese
and AANHPI immigrants to Colorado now sits
on the 19
th
Street side of a Denver re station on
Lawrence, along with three specially designed
historical markers throughout LoDo that
explain the Chinatown history. Unfortunately,
in December 2023, one of the markers was
torn from its base and stolen. Another mural
commemorating Colorado’s AANHPI history
is on the Auraria campus. CAPU also helped
Denver’s Ofce of Storytelling to produce a
powerful 50-minute documentary, “Reclaiming
Denver’s Chinatown.” The lm is available on
YouTube and has been shown theatrically.
“Chinatown was our launching board, I guess
you can say. But we want to tell the stories and
histories of our community at large, not just the
Chinatown story,” Ha says.
While CAPU plans to activate the alleyway where
the original Chinatown was located (between
15
th
and 16
th
streets and Blake and Wazee) this
fall, with performances and artwork, efforts
are also being made to elevate the history of
AANHPI people writ large. CAPU is also working
to create teaching materials for schools, to collect
oral histories about the Little Saigon business
district along South Federal Boulevard, and to
record the stories of the area’s Asian adoptees.
Long-term, there are plans to build a museum to
house artifacts and archive the stories of all the
AANHPI communities in the state.
“Not a lot of people remember that Asian
Americans have been here for generations,”
adds Ha. “We have been vital to building this
country. Our inuence in the United States
is strong, but it often goes unrecognized.
However, I think recently, with the rise in anti-
Asian hate, it was clear that racism against
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacic
Islanders has been something that is ongoing
and continual. The erasure of our histories is
an act of racism, and I think that when we are
able to know our histories, then we are able to
prevent them from happening again.”
“Chown was o lag
bod, I guess you c say. B we
wt to tell e oes d hioes
of o commy lge, not
ju e Chown ory.”
Joie Ha, executive director,
Colorado Asian Pacic United
May 2024
27
Heal
Physical Heal of AANHPI
Commies
AANHPI communities report fair or poor general
health status at rates comparable to or lower
than the overall state average, but this varies by
specic identity.
In Colorado, disaggregated data on physical
health metrics such as chronic diseases and
general health status are limited. Figure 6 shows
the percentage of people reporting fair or poor
general health, but due to the way data are
collected, the ability to separate it into various
identities is limited. In this instance, available data
show that self-reported fair or poor general health
status is similar to or better than the Colorado
average for many AANHPI identities. The
percentage of AANHPI people experiencing fair
or poor general health ranges from 3.7% to 13.8%
for various identities in Colorado, compared with
the state average of 13.2%.
24
This limited data may not show the full story given
the inability to break apart data into more than
seven identities. For example, worldwide, South
Asians account for 60% of all heart disease cases,
even though — at 2 billion people — they make
up only a quarter of the planet’s population.
25
A
2018 study for the American Heart Association
found South Asian Americans are more likely to
die of coronary heart disease than other Asian
Americans and non-Hispanic white Americans.
26
Researchers are advocating for more resources to
fully understand why, but issues like the inability
to separate data from conventional classications,
hinder research.
Community members pointed to access to healthy
foods as a challenge.
“There’s no place to get fresh vegetables [from
my culture.] I go to Target and I’m wondering,
‘What kind of vegetables are these?’ It’s hard
to eat fresh here.” Participant in the recent
immigrant and refugee focus group
Having a better understanding of the
physical and mental health of AANHPI
communities is crucial for several reasons.
It can provide nuanced trends in health
outcomes across different groups of
people, allowing for service providers
and policy makers to develop targeted,
culturally relevant interventions that
address the specic needs of each
population. It can also reveal gaps in
the network of health care in Colorado,
allowing for data-driven decisions about
investments in care infrastructure. This
domain details the physical health, mental
health, and access to care of AANHPI
communities in Colorado.
• Guiding Questions: What is the state
of physical health for AANHPI people in
Colorado? Of mental health? What are
barriers to accessing health services?
Key Fngs
• AANHPI communities report fair or
poor general health status at rates
comparable to or lower than the overall
state average, but this varies by specic
identity.
• Rates of poor mental health are at an
all-time high across Colorado. Korean
adults and AANHPI high school
students report high rates of poor
mental health.
• Colorado has a lack of culturally and
linguistically responsive providers
to meet the needs of AANHPI
communities, and access to care and
insurance vary greatly by community.
DOMAIN 2
Colorado Lotus Project
28
A bright spot related to youth physical health is
the availability of school-based health centers —
medical clinics that offer health care to children
and youth, either in a school or on school
grounds. This was emphasized by a community
member at a focus group:
“At my high school, we had Denver Health
Centers. You would get parent consent
and you can get check-ups, make your
own appointments, etc. without needing a
parent there. That was helpful for a lot of
students, especially if parents are busy —
working, taking care of siblings, etc.”
Participant in the youth focus group
Mtal Heal of
AANHPI Commies
Rates of poor mental health are at an all-time
high across Colorado.
27
Korean adults and
AANHPI high school students report high rates
of poor mental health.
National data indicate that rates of mental
health issues among Asian people are
generally lower compared with white people.
However, this nding may be a result of
underdiagnosis and underreporting.
28
These
issues mask variations in mental health
among different AANHPI groups. Many
underdiagnoses can happen when mental
health symptoms are talked about in a different
way, such as describing physical symptoms
such as heart palpitations or a poor appetite.
29
Even when diagnosed with a mental health
issue, Asian people are less likely to use mental
health services compared with other racial and
ethnic groups, which may be due to stigma
as well as systemic barriers to care such as
language access.
30
In 2021, only 25% of Asian
adults with a mental illness reported receiving
mental health services compared with 52% of
white adults with a mental illness.
28
Further, national data show rising rates of
death by suicide among AANHPI youth ages
12-17. In 2020, suicides were the leading
cause of death among AANHPI children
ages 10-14 and the second leading cause
among those ages 15-35. Rates of death
by suicide more than doubled among
AANHPI youth ages 12-17 from 2010 to
2020 (increasing from 2.2 to 5.0 deaths per
100,000 population).
28
In Colorado, the ability to separate self-
reported mental health status among
AANHPI identities is limited. However,
data show that 22.2% of Korean people
in Colorado report mental health distress,
dened as 14 or more poor mental health
days in the last month. See Figure 6. By
comparison, 12.4% of people in Colorado
report mental health distress. Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islanders also
report mental health distress at a higher rate
than the state average, at 14.0%.
24
Data from the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey
in Figure 7 show that South Asian high
school students report about the same
percentage as the state average for poor
mental health (feeling so sad or hopeless
almost every day for two weeks or more in
a row that they stopped doing some usual
activities) at 38.9% and 39.6%, respectively.
31
For multiracial students, the rate is slightly
higher at 43.0%. Rates of poor mental health
are lower for East and Southeast Asians and
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander
students. South Asians, East and Southeast
Asians, and multiracial students all reported
higher percentages of self-reported
attempted suicide in the last year compared
with the state average.
It’s important to note that these groups
are not disaggregated, so it is difcult to
understand any subcultural nuances within
each group, and the multiracial category
can include multiple identities outside of
AANHPI.
May 2024
29
0% 5%
10% 15%
Figure 6. Percentage of People 18 and Older in Colorado Reporting
Fair or Poor General Health and Mental Health Distress, by AANHPI Identity (2017-2021)
Figure 7. Percentage of Colorado High School Students Reporting They Experienced Mental Health Issues
or Attempted Suicide, by Regional AANHPI Identity (2021)
Note: Due to the way data are collected, Asian as an overall category is not reportable, and East and Southeast Asian cannot be separated.
Gray lines represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value lies
between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, 2021
0%
10%
40%
20%
30%
Reported that they felt so sad or hopeless
almost every day for two weeks or more in
a row during the past 12 months that they
stopped doing some usual activities
Reported they attempted suicide
one or more times during the past 12 months
Note: Native Hawaiian, Guamanian, Chamorro, Samoan, and Other Pacic Islander are available categories in this data source but have been
included in one group of “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander” due to small sample sizes. AANHPI identities beyond this are unavailable
due to the way data are collected. Gray lines represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95%
condence that the true value lies between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2017-2021.
● ● ● ● Fair or Poor General Health
● ● ● ● Mental Health Distress (14 or more poor mental health days in the last month)
20% 25%
Korean
Chinese
Vietnamese
Filipino
Japanese
Indian
● Colorado ● South Asian ● East/Southeast Asian ● Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander ● Multiracial
33.3%
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
11.4%
Colorado
13.8%
4.8%
11.4%
4.2%
7.9%
12.7%
6.0%
3.9%
5.0%
3.7%
1.6%
Asian
5.6%
8.2%
22.2%
39.6%
38.9%
32.5%
26.9%
43.0%
7.9%
4.6%
10.0%
7.2%
13.2%
12.4%
14.0%
9.3%
Colorado Lotus Project
30
In 2021, the City and County of Denver’s Ofce
of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs conducted
listening sessions with multiple racial/ethnic
groups, including for AANHPI identities. They
found that a lack of access to mental health
support was a barrier in all communities
represented.
32
This nding is one of many
community members and leaders emphasized.
In focus groups and key informant interviews,
people raised the issue of mental health while
acknowledging that cultural stigma around
mental health exists in AANHPI communities.
“Mental health isn’t something Asian
households really talk about very much.
Being rst generation, my family had
different experiences and traumas. Mental
health is something I’ve struggled with my
entire life. I didn’t even know what anxiety
was until college. I always thought I was
weird because I felt this way.” Participant in
the Southeast Asian-identifying focus group
For AANHPI people with intersecting identities,
such as being LGBTQ+, these issues may be
especially challenging.
“I have seen a gap within the queer Asian
community [with] mental health… It’s not
that it isn’t valued; it is seen as a little taboo,
but I think as younger generations grow
older, they know that mental health really
does matter.” Key informant
Community members also raised substance
use as an issue, but accurate and reliable data
on this issue, especially specic to AANHPI
communities, are lacking.
Dancers perform during the Mid-Autumn Festival at the Far East Center in the Little Saigon Denver District. Brian Clark/CHI
Colorado Lotus Project
31
May 2024
31
A 40+ yes, Asi Pacific
Developmt Ct Connues
to Provide Ccal Svices to
Immignts d Refugees
Many who use APDC’s services describe the
organization as their second home. “We
become a family fast,” said a participant in
a focus group conducted at APDC by the
Colorado Health Institute. In addition to
speaking highly of the Center’s staff and
teachers, students said they could rely on
APDC for support in different areas, including
For more than four decades, the Asian Pacic Development Center, or APDC, has
been serving the Denver area’s diverse Asian community with mental health and other
health and social services. Over the years, the nonprot organization’s focus shifted
specically to serving immigrants and refugees from across the world, providing
critical services to support education, health, and social needs.
By Gil Asakawa
APDC was founded in 1980 to offer mental
health services to the Asian community, which
like many communities of color, is culturally
resistant to openly discussing mental health
issues. Over time and with the increasing
arrival of immigrants from Asian countries, the
organization added services such as English
language and job-hunting classes.
From left, Chris Wanifuchi, former Executive Director
of the Asian Pacic Development Center (APDC);
the late Steve Hogan, former Aurora Mayor; and
Rudy Lie, a founder of APDC, cut the ribbon to open
the APDC building in 2013. In 2023, the Center
merged with Aurora Mental Health and Recovery to
form the Cultural Development & Wellness Center.
Courtesy of Harry Budisidharta
Colorado Lotus Project
32
years, the full integration into CWDC helps
APDC expand its reach.
“There has been an ongoing discussion within
[our staff and board] about the name APDC
[having] a rich history and legacy, but [also
creating] a misconception,” Budisidharta
said. “Sadly, it sometimes deters people from
seeking our services. I still remember when we
did the COVID vaccine, we had somebody from
one of the Pacic Islander nations that came to
us and says, ‘I know you guys were here. But I
didn’t think that you were serving people like
me. I thought you only serve Asians.’”
APDC has worked with communities in a
broader sense for years. The organization
provided testimony that led to the passing of
Colorado’s hate crime law, and Budisidharta
drafted the language for the legislation to
establish Lunar New Year as an observed
holiday in the state starting this year.
The organization has had a lasting impact
on Denver’s Asian communities and beyond.
Whether under its old name or its new identity,
CDWC is poised to continue its crucial, critically
important work to welcome immigrants and
refugees.
citizenship applications, victim
assistance, and legal services. But
behavioral health services — the
core of APDC’s founding — are
unique. “Mental health in Asia
is unheard of. There’s stigma …
even if you seek help, people
don’t want to talk about it in
English. APDC has Vietnamese
and Mandarin-speaking
therapists. These services and
providers make people feel more
comfortable,” said one participant.
But as of January 2024, APDC’s
website and Facebook presence
has been shuttered and the
APDC.org website redirects to Aurora Mental
Health and Recovery’s Cultural Development
and Wellness Center (CDWC).
The change may seem sudden to some, but the
evolution has been inevitable — and a long time
coming.
“We’re calling it an integration because
APDC merged with Aurora Mental Health
and Recovery back in 2012,” explains Harry
Budisidharta, Executive Director of APDC since
2017 and now legal counsel and compliance
ofcer of Aurora Mental Health and Recovery
(AMHR). “APDC has been a subsidiary of AMHR
since then. That’s a detail that not a lot of people
know about, even though it’s not a secret.”
“The staff remains the same. All of the services
remain the same. None of the services change.
The program still is all the same. But now, we
are combining not just APDC programs, but
also other programs within AMHR that serve
refugees and immigrants.”
Because of the integration, the multicultural and
multilingual staff of 60 at what used to be APDC
has grown to nearly 100 people dedicated to
helping immigrants and refugees.
And while APDC has been serving immigrants
and refugees from across the world, including
many of the world’s conict zones, for several
Volunteers tend to the community garden located
behind Aurora Mental Health and Recovery’s
Cultural Development and Wellness Center.
Courtesy of Harry Budisidharta
May 2024
33
Access to Ce for AANHPI Commies
Colorado has a lack of culturally and linguistically
responsive providers to meet the needs of AANHPI
communities, and access to care and insurance vary
greatly by community.
Cultural and Linguistic Responsivity
Across the health care system, there is a lack of
culturally and linguistically responsive providers to
serve AANHPI communities. Community members
spoke of struggles with nding providers who
understand or speak their languages.
“Mental health is still a challenging issue,
especially for communities of color. The resources
provided by the state are not diverse. All therapists
are white. It’s not as inclusive as it could be.”
Participant in the youth focus group
“Even being uent in navigating the health system,
it has been really difcult getting mental health
supports for my young son. We are often booked a
month out at a time to see a counselor. I think we
need more mental health professionals that serve
youth in the health sector. There are improvements
in schools.” Participant in the East Asian-identifying
focus group
“I don’t think there’s a large enough network of
Asian American doctors, particularly in mental
health, who can speak to our experiences. I feel
strongly that we need more Asian clinicians
that the community can feel are trustworthy.”
Participant in the East Asian-identifying focus group
“[I] had to nd a doctor who knew about AAPI
communities — he needed to understand how
we eat, and why we eat, etc. [For example, my
doctor] doesn’t lecture me about coconuts. He
isn’t forcing me to eat zucchini; he’s referencing
vegetables I can get at the Asian grocery store. He
doesn’t lecture me on eating the right vegetables.”
