EDUCATE, CONNECT, AND EMPOWER THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY IN NEVADA

Our Mission

The Asian Community Development Council (ACDC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building, connecting, and educating the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in Nevada. ACDC was officially chartered in 2015.

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Our mission is to improve the general well-being and education of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and other ethnic communities in Nevada.

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  Educate | Connect | Empower.

Bridging the Gap for Nevada’s Immigrant Families

SNAP Enrollment & Navigation: Multilingual, one-on-one assistance for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

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Healthcare Access: In-language health navigation and education to obtain affordable health insurance via Nevada Health Link and culturally competent care through the HAPI Medical Center

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Citizenship & Civic Engagement: In-language naturalization & legal clinics and culturally-competent and community-driven voter registration drives 

Supporting AANHPI Business Owners

• Language assistance for entrepreneurs who need business plans, licensing, and financial management as a specialized community partner for the Nevada Small Business Development Center (SBDC) 

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• Vocational pathways program for individuals looking to join a trade, start technical businesses, and build a workforce for business owners looking for skilled, specialized labor

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• Uplifting small businesses through community events such as the Asian Lantern Festival in Las Vegas and the first AANHPI Night Market at the Vice President’s Residence in Washington, D.C for AANHPI Heritage Month

AANHPI Diversity in Numbers

52% of Asian Americans and 11% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders in Nevada are immigrants.

Asian American immigrants (69%) and NHPI immigrants (61%) are more likely to become citizens than immigrants of all other racial groups.

More than one-third (36%) of the statewide Asian American population and 7% of the statewide NHPI population are naturalized citizens.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census & 2023 American Community Survey (ACS); Pew Research Center; and DHS Office of Immigration Statistics.

AANHPIs Driving Nevada Forward

• Asian American & NHPI are the fastest-growing populations in Nevada.

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• AANHPI-owned businesses generate more than $5 billion annually and employ nearly 50,000 residents.

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• AANHPI professionals make up 30% of Nevada’s nurses, 24% of all STEM degree holders, and much of the hospitality and gaming sectors. Employment in manufacturing and technical services surged by 150% over the last decade.

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• Margin of Victory: AANHPI first-time voters significantly turned out for the 2022 election, signaling a massive surge in voter mobilization.

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U.S. Census Bureau (ACS & Annual Business Survey); U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; and Nevada Secretary of State Election Results.

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The Hidden Struggle &

Model Minority Myth

• 1 in 4 (25%) Asian Americans and nearly 1 in 3 (31%) NHPI categorized as low-income.

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• Nearly half of the Cambodian, Samoan, and Taiwanese American populations in Nevada are vulnerable to food insecurity and limited access to healthcare.

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• AANHPI renters are disproportionately "rent-burdened," with nearly 45% of households spending more than 30% of their income on housing, leaving little for essential needs like food and medicine.

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U.S. Census Bureau (2020–2024); Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE).

Pathway to Citizenship 

Obstacles to Citizenship

• High application fees (N-400 costs)
• Complex legal requirements and naturalization process 
• Massive backlogs mean years of waiting for family reunification

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How ACDC Bridges the Gap:

• Free Clinics: Assisting over 700+ individuals with N-400 completion and fee waiver eligibility
• Legal Review: Providing free professional oversight to ensure applications aren't rejected for minor errors

What can Nevadans do to support the immigrant community?

• Donate to resource centers to fund legal clinics, food pantries, and emergency assistance. 

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• Support diverse local small businesses.

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• Uplift community stories.

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• Change the narrative. 

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• Advocate for policy reform to remove barriers and protect constitutional rights.