No Longer Invisible
2025 Massachusetts Asian and Pacific Islander American Community Survey Report
APIA community leaders release a new report offering unprecedented insight into the political behavior and policy-related attitudes of amplifying the diverse voices of APIA residents across the Commonwealth
Boston, MA – On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, a landmark joint effort between the Massachusetts Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission (AAPIC), the Institute for Asian American Studies at UMass Boston, the Asian Community Fund at The Boston Foundation, and APIs CAN have released the findings of a new statewide survey focused exclusively on the lived experiences of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) communities in Massachusetts. This report will be launched at a press event at the State House on June 3, 2025, at 1 p.m.
Titled No Longer Invisible: 2025 Massachusetts Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Community Survey Report, the unprecedented study was conducted by the MassINC Polling Group and gathered responses from 1,414 APIA residents across the Commonwealth—one of the largest aggregation efforts among the APIA community in the state, which allows for disaggregated data on three major Asian American subgroups: Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese Americans, and was offered in Chinese, Vietnamese, and Khmer languages in addition to English. It captures data examining critical areas including housing, civic engagement, safety and sense of belonging, healthcare access, and emerging issues such as climate change and executive actions by the current presidential administration. The resulting data and report hopes to inform policy, support advocacy efforts, contribute to academic research, and highlight the rich diversity of Massachusetts’ APIA communities.
As a historic first, the report represents years of collaboration among researchers, community leaders, and advocacy organizations who came together to address a long-standing data gap.
“More access to Asian American and Pacific Islander data will offer an opportunity to deal with the relative invisibility of our state’s growing AAPI population in the political discourse and policy discussions in Massachusetts,” said Dr. Paul Watanabe, Institute of Asian American Studies, UMass Boston, and co-author of the report.
The partnership behind the survey was itself a reflection of the broader goal: to uplift community-centered voices through research and equity-driven storytelling.
“This project represents a unique partnership—bringing together research institutions, advocacy organizations, community voices, and philanthropy to center APIA experiences,” said Danielle Kim, Executive Director of the Asian Community Fund at the Boston Foundation and AAPIC Commissioner for 6 years. “Together, we are uplifting greater visibility for our communities and harnessing our collective voice to advance lasting change.”
AAPIC is committed to making our Community Survey findings accessible and relevant to the diverse communities we serve. To support this, key data will be translated into multiple APIA languages, including Arabic, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Filipino, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Burmese, Nepali, Persian, Samoan, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, and Chamorro.
“This report is a watershed moment for Massachusetts creating an opportunity for state agencies and civil society to hear from our communities and work with us to ensure we have the resources and tools we need to thrive.” said Saatvik Alhuwalia, the Chair of the AAPI Commission.
In the coming months, AAPIC also plans to host community listening sessions to invite feedback, personal insights, and discussion on how the data can drive meaningful change.
In partnership with the Institute for Asian American Studies (IAAS), AAPIC is working to make the findings publicly available in a user-friendly format in the future.
“These findings underscore the complexity and diversity of APIA experiences in our state,” said Shubhecchha Dhaurali, Program and Research Director of AAPIC, survey project lead, and co-author of the report. “This is more than a survey—it’s a starting point for meaningful, equity-driven change across housing, healthcare, public engagement, and beyond.”
At the heart of the effort was the urgency to make Massachusetts’ growing and diverse APIA communities more visible in public policy conversations.
“This groundbreaking survey highlights AAPI voices, ensuring the government hears what AAPI communities in the Commonwealth care about and what services they need most,” said State Representative Tackey Chan (D-Quincy). “The survey also dispels the ‘model minority’ myth by providing a realistic overview of the challenges facing Massachusetts' AAPI residents. Thank you to the Massachusetts Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission, UMass Boston's Institute for Asian American Studies, the Asian Community Fund at The Boston Foundation, and APIs CAN for pioneering this work, which is crucial today and will continue to be in the future.”
Key findings include:
Cost of Living and Economic Pressure Are Top Concerns
Housing affordability and economic insecurity emerged as the most pressing issues for APIA communities across Massachusetts. Nearly 1 in 3 respondents (30%) reported underscore how rising costs are affecting not only financial stability, but overall well-being across a broad cross-section of APIA residents.