Participant in the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic
Islander-identifying focus group
“I had to interpret for my parents when they would
go to the doctor. There’s a lack of accommodation
for Asian families. There’s also a lack of research
and understanding of what Asian populations
need.” Participant in the East Asian-identifying focus
group
One bright spot noted by community
members was services provided by Aurora
Mental Health and Recovery’s Cultural
Development and Wellness Center
(formerly known as the Asian Pacic
Development Center).
“Mental health in Asia is unheard
of. There’s stigma. Asian Pacic
Development Center (APDC) is special
in that regard [because they provide
services]. I’ve never even thought of
seeking mental health care [before.]
But APDC provides Vietnamese and
Mandarin therapists. There is so much
stigma around mental health that even
if you do seek help, people don’t know
how, and they don’t want to talk about
it in English. But APDC having these
services and providers makes people
feel more comfortable.” Participant in
the recent immigrant and refugee
focus group
Interpretation and translation services are
now widely available across the medical
system, and while some participants noted
positive experiences with interpretation
and translation, others described
difculties.
“Whenever my mom has an
appointment, one of the children has to
go with her, even though the hospital
provides a translator. Sometimes
the translator is hard to hear over
the phone.” Participant in the recent
immigrant and refugee focus group
“Sometimes the translator does not
understand Burmese. They get mad
at me, and we go back and forth. It’s
frustrating.” Participant in the recent
immigrant and refugee focus group
“Sometimes the interpretation is not
good, and they don’t give you the right
language. If you ask them to try again,
they get frustrated.” Participant in
the recent immigrant and refugee
focus group
Colorado Lotus Project
34
Insce Covage
National 2021 data from the Kaiser Family
Foundation shows that among those age 64 and
younger, 6% of Asian people and 11% of Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander people are
uninsured compared with 7% of white people.
28
However, there is a wide variation in coverage
by AANHPI identity. For example, uninsured
rates are as high as 28% for Mongolian people
and 24% for Marshallese people, overall.
Citizenship status also makes a big difference.
Comparing communities based on citizenship
status, the uninsured rate more than doubles
for Mongolian and Marshallese people who are
not citizens compared with those who are.
28
In
Colorado, there are also differences in insurance
rates by AANHPI identity. Figure 8 shows that
ve AANHPI identities — Cambodian, Burmese,
Indonesian, Mongolian, and Nepalese — have
insured rates lower than the Colorado
average.
1
Difculties navigating the health care system,
especially with insurance benets, may be an
issue for many people.
“People are losing their Medicaid. We
experienced this in my own household.
We found out when we resubmitted a
Medicaid application for my mom, and we
couldn’t get it.” Key informant
“My parents have a very difcult time
navigating the technology needed to
remain enrolled in benets. If they miss
a thing they have to do on the computer,
then they have to go in person to rectify
it.” Participant in the East Asian-identifying
focus group
Figure 8. Percentage of People in Colorado (All Ages) with Health Insurance, by AANHPI Identity (2021)
0% 20%
40% 60% 80% 100%
Colorado
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Pakistani
Japanese
Filipino
Taiwanese
Indian
Korean
Hmong
Laotian
Thai
Chinese
Chamorro
Vietnamese
Cambodian
Burmese
Indonesian
Mongolian
Nepalese
Identities not included due to small sample sizes: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Fijian, Guamanian, Hawaiian, Malaysian, Marshallese, Okinawan,
Samoan, Sri Lankan, Tongan.
Note: Gray lines represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value
lies between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
93.6%
94.2%
91.9%
95.9%
95.6%
95.3%
95.0%
94.9%
94.1%
94.0%
93.6%
93.5%
93.4%
92.6%
90.2%
90.2%
86.8%
83.3%
80.6%
92.1%
Colorado Lotus Project
35
May 2024
35
Opporties For Aion
Increase access to culturally responsive care and insurance for AANHPI communities.
2. Increase Access to Reliable Translators
and Interpreters
• Increase access to translators and
interpreters who are not only accurate
and reliable but also procient in
the right dialect. Translators and
interpreters should convey information
in plain language, avoiding the use of
sophisticated language that may hinder
understanding.
• Evaluate translation and interpretation
resources regularly to ensure high-
quality services.
3. Promote Health Care Enrollment and
Services in Culturally Responsive Ways
• Encourage state and health access
organizations to provide information
about insurance options in multiple
languages. These languages should
reect the identities and languages in
their service areas.
• Find ways to leverage native speakers
and people from AANHPI communities
to support increasing insurance
access and health care utilization.
For example, setting up hotlines and
training community navigators to answer
questions about how to get insurance or
access benets.
To address the growing need for culturally
responsive care and insurance accessibility for
AANHPI communities, signicant opportunities
for improvement emerge. The following
considerations can lead to better access to
health and mental health care. Addressing
language barriers, diverse identities, and
workforce representation can help pave the way
for a health care system that better meets the
unique needs of AANHPI people.
1. Improve Behavioral Health Workforce
Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness
• Require culturally responsive care training
for health care providers and staff. Ensure
these trainings include how to provide
care for different AANHPI communities
and encourage providers to speak in plain,
simple language, which can support effective
interpretation.
• Establish opportunities for students of color
who are interested in behavioral health
careers to connect with therapists of color and
other health care professionals.
• Create a pipeline for students of color,
through state or institutional initiatives, that
gives them practical experience through
internships or shadowing. This approach can
serve as a valuable pathway to diversify the
behavioral health workforce, addressing the
need for culturally competent care.
A sign at the Far East Center in Denver welcomes visitors in many languages. Brian Clark/CHI
Colorado Lotus Project
36
Heal Dispies Among
Pacific Islds Colodo
needs,” wrote Gabi Johnson, Media
Relations Manager of the Colorado
Department of Public Health and
Environment (CDPHE) in an email
interview. “For instance, Colorado’s
Asian population have relatively high
vaccination rates, but that might not
be true for everyone [who identies
as] AANHPI. However, because the
overall vaccination rates are stable,
other populations within that group might
not get the focused resources they need.
Foundations are beginning to examine the gap
in philanthropic funding to AANHPI communities,
including the recent development of [The Colorado
AAPI Circle] housed in The Denver Foundation.”
CDPHE has also worked closely with the Asian
Pacic Development Center (now Aurora Mental
Health and Recovery’s Cultural Development and
Wellness Center), which continues to provide a
range of behavioral health services and support to
AANHPI people.
While there are many barriers and inequities
facing AANHPI communities in Colorado, there is
also great momentum that should be built upon
to address those challenges. The Colorado Lotus
Project is an important step toward understanding
disparities confronting AANHPI communities in
Colorado and strengths in community.
Elevating the insights from this and other work
in AANHPI communities will be instrumental in
fostering equitable access to health care and
advancing the well-being of AANHPI communities
across the state.
Photo coutesy of Vivian Metekan
Health care access is a critical aspect of well-being, yet Pacic Islanders in the Denver
metro area face signicant challenges in this regard. Pacic Islanders often encounter
cultural barriers that hinder their access to health care services. Language differences
and unfamiliarity with the local health care system can create communication challenges,
making it difcult for people to seek and receive appropriate medical care.
By Melovy M. Melvin
The Denver metro area lacks sufcient
health care infrastructure that meets
the needs of many people of
color, including Pacic Islanders.
Vivian Metekan, a Micronesian
native, faces health care
challenges with her 7-year-old
son, EJ, who has a disability. “It
was hard at rst because not only
did I not understand or know the
severity of my son’s condition, but
how was I going to be able to nd out
the right resources and appropriate care to help
him?” She goes on to say that sometimes nding
a translator can be hard. “Usually, if I get paired
with a translator almost 90% of the time, it’s over
the phone and usually someone from out of the
state of Colorado.”
Health care providers may not always have the
cultural competence needed to understand the
health issues specic to Pacic Islanders. This
lack of awareness can lead to misdiagnoses or
inadequate treatment, exacerbating existing
health disparities.
Community outreach programs that specically
target Pacic Islanders can help share
information about available health services,
preventive care, and resources. These programs
can also address common health concerns within
the community.
“Analyzing the needs of [Pacic Islanders in
Colorado] can be challenging because there
are numerous groups within the Asian American
and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander
(AANHPI) designation, and they all have unique
Vivian and EJ
May 2024
37
Housg
Access to safe, affordable housing lays the foundation
for individual and community well-being. Studies
have shown that housing affects physical and mental
health, economic opportunity, and social cohesion,
making it a critical lens for addressing both individual
needs and broader societal challenges. This domain
details housing opportunities for Colorado’s AANHPI
communities, including access to affordable housing,
mortgages, and homeownership. It also includes
details about the quality of housing available to
AANHPI communities and the challenges refugees
face in nding affordable and adequate housing.
• Guiding Questions: What do housing opportunities
look like for AANHPI communities? Can communities
access high-quality and affordable housing in the
areas they want to live?
Key Fngs
• In Colorado, AANHPI communities are
experiencing housing cost burden
(dened as spending more than 30%
of monthly income on housing costs).
• Pakistani and Burmese people in
Colorado are more likely to live in
low-quality housing.
• Immigrants and refugees may be more
impacted by housing affordability
and quality.
DOMAIN 3
Members of the Guiding Mountain Dragon and Lion Dance Association prepare for a performace to celebrate Lunar New
Year in a Denver neighborhood.
Brian Clark/CHI
Colorado Lotus Project
38
Housg Aordy
In Colorado, AANHPI communities are
experiencing housing cost burden (dened
as spending more than 30% of monthly
income on housing costs).
In Colorado, 27.1% of Asian and 32.0% of
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander
people experience housing cost burden,
which is close to the Colorado average of
27.6%. However, breaking apart this data
shows that most AANPHI identities are
experiencing a much higher burden, with
rates as high as 57.0% for Bangladeshi
Coloradans.
1
See Figure 9.
Focus group members spoke of this burden
too, pointing to the high cost of housing as
a barrier.
“Housing in Colorado is far too
expensive. We are
49th in the nation for
teacher pay. I know educators who live
three to four people per house, and it’s
not sustainable. I think the only reason
why I got the house I live in is because
the seller was Asian, and we connected.
People were outbidding me, but I had a
connection with the seller.” Participant in
the East Asian-identifying focus group
“I have a job, but everything is more
expensive after the pandemic. Housing,
food, but your pay is not enough. Food
costs doubled, but your salary doesn’t
double. Housing is the most expensive.”
Participant in the recent immigrant
and refugee focus group
Data from the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) shows that
in 2022 approximately 303,100 people
who identify as Asian and 104,300 people
who identify as Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacic Islander lived in public and assisted
(subsidized) housing nationwide.
33
Multigenerational Living
It is not uncommon in many AANHPI and non-
western cultures to live in multigenerational
households. Research shows that love and
connection, quality of life, support and care,
and family obligation are primary drivers of
multigenerational living.
34
However, data from the
Pew Research Center nds that nancial issues
are also a top reason why U.S. adults are living in
multigenerational households.
35
The intersection of
lack of affordable housing and multigenerational
living was cited in CHI’s focus groups.
“A lot of our communities are
multigenerational households. We have me,
my husband, our kids, and my husband’s
parents, too, because they can’t really afford
their own place.” Participant in the Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander-identifying
focus group
“[My] grandma still has the house I grew up in.
[It’s our home base…] If I do fail [to pay rent],
the worst-case scenario is I move in with my
family.” Participant in the Southeast
Asian-identifying focus group
CHI’s analysis of ACS data shows a wide variety
of AANHPI people who report living in a
multigenerational home. See Figure 10. Burmese,
Bhutanese, and Nepalese communities have the
highest rates of multigenerational living at 94.3%,
93.4%, and 86.8%, respectively. This is compared
with the Colorado average of 59.8%.
1
These three communities are also among the
most recent groups to have immigrated, which is
in line with national ndings that immigrant status
is linked to the likelihood of multigenerational
living. Nationwide, a higher share of foreign-born
Americans (26%) than U.S.-born Americans (17%)
live in a multigenerational family home.
35
Among
adults living in multigenerational households,
23% indicated that it can be stressful, but over
half indicated that it was convenient (58%) and
rewarding (54%).
35
This sentiment reects a strength
— community and family relationships were a
common theme in many of CHI’s conversations. (See
Strengths in Full Bloom for more.)
May 2024
39
Identities not included due to small sample sizes: Fijian, Marshallese, Okinawan, Tongan.
Note: Housing cost burden is dened as spending more than 30% of monthly income on housing costs. This is a household-level metric in
which all members of the household will have the same value, thus all ages are indicated. Gray lines represent condence intervals, which
show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value lies between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
Figure 9. Percentage of People in Colorado (All Ages) Experiencing Housing Cost Burden, by AANHPI Identity (2021)
Colorado
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Bangladeshi
Burmese
Mongolian
Indonesian
Bhutanese
Nepalese
Pakistani
Samoan
Thai
Hawaiian
Laotian
Malaysian
Chinese
Cambodian
Hmong
Chamorro
Vietnamese
Japanese
Korean
Filipino
Taiwanese
Indian
Sri Lankan
Guamanian
0% 40% 60% 80%20%
27.1%
27.6%
57.0%
52.5%
47.6%
41.1%
38.4%
35.2%
34.3%
32.6%
31.8%
30.7%
30.3%
29.6%
29.1%
28.2%
27.7%
27.6%
27.5%
26.9%
26.7%
24.8%
22.8%
18.2%
15.0%
10.5%
32.0%
Colorado Lotus Project
40
Figure 10. Percentage of People in Colorado (All Ages) Living in a Multigenerational Home, by AANHPI Identity (2021)
Colorado
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Burmese
Bhutanese
Nepalese
Hmong
Bangladeshi
Laotian
Cambodian
Samoan
Chamorro
Pakistani
Vietnamese
Mongolian
Indian
Sri Lankan
Filipino
Korean
Chinese
Hawaiian
Indonesian
Taiwanese
Japanese
Guamanian
Thai
Malaysian
0% 60% 80% 100%20% 40%
69.4%
67.1%
59.8%
94.3%
93.4%
86.8%
83.6%
83.3%
81.9%
79.8%
79.3%
78.5%
76.6%
76.4%
70.9%
70.5%
68.1%
67.0%
66.5%
64.6%
61.7%
59.6%
59.2%
59.1%
53.1%
52.5%
46.4%
Identities not included due to small sample sizes: Fijian, Marshallese, Okinawan, Tongan.
Note: This is a household-level metric in which all members of the household will have the same value, thus all ages are indicated. Gray lines
represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value lies between the
range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
May 2024
41
Homeownership
One component of housing opportunity is
ownership, an important piece of building
generational wealth. Figure 11 shows wide
variation among AANHPI identities, with rates of
homeownership varying from 33.7% to 87.7%.
Laotian and Hmong people report the highest
rates of homeownership at 87.7% and 86.7%
respectively, while South Asian groups like
Pakistani and Bangladeshi people report 56.2%
and 33.7% respectively, well below the Colorado
average of 68.8%.
1
Focus group members pointed to affordability as
the primary barrier.
