Our Vision
The first and only national organization of the South Asian diaspora in America. Our vision is to increase the culture of civic engagement and the activism of South Asian Americans in every field possible.
10,000+
Members nationwide
22
Active chapters
12
States
18
Years organizing · since 2008
One alliance · nine flags · every South Asian community in America
§ 01 — Our Purpose
An independent voice for the South Asian American.
The purpose of ASAAL is to ensure fairness, respect, dignity, and opportunity in every sphere of life — including the workplace — for all South Asian workers. Without an independent voice unique to our needs, recognition and representation remain remote. A free and progressive movement in the 21st century must reflect greater participation of South Asian Americans at every level.
Our Mission
Founded in 2008, ASAAL has grown to 22 chapters across 12 states. ASAAL works in coalition with organized labor and allied community organizations across the country.
Why ASAAL
As the largest South Asian labor-based community organization, we welcome workers from accountants to zookeepers, scientists, doctors, small business owners — anyone who believes in the ASAAL movement.
"Afghans, Bangladeshis, Bhutanese, Indians, Maldivians, Nepalese, Pakistanis, and Sri Lankans now have a platform to express their voices, seek demands, and volunteer to bring real results to our community." — ASAAL Founding Statement
§ 02 — Our Work
Building power through action.
Building power through advocacy, civic engagement, leadership development, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and community service.
§ 03 — Where we work
22 chapters. 12 states. One movement.
From Queens to Atlanta to Los Angeles, ASAAL chapters organize on the ground where South Asian workers live, work, and vote.
§ 04 — Upcoming
Events & convenings.
Oct
17
2026
19th Annual National Convention
Sep
15
2026
Convention journal ad & sponsorship deadline
Oct
17
2026
Getting to DC 37
Featured · Endorsement
Standing with leaders who stand with us.
Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani joined ASAAL leaders and community members in Staten Island to speak about justice, workers' rights, and the power of South Asian civic engagement in New York.
- Highlighting immigrant worker rights and fair representation.
- Strengthening partnerships between ASAAL and elected officials.
- Mobilizing the South Asian community for real policy change.
Read the transcript
…with a very simple message in my run for mayor. I am running to make this city affordable. I am running with a relentless focus on an economic agenda. I am running so that you can afford your rent, you can afford your mortgage, you can afford your water bill, your Con Edison bill, your MetroCard, your groceries. So that you can do more than just that — that you can afford to dream. The same dream you had all those years ago.
And I'm proud to stand here in front of you as a candidate in second place in the polls of this city. A candidate who has raised $8 million, the maximum amount allowed under New York City law, and who has done so faster than any campaign in New York City history. And I stand before you as someone who is funded by the people, because our money was raised by 17,000 people who gave an average donation of $84 — hard-working people, people who are being told they cannot afford this city anymore, people reaching into their pockets at the end of a long day and saying, "We deserve a better city." And I stand before you as a candidate with 13,500 volunteers. We will have knocked on 150,000 doors across the city.
And I say these things because I know we have surprised many people in five months, but we are not running to surprise. We are running to win. We are running to win because there is too much at stake. There are too many who have left this city already because they cannot afford it. We cannot let one more family leave ours because it's too expensive. So it is up to us to win this race. It is up to us to tell New Yorkers you don't just have to choose between the disgraced mayor of today and the disgraced governor of yesterday. You can choose the promise of tomorrow. You can choose the hope of the future. And that is what our campaign offers. It is time for a new generation of leadership in this city. It is time for a new chapter in the story of our city. And it is time to put working people at the center of our politics.
And I want to say thank you to ASAAL. Thank you to Brother Maf Misbah Uddin for the work of having paved this way for a long time before I even got into local politics. Because whenever something is possible, it's because there were people before you who started to make it possible. And as I stand here on the brink of making history, I remind every person who allowed me to do so — who did the work so that I could be here before you. And one of those people is right here before me. And that organization is right here before me.
Because long before I was the first South Asian man elected to office in New York City, there was ASAAL fighting for the rights of working people and saying that it would not just happen on our own — it would be through the work of organized labor that we would find the dignity. Because we know that the most effective tool to fight income inequality in this country is union density. The more unions we have, the more equality we have. And the more inequality there is, it's because we are seeing a fight against those unions. So I stand alongside organized labor. I stand alongside ASAAL. And I stand on the shoulders of giants like Brother Maf Misbah Uddin. Thank you so much. As-salamu alaykum.
§ 05 — Track record
Wins built on years of organizing.
ASAAL is founded.
The first and only national organization of the South Asian diaspora in America begins with a vision for an independent voice in American labor.
First Asian Congresswoman from the East.
ASAAL helped elect Grace Meng as the first Asian Congresswoman representing an East-Coast district.
Bengali on the New York City ballot.
ASAAL was the only organization to testify at the Board of Elections for Bengali under the Voting Rights Act — adding interpreters in Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and Gujarati on election days.
First Bangladeshi-American State Senator in GA.
ASAAL helped elect a South Asian of Bangladeshi origin as a State Senator from Georgia.
Three South Asians elected in NYC.
Including the first Bangladeshi-American Civil Court Judge and a new City Council Member.
Be part of what comes next.
The next chapter of South Asian American political power is being written now. Add your name.
Join ASAAL →
Join the movement
From Bookkeepers to Zookeepers — join us.
Membership is open to South Asian workers, union members, community activists, professionals, self-employed people, and small business owners. Anyone who believes in the ASAAL movement.
§ 06 — Get in touch
Reach the national office or your nearest chapter.
For media, partnerships, chapter inquiries, or general questions, we want to hear from you.
- National Headquarters
- 186-05 Jamaica Avenue
Queens, NY 11423
United States - Phone
- +1 (917) 209-9772
- asaalNational@asaal.org
- Local Chapter
- Find a chapter near you →