Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, a historical moment in the ongoing pursuit for freedom and liberation by Black Americans. Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union soldiers announced the end of the civil war and the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

As we honor Juneteenth, we reflect on the systemic racism, violence, and oppression against people of color throughout history and in the present moment. In our fight toward racial equity, we know we are stronger when we come together across our differences, build solidarity and power across communities, and stand together against intolerance and injustice.

On May 6, we brought hundreds of Asian Americans to Springfield to lobby lawmakers to Protect Our Futures! Progressive revenue was a major PAVE priority as we figure out ways to tax the rich and fund our communities and the critical programs and services we rely on, and because of the advocacy of so many grassroots leaders, the Illinois General Assembly passed a tax on digital ads! 💰🎉

We also supported our coalition partners on critical funding priorities, protecting funding for health benefits for our seniors, immigrant services, and the Access to Justice program.

While we’re disappointed that the General Assembly didn’t include funding to expand K-12 inclusive history implementation or to begin providing Halal and Kosher meals in public schools, we know that sharing our stories and experiences helped move the needle.

If you’re interested in joining the fight, be sure to join us in Springfield next year for Asian American Action Day 2027 and sign up for our newsletter ( https://mailchi.mp/advancingjustice-chicago/newsletter-sign-up ) to keep up to date as we continue advocating for policies and funding that Protect Our Futures!

If you work in suburban Cook County, you deserve to be paid an appropriate wage!

The Cook County Commission on Human Rights increased the minimum wage for non-tipped workers to $15.40 and tipped workers to $9.25, effective July 1, 2026! Swipe for translated graphics to share with your friends, coworkers, and neighbors.

Visit CookCountyIL.gov/MWO for detailed information, Frequently Asked Questions, and to file complaints for employers not meeting the required minimum wage after July 1.

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, both a celebration of the millions of people who call this country home and a chilling reminder that the people with the courage and tenacity to move for a better life have been denied any basic ability to access a pathway to citizenship.

DACA has allowed many immigrant youth to live full lives and obtain legal status over the past 14 years, but it is time for permanent solutions. We demand Congress pass and fund a pathway to citizenship for all DACA recipients, immigrant youth, and communities, regardless of where we come from or the language we speak. Only then can we transform our nation into a place of liberty and justice for all.

As politicians continue to dangle the futures of DACA recipients for political points, DACA recipients are simply focused on advancing their careers, raising their families, and contributing to their communities – all under the constant threat of ICE and heightened worry of raids. We cannot keep living and waiting under fear for a working immigration system that keeps families together and treats every person with dignity and respect, no matter their status.

Read the full statement from the Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation.

May is officially over, so let’s look back at some AAPI Heritage Month moments ICYMI!

🔥 Closed out AAPI Heritage Month at the Lucky Cat Night Market held at Ludlow Liquors with Coquetel Collective, Kiyomi Negi-Tran, Jane Shang, and Superhai
🔥 Said hi to the Ve Lai team at their pop-up at Hopewell Brewing Company
🔥 Tried the Mekong Citrus drink monthly special at Haibayô
🔥 Sunned on the new patio at Consignment Lounge's AAPI vendor pop-up market
🔥 Took a selfie with Chef Darnell at Luella's Southern Kitchen when picking up their weekly special
🔥 Made friends at the Sake & Soju Social led by INT'L CAFE and hosted by Konbini & Kanpai Wrigleyville
🔥 Indulged in specialty cocktails from Coquetel Collective, Itoko, and Madang at the After Hours Anju bar takeover at TenGoku Aburiya
🔥 Picnicked at the lake with the chicken katsu kimbap from PINK MU
🔥 Nabbed the new limited-edition ube soda from Marz Community Brewing and Joong Boo Market
🔥 Enjoyed the fried chicken sandwich and soju cocktail monthly specials at Parson's Chicken & Fish

Thank you to all our 60+ partners and many, many supporters who came out this past month. You made our AAPIHM campaign great this year! We can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year... 👀

Join A Just Chi and Tanggol Migrante on 6/17 from 6-8pm for "Tanggol Migrante: Uniting to Defend and Support Migrants."

The Tanggol Migrante Movement (TMM) started in February 2025 as an alliance of grassroots organizations brought together in response to the attacks on Filipino migrant communities by the Trump administration's anti-immigration policies. TMM has held Know-Your-Rights trainings, navigated both the U.S. and Philippine bureaucracy, held rallies, circulated petitions, conducted phone campaigns, and provided direct support to Filipino migrants detained by ICE.

This month, TMM Chicago will join A Just Chi to facilitate a teach-in about their approach to building networks of support and defense for detained migrants and their families. Come learn about the strategies and campaigns grassroots organizers have used to support and free multiple Filipino migrants across the Midwest!

RSVP at www.bit.ly/JuneAJC

Chicago’s community continues to influence the city today. Our final highlight for this month, we’re recognizing Grace Pai. As Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago, she works to advance civil rights and advocate for AANHPI communities across the city. In 2021, she led the campaign to require the teaching of Asian American history in all Illinois public schools, making Illinois the first state to do so.

Building community over kimchi 🤝🥬 We closed out AAPI Heritage Month this past weekend with a kimchi-making workshop at our office! Attendees learned about the history of kimchi, tasted different types of homemade kimchi, and experienced a hands-on approach in making kimchi that they took home to enjoy at the end of the day.

Huge thanks to Kimchi Just For Fun for hosting and leading an enriching workshop for community members and fundraising for Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago! We’d also like to give special thanks to our other AAPIHM partner PINK MU for providing delicious meals of kimbap for our attendees!

You can follow and support Kimchi Just For Fun at https://www.kimchijustforfun.com and PINK MU at https://www.pinkmuchicago.com.

Even though May is over, you can still support our work in grassroots organizing and civic engagement by donating at https://advancingjustice-chicago.org/supportus!