“We were able to buy our house 14 years
ago. Real estate at the time was way more
affordable than it is now. For us personally,
not an issue, but for people coming now,
there is a huge challenge in nding something
you can accommodate your whole family in.”
Participant in the Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacic Islander-identifying focus group
The Colorado Department of Local Affairs 2015-
2019 State of Colorado Analysis of Impediments to
Fair Housing Choice shows that Asians experience
loan denial rates of about 16.3% compared with
14.4% of white Coloradans.
36
Data on Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander communities,
as well as disaggregated data by AANHPI identities,
are not available and may therefore be affecting
housing ownership statistics.
Housing Quality
Pakistani and Burmese people in Colorado are
more likely to live in low-quality housing.
While housing affordability and ownership is
a barrier, community members also pointed
to housing quality as an issue for AANHPI
communities. This includes issues with the
structure itself, as well as the areas where people
are living.
“I’ve been purposeful in choosing places to
live based on belonging. Beyond belonging,
I’ve found there is a lot of crime that is causing
us to want to move again. The place I’m at is
affordable, but not all that great. Roaches,
thefts, vandalism; it’s just a very high crime
area.” Participant in the East Asian-identifying
focus group
The Census Bureau denes low-quality housing
as a structure that is missing either complete
plumbing, kitchen, or heating facilities. Data
show that Pakistani people are 10 times as
likely (5.1%) to live in low-quality housing as
the Colorado average (0.5%) and Burmese
people are 17 times as likely (8.5%).
1
See
Figure 12. These groups are among those
who have recently immigrated to the U.S. and
therefore represent an important intersection
to be considered when looking at housing
affordability and quality (discussed in the next
section). Income and economic opportunity
may also be drivers for low-quality housing (see
Domain 4: Income and Economic Opportunity).
An Importt Intseion: Housg for
Immignts d Refugees
Immigrants and refugees may be
more impacted by housing affordability and
quality.
In CHI’s focus group with recent immigrants and
refugees, housing cost was a recurring theme.
With regard to quality, many agreed that, as one
participant put it, “coming from a ‘third-world
country,’ the places here are relatively better.
It’s expensive, but it’s still better than what we
had.” However, others noted difculty obtaining
housing and experiencing health issues caused
by poor quality.
“There are so many economic challenges
our community faces, but the biggest one is
housing, specically permanent supportive
housing. It’s really difcult for new
immigrants.” Participant in the South Asian-
identifying focus group
“Most [immigrants and refugees] are
struggling with housing… [They’re] going
to the hospital for mold [which] the landlord
won’t x, [but] they can’t leave the house
because it’s too expensive to leave.” Key
informant
Colorado Lotus Project
42
Figure 11. Percentage of People in Colorado (All Ages) Who Own Their Home, by AANHPI Identity (2021)
Identities not included due to small sample sizes: Fijian, Marshallese, Okinawan, Tongan.
Note: This is a household-level metric in which all members of the household will have the same value, thus all ages are indicated. Gray lines
represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value lies between the
range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
Colorado
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Laotian
Hmong
Samoan
Taiwanese
Cambodian
Malaysian
Chinese
Vietnamese
Korean
Japanese
Filipino
Sri Lankan
Thai
Chamorro
Indonesian
Nepalese
Burmese
Hawaiian
Guamanian
Indian
Mongolian
Bhutanese
Pakistani
Bangladeshi
0% 60% 80% 100%20% 40%
71.4%
60.6%
68.8%
87.7%
86.7%
79.7%
78.6%
77.3%
76.2%
75.8%
74.8%
73.2%
73.0%
72.3%
72.2%
69.5%
69.4%
68.4%
66.5%
64.0%
63.8%
61.2%
60.0%
59.4%
59.1%
56.2%
33.7%
May 2024
43
Opporties For Aion
Increase affordability, ownership, and
quality to address housing barriers faced
by AANHPI communities.
To address housing challenges for AANHPI
Coloradans, improvements must be made
in affordability, ownership, and quality —
targeting strategies toward immigrant and
refugee populations and groups facing
the biggest disparities (like some South
Asian groups). Housing is a complex
and multifaceted issue that extends far
beyond AANHPI communities. However,
by focusing on these considerations,
Colorado can work toward creating a
housing landscape that is more equitable,
affordable, and conducive to the well-being
of AANHPI people and that considers their
unique circumstances and diverse needs.
1. Improve Affordability
• Explore innovative solutions for
affordable housing, recognizing the
housing cost burdens faced by AANHPI
communities.
• Create housing policies that support the
prevalence of multigenerational living within
AANHPI cultures and accommodates these
needs or preferences.
2. Address Homeownership Barriers
• Develop programs that provide nancial
assistance, education, and support for AANHPI
people.
• Collaborate with lending institutions to collect
better data on loan denial rates and ways to
reduce these rates to ensure equitable access
to mortgages for AANHPI communities.
3. Support Improved Housing Quality
• Implement initiatives to improve the quality
of housing, addressing issues like structural
deciencies and inadequate facilities.
• Provide support and education to AANHPI
communities on navigating housing challenges,
including education on city inspections,
tenant rights, tenant-landlord issues, reporting
mechanisms, and follow-up procedures.
Ensure these materials are provided in multiple
languages.
Figure 12. Percentage of People in Colorado (All Ages) Who Live in Low-Quality Housing, by AANHPI Identity (2021)
Identities not included due to small sample sizes: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Cambodian, Chamorro, Fijian, Filipino, Guamanian, Hmong, Indonesian,
Laotian, Malaysian, Marshallese, Mongolian, Nepalese, Okinawan, Samoan, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, Tongan.
Note: Low-quality housing is dened as a structure that is missing either complete plumbing, kitchen, or heating facilities. This is a household-level
metric in which all members of the household will have the same value, thus all ages are indicated. Gray lines represent condence intervals, which
show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value lies between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
0% 2.0%
4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0%
Colorado
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Burmese
Pakistani
Chinese
Japanese
Indian
Vietnamese
Hawaiian
Korean
0.5%
0.7%
1.2%
8.5%
5.1%
0.9%
0.6%
0.6%
0.4%
0.2%
0.2%
Colorado Lotus Project
44
Amy Rh: Naving Challges,
Bung Commy — Explong e
Immignt Expice Colodo
Amy’s journey from Thailand, which began
seven years ago, offers a portrait of the
struggles and successes of immigrant groups
striving to build lives in the U.S., specically
in the Aurora and Denver metro area. She
recounts the hurdles she encountered upon
arrival, including overcoming language
barriers and navigating the nuances
of accessing health care and benets.
Experiences like Amy’s emphasize the
importance of tailored support systems,
such as community resources and special
case managers, to facilitate the integration
process and ensure equitable access to
essential services. Amy’s experience sheds
light on broader issues faced by immigrant
communities.
Colorado has experienced a surge of migrant
arrivals in recent years. In 2023 alone, for
example, many have traveled from Venezuela.
The migrant groups relocating here come from
all different backgrounds, inuenced by their
own experiences, such as the urgency to ee
conict, persecution, climate change, or large-
scale human rights violations in their home
countries. As we observe the current inux of
Venezuelan migrants, we witness rsthand the
challenges and triumphs people encounter as
they navigate the complexities of immigration
and strive to settle into their new home. Amy
Ruth’s own transformative journey, from a Thai
refugee to a community navigator, makes her
someone who knows too well of those same
challenges and triumphs.
By Melovy M. Melvin
Amy Ruth’s (left)
journey from Thailand
highlights many
of the successes
and struggles of
immigrants striving to
build lives in the U.S.
Courtesy of Amy Ruth
Colorado Lotus Project
45
May 2024
45
Amid efforts to recover from the pandemic,
Amy found a meaningful role at the East Colfax
Community Collective (ECCC), offering her a
chance to contribute to and engage with the
community, particularly migrants. However,
the lasting impact of the pandemic brought
forth additional obstacles, notably in health
care access for her family. “The pandemic was
extremely hard for us, especially for my mom
who wasn’t able to apply for Medicaid because
of income requirements despite me being the
only one working at the time. It was one thing
to try to access health services, but for people
like my mom, who just moved to Colorado,
trying to go through the application process
was very difcult,” Amy says.
She notes that a lack of access to health care
services and challenges applying for and
understanding insurance were common
themes for many migrants she encountered,
especially for Asian American and Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander (AANHPI)
people. She experienced the threat of losing
Medicaid due to delays in the application
process, revealing systemic aws affecting
vulnerable households.
Another prominent issue she highlights is the
housing crisis faced by AANHPI and other
immigrant groups in metro Denver. Escalating
rents, sometimes increasing by $300 annually,
forced families into overcrowded living
situations, with multiple individuals sharing a
two-bedroom apartment.
Among the barriers faced by the AANHPI
community, language and education also
emerged as signicant challenges. “The
AANHPI community alone has so many unique
dialects and languages and sometimes that
can be overwhelming and [often overlooked.]”
Amy describes a time when she tried to
assist her mother in translating a document
a case worker had given her, but that it was
in the wrong dialect of the Thai language
that her mother speaks. Limited educational
opportunities prior to immigration have also
hindered access to jobs requiring English
prociency, leaving many individuals stuck in
low-wage positions.
Amy urges decision-makers to move
beyond assumptions and actively engage
with the community to truly understand
their needs. To address these issues, Amy
stresses the necessity of action over mere
promises. Building trust, she argues, requires
tangible changes that the community can
witness. In terms of successful partnerships,
she highlighted the positive impact of
collaborating with organizations such as
ECCC, where she worked, or the Asian Pacic
Development Center (now Aurora Mental
Health and Recovery’s Cultural Development
and Wellness Center) and local food banks.
It’s partnerships like these that can provide
migrants real, vital support, offering assistance
with food, mental health services, and program
enrollments.
Amy sees opportunities for both individuals
and state leaders. “Many people have the
freedom to voice their concerns and advocate
for themselves. Instead, they often are afraid
and hide or try to downplay their struggles,
believing they are powerless to affect change,
especially because of where they migrated
from or how their journey was when arriving
here, but that’s not true … every voice has
power. And it would be more helpful if the
community and the state worked together to
help all of them. So, I would encourage people
to speak up [because collective voices have
the power to create meaningful change].”
“My people have e freedom to
voice e concns d advoce
for selves. Inead, ey o e
afid d hide or y to downplay e
ruggles, beevg ey e powless
to ae ge, especially because of
whe ey migted from or how e
joney was wh vg he, b
’s not ue … evy voice has pow.”
Amy Ruth
Colorado Lotus Project
46
Income d
Economic Opporty
Income
A variety of AANHPI people in Colorado
report having incomes at or below 200%
of the FPL. In 2023, the 200% FPL for a
single-person household was $29,160.
The percentage of people with incomes
at or below 200% FPL varies across
AANHPI identities. See Figure 13.
More than half of these identities are
experiencing rates that are higher than
the rate for Asians overall (21.1%),
showing nuanced experiences when the
data is separated beyond just one or
two categories. This disparity is highest
for Burmese Coloradans with over half
(52.3%) reporting earning incomes below
200% FPL.
1
DOMAIN 4
Assessing income and economic opportunity
reveals the distribution of resources, wealth,
and economic mobility within a community.
It exposes potential inequalities and biases
that prevent certain groups from accessing
opportunities for advancement in the job
market and accumulating generational wealth.
By recognizing barriers and promoting access,
decision-makers can empower people to
build secure lives, drive shared prosperity, and
navigate the evolving economic landscape.
This domain speaks to opportunities to thrive.
It includes income, employment, and business
ownership.
• Guiding Questions: What do income and
economic opportunities in Colorado look like
for AANHPI communities? What is the state
of entrepreneurship and other functions of
business development?
Key Fngs
• A variety of AANHPI people in Colorado
report having incomes at or below 200% of
the federal poverty level (FPL). In 2023, the
200% FPL for a single-person household was
$29,160.
• A lack of recognition of foreign degrees,
limited access to education, and language
barriers are among the economic challenges
many immigrants and refugees face in
Colorado.
• Across the U.S., nearly 3 million Asian-owned
businesses employ almost 5 million workers.
37
Entrepreneurship is an important aspect of
income and economic opportunity for many
AANHPI people in Colorado. Support for
business owners is limited, however.
Vendors prepare food at the Mid-Autumn Festival at
the Far East Center in the Little Saigon Denver District.
Brian Clark/CHI
May 2024
47
Figure 13. Percentage of People in Colorado (All Ages) Earning Incomes at or Below 200% of the Federal
Poverty Level, by AANHPI Identity (2021)
Identities not included due to small sample sizes: Fijian, Marshallese, Okinawan, Tongan.
Note: This is a household-level metric in which all members of the household will have the same value, thus all ages are indicated. Gray lines
represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value lies between the
range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
Colorado
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Burmese
Bangladeshi
Mongolian
Nepalese
Malaysian
Vietnamese
Pakistani
Samoan
Thai
Hawaiian
Cambodian
Indonesian
Chinese
Guamanian
Filipino
Japanese
Korean
Laotian
Taiwanese
Chamorro
Hmong
Indian
Bhutanese
Sri Lankan
0% 20% 40% 60%
21.1%
26.8%
23.8%
52.3%
48.9%
33.4%
29.8%
29.8%
27.7%
27.5%
26.6%
25.9%
24.9%
23.6%
22.1%
22.0%
19.0%
18.5%
18.2%
17.7%
16.6%
14.3%
13.0%
13.0%
12.5%
10.7%
8.7%
Colorado Lotus Project
48
Median household income also shows variation
across AANHPI identities. Figure 14 shows that
the median household income for Burmese
people in Colorado is $40,435, less than half of
the median household income earned by Asians
overall ($86,989.)
1
Research shows that the most rapidly rising
income inequality in the U.S. has been among
Asians. Additionally the gap between the
highest earners and the lowest earners is
greater for Asians than for any other racial/
ethnic group.
4
This gap is even greater for some
AANHPI-identifying women. For example, while
data show that Taiwanese women make $1.08
for every $1.00 that white, non-Latino men
make, Nepalese and Bangladeshi women make
only $0.48.
38
Figure 14. Median Household Income of People in Colorado (All Ages), by AANHPI Identity (2021)
Other socioeconomic measures, such as
employment (discussed in the following section)
and educational attainment (discussed in Domain
5: Education) may contribute to these variations.
Research also nds that differences can be
driven by types of citizenship and visa status. For
example, those entering the U.S. with work visas
likely have higher median household incomes
compared with those that entered as refugees.
Many Burmese people immigrated to the U.S.
as refugees eeing war in their home country,
which could contribute toward their lower
household incomes. On the other hand, higher-
earning groups such as Taiwanese people and
Asian Indian people usually immigrate through
work visas.
28
Without this richness of data, the
variations across people’s unique experiences
within AANHPI communities are missed.
Identities not included due to small sample sizes: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Fijian, Guamanian, Malaysian, Marshallese, Mongolian, Okinawan,
Samoan, Sri Lankan, Tongan.