Deep Civic Engagement, Especially Among Young and First-Generation Voters
The survey highlights a high level of civic and political engagement. A significant majority of citizen respondents voted for Kamala Harris and a much smaller portion for Donald Trump. The data also reveals strong Democratic identification overall and among Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese Americans. Our understanding of the complexity of the APIA sector diversity of political perspectives across different APIA subgroups is enhanced by our ability to understand some variations by gender, age, income, and educational attainment.
A Complex Relationship with Belonging and Discrimination
While most APIA respondents reported at least a moderate sense of belonging in the United States, this feeling was not evenly distributed. Those who reported feeling less connected to or accepted by American society were twice as likely to also report experiencing discrimination. These findings suggest that policies and programs aiming to reduce bias and exclusion must be coupled with efforts to foster inclusion, trust, and safety in public institutions and civic spaces.
These findings come at a pivotal time for Massachusetts, as the state grapples with rising living costs, demographic change, and the continued need for data-informed policymaking.
“A survey effort of this magnitude requires vision and sustained, collaborative effort over a long period of time. The results tell a new piece of the Massachusetts story in a unique and powerful way,” said Steve Koczela, President of The MassINC Polling Group.
For advocates on the front lines, the report offers something that has often been missing: data that reflects community realities—and can help change them.
“This data will be instrumental in advancing advocacy for our communities,” said Jaya Savita, Director of APIs CAN. “It equips us to fight for more inclusive policies, better representation, and community-led investments rooted in what our people are actually experiencing.”
The report outlines recommendations for state and local policymakers, advocacy organizations, and institutions seeking to better understand and serve APIA communities. These include investments in language access, housing affordability, data disaggregation, and civic engagement infrastructure.
The full report is now available online:
👉 Read the report here
A press and community briefing took place Tuesday, June 3, 2025, from 1–3 p.m. at the Massachusetts State House. Speakers included state legislators, researchers, youth leaders, and community advocates.
About the MA Asian American & Pacific Islander Commission
The Massachusetts Asian American & Pacific Islanders Commission (AAPIC) is the Commonwealth’s only permanent, statewide body dedicated to addressing the needs and challenges of the AAPI community. The AAPIC provides programs, education, resources, and advocacy throughout Massachusetts.
Founded in 2006 as the Asian American Commission, its name was officially changed in 2021 to the Asian American and Pacific Islanders Commission in order to more accurately capture and celebrate the rich tapestry of the AANHPI community.
Learn more about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ AAPI Commission at www.aapicommission.org.
About The MassINC Poling Group
The MassINC Polling Group is a nonpartisan public opinion research firm serving public, private, and social-sector clients. MPG elevates the public's voice with cutting edge methods and rigorous analysis. Based in Boston, MPG serves a nationwide client base. For more information, visit: www.massincpolling.com.
About Institute for Asian American Studies at UMass Boston
The Institute for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston conducts community-focused research on Asian American issues; provides data and information about Asian Americans to policymakers, service providers, educators and students, foundations, the media, and community groups; and contributes to the success of Asian American students and the enrichment of Asian American studies on campus. For more information, visit: www.umb.edu/iaas.
About Asian Community Fund at The Boston Foundation
The Asian Community Fund (ACF) at the Boston Foundation is the first and only philanthropic fund in Massachusetts dedicated to activating, convening, and supporting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Launched in 2020, ACF is a permanent resource designed to galvanize and unite the diverse ethnicities within the AAPI community, incubate new partnerships, and build a stronger advocacy voice. To learn more about ACF, check out our website, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us here: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram.
About APIs CAN
The Asian Pacific Islander’s Civic Action Network (APIs CAN) is a statewide network in Massachusetts dedicated to advancing the interests of Massachusetts' Asian and Pacific Islander American communities. APIs CAN promotes a shared agenda to further equity and is rooted in a steadfast commitment to racial and wealth equity for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities.
Through advocacy, coalition-building, and community engagement, APIs CAN works to address systemic inequalities and amplify the voices of Asian and Pacific Islander American communities across the Commonwealth. By fostering collaboration among organizations and individuals, APIs CAN empowers its members to drive meaningful change and ensure inclusive representation in public policy and civic life.
To learn more about APIs CAN's initiatives, partnerships, and impact, visit www.massapiscan.org or follow us on Facebook, X, Bluesky and Instagram.