CACF’s 18% and Growing Campaign Rallies for Fair and Equitable Funding at Queens Borough Hall

Queens-based members of the 18% and Growing campaign during Thursday’s rally.

Over 50 community members, service providers, community leaders, advocates, and elected allies raised their voices to lift up the health, education, and language access needs of New York City’s AAPI community.

KEW GARDENS, NY (May 13) — Over 50 AAPI advocates, service providers and community members from CACF’s 18% and Growing budget advocacy campaign gathered on the steps of Queens Borough Hall on Tuesday to rally for equitable funding for the borough’s diverse AAPI communities.

Rallygoers in attendance included representatives and community members from Adhikaar, Armenian American Action Network, Asians Fighting Injustice, Caribbean Equality Project, Center for the Integration of New Americans (CIANA), Garden of Hope, India Home, Korean Community Services, South Asian Council for Social Services, South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) and Turning Point for Women. The crowd joined in chants of “We are 18%” as they urged New York City Council to support AAPI-led and -serving community-based organizations across the five boroughs of New York City.

Throughout the rally, speakers centered the main points of the 18% and Growing campaign’s budget ask, which are:

• Enhance the AAPI Community Support Initiative to $7.5 million to expand social services by AAPI serving community-based organizations to address the fiscal equity needed to build bridges between culturally competent and linguistically accessible services and the most vulnerable AAPI New Yorkers.

• Enhance the Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund (CCNSF) to $7.5 million to provide capacity building support to Black, Latinx, and AAPI-led community-based organizations.

• Enhance the Access Health NYC Initiative to $4.5 million to support community-based organizations (CBOs) who provide education, outreach, and assistance to marginalized New Yorkers on how to access health care and coverage.

“At a time when so many New Yorkers are worried about the future of the programs and social services they rely on, it’s more important than ever for New York City Council to invest in initiatives that uplift the needs of every day people,” said Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung, Co-Executive Directors of CACF, which leads the 18% and Growing campaign.  “City Council-supported programs like the AAPI Community Support Initiative, Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund, and the Access Health Initiative provide critical resources to community-based organizations across the city that are doing the vital work of supporting our communities, regardless of their language fluency or immigration status. We urge the Council to support the enhancement of these critical programs in the New York City Budget.”

“AAPI New Yorkers represent 35% of my district and 18% of the city’s total population. But city funding for AAPI programs and services does not reflect this rapid growth. As we negotiate the FY ‘26 budget, I will fight to ensure that our community receives equitable funding and no budget cuts,” said Councilmember Julie Won.“A city of immigrants needs services that will accommodate their needs for culturally competent services. We will continue advocating for funding alongside CACF and the over 90 partner organizations dedicated to serving the AAPI community.” 

As New York City’s Asian American and Pacific Islander communities continue to grow, our city’s budget must grow with them," said Councilmember Selvena N. Brooks-Powers. "The 18% and Growing Campaign reminds us that equity in funding is not just a matter of fairness—it’s a necessity. From community services to health access and nonprofit stability, the needs of AAPI New Yorkers are urgent and undeniable. I’m proud to stand with CACF and their coalition of advocates in calling for a budget that truly reflects the diversity and strength of our city.”

“As federal funding for essential social services continues to be slashed, hostility towards immigrants, including many Middle Eastern and South Asian immigrants, is only increasing,” said Emira Habiby Browne, the founder and CEO of Center for the Integration of New Americans (CIANA). “Our city leaders need to stand up for AAPI communities, their fastest-growing demographic, by fully funding the AAPI Community Support Initiative in the coming year’s budget Without it, our Asian American neighbors, and all other immigrant populations, will continue struggling to achieve full integration and success.”

“Garden of Hope serves a historically underserved Chinese immigrant community in New York City, where victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, child abuse, elder abuse, and hate crimes face significant barriers to accessing necessary services. The city’s largest Chinese immigrant enclave remains underserved, with 95% of survivors speaking little or no English and 93% living in poverty,” said Kristen Shi, Executive Director of Garden of Hope. “Limited resources, language barriers, and a lack of culturally competent services prevent many from seeking help through mainstream channels. Our organization bridges this gap by providing critical, culturally sensitive services such as case management, legal assistance, housing support, and trauma-informed counseling, all aimed at empowering survivors. With fiscal equity, Garden of Hope can expand these essential programs, reach more victims, and strengthen our efforts to provide comprehensive support tailored to the unique needs of Chinese immigrant survivors.”

“The AAPI community across New York City has been historically underserved, often overlooked in funding and policy decisions due to language barriers, immigration status, and cultural stigma,” said Myoungmi Kim, President & CEO of Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York. “With proper funding, we can meet growing needs, reduce disparities, and uplift the resilience of our diverse AAPI populations. Equitable allocation is not just a matter of fairness—it’s a necessary investment for the future of our city.”

“The Asian population in New York City is growing exponentially, especially in Queens. These groups are best served by organizations that understand their unique challenges, recognize their cultural strengths and speak their languages,” said Sudha Acharya, Executive Director of South Asian Council for Social Services. “It is important that Asian led and Asian serving CBOs get the support they need to keep pace with the increasing number of clients they serve.”

Photos from Tuesday’s rally can be found here.

For more information, please reach out to Lakshmi Gandhi, CACF’s Senior Communications Coordinator, at lgandhi@cacf.org.