Note: This is a household-level metric in which all members of the household will have the same value, thus all ages are indicated. Gray lines
represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value lies between the
range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
$0 $25K $50K $100K $125K $150K
Colorado
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Indian
Laotian
Hmong
Filipino
Indonesian
Chinese
Vietnamese
Japanese
Taiwanese
Korean
Nepalese
Chamorro
Hawaiian
Cambodian
Pakistani
Thai
Burmese
$75K
$79,230
$86,989
$64,959
$126,016
$103,403
$96,738
$84,194
$84,005
$82,444
$80,387
$75,868
$75,709
$74,662
$74,440
$73,492
$72,842
$71,975
$55,302
$40,435
$87,982
May 2024
49
Employmt
A lack of recognition of foreign degrees,
limited access to education, and language
barriers are among the economic challenges
many immigrants and refugees face in
Colorado.
Figure 15 shows little deviation between the
employment rate among AANHPI identities
and the Colorado average of 95.4%.
1
However,
many identities are not shown in this gure due
to small sample sizes.
While rates of employment are relatively
aligned with the Colorado average, this data
does not illustrate the struggles of people who
are employed nor the role their job plays in
their ability to thrive.
“Things are not affordable.
Employers have a lot of power
and make people feel like they are
replaceable. There have been a lot of
layoffs recently. I was recently laid off.
I am on government unemployment,
which I am grateful for, but it’s
really not much. For people who
were making less than I was, their
unemployment is probably way
lower.” Participant in the East Asian-
identifying focus group
“I have a master’s degree and
work full time, and I still have to do
another job to get what my family
needs.” Participant in the East Asian-
identifying focus group
Figure 15. Percentage of People in Colorado 16 and Older in the Labor Force, by AANHPI Identity (2021)
Identities not included due to small sample sizes: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Burmese, Cambodian, Fijian, Guamanian, Hmong, Malaysian,
Marshallese, Mongolian, Okinawan, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Tongan.
Note: Gray lines represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value
lies between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
0% 20%
40% 60% 80% 100%
Colorado
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Taiwanese
Indian
Japanese
Thai
Filipino
Chinese
Samoan
Nepalese
Vietnamese
Laotian
Hawaiian
Korean
Indonesian
95.4%
96.1%
95.0%
98.7%
97.3%
97.0%
96.3%
96.3%
96.0%
95.9%
95.9%
95.2%
95.2%
94.9%
94.6%
92.7%
Colorado Lotus Project
50
Research shows that AANHPI women make up
2.9% of the overall workforce but represent
3.8% of frontline workers. During the beginning
of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian women
disproportionately experienced pandemic-related
job loss and health risk due to exposure to the
virus.
39
Community leaders and focus group members
said immigrants and refugees experience two key
challenges. The rst is that employers in the U.S.
may not accept or recognize certain certications
or degrees earned in another country, making it
difcult for those with training to nd a suitable
job. The second is that immigrants and refugees
who did not have educational opportunities before
coming to the U.S. face education and language
barriers. For example, jobs that require a high level
of English prociency may be unobtainable to
those who would otherwise be qualied.
“Certications or degrees [immigrants or
refugees] get at home are not transferable.
[There are] former doctors who were
practicing in their country, but when they
immigrate over to the states, those credentials
aren’t accepted. [We are not honoring] the
work and education immigrants have brought
in.” Participant in the East Asian-identifying
focus group
“My parents make enough, but it’s not the job
they want. They work in a restaurant, and it’s a
way to talk and connect with others, but they
don’t have the communication skills to nd
other jobs that require more English-speaking
[but are higher paying].” Participant in the
youth focus group
“If you don’t know English it can be hard to
nd a job. When I tried to talk to customers, it
was very hard. Switching to Uber was easier.”
Participant in the recent immigrant and refugee
focus group
Racial and gender discrimination can also hinder
opportunity and growth in the workplace.
38
Research shows that Asian Americans are the least
likely to be promoted to management positions,
with even fewer Asian women promoted to these
roles.
40
The model minority myth plays a role in
this disparity. This stereotype suggests that
success in the Asian community is due to
a strong work ethic, family values, and an
emphasis on education but overlooks the
challenges Asians and other people of
color face. The myth also hyper-visualizes
Asians as good workers, but not necessarily
good leaders.
40
Research by McKinsey and
Company nds “advancement sputters as
Asian Americans move up the corporate
ladder, where high levels of representation
at the entry level do not translate to high
levels in senior management positions. The
share of Asian Americans decreases with
greater seniority, and so does their share of
promotions.”
41
The perpetual foreigner stereotype also
portrays Asian Americans as outsiders
and may contribute to lower rates
of professional advancement. Asian
Americans report lower levels of inclusion
and support, such as mentorship and
coaching.
41
Differences in cultural upbringing
and historical workplace dynamics
can also create friction. Focus group
members described having to advocate
for themselves in a way that felt more
“politicized” than expected.
“I have a ‘white’ name, and when I
show up to [an] interview, I can tell
they are just doing the interview as a
courtesy. No one has explicitly said
that I looked different than expected
[but the] conversation on the phone [is]
totally different from the experience
in person.” Participant in the Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander-
identifying focus group
“It’s becoming more and more apparent
to me that it’s highly valued to be
outspoken in order to get those raises
and promotions.” Participant in the
Southeast Asian-identifying focus group
May 2024
51
Enresh
Across the U.S., nearly 3 million Asian-
owned businesses employ almost 5 million
workers.
37
Entrepreneurship is an important
aspect of income and economic opportunity
for many AANHPI people in Colorado.
Support for business owners is limited,
however.
Entrepreneurship is an important component
of income and economic opportunity for
AANHPI communities, but language barriers
and a lack of banking relationships have
limited AANHPI entrepreneurs’ access to
loans and capital.
42
“There’s this generational wealth, which
isn’t just nances; it’s also education/
experience. Our challenge starting a
business wasn’t that it was difcult, but
we didn’t have the generational wealth
to understand how to do it. In general,
things like that are set up with the
perception that we are all starting from
the same starting line.”
Participant in the Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander-identifying focus
group
A community leader CHI spoke with
said that language barriers impact both
entrepreneurship and those entering the
workforce. Employers and funders prioritize
“perfect English” over the individual or
opportunity. Oftentimes, large business
sponsors and funders also fail to meet
people where they are, despite trying to
engage with the community.
“Online applications for jobs [or grants]
will get written off because of their
spelling. [In face-to-face meetings people
get] hung up on [an applicant’s] accent
or grammar.”
Key informant
“If you want the community to trust
what you are doing, you have to show
your face. You have to go to events.
Come and introduce yourself personally.
Culturally, that is the best way to
increase trust and communication... Go
to their community events. Don’t set up
a fancy reception with ethnic food and
expect people to come in the middle of
the day during the week.”
Key informant
Community leaders also said that
opportunities don’t always trickle down
to AANHPI communities. Complex and
inconsistent processes across agencies and
government entities create confusion as
different state and local departments may
have different priorities or processes.
“All these opportunities for state
contracts, low-cost loans, [and other]
information is siloed within the state
and city governments. [One] city
government is great with economic
development but [it’s not the same for
others.] There are so many different
ones. It is hard for Asian business
owners, but sometimes they don’t see
the point. Why bother? It doesn’t work
in all places.”
Key informant
Colorado Lotus Project
52
Opporties For Aion
Increase access to culturally responsive
education and networking, address
employment and entrepreneurship
challenges, and collect better employment
data on AANHPI workers.
To enhance income and economic
opportunities for AANHPI communities,
Colorado must develop a comprehensive
approach to address income disparities,
employment challenges, and to provide much-
needed support for entrepreneurs. Some
approaches to consider include:
1. Increase Access to Education and Networking
and Address Employment Challenges
• Increase access to English language
learning opportunities by providing classes
or diverse language support in workplaces
to foster inclusivity.
• Translate and share job postings and
opportunities in multiple languages,
especially for positions that do not require
high English prociency.
• Establish community hubs to facilitate
networking, mentorship, and pathways
for AANHPI people to connect with
opportunities.
• Establish policies and programs that bridge
gaps between foreign qualications and
U.S. job market requirements, recognizing
that many immigrants and refugees face
barriers due to potentially nontransferable
certications and degrees. This is especially
relevant for high-need workforce areas such
as the clinical and nonclinical health care
workforce.
• Promote implementation of diversity, equity,
inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) training
programs in workplaces to enhance cultural
competency among leadership and team
members.
• Establish DEIB best practices for hiring.
Examples include understanding the
diversity that exists in the organization,
using inclusive language that emphasizes
transferable skills and experience in job
descriptions and does not deter qualied
non-native English speakers and mitigates
biases.
• Implement meaningful and sustainable
mentorship opportunities for AANHPI
workers to support career advancement,
especially at higher levels in the
workplace.
2. Support AANHPI Entrepreneurs
• Develop initiatives to support AANHPI
entrepreneurs, such as providing
guidance on accessing state and local
resources and how to establish banking
relationships or no- or low-interest capital
programs for AANHPI entrepreneurs.
• Create streamlined and accessible
processes for AANHPI business owners
to access information on state contracts,
low-cost loans, and other opportunities.
Ensure these processes — including review
processes — are culturally responsive and
that language access is not a barrier.
• Encourage funders and business partners
to take DEIB trainings to better understand
how to work alongside AANHPI and
immigrant and refugee communities.
• Increase entrepreneurship sponsorship
opportunities for AANHPI entrepreneurs.
These opportunities can support business
education and networking opportunities
and resources for small business owners.
3. Collect More Granular Data on AANHPI
Workers
• Advocate for the collection of more
granular data about AANHPI workers to
inform corporate leaders about the unique
experiences and challenges faced at
critical points in their careers.
• Encourage companies to address implicit
bias in job interviews and evaluations to
foster a more inclusive and equitable work
environment.
May 2024
53
Educion
Expices e Sool Sy
The model minority myth and the inability
to separate data allow school systems to
overlook K-12 AANHPI students who need
support.
Dynamics that shape student experiences
in the school system include the model
minority myth, belonging and safety, diversity,
language access, and curriculum.
The Model Minority Myth and Education
The model minority myth perpetuates the
idea that all Asians are academically high
achieving, which can have detrimental
impacts on student health and learning. For
example, the Center for American Progress
reports that Pacic Islander K-12 students
experienced two different kinds of racism
from educators steeped in this myth. They
were either perceived as perfect students who
then had their academic needs ignored, or
they were perceived as exceptions to this rule
and were placed into less challenging classes
and discouraged from attending four-year
colleges.
43
Participants across focus groups said this
echoed their experiences and that the
stereotype continues to be perpetuated.
“Typical Asian stereotypes can be good
in a way, but there’s a negative impact
for others. For example, people might
think one person is very smart, but in
reality, that person has an average, normal
mindset. But assumptions are made about
that person. It can make them feel better
about themselves, but being told you’re
smart when you’re not creates a strange
feeling.”
Participant in the youth focus group
DOMAIN 5
Education is a social determinant of health
and is strongly associated with life expectancy,
morbidity, and health behaviors. It is also a
socioeconomic factor, playing a critical role
in shaping opportunities, employment, and
income. Understanding the opportunities for
AANHPI communities helps policymakers
and leaders address the gaps in resources for
students, including youth, adults, and English
language learners. This domain provides
an overview of data around educational
attainment for AANHPI communities and
captures their experiences with the education
system.
• Guiding Questions: What do opportunities,
including educational attainment and access
to culturally and linguistically appropriate
resources, look like for AANHPI students?
What gaps in access to higher education exist
across different groups of AANHPIs? What
barriers do AANHPI students face in receiving
culturally competent education and resources?
What does AANHPI representation look like
among schoolteachers and staff?
Key Fngs
• The model minority myth and the inability
to separate data allow school systems to
overlook K-12 AANHPI students who need
support.
• AANHPI people have varied rates of high
school completion and of continuing
education after high school.
• Adult education classes and other resources
are needed to support immigrants,
refugees, and non-native English speakers
in gaining skills and knowledge to be self-
sufcient.
Colorado Lotus Project
54
Expectations from teachers, peers, and others that
stem from the myth can create mental health issues
for AANHPI students. A 2021 study from the Journal
of Youth and Adolescence describes the myth as
“dehumanizing as it punishes those who deviate
from the stereotype and the narrow denition of
success.”
44
Belonging and Safety
In CHI’s youth focus group discussions, students
spoke of their experiences with belonging or tting
in at school. Students noted that some schools have
Asian afnity groups or clubs, where they tend to
nd more connection with students who look like
them or have similar cultures or values. Overall,
students said that they feel that they nd ways to t
in the spaces around them.
“I’m involved in a lot of extracurriculars. There’s
not a lot of [AANHPI] representation in the
student body. It’s tricky to nd people to identify
with, but I wouldn’t say I don’t belong. I nd
a way to t in and represent myself in those
spaces.” Participant in the youth focus group
Data from the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey in
Figure 16 shows similar rates of belonging and
feeling safe at school across AANHPI-regional
groupings and the Colorado average.
31
Diversity, Language Access, and Curriculum
Diversity of staff and teachers, issues with
language access, and a lack of AANHPI
curriculum taught in schools also emerged as
themes related to education in focus groups and
key informant interviews.
Studies have shown that students of color
benet both academically and socially from
having teachers of color.
45
In the 2023-2024
school year, 3.3% of Colorado students
identied as Asian and 0.3% as Native Hawaiian
and Other Pacic Islander. Employment data
show that 1.6% of Asian Coloradans and 1.8%
of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander
Coloradans work as teachers. Across the state,
3.0% of Coloradans work as a K-12 teacher.
1
This
data may reect a gap in the diversity of AANHPI
teachers in Colorado schools.
Figure 16. Percentage of Colorado High School Students Who Reported They Felt Safe or Belonged at School, by
Regional AANHPI Identity (2021)
Note: Due to the way data are collected, Asian as an overall category is not reportable, and East and Southeast Asian cannot be separated.
Gray lines represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value lies
between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, 2021
0%
40%
100%
60%
80%
● Colorado ● South Asian ● East/Southeast Asian ● Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander ● Multiracial
Agree or strongly agree
that they belong at their school
Usually or denitely feel safe at school
20%
67.1%
60.6%
64.7%
68.0%
68.7%
91.3%
84.4%
88.3%
91.8%
90.0%
May 2024
55
“There are not enough Asian teachers.
I have, my entire career, been the only Asian.
I joined an afnity group recently, and it
really helped me ll a void I didn’t realize
I had.” Participant in the East Asian-
identifying focus group
“It would be helpful [for students] to see
educators who look like them, and beyond
the eld of math and science. Being a
teacher is a viable career.” Participant in the
South Asian-identifying focus group
“I became a teacher because I never felt
represented growing up.” Participant in the
Southeast Asian-identifying focus group
Schools are also limited in their ability to
provide resources in multiple languages. One
focus group participant noted how this issue
can be exacerbated for people with intersecting
identities, such as those with a disability.
“There are many challenges with getting
students with disabilities the care they need.
Much of the information the school district
disseminates is only in English or Spanish —
other languages are not communicated. For
families dealing with disability, this can really
compound the problem because they have
to deal with getting the information they
need about disability and in their language.”
Participant in the East Asian-identifying focus
group
Several focus group participants also discussed
inclusion of AANHPI history and culture in
curriculum. In 2019, Colorado legislators passed
House Bill 19-1192 to establish a commission
to make recommendations on a more inclusive
and accurate history and civics curriculum.
