Metro Detroit’s Asian-American community faces bullying in schools, barriers to career advancement

Metro Detroit’s Asian-American community faces bullying in schools, barriers to career advancement and high unemployment, according to an assessment that will be delivered to state lawmakers Thursday.

Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote-Michigan released the first official needs assessment for Metro Detroit, “Rising Voices, Revealing Truths,” Wednesday. The survey was done with the Wayne State University Center for Urban Studies.

The report found numerous quality-of-life areas where Asian-Americans lag, even as their numbers have surged in the region. According to the Census Bureau, the Asian-American population in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties grew 37 percent from 2000 to 2010, to 138,075.

“The 2010 Census showed that the local Asian-American population has experienced significant increases over the past decade,” said Stephanie Gray Chang, president emeritus of APIA Vote-MI. “This was the perfect opportunity to learn more about our community members, begin to delve into data across our diverse community, and to discover the highest priority needs and differences.”

Between June and November 2011, 761 Asian-American adults in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties were surveyed by phone, in person and online.

Among the assessment’s findings:

19.9 percent of Asian-American respondents in Metro Detroit are unemployed, while only 31.4 percent have full-time employment.

68.6 percent of Southeast Asian Americans, 47.1 percent of South Asian Americans and 28.2 percent of East Asian Americans reported being bullied in school.

61.8 percent of Southeast Asian Americans, 39.1 percent of South Asian Americans and 34.4 percent of East Asian Americans reported cultural insensitivity in the workplace.

The report is available for download at www.apiavotemi.org. Volunteers and members of the group’s board of directors plan to encourage legislators to make policy decisions that align with findings in the report.

Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote-Michigan is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that serves the Asian Pacific Islander American community through civic participation, advocacy, and education.

via www.detroitnews.com