CASL and Ald. Nicole Lee Introduce Landmark Data Disaggregation Ordinance to Advance Equity for Chicago’s AANHPI Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO, IL — The Chinese American Service League (CASL), in partnership with Ald. Nicole Lee (11th Ward), has introduced groundbreaking legislation to the Chicago City Council that would transform how the city collects and reports race and ethnicity data for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) residents. 

The ordinance would require Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) to annually collect and publicly release disaggregated data on the AANHPI community. CDPH is among the city’s three largest grantmaking agencies. Under the ordinance, CDPH must break down demographic information into detailed categories, including: 

1. Each major Asian group, such as Asian Indian, Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Pakistani, Vietnamese, Japanese, Thai, Burmese, and Taiwanese; 

1. Each major Pacific Islander group, including Polynesian, Native Hawaiian, Micronesian, Samoan, Chamorro, Melanesian, Fijian, Guamanian, Palauan, and Marshallese; and 

1. Other Asian or Pacific Islander groups not otherwise listed. 

The data will be made publicly accessible each year to support more accurate policymaking, targeted resource distribution, and equitable program development across city departments. The ordinance also requires CDPH to provide a plan, based on the new disaggregated data, outlining how the department will improve services and resources for these communities, as well as a plan to raise public awareness about the rich diversity of Chicago’s residents. 

A Growing Population Hidden by Data Gaps

Illinois’ AANHPI community is one of the fastest-growing in the state and is the fastest growing racial group in the Chicago metropolitan area, increasing by 11.7% since 2020. With 50+ ethnicities, 100+ languages, and deeply diverse socioeconomic experiences, the community represents a vibrant and vital part of Chicago’s fabric. Yet existing data systems often collapse these identities into broad categories that obscure meaningful differences. 

According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, Chicago’s AANHPI population grew 31%, from 144,903 in 2010 to 189,857 in 2020, and now makes up 7.7% of the Cook County population. Despite this growth, aggregated data masks disparities in income, education, health outcomes, and access to social services—resulting in overlooked needs and inequitable funding allocations. 

“Without disaggregated data, many AANHPI communities remain invisible in public systems,” said CASL CEO Paul Luu. “This ordinance makes their unique stories visible.” 

What Happens Next

Following its introduction, the ordinance will be assigned to the appropriate City Council committee for review. The committee will: 

• Hold a public hearing and invite testimony from community members and experts; 

• Discuss, refine, and amend the proposed legislation as needed; 

• Vote on whether to advance the ordinance to the full City Council. 

If approved by committee, the ordinance will move to the full Council for a final vote at an upcoming meeting. Once enacted, the responsible city departments will begin implementing new data collection protocols and publishing annual reports. 

How Supporters Can Get Involved

Members of the public and partner organizations are encouraged to support the ordinance’s passage by: 

• Submitting written comments or providing testimony in support of the ordinance during committee hearings; 

• Contacting their alderperson to express support for the legislation; 

• Sharing information to raise awareness around the importance of data disaggregation and transparency; 

• Volunteering with the CASL Impact & Advocacy team to improve representation and resource allocation for AANHPI communities. 

For more information about the Data Disaggregation Ordinance, please visit the Chicago City website. For media inquiries, please contact media@casl.org.