However, during the review process, the Social
Studies Standards Review Committee omitted
recommendations on Asian Americans in many
instances, such as recognizing contributions
during the Civil War, despite well-documented
evidence of their involvement. Native Hawaiian
history was not included at all despite the U.S.’
long-standing history with Hawaii and the Pacic
Islands.
46
Community leaders and organizations
fought to address these exclusions. However, the
Colorado Academic Standards for Social Studies,
adopted in 2022, show some of these exclusions
were maintained. For example, this question
explicitly excludes Asian Americans: “What role
did various and diverse social groups such as
women, African Americans, and Indigenous
Peoples play in the Civil War?”
47
This oversight has raised concern about the
inclusivity and even the accuracy of AANHPI
representation in curriculum in Colorado.
“Both of my parents were interned, so for
me this is personal ... There is a teacher I
know who brings students to Sakura Square,
so we can talk about the internment of
Japanese Americans, but that’s not [included
in] standard curriculum; it’s just because
she feels it’s important. We need a more
integrated curriculum. There needs to be
more Asian American history more broadly
across Colorado.” Participant in the East Asian-
identifying focus group
To note, Amache, the World War II internment
camp, is mentioned in the Colorado Academic
Standards for Social Studies as one major event
that is used to explore the relationship between
Colorado’s history and events in U.S. history
during the same era. However, the incarceration
of Japanese Americans is a suggested example of
— but not requirement in — discussing migration,
immigration, and displacement with regard to the
“complexity of events throughout U.S. history.”
47
Colorado Lotus Project
56
Educional Aamt
AANHPI people have varied rates of high
school completion and of continuing education
after high school.
Lack of accurate data oftentimes fuels the
model minority stereotype by further masking
the needs of students who need academic
support. For example, data from the National
Center for Education Statistics show that while
the aggregated high school dropout rate for
all Asian people ages 16 to 24 is only 2%, the
rate is 6% for Cambodian Americans, 9% for
Nepalese Americans, and 20% for Burmese
Americans.
48
Looking at Colorado-specic data shows a
similar story. Figure 17 shows that 95.1% of
Asian Coloradans ages 25 and older have a high
school education. This value is less than 90.0%
for Nepalese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and
Burmese Coloradans.
1
As people from Burma
(now known as Myanmar) are among the most
recent Coloradans to have immigrated, this may
reect an even greater disparity for immigrants,
refugees, and asylum seekers.
Another example of data gaps comes from a
report from the Colorado Department of Higher
Education. The report notes that 62.9% of Asian
or Pacic Islander Coloradans earned a college
degree or certicate and that this rate is much
lower for other communities of color, therefore
demonstrating an equity gap.
49
While this data
reects that AANHPI students are better off than
other racial and ethnic groups, Figure 18 shows
that among Asian identities, fewer than a third
(29.8%) of Burmese people report continuing
their education after high school. Among Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander identities,
this rate is lowest among those who identify as
Hawaiian (58.0%).
1
Figure 17. Percentage of People 25 and Older in Colorado Who Have a High School Education, by AANHPI
Identity (2021)
0% 20%
40% 60% 80% 100%
Colorado
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Hawaiian
Indian
Japanese
Filipino
Thai
Korean
Chinese
Nepalese
Vietnamese
Cambodian
Burmese
Identities not shown due to small sample sizes: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Chamorro, Fijian, Guamanian, Hmong, Indonesian, Laotian,
Malaysian, Marshallese, Mongolian, Okinawan, Pakistani, Samoan, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, Tongan.
Note: Gray lines represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value
lies between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
94.9%
95.1%
96.8%
98.9%
98.8%
97.4%
97.1%
96.6%
96.6%
95.7%
88.8%
86.9%
86.1%
75.3%
May 2024
57
Figure 18. Percentage of People in Colorado 25 and Older Who Continued Education After High School,
by AANHPI Identity (2021)
Colorado
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Indian
Taiwanese
Pakistani
Japanese
Filipino
Chinese
Chamorro
Korean
Indonesian
Thai
Guamanian
Vietnamese
Hawaiian
Nepalese
Laotian
Hmong
Cambodian
Burmese
0%
20% 40% 60%
71.6%
59.5%
80%
100%
Identities not shown: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Fijian, Marshallese, Malaysian, Mongolian, Okinawan, Samoan, Sri Lankan, Tongan.
Note: Gray lines represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value lies
between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS 5-Year Estimates. (2021)
58.0%
57.4%
54.3%
52.6%
46.3%
29.8%
67.4%
66.7%
60.1%
73.7%
73.6%
75.9%
75.8%
87.1%
79.8%
72.6%
63.7%
66.4%
91.0%
Colorado Lotus Project
58
While many AANHPI people choose to pursue
other opportunities beyond higher education,
focus group members noted that the high cost
of tuition and lack of representation in these
settings can be barriers to those wishing to
continue their education.
“I did the [university] online system
because I was raising two boys at the same
time… I couldn’t nd anything for me as a
scholarship as an adult. I had never really
heard of anything that would support me as
a woman of color or a ‘woman of culture.’”
Participant in the Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacic Islander-identifying focus group
“The entire time I was [at my university], I
never felt comfortable. There were no Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islanders and
very few Asian Americans. There were very
few people of color at all. I left without any
friends or connection.” Participant in the
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander-
identifying focus group
Data systems must collect and report data at
more granular levels. Without this granularity,
the experiences of people in AANHPI
communities become invisible.
Resoces Designed for
Immignts d Refugees
Adult education classes and other resources
are needed to support immigrants, refugees,
and non-native English speakers in gaining
skills and knowledge to be self-sufcient.
In CHI’s conversations, people spoke highly
of the adult education classes, staff, and
other resources provided by Aurora Mental
Health and Recovery’s Cultural Development
and Wellness Center (CDW) (formerly Asian
Pacic Development Center).
“The teachers are very nice, and everyone
is family here… You can ask questions,
and they seem happy when we ask
questions.” Participant in the recent
immigrant and refugee focus group
These programs and resources are critical
for Colorado’s immigrant and refugee
communities as they support access to
needed services such as health care.
Programs and resources must also be
available to those who live beyond the
Denver metro area.
Participants discuss topics affecting their lives during an AANHPI youth focus group. Brian Clark/CHI
Colorado Lotus Project
59
May 2024
59
Opporties For Aion
Create a More Inclusive
and Supportive Educational
Environment for AANHPI Students
in Colorado
To create an inclusive educational
environment for AANHPI students,
address the model minority myth,
enhance data disaggregation,
increase representation in
curriculum, and recruit and retain
more AANHPI teachers. Ensure
immigrants and refugees have
access to needed educational
resources.
1. Combat the Model Minority Myth
• Challenge and dispel the model
minority myth through education
programs, outreach, and messaging
campaigns.
• Implement initiatives that celebrate
different cultures and diversity within
schools, creating an environment where
students can authentically express their
identities.
2. Improve Data Disaggregation for
Targeted Educational Support
• Improve data collection and
disaggregation in educational settings
for more accurate and granular insights
on the educational experiences of
AANHPI subgroups.
• Use disaggregated data effectively to
identify and address specic needs of
AANHPI students, ensuring targeted
support and tailored programs.
3. Increase AANHPI Representation in
Curriculum; Recruit and Retain Teachers
• Incorporate AANHPI history and culture
into K-12 curriculum to promote a more
inclusive educational experience and
rectify historical omissions.
• Recruit and retain AANHPI educators and school
leaders to center their experiences and provide
role models and mentors for students.
• Implement trainings to enhance cultural
competency among teachers and staff, creating
an environment where AANHPI students feel
seen, valued, and supported.
4. Promote Student Mental Health
•
Prioritize mental health support for Asian American
and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander
students that recognizes and addresses the unique
stressors they encounter.
•
Integrate culturally responsive mental health
resources within schools to ensure accessible and
effective support for AANHPI students and families.
5. Ensure Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylum
Seekers Have Access to Quality Education
Resources
• Expand needed resources, such as those
provided by CDWC and other organizations, and
ensure they are reaching communities beyond
the Denver metro area.
These are some steps that can pave the way for a
more inclusive and equitable educational landscape
in Colorado, ensuring that AANHPI students thrive in
an environment that recognizes, supports, teaches
about, and celebrates their diverse experiences and
identities.
Asian Girls Ignite participants celebrating Lunar New Year. Brian Clark/CHI
Colorado Lotus Project
60
Cre d Juice
DOMAIN 6
Crime and justice are vast topics that include
experiences with hate crimes, violence, and
racism, as well as broader experiences related
to the justice and legal systems. Understanding
issues related to this domain can help
policymakers and people working in the justice
and legal systems to better serve Colorado’s
AANHPI communities.
• Guiding Questions: What is the state of
AANHPI representation in courts and other legal
areas such as public defenders ofces? To what
extent are members of AANHPI communities
disproportionately sentenced and prosecuted?
What factors contribute to this? To what extent
does underreporting occur when AANHPI
people are victims of crimes?
Key Fngs
• AANHPI high schoolers experience forms
of racism and discrimination at higher
rates than Colorado high schoolers
overall.
• Limited access to interpreters, accurate
and reliable data, and inconsistent
language support in the legal system
make navigating it more difcult for
AANHPI defendants, often leading to
disparities in sentencing.
• Lack of outreach, follow-up, and
cultural responsiveness from local law
enforcement has created mistrust for
many in AANHPI communities.
Figure 19. Percentage of Colorado High School Students Reporting They Have Experienced Racism,
by Regional AANHPI Identity (2021)
Note: Due to the way data are collected, Asian as an overall category is not reportable, and East and Southeast Asian cannot be separated.
Gray lines represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95% condence that the true value lies
between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, 2021
0%
20%
10%
30%
Saw family members
treated unfairly
because of their race
or ethnicity
Were assumed less
intelligent because
of their race or
ethnicity
Were treated badly
or unfairly in school
because of their race
or ethnicity
Were watched closely
or followed by security
guards or store clerks at
a store/mall because of
their race or ethnicity
● Colorado ● South Asian ● East/Southeast Asian ● Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander ● Multiracial
9%
11%
23%
21%
20%
12%
14%
7%
7%
6%
5%
6%
13%
16%
10%
6%
4%
10%
6%
12%
May 2024
61
He Cres, Violce,
d Expices wh Racism
AANHPI high schoolers experience forms of
racism and discrimination at higher rates than
Colorado high schoolers overall.
As shown in Figure 19, South Asian and East and
Southeast Asian high school students are twice
as likely to report they saw family members
treated unfairly due to race/ethnicity (about
23% of South Asian high school students and
21% of East and Southeast Asian students,
compared with 9% of high school students in
Colorado overall).
31
Similarly, these groups were
also twice as likely to report they were treated
badly or unfairly in school because of their race
or ethnicity compared with the state average.
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander
students also reported that they were assumed
to be less intelligent because of their race or
ethnicity at higher rates than Colorado average
(14% and 7%, respectively).
Unfortunately, experiences with racism are
common. And throughout the COVID-19
pandemic, rates of anti-Asian hate crimes and
incidents skyrocketed, fueled by dangerous
and racist rhetoric used to describe COVID-19.
An analysis from The Marshall Project shows
that from 2020 to 2021, Asian communities
experienced a 167% increase in reported hate
crimes.
50
Hates crimes are also associated with
increases in poor mental health — with AANHPI
adults who experienced hate crimes or incidents
being at higher risk for anxiety.
51
Coloradans reported a total of 23 anti-Asian and
anti-Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander
hate crimes between 2020-2022, according to
the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer.
52
See Table 6.
Accurate hate crime data is limited, however.
Underreporting is common due to mistrust of
law enforcement, belief that reports won’t be
taken seriously, and language barriers. A survey
from Hate Free Colorado found that three in
10 respondents said they were targeted with
verbal harassment, property damage, and/
or physical injury within the last ve years. Of
those who experienced a hate crime or bias-
motivated incident, only 18% reported it to the
police.
53
Poll data released in 2023 from AAPI
Data and the Associated Press-NORC Center for
Public Affairs Research (AP-NORC) also found that
about a third (34%) of AANHPI adults reported
they experienced some sort of hate incident in
the last year. These include verbal harassment
(23%), being called racial slurs (22%), or threats of
physical assault (11%).
51
Classication of crimes and inconsistent data
collection also pose challenges with this data.
Nationwide, an estimated 75% of local law
enforcement agencies participate in a centralized
hate crime reporting program.
54
Of those that
participate, nearly 90% report zero hate crimes
every year, due to vague denitions of hate crimes
and how states choose to categorize incidents. As
a result, almost 90% of incidents that are reported
don’t rise to the level of prosecutable hate
crimes.
55
The ones that do can still fall through the
cracks if victims or prosecutors can’t prove the
crime was motivated by bias.
56
Community leaders and advocates have stepped
up to ll this gap in reporting. For example, Stop
AAPI Hate works with local communities and
government stakeholders to document the rise
of anti-AAPI hate. Their data collects reports of
hate acts — actions driven by bias that may or may
not be criminal. According to their data, AANHPI
Coloradans reported 118 hate acts between 2020-
2022.
57
Stop AAPI Hate shared with CHI anecdotes of the
hate acts in Colorado that had been reported to
them, (where permission had been given for them
to be shared). Some examples include:
“I was at work and a customer told me that
Asians are awful and should all die. That the
only thing good about us is our food.”
Report to Stop AAPI Hate
“I was pulling out of the parking lot at an Asian
market, and a car did not yield behind me.
They proceeded to wait until I backed out and
the driver and passenger yells ‘open your eyes’
and ‘go back to your own country you lthy
Asian,’ then spits on me.”
Report to Stop AAPI Hate
Colorado Lotus Project
62
Expices wh e
Juice d Lel Sys
Limited access to interpreters, accurate and
reliable data, and inconsistent language support
in the legal system make navigating it more
difcult for AANHPI defendants, often
leading to disparities in sentencing.
The invisibility of justice-involved
people in the system and lack of
diversity of AANHPI people working
in the legal and justice systems is
apparent to community members. For
example, one expert described limited
access to interpreters and language-
specic programs within the legal
system, along with the inconsistent
use of interpreters during police
encounters. This issue compounds the
challenges for AANHPI defendants and creates
unfair outcomes and disparities in sentencing.
“Not a lot of people can pay for an
interpreter and an attorney. If we take
a favorable plea agreement or judge-
mandated deal, such as anger management
classes, it’s difcult for people to have access
to these because these classes are in English
only. Some jurisdictions will provide an
interpreter for people to go to that class, but
others don’t.” Key informant
Within the broader justice and legal systems,
there is also a lack of data on AANHPI people
who are justice-involved.
For example, in 2022, the Loyola Chicago
Center for Criminal Justice and the Colorado
Action Lab at the University of Denver partnered
to work with prosecutors from across the U.S.
to expand their data and analytical capacity, to
explore options for capturing new information,
and to establish a practice of using data
to measure performance and engage with
communities. The data dashboards and
disparity analyses that were produced
included little to no data on AANHPI
people.
While smaller population sizes
are one reason for a lack of data,
AANHPI communities are largely
underrepresented across the criminal
justice system nationally. The Urban
Institute reports that a quarter of state
agencies do not include Asian as a
race category in their criminal justice
data.
