A Q&A with Terry Ao Minnis, Senior Director of Census and Voting Programs Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
With this being both a census year and an election year, it’s safe to assume that Terry Ao Minnis is busier than ever as Senior Director of Census and Voting Programs for Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, a national organization whose mission is to advocate “for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and other underserved communities to promote a fair and equitable society for all.”
However, given Terry’s experience on a number of census advisory committees over the last two decades as well as extensive work as counsel on voting rights cases, she is more than up for the challenge.
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Please tell us a little about yourself.
Born and raised in the DMV [DC, Maryland,Virginia], I am a proud Marylander who owes her livelihood to America’s family immigration system. My grandfather came to the U.S. on a third preference immigration visa (i.e. professional skill for the green card) in 1969. Through the family immigration system, he was able to sponsor my mother, who was attending graduate school in Canada, where she met my father.
Over the years, my parents naturalized as U.S. citizens and had me and my brother. The support my mother received from her extended family (who were able to come to America through the family immigration system) in her career and in raising her children was invaluable. I myself have benefited from the support of my family in my own educational and professional endeavors, including being able to attend law school to become a civil rights attorney and advocate for the voting rights and protections for Americans of all backgrounds.
Is this the career path you always saw yourself following?
Growing up, I did not have a career path set in front of me. I had a vague notion of working a white-collar job, much as my parents did. It wasn’t until I took Professor Leti Volpp’s Asian Pacific Americans & the Law class at American University’s Washington College of Law that the career path I’m currently on began to form. Being raised on the East Coast decades ago, I did not receive much, if any, exposure to the history of Asian Americans in the U.S. Coverage of Asian Americans came primarily through history class and through the lens of international coverage (e.g. what happened on the continent of Asia).
It was not until Professor Volpp’s class that I learned about the history of Asian Americans in America and it led me to Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC. Starting with an internship in my second year of law school, I was lucky enough to be allowed to intern through the rest of my time in law school and was hired as the staff attorney overseeing the voting and census programs upon graduation. While not a career path I set out upon from a young age, I am grateful to have found this path and for the opportunity to work on behalf of Asian Americans across the country to build and fair and equitable society for all!
What are some of the issues that are having a bigger impact on the AAPI community in 2020?
Census: Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, people with limited English proficiency, people with low incomes, and young children are some of the groups that are undercounted in the census. When AANHPI communities are undercounted, they receive less than their fair share of government resources, including funding for education and health care. Many programs that impact AANHPI communities are based in whole or in part on census data. With a lack of data on AANHPI communities, there is less funding for vital programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and more. We have a robust census campaign with resources available at CountUsIn2020.org to help get out the count.
Immigration: 92 percent of Asian Americans are immigrants or the children of immigrants, so obviously immigration is an important topic to us. We focus on protecting family immigration, defending DACA, and fighting against immigrant deportation and aggressive enforcement tactics.
COVID-19: High numbers of the AAPI community are frontline workers and many more in the community have been impacted by COVID-19. We have seen a steady increase in hate incidents against Asian Americans since the start of Coronavirus.
Voting: The 2020 election is critical for Asian Americans. In the wake of COVID-19, we have seen primary elections being disrupted across the country, with mass confusion as jurisdictions scrambled to ensure voting access in a public health-conscious way. The lead up to the general elections is filled with uncertainties and misinformation that is sure to leave many Asian American voters confused and unsure about how to cast their ballot. Additionally, with the increase in anti-Asian sentiment and anti-Asian violence, we must be on the look out for increased efforts to intimidate and harass Asian American voters at the polls.
Given all the misinformation out there, how can people figure out what true and what’s not?
We have to be good consumers of news. Read and then verify. If you see misinformation online, you must first pause and look at the source or ask yourself where the information came from. There are online resources out there for fact checking, like PolitiFact and Snopes.com. People can also report misinformation they see on social media to us. The more we know about what’s out there, the more we can develop accurate messaging and information to share with media and community members.
While the political power of AAPIs is growing, it’s still small/unchanneled compared to other groups. What can we do to get our voices heard?
There are many ways we can build political power. The first is by registering to vote and showing up at the polls or mailing in your ballot. You can also help your family, friends, and community. You can organize meetings with your elected officials. Joining a community organization in your city can also give you a coordinated outlet for which to plan activities, like rallies and actions, meetings with representatives, and getting your voice in the media. You could also try running for office yourself. Data show that more Asian Americans turn out if they see an Asian American candidate running. For more information about how to ensure your vote counts, please visit advancingjustice-aajc.org/election2020.
What is an easy way to get involved for someone who’s never done anything before?
Start by reading about the issues that are important to you. Look up recommended articles and books and educate yourself on issues that are important in the community you live. You can look for ways to volunteer in your community. Subscribe to our list so you can find out about upcoming volunteer opportunities, such as volunteering for our voter hotline this election.
What is the best piece of advice you received?
“Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth” and “proper planning prevents piss poor performance.” I’ve taken those two pieces of advice and applied it across my life – making sure to take the necessary time to strategically plan for different situations, but also being ready to adapt and adjust as necessary if and when life throws a curveball that negates the initial plan. This has helped to not only ensure that the plan going in is one that is thoughtful and tactical, but also allowed me to keep my cool as I quickly assess and address the situation as it changes on the fly.
For more information, visit advancingjustice-aajc.org