58
AANHPI people who work in the justice
system are also invisible. For example,
2020 data from the Reective Democracy
Campaign estimates that nationwide, of 2,539
elected prosecutors, only six were AANHPI.
Of the 3,035 sheriffs across the country, only
two were AANHPI. That’s 0.24% of elected
prosecutors and .07% of county sheriffs.
59
La of Orea d Tru
Lack of outreach, follow-up, and cultural
responsiveness from local law enforcement
has created mistrust for many in AANHPI
communities.
Community members also spoke about
a lack of outreach, follow-up, and cultural
responsiveness they’ve experienced from local
law enforcement, which has created mistrust.
2020 2021 2022
Number of Hate Crime Incidents (Anti-Asian and Anti-Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander Bias) From FBI Crime Data
7 15 11
Number of Hate Acts* Collected by Stop AAPI Hate 118
*Note: Hate acts are dened as actions driven by bias that may or may not be criminal.
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer, 2020-2022 and Stop AAPI Hate, Reporting Center Data, 2020-2022
Table 6. Number of Reported Anti-Asian and Anti-Native Hawaiian
and Other Pacic Islander Hate Crime Incidents in Colorado
Only 6
of the 2,539
elected
prosecutors
in the U.S.
are AANHPI
Colorado Lotus Project
63
May 2024
63
“There is a preconceived notion that Polynesians are ‘big and
strong’, so there’s a quick judgment to make sure [the police]
are protecting themselves… they go overboard to protect
themselves without understanding what’s really going on.”
Participant in the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander-
identifying focus group
“[There was a lot of COVID-19-based xenophobia. At that time]
my mom was visiting from Seoul, and she was assaulted by a
white man. She was just standing in line [for] the bus. There’s a
video of it and everything. There was never a resolution to that
incident… The police are there, but they aren’t really there.”
Participant in the East Asian-identifying focus group
“There’s a lack of resources
and challenges with
navigating the criminal justice
system. [There’s also an issue
with] cultural sensitivity. The
South Asian community [is
not always seen] as a part of
the Asian community, and a
lot of assumptions are made
about brown skin.” Participant
in the South Asian-identifying
focus group
Opporties For Aion
Elevate equity in the justice and legal systems for
AANHPI communities in Colorado.
To foster equity in the criminal justice system for
AANHPI communities, consider addressing the
limited access to interpreters, advocating for more
accurate data collection, and working to improve
outreach and trust-building initiatives between
communities and law enforcement. The criminal
justice system is complex and often difcult to
navigate. These considerations could create a
more trustworthy criminal justice system that
genuinely serves the needs of AANHPI people and
communities in Colorado.
1. Improve Navigation of the Justice and Legal
Systems for AANHPI Communities
• Prioritize interpreter access in the justice and
legal systems to ensure fairness for AANHPI
defendants.
• Provide better access to language-specic
programs and supports to address challenges
faced by AANHPI people.
2. Improve Data Collection and Ensure Accuracy
• Implement comprehensive and reliable data
collection and reporting within the justice system
to better understand the experiences of justice-
involved AANHPI people.
• Improve data collection and reporting consistency
to accurately capture the experiences of AANHPI
people within the justice and legal systems.
• Leverage partnerships with organizations like
Action Against Hate, which offer language-
accessible reporting hotlines and community
toolkits to enhance reporting at the city level.
3. Build Trust Between Community and Law
Enforcement With Better Outreach and
Improved Diversity
• Expand or establish specialized units or teams
within law enforcement agencies to engage
with communities, sharing information on
agency policies and procedures, as well as
victim resources.
• Conduct information and education sessions
for trusted community leaders, organizations,
service providers, and nonprots to connect
to AANHPI communities.
• Establish training programs that allow law
enforcement and recruits to connect and
build trust with the communities they serve.
For example, Denver Police Department’s
Before the Blue and Beyond the Badge
is a new program that requires recruits
to interact with the communities they will
eventually serve, hearing lived experiences
and gaining a level of understanding of
cultures and communities before they police
in the community. These programs should
be regularly evaluated with input from
community members.
• Make efforts to intentionally recruit and retain
a diverse police workforce that reects the
community served.
Colorado Lotus Project
64
Doacy
Democracy is a broad domain. For the purposes of
this project, this section focuses on understanding
the opportunities for or barriers to taking part
in civic engagement, like voting or talking with
legislators or city council members. It also addresses
whether AANHPI people feel they are represented
and understood by their elected ofcials. This
information is critical to making sure AANHPI voices
and experiences are included in civic engagement
processes.
• Guiding Questions: What are current opportunities
for civic engagement within AANHPI communities?
What is the state of voting participation and turnout
within AANHPI communities? What is the diversity of
elected ofcials?
DOMAIN 7
Key Fngs
• Community organizations and
political parties don’t often
reach out to and may not
follow through with AANHPI
communities, which is a barrier
to civic engagement.
• Lack of in-language resources
may be a barrier to voting.
• Colorado lacks AANHPI
representation among its state
and local leaders.
Figure 20. Percentage of People 18 and Older Who Voted in the November 2022 Elections,
by AANHPI Identity (National)
Note: The ability to separate data beyond Native Hawaii and or Other Pacic Islander population was not possible on the 2022 Current
Population Survey Voter Supplement. Gray lines represent condence intervals, which show the degree of certainty of the data. There is 95%
condence that the true value lies between the range indicated by the interval.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Current Population Survey Voter Supplement (2022)
0% 40% 60% 80%20%
U.S.
Asian
Native Hawaiian and
Other Pacic Islander
Filipino
Japanese
Indian
Chinese
Korean
Vietnamese
62.5%
51.0%
51.5%
59.7%
57.5%
54.9%
46.7%
42.8%
38.2%
May 2024
65
Civic Engt
Community organizations and political parties
don’t often reach out to and may not follow
through with AANHPI communities, which is a
barrier to civic engagement.
Colorado lacks data related to civic
engagement. The data that exist are sparse
and can’t be disaggregated by different
AANHPI identities in a meaningful way.
From 2010 to 2020, the number of eligible
AANHPI voters in Colorado grew by 59%.
60
But
nationally available data shows that about only
half of eligible AANHPI voters participated in
the November 2022 election. Figure 20 shows
that 51.5% of Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacic Islanders and 51.0% of Asians voted
in the November 2022 election. Vietnamese
and Korean communities had lower reported
voting rates at 38.2% and 42.8%, respectively.
61
Community members and leaders described
the lack of outreach and engagement by
community organizations and political
parties as a possible barrier to voting and
participating in civic engagement.
“There’s no motivation [from the
community] to engage due to the lack of
representation… The relationship is so
transactional. I see these leaders come in
when they are running for elections, and
then they never come back.” Participant in
the South Asian-identifying focus group
“The biggest barrier is outreach. No one
prioritizes [AANHPI communities] because
they’re not the majority. When campaigns
are planned, they go and plan for the white
majority.” Key informant
According to nationally available data,
just over half (51%) of Asians report the
Democratic or Republican party reached
out to them in the past year. As shown in
Figure 21, this number was even lower for
Vietnamese and Chinese people (39% and
44%, respectively).
62
Figure 22 shows that more than half of all
Asians (54%) also reported that they were
not contacted by community organizations
at all with regard to voting and civic
engagement.
62
Lguage Access
Lack of in-language resources may be a
barrier to voting.
A possible barrier to voting may be
language resources. Overall, 9% of Asians
nationally indicated that language had
been a barrier in previous elections.
However, Figure 23 shows this percentage
was larger for people who are Vietnamese,
Chinese, and Korean.
62
Figure 24 shows that of Asians who
reported they spoke a language other
than English at home, 42% said they would
use in-language voting assistance if it was
available. Over half of Vietnamese (53%)
and Korean (51%) respondents said they
would use in-language voting assistance.
62
Language access was a recurring theme
in CHI’s conversations with community
leaders and members.
“[When government ofcials] think of
the AANHPI population, all they see is
a small group of people. They assume
language translation isn’t needed or
they will only translate [materials into]
languages they have heard about.
They’re making decisions not based on
experiences but based on what they
heard. But they [also] don’t really hear
from the actual community — people
don’t feel like they are being heard
even when they speak. They don’t feel
like they are being listened to.”
Key informant
Colorado Lotus Project
66
Figure 21. Percentage of People 18 and Older Who Reported Being Contacted
by the Democratic or Republican Party in 2022, by Asian Identity (National)
Figure 22. Frequency in Which People 18 and Older Reported Being Contacted
by a Community Organization in 2022, by Asian Identity (National)
Note: Due to the way data are collected, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islanders as an overall category is not available.
Source: Asian and Pacic Islander American Vote, 2022 Asian American Voter Survey.
Asian
Indian
Japanese
Filipino
Korean
Chinese
Vietnamese
0%
20% 40% 60%
80%
100%
60% 40%
51% 45%
4%
44%
4%
52%
39%
5%
56%
56% 41%
3%
52% 47%
1%
61%
5%
34%
● ● Yes ● ● No ● Don’t Know
Note: Due to the way data are collected, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islanders as an overall category is not available.
Source: Asian and Pacic Islander American Vote, 2022 Asian American Voter Survey
Asian
Japanese
Korean
Chinese
Filipino
Vietnamese
Indian
0%
20% 40% 60%
80%
100%
● ● Great Deal ● ● Some ● ● A Little ● ● Not at All ● Don’t Know
16% 17% 54% 7%
2%
18% 21%
57%
15% 25%
54%
5%
14%
17% 56%
6% 20% 55%
7%
16% 54%
8% 52%
6%
2%
4%
2%
8%
14%
6%
7%
16%
17%
14%
15%
11%
May 2024
67
Figure 23. Percentage of People 18 and Older Reporting Language Had Been a Barrier in Previous Elections,
by Asian Identity (National, 2022)
Figure 24. Percentage of People 18 and Older Reporting They Would Use In-Language Voting Assistance
if it Was Provided, by Asian Identity (National, 2022)
Note: Due to the way data are collected, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islanders as an overall category is not available.
Source: Asian and Pacic Islander American Vote, 2022 Asian American Voter Survey.
Asian
Vietnamese
Chinese
Korean
Indian
Japanese
Filipino
0%
20% 40% 60%
80%
100%
14% 85%
9% 90%
1%
1%
95%
4%
96%
12% 88%
94%
1%
14%
2%
84%
● ● Yes ● ● No ● Don’t Know
Note: Due to the way data are collected, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islanders as an overall category is not available.
Source: Asian and Pacic Islander American Vote, 2022 Asian American Voter Survey.
● ● Yes ● ● No ● Don’t Know
4%
4%
1%
Asian
Vietnamese
Korean
Chinese
Filipino
Japanese
Indian
0%
20% 40% 60%
80%
100%
51% 44%
42% 53%
63%
68%
48% 47%
57%
53% 42%
38%
33%
24%
5%
5%
5%
5%
5%
4%
8%
Colorado Lotus Project
68
Navigg e Ri Tesy of
Colodo’s Soh Asi Commities
for Ahc Engt
India is the most populous country in the world. In 2023, India surpassed
China with the largest population, almost 1.5 billion people. Geographically,
the Indian subcontinent can cover the American Midwest.
By Gil Asakawa
So it might be surprising to learn that engaging
the Indian — or South Asian, which includes
neighboring countries such as Myanmar
(Burma), Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and
Bhutan — community can be challenging. There
is a dizzying diversity of cultures, languages,
cuisines, religions, and political histories within
the region, and one can’t assume that all South
Asians will respond to the same messages to
engage, whether it’s for an arts performance or
a social/political purpose. Outreach to South
Asians must consider each ethnic or regional
community’s specic histories and culture.
Organizations like Mudra Dance Studio, which
teaches the Kathak style of dance from northern
India, knows this well and works to support all
of India’s cultures but specically to educate
the public about its authentic classical dance.
Namita Nariani, the founder of Mudra Dance,
has showcased her troupe’s talents regionally
since 1993 and introduced Indian dance at the
annual Colorado Dragon Boat Festival since the
troupe’s founding. She says in the early 1990s,
“I was a major part of putting on all the different
cultural shows and social gatherings for the
Indian Association.”
But that was when Denver’s community was still
small. These days, she acknowledges that there
are many Indian organizations.
Having so many cultures from one country
— or subcontinent — adds another layer
of complexity. “Cultures and history and
language and cuisine and all of that,” Nariani
says. “Once you realize that, you kind of
start to understand why it’s hard to corral
everybody under the umbrella of, ‘oh, we’re
Indian.’”
This sentiment resonates for Neal Walia,
who’s been involved with local politics and
campaigns and understands rsthand that
challenge of diversity in reaching out to South
Asian voters.
He was born in Seattle to immigrant parents
who emigrated to Canada before moving to
the U.S. His family moved to Highlands Ranch
when he was 11 and found that Colorado’s
South Asian community was much smaller and
less diverse than Seattle’s.
Even so, as an adult working in politics,
he sees the need to be sensitive to ethnic
diversities.
“How do you engage people who speak
dozens of different languages and try to
come up with a response that’s adequate
for everyone who’s involved?” he asks. “It’s
a very diverse community, and so building
trust within these communities is key. As an
outsider, no one is really going to trust that
May 2024
69
you’re in there for their interests, and I’ll say
even people of different faiths in our community
sometimes don’t trust each other.”
India’s colonial history and the trauma of the
Partition, when the British split Pakistan off from
India, add more layers of cultural complexity.
“When you kick into the broader South Asian
diaspora, what did the Partition do? What does
the relationship between India and Pakistan
look like? How has colonialism, institutionalized
division, Indian, India, diaspora, what are the
ramications of all those? How does that impact
Indian Americans here?”
The South Asian community may be the most
complex of any AANHPI population within which
to promote engagement. It takes awareness and
sensitivity for historical and cultural context, and
activists like Walia who are ready to do the work.
“There are a lot of different layers here that you
have to gure out when you’re trying to make a
difference in the communities that we’re serving.
My education is eternal — I still learn things every
single day,” he says.
“How do you gage people
who spe dozs of
dit lguages d y
to come wh a response
’s adeque for evyone
who’s volved? It’s a vy
vse commity, d so
budg u wh ese
commities is key.”
Neal Walia
Neil Walia, center in black shirt, works to build
trust when engaging with members of Colorado’s
diverse South Asian communities.
Coutesy of Neal Walia
Colorado Lotus Project
70
Rrestion by
Ste d Local Leads
Colorado lacks AANHPI representation
among its state and local leaders.
AANHPI people
are 6.1% of the U.S.
population, but only
0.9% of elected leaders
nationwide identify as
AANHPI.
59,63
This makes
AANHPI people the
most underrepresented
racial or ethnic group
in politics.
63
Data from May 2020 show that
Colorado has no AANHPI state legislators.
59
“The people making and carrying out the
political choices that affect AAPI communities
don’t reect them. It is imperative that this
change,” said Premal Dharia, Executive
Director of the Institute to End Mass
Incarceration, Harvard Law School, as quoted
by the Reective Democracy Campaign.
59
Looking at all levels of elected ofcials,
the Asian Pacic American Institute for
Congressional Studies’ database shows
Colorado has just two AANHPI elected ofcials
as of 2024; a city mayor and a presiding
municipal judge.
64
The institute acknowledges
individuals are likely missing in its database.
Even so, this lack of representation of AANHPI
elected leaders resonates with community
members who felt their elected ofcials did
not understand the issues they face.
“Representation matters here. In
politicians and in people who represent
us. We have very few representatives in
Colorado who are Asian.” Participant in the
East Asian-identifying focus group
“[It is a challenge for] our voices to be
heard and acknowledged. I have been
trying to have my/our voice heard and
acknowledged, but there are some
electees that are not supporters of the
AANHPI community and some [that] think
only of their community.”
Participant in the East Asian-identifying
focus group
Opporties For Aion
Increase outreach and engagement and advocate
for more representation of AANHPI communities
among leadership.
To enhance democracy and civic engagement
opportunities for AANHPI communities, Colorado
must take a comprehensive approach to addressing
the lack of representation among leadership, such as
elected ofcials. Intentional outreach and education
campaigns can also promote opportunities among
AANHPI communities. These considerations can help
drive more inclusion and participation in democratic
processes and can ensure that the voices and
experiences of AANHPI Coloradans are included in
the civic engagement landscape.
1. Better Representation of AANHPI Leadership
• Advocate for AANHPI people in leadership roles
at both the state and local levels, acknowledging
the stark underrepresentation highlighted by the
absence of AANHPI state legislators in Colorado
and the limited number of AANHPI elected
ofcials.
• Establish training programs that recruit AANHPI
leaders and support them throughout the political
and policymaking process.
2. Intentional Outreach from Leaders and
Policymakers
• Proactively engage with AANHPI communities
through intentional outreach efforts.
• Build meaningful and sustained relationships with
organizations connected to these communities
and address the identied barrier of sporadic
engagement by political parties and community
organizations.
3. Distribute Information and Educate Communities
About Civic Engagement
• Implement initiatives to distribute information
and educate AANHPI communities about civic
engagement, fostering a deeper understanding
of civic processes and encouraging more AANHPI
people to actively participate. This includes
addressing language barriers by providing in-
language resources — especially in Vietnamese,
Chinese, and Korean.
0.9%
of elected
leaders
nationwide
identify as
AANHPI
May 2024
71
Sgs Full Bloom
Separating data into AANHPI identities for each domain shows how
communities may be impacted differently. But key strengths in Colorado’s
AANHPI communities were evident across CHI’s conversations with community
members and leaders. These fall into three themes: resilience and collaboration,
showing up for others, and having rich cultures to share and celebrate.
together and pushing for needs and change.
That isn’t always the case in larger cities...
All the good work that we see from our
organizations isn’t just focused on one ethnic
identity, it encompasses a larger group. We
have these shared needs and concerns;
we show up stronger together… resources
are still limited, but there is much more
cooperation to work together to ask for
pieces of the pie and ask for bigger pies…
I love that, and this is the biggest strength.”
Key informant
“[AANHPI people] are allies to other
racial groups and to each other. We are a
community of color, too.” Thought Exchange
participant
“Even though there are lots of diverse ethnic
communities, we do our work together really
well. We weren’t saying, ‘Filipinos don’t
have to worry about this because we aren’t
being targeted.’ No, we all banded together.
We worked together through those difcult
years. I think that our presence and visibility
increased, especially in how our government
elected ofcials saw us. The fact that we got
Lunar New Year passed as a state holiday —
that would have not happened pre-COVID.
When we pushed that through, it was a
combined effort of South Asian, Chinese,
Japanese, Filipino, even countries that
don’t celebrate Lunar New Year. We worked
together to push that through. That is a big
strength that we have.” Key informant
Resilience and Collaboration:
Despite the systemic injustices and
historical and ongoing mistreatment,
Colorado’s AANHPI communities
come together to make changes.
While more can be done when it comes to
advancing equity for Colorado’s AANHPI
communities — including working with other
people of color and ensuring all voices are
being included in these efforts — the following
quotations show the progress communities are
making and how they come together despite
differences.
“We have a strong community that still works
together despite our differences. We’re only
growing stronger and making ourselves
known.” Participant in the Southeast Asian-
identifying focus group
“I thought about the strengths of being a
smaller community, it can be tighter knit.
In a small town, there is a small group of
advocates that all know each other. It seems
[like] we are all in it together. It isn’t us versus
them; you band together to utilize the power
that you can.” Key informant
“The biggest strength that I see is how close
the community is… Because the populations
are smaller in size compared to other major
cities, it makes us tighter knit. If anything,
because of the smaller community, it forces
us to become more intentional about working
Colorado Lotus Project
72
Showing Up for Others:
A network of community and family
speaks to how AANHPI people show
up for others.
This sense of collective community mobilizes
people to act, but also creates a sense of
togetherness and belonging.
“Even if you aren’t within our culture, we
welcome you to be a part of our family.
Come eat, take a plate home. We’re
automatically aunties, cousins. ‘It takes
a village,’ — our communities really feel
that deeply. We automatically look after
everyone else… We create and share a
feeling of home.” Participant in the Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander-
identifying focus group
“No matter how challenging issues are, our
community still pushes through to make it
work for their family. I am always so inspired
by that.” Key informant
“If you rally us together, we’re loud and
boisterous in our numbers… Once you
‘see’ someone [who represents you],
we’re coming. Culturally, we all have that
in common – ohana, we come together.”
Participant in the Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacic Islander-identifying focus group
“[We have the strength of family.] And
how important family is. Just as far as
the collective strength of a family, [and]
extended family, versus the Western thought
that you can do things on your own... I have
so many family members, non-blood family
members. They are all a part of my family.
That’s a strength that we have that surprises
people.”
Key informant
“We pray together, go to church together.
We come together for the rst birthdays. We
have a strong sense of family.” Participant
in the Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic
Islander-identifying focus group
Members of the Guiding Mountain Dragon and Lion Dance Association
gather together before a performace to celebrate Lunar New Year in Denver.
Brian Clark/CHI
May 2024
73
Culture to Share and Celebrate:
Together, AANHPI communities
encompass a rich tapestry of
over 50 distinct ethnic groups,
100 languages, and 75 countries
across East, Southeast, and South
Asia, as well as the Pacic Islands
of Melanesia, Micronesia, and
Polynesia.
Steeped in history, AANHPI communities
represent a vast group of people, each with
unique stories and traditions. And community
members are proud to share these, creating
much-needed awareness and representation
across Colorado.
“We are resilient and have grown as a
community. We have developed new
ways of sharing our cultures with others.
Awareness is one of the rst steps to social
change.”
Thought Exchange participant
“Our community is geared towards being
self-employed, tapping into talents and
creativity. A lot of people do plate lunch
sales, crafts, leis, etc. We want to share our
culture, and it’s something you can’t get
here, so we nd a way to make it happen.”
Participant in the Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacic Islander-identifying focus group
“Colorado, as a state, recognizing Lunar New
Year as a holiday [is a strength.] That’s a step
in the right direction to make our culture and
our values more appreciated.”
Participant in the youth focus group
“Being an Asian American, I am able
to teach and educate other individuals
about my culture. I am able to share and
express some of my cultural values. This is
important because there is a lack of Asian
representation [where I live], especially
South Asian culture. It is rewarding to be
able to share.”
Thought Exchange participant
“The Colorado [AANHPI] community
brings an invaluable amount of diversity,
culture, entrepreneurship, etc. to Colorado.
I imagine a Colorado without the [AANHPI]
community and think about all the people,
workers, food, and sense of community that
would be lost.”
Thought Exchange participant
A vendor prepares food
for a customer at the
Mid-Autumn Festival at the
Far East Center in the Little
Saigon Denver District.
Brian Clark/CHI
Colorado Lotus Project
74
Lookg Ahead:
Recommdions to Advce
Equy for AANHPI Colods
Using a multifaceted approach, the Colorado Lotus Project’s overarching goal is
to educate policymakers, service providers, advocates, philanthropic institutions,
and community partners about the nuanced strengths and challenges of AANHPI
communities in Colorado. The Colorado Lotus Project is not just an analysis. It
harmonizes data and rst-person storytelling to challenge stereotypes and offer a more
nuanced understanding of AANHPI communities. AANHPI people are not a monolith.
Based on the opportunities identied across seven domains, the following ve
recommendations emerge, addressing the diverse needs and challenges highlighted
within each domain.
and data collection. In doing so, partners must
include lived experiences and perspectives.
The collection of comprehensive data, coupled
with enhanced community engagement, can lay
the groundwork for better analyses and a more
profound understanding of AANHPI diversity,
need, and allocation of resources.
2. Promote Megful
Rrestion d
Cree Belongg
AANHPI communities need to feel respected,
valued, and acknowledged, both in the workplace
and their communities.
AANHPI representation in key sectors such as
law enforcement, health care, democracy, and
education is pivotal for creating environments that
will allow people to feel seen and understood.
Promoting opportunities for recruitment,
retention, and advancement of AANHPI people
in the workforce is foundational to creating
welcoming and inclusive environments.
1. Enhce d Improve Da
Disaggregion d Colleion
Across systems and domains, there is a severe
lack of data on AANHPI communities and
their intersecting identities. Partners across
sectors (health care, philanthropy, community
organizations, and state and federal researchers)
must establish systems capable of capturing
accurate, timely, and granular data across
demographics and geographies. National, state,
and local tools must incorporate robust race and
ethnicity questions to prevent oversimplication,
enabling people to identify their true identities
more accurately. Self-reporting options are
essential for recognizing individuals not
represented in predened categories. These
data allow for a better understanding of the
people and experiences behind the data
and support promoting equity for AANHPI
communities.
To address these gaps, partners must actively
engage with AANHPI communities, working
together to tackle systemic issues in research
May 2024
75
Employers, community partners, and state and
local leaders must also ensure that AANHPI
people have the opportunity to not just be
represented but to have decision-making
authority. Partners must engage with AANHPI
people who are leaders in the community and
knowledgeable about the communities’ needs.
This includes understanding and acknowledging
the diversity that exists in the community.
Celebrating diversity and uplifting AANHPI-
owned businesses and spaces can also create
belonging in communities.
“Culture is built through traditions, and
when you associate those to a place then
that sense of belonging develops. People
need to trust in their belongingness that it
will last and is not temporary.” Key informant
3. Ahcally Engage
d Bud Tru wh
AANHPI Commies
Partners need to meet AANHPI communities
where they are. They need to see where people
live, understand the nuances of their cultures,
and build a structure to encourage open, two-
way communication. Trust that is built through
meaningful engagement between institutions
and AANHPI communities is fundamental to
community well-being and for fostering positive
community outcomes. This must be done across
all domains.
Encourage leaders and policymakers to
proactively engage with AANHPI communities
through intentional outreach efforts and to build
meaningful and sustained relationships with
organizations connected to these communities.
Distribute information and educate communities
to empower active participation in civic
engagement. Building trust and collaboration
between the communities and institutions
through open dialogue, acknowledging unique
needs, and promoting mutual respect, can bring
AANHPI voices into more decision-making
processes.
4. Address Lguage
d Cultal Bris
Breaking down language and cultural barriers
for AANHPI communities in Colorado is not
just about facilitating communication; it’s about
dismantling obstacles that hinder thriving.
Imagine a scenario where people can access
health care, education, and legal support
seamlessly because they can express their
needs clearly. This isn’t merely about linguistic
convenience; it’s about fostering a deeper
connection that transcends communication gaps.
From left, Phương Smith, community liaison for Little Saigon Denver;
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston; Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas; and
Mimi Luong, owner of Truong An Gifts, pose for a picture at the Mid-Autumn
Festival at the Far East Center in the Little Saigon Denver District.
Brian Clark/CHI
Colorado Lotus Project
By ensuring access to reliable translators and
culturally relevant programs, we go beyond
linguistic translation — we empower AANHPI
community members to engage meaningfully
with crucial services. It is an active exercise
in inclusivity, recognizing the diversity of
AANHPI communities and embracing them.
Tailoring initiatives, programs, and services to
address these unique cultural needs isn’t just
about representation; it’s about creating an
environment where people feel seen, heard,
understood, and valued, and where AANHPI
communities have their needs met. For example,
having culturally tailored and appropriate food
available at food pantries is a way that this can
show up.
5. Tget d Enhce
Fdg to AANHPI
Commies Most Need
To help AANHPI communities most in need, it’s
important to know how much funding they get
each year. Tracking this annually is essential,
and comparing this to what different AANHPI
communities actually need, helps identify areas
for improvement. The philanthropic analysis
in this report is a rst step in that direction,
and a deeper dive and recurring analysis is
key to better understanding the need for and
allocation of resources in different AANHPI
communities.
Working closely with AANHPI-led organizations
is also essential to ensure that funding efforts
match the community’s actual needs. It’s
important to understand the organizational
landscape, especially beyond established
groups, making room for new and emerging
organizations. Prioritizing support for emerging
and grassroots organizations is key, recognizing
their potential and the challenges they face
without enough nancial backing.
It’s also crucial to consider the diversity
and cultural differences among AANHPI
organizations to distribute resources fairly.
Efforts should reach beyond the Denver
metro area to help underserved communities
statewide. Improving data collection and
reporting, along with enhancing transparency
in grant allocation, will help stakeholders
understand the impact of funding and ensure
its effective use. These strategies can strengthen
philanthropic and other funding support for
AANHPI communities statewide to help meet
their diverse needs, while promoting sustainable
growth and resilience.
Conclusion
Disaggregated data show that AANHPI communities are not a monolith. They are not a model minority.
The number of AANHPI people across Colorado is sizable, and their experiences are diverse.
The 2024 Colorado Lotus Project report is a rst-of-its-kind, in-depth look at these communities in
Colorado. But more statewide research is needed. As a state, we need to continue to advocate and
advance data collection systems to better understand trends in key metrics for AANHPI people. We
also need to nd ways to reach out and engage AANHPI people across the state and across identities.
This includes AANHPI people who are living in rural areas, are older adults, are LGBTQ+, or are
experiencing homelessness, among others.
Like the ower itself, the Colorado Lotus Project represents the potential for growth, transformation,
and resilience for Colorado’s AANHPI communities, even in the face of barriers.
76
May 2024
77
Appx A: Commy Engt
to participate. Focus groups were cofacilitated
by AANHPI-identifying community leaders. The
AANHPI-regional identity groups were held
virtually while the recent immigrant and refugee
and youth focus groups were held in person. CHI
provided virtual focus group participants with a
$60 gift card as a thank you for their time while in-
person participants received an $80 gift card.
Pct Dogphics
Overall, most focus group participants identied
as Asian, specically Chinese (29%), Korean (16%),
and Vietnamese (12%). Only 12% of participants
identied as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic
Islander, specically Native Hawaiian (6%),
Marshallese (2%) and Guamanian or Chamorro
(2%). A quarter of participants (25%) were 34-44
years old and 20% were under 18. About 45% of
participants identied as female. Importantly, due
to the way CHI recruited for the recent immigrant
and refugee focus group, gender identity data
were not collected for these participants. Most
participants lived in Denver (33%) and Arapahoe
counties (27%).
Due to the way CHI recruited for the recent
immigrant and refugee focus group, data on other
intersecting identities and lived experiences is
also not available for these participants. Therefore,
the percentage of participants with other
intersecting identities and lived experiences,
shown in Table 13, is of the remaining ve focus
groups conducted (n=39). While 59% indicated
none of the above or skipped the question, 18%
indicated they are a member of the LGBTQ+
community, 18% indicated they are rst-
generation immigrants, and 10% indicated they
are a migrant family (moving from place-to-place
within the U.S.)
Overall, these data reect an opportunity to better
reach out to and engage the AANHPI community
in future research. Examples include those who
live outside the Denver metro area, are older
adults, or have other intersecting identities and
lived experiences, such as those who live without
stable housing or a reliable income.
Lguage Access
CHI, the Colorado AAPI Circle, and the
established advisory group reached out to
AANHPI communities with digital yers to
invite community members to participate
in focus groups and the Thought Exchange.
Flyers were made available in the following
languages: Burmese, English, Marshallese,
Nepali, Simplied Chinese, Traditional Chinese,
Urdu, and Vietnamese. These languages were
determined by CHI and its partners based on
an initial review of quantitative data to select
communities that may be disproportionately
impacted. CHI and its partners also considered
the population size of AANHPI communities living
in Colorado and included both larger groups, as
well as smaller ones that may not always receive
information in their languages. Interpretation and
accommodation services were available for focus
groups participants; however no participants
indicated they needed an accommodation to
participate.
Focus Gros
A total of 51 people participated in focus groups
with CHI. CHI held six focus groups by regional
AANHPI identity and two prioritized intersecting
identities, which were determined in partnership
with the Colorado AAPI Circle and advisory group
members. These groups were East Asians, Native
Hawaiians and Other Pacic Islanders, South
Asians, Southeast Asians, recent immigrants and
refugees (moved to the U.S. within the last 10
years), and youth. Participants were encouraged
to sign up for the group they identied with most.
To support outreach for the recent immigrant and
refugee group, CHI partnered with Aurora Mental
Health and Recovery’s Cultural Development
and Wellness Center (formerly the Asian
Pacic Development Center) to recruit AANHPI
immigrants and refugees who participate in
the center’s English language learner classes.
Any youth who were under the age of 18 were
required to provide parent or guardian consent
Colorado Lotus Project
78
Table 7. Focus Group Participants by Race/Ethnicity
Race/Ethnicity Percent
American Indian or
Alaska Native
0%
Asian 90%
Black or African American 0%
Hispanic/Latino 0%
Middle Eastern or North African 0%
Native Hawaiian or
Other Pacic Islander
12%
White 4%
Note: Participants could select all that apply.
Table 8. Focus Group Participants by Asian Identity
Asian Identity Percent
Bangladeshi 0%
Burmese 6%
Cambodian 2%
Chinese 29%
Filipino 10%
Hmong 2%
Indian (India) 10%
Indonesian 2%
Japanese 8%
Korean 16%
Laotian 2%
Malaysian 0%
Pakistani 0%
Sri Lankan 0%
Taiwanese 2%
Thai 2%
Vietnamese 12%
Prefer not to say/Unknown 4%
Note: Participants could select all that apply.
Table 9. Focus Group Participants by Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander Identity
Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacic Islander Identity
Percent
Marshallese 2%
Native Hawaiian 6%
Guamanian or Chamorro 2%
Samoan 0%
Prefer not to say/Unknown 2%
Note: Participants could select all that apply.
Table 10. Focus Group Participants by Age
Age Groups Percent
Under 18 20%
18-24 10%
25-34 14%
35-44 25%
45-54 16%
55-64 8%
65 or older 4%
Prefer not to say 4%
Table 11. Focus Group Participants by Gender
Identity
Gender Identity Percent
Female 45%
Male 27%
Gender nonconforming 4%
Not collected* 24%
*Note, due to the way CHI recruited for the recent immigrant
and refugee focus group, gender identity data on participants
was not collected.
May 2024
79
Table 12. Focus Group Participants by County
County Percent
Adams 10%
Arapahoe 27%
Broomeld 2%
Denver 33%
Jefferson 12%
Mesa 2%
Weld 2%
Prefer not to say 12%
Table 13. Focus Group Participants by Other
Intersecting Identities and Lived Experiences
County Percent*
Veteran or active-duty military 3%
Member of the
LGBTQ+ community
18%
Member of a tribal community 0%
First-generation immigrant
from another country
18%
Refugee from another country 3%
Migrant family (moving from
place-to-place within the U.S.)
10%
Living without stable housing 5%
Living without stable,
reliable income
3%
Living without stable
access to food
3%
Person affected by trauma 5%
None of the above/Skipped 59%
*Note that due to the way CHI recruited for the recent
immigrant and refugee focus group, data on other
intersecting identities and lived experiences were not
collected. Therefore, these percentages are of the remaining
ve focus groups conducted (n=39).
ought Exge
A total of 107 people participated
anonymously in the Thought Exchange,
sharing 60 comments in total and rating
their agreement with the comments of
others. Participants answered the question
“What are the greatest strengths and most
signicant challenges we face as Colorado’s
Asian American and Pacic Islander (AAPI)
community?” Respondents were asked to self-
identify their race/ethnic background, age,
and county of residence. Because information
was collected anonymously, there is no way
to verify the answers respondents gave about
their identity. Participants did not receive
an incentive for completing the Thought
Exchange. The breakdown of the identities
of the respondents shows that most of the
respondents identied as Asian, were 25-34
years old, and lived in Denver County.
Table 14. Thought Exchange Participants by Race/
Ethnicity
Race/Ethnicity Percent
American Indian or Alaska Native 6%
Asian 61%
Black or African American 18%
Hispanic/Latino 3%
Middle Eastern or North African 0%
Native Hawaiian
or Other Pacic Islander
13%
White 7%
Other* 5%
Note: Participants could select all that apply.
*Participants could write in their own answers if they chose
Other. Answers that participants wrote include Pakistani, Asian
American, and South Asian.
Colorado Lotus Project
80
Table 15. Thought Exchange Participants by
Asian Identity
Asian Identity Percent
Bangladeshi 5%
Burmese 1%
Cambodian 8%
Chinese 16%
Filipino 14%
Hmong 2%
Indian (India) 6%
Indonesian 3%
Japanese 9%
Korean 7%
Laotian 1%
Malaysian 3%
Pakistani 3%
Sri Lankan 3%
Taiwanese 4%
Thai 1%
Vietnamese 10%
Prefer not to say 2%
N/A — Do not identify as Asian 6%
Other* 4%
Note: Participants could select all that apply. Due to the way
data are collected, participants may have selected “N/A —
Do not identify as Asian” because they identify as Native
Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander. Respondents who
selected “N/A — Do not identify as Asian” and “N/A — Do not
identify as NHPI” have been removed.
*Participants could write in their own answers if they chose
Other. Answers that participants wrote include Nepali,
Ryukyuan, Karen, and None.
Table 16. Thought Exchange Participants by
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacic Islander
Identity
Native Hawaiian and Other
Pacic Islander Identity
Percent
Native Hawaiian 38%
Guamanian or Chamorro 4%
Samoan 5%
Don’t know 1%
Prefer not to say 2%
N/A — Do not identify as NHPI 48%
Other* 1%
Note: Participants could select all that apply. Due to the way
data are collected, participants may have selected “N/A
— Do not identify as NHPI” because they identify as Asian.
Respondents who selected “N/A — Do not identify as Asian”
and “N/A — Do not identify as NHPI” have been removed.
*Participants could write in their own answers if they chose
Other. Answers that participants wrote include Ryukyuan.
Table 17. Thought Exchange Participants by Age
Age Groups Percent
Under 18 3%
18-24 26%
25-34 44%
35-44 21%
45-54 3%
55-64 0%
65 or older 2%
May 2024
81
Table 18. Thought Exchange
Participants by County
County Percent
Adams 12%
Alamosa 3%
Arapahoe 7%
Archuleta 2%
Baca 1%
Bent 2%
Broomeld 3%
Cheyenne 1%
Clear Creek 2%
Crowley 1%
Delta 1%
Denver 21%
Douglas 3%
Elbert 2%
Fremont 2%
Gareld 1%
Gunnison 8%
Huerfano 1%
Jackson 2%
Jefferson 9%
Lake 1%
Mesa 3%
Mineral 1%
Phillips 1%
Pitkin 1%
San Miguel 1%
Washington 3%
Prefer not to say 3%
Note: All other counties were 0%, including
Boulder, Chaffe, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Dolores,
Eagle, El Paso, Gilpin, Grand, Hinsdale, Kiowa,
Kit Carson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Lincoln,
Logan, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Morgan,
Otero, Ouray, Park, Powers, Pueblo, Rio Blanco,
Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, Sedgwick,
Summit, Teller, Weld, and Yuma.
Appx B:
Da Disaggreon d
Rorty Stdds
Data disaggregation helps researchers understand
differences in outcomes among specic identities that
exist in larger, aggregate racial or ethnic groups. These
approaches can explain disparities or successes that
exist among these groups that are normally hidden
within these larger populations.
To address increased disaggregation and still provide
information on reliability of estimates, gures and
data in the report note where certain estimates may
be less reliable due to high standard error for those
estimates. However, CHI and the Colorado AAPI Circle
feel it is important to still provide these estimates.
This allows visibility of identities within the data while
acknowledging there may be reliability issues of
certain estimates.
To determine reliability, identities with fewer than
30 people included in the metric are excluded from
analyses. For those estimates that are included,
reliability calculations were used to determine if an
estimate may contain variability using the residual
standard error. The residual standard error is calculated
by dividing the standard error of the estimate by the
weighted frequency. If the standard error is 50% or
more of the weighted estimate, then the estimate
is agged as “potential issues for reliability” for that
specic identity. Identities that do not meet these
criteria are noted in the given gures.
Colorado Lotus Project
82
Appx C:
Phropic Da Analysis Lions
Soces
CHI used publicly available data
from Candid’s Racial Equity Map and
Philanthropy Southwest’s Dashboard,
which is also based on Candid’s
database. CHI accessed these resources
May 2023-February 2024.
Avale Da Yes
The data used in this report are from
2011-2018, meaning that investments
in philanthropy since the COVID-19
pandemic in 2020 and onward are
not reected. Data were limited to this
date range based on guidance from
Candid staff, who said that 2018 is the
most recent year for which Candid has
a critical mass of grant data to analyze
recipients based on racial/ethnic groups
in comparison to total grantmaking for
those years. Because this data is based
on self-reporting and IRS lings, there
can be multiyear delays between when
grants are issued and when they are
captured in aggregate philanthropic
funding databases. This highlights
an overall need for more accurate,
centralized, and timely reporting on
investments by foundations.
Wh Cots as Fng for
e AANHPI Commy?
Because the data are largely self-reported,
funders must explicitly report that their grants
are intended for AANHPI communities for those
dollars to be counted in this analysis. In many
cases, funders reported that their investments
beneted multiple communities. Therefore, much
of the available data reects funding amounts
that are inclusive, but not exclusive to the
AANHPI community. Because of the method of
reporting, it is not possible to isolate which funds
are only intended for the AANHPI community.
Not all funders participate in reporting to
Candid’s database, meaning that this data does
not represent all philanthropic efforts. Therefore,
other funding instances that directly or indirectly
benet AANHPI communities are not captured
in this analysis. Additionally, information about
regranting is not available, which may over- or
undercount funds intended for the AANHPI
community.
Geogphic Informion
Information about where grant funds reach
in Colorado is limited. Of foundation funding
for the AANHPI community, only about 50%
of grants reported an associated location of
the recipient. Additionally, information about
regranting is not available, so it is possible that
these funds were granted to an organization in
one location that could have used the funds for
programs/services in other areas. The analysis in
this report shows that most funds for the AANHPI
community were directed to organizations in
metro Denver. Further exploration is needed
to understand the extent to which funding is
reaching AANHPI communities in other areas of
Colorado.
May 2024
83
Endnotes
1 U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2021: ACS
5-Year Estimates. (2021)
2 Budiman A. and Ruiz N.G. Asian Americans are the fastest-growing
racial or ethnic group in the U.S. (2021) Pew Research Center.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/04/09/asian-
americans-are-the-fastest-growing-racial-or-ethnic-group-in-the-
u-s/
3 Budiman A. and Ruiz N.G. Key facts about Asian Americans, a
diverse and growing population. (2021) Pew Research Center.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/04/29/key-facts-
about-asian-americans/
4 Kochhar R. and Cilluffo A. Income Inequality in the U.S. Is Rising
Most Rapidly Among Asians. (2018) Pew Research Center. https://
www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2018/07/12/income-
inequality-in-the-u-s-is-rising-most-rapidly-among-asians/
5 Yi S.S., Kwon S.C., Suss R., et al. The Mutually Reinforcing Cycle
of Poor Data Quality And Racialized Stereotypes That Shapes
Asian American Health. (2022) Health Affairs. 41 (2) https://doi.
org/10.1377/hlthaff.2021.01417
6 Asian Americans/Pacic Islanders in Philanthropy. Seeking to Soar.
(2021) https://aapip.org/resources/seeking-to-soar-foundation-
funding-for-asian-american-and-pacic-islander-communities/
7 A joint resolution to acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the
January 17, 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and to
offer an apology to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United
States for the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii. S.J.Res.19.
103
rd
Congress. 1993-1994. https://www.congress.gov/
bill/103rd-congress/senate-joint-resolution/19
8 Asian and Pacic Islander American Health Forum. Medicaid
Restoration for Compact of Free Association Communities. (n.d.)
Retrieved February 2024 from https://www.apiahf.org/focus/
health-care-access/cofa/
9 Gregory J. Asian American and Pacic Islander Migrations: History
and Geography. (n.d.) University of Washington. https://depts.
washington.edu/moving1/asian_migration.shtml
10 Amache.org. Historical Summary Amache - Granada War
Relocation Center. (n.d.) https://amache.org/historical-summary/
11 History Colorado. Amache: Japanese Internment in Colorado
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historycolorado.org/amache-japanese-internment-colorado-
online-exhibit
12 History Colorado. The Rise and Fall of Denver’s Chinatown
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voices/2019/04/11/rise-and-fall-denvers-chinatown
13 Sprunt B. Here’s What The New Hate Crimes Law Aims To Do As
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org/2021/05/20/998599775/biden-to-sign-the-covid-19-hate-
crimes-bill-as-anti-asian-american-attacks-rise
14 Power and the People: The U.S. Census and Who Counts.
Japanese Americans in World War II and the Census. (n.d.)
The Regents of the University of California. https://exhibits.lib.
berkeley.edu/spotlight/census/feature/japanese-americans-in-
world-war-ii-and-the-census
15 Kader F., Đoàn L.N., Lee M., et al. Disaggregating Race/Ethnicity
Data Categories: Criticisms, Dangers, And Opposing Viewpoints.
(2022) Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/
forefront/disaggregating-race-ethnicity-data-categories-
criticisms-dangers-and-opposing
16 Lo H. Documents detail the secret strategy behind Trump’s
census citizenship question push. (2022) NPR https://www.
npr.org/2022/07/20/1044944618/census-citzenship-question-
history-oversight-committee
17 Ruiz G., Shao S., Shah S. What It Means to Be Asian in America.
(2022) Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/race-
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