By Angela Ebreo, Ph.D.
I read Connie Triggiano’s article in a previous issue of Bayanihan with great interest. Her appeal for community members to become more civically engaged is timely, especially given the many ways policies affecting us are being implemented both nationally and within individual states.
But what does it mean to be civically engaged?
At the end of her article, Ms. Triggiano encourages Filipino Americans to learn about the U.S. political system and to participate in elections. For those of us who are naturalized or birthright citizens, voting is an important way to participate in civic life. Supporting candidates who advocate for policies that protect our rights and promote the welfare of the people is one way our community and our concerns become visible to policymakers.
Voting and supporting candidates, however, are only part of a broader set of strategies that can influence policymakers. At all levels of government—city, county, state, and federal—residents have opportunities to provide input. Elected officials hold town halls, and local bodies such as city councils and school boards regularly invite public comment during meetings. Federal agencies also publish Requests for Information (RFIs) seeking public input.
U.S. senators and representatives maintain websites where constituents can submit questions, comments, and concerns. When requested, legislators and their staff may respond. These communications matter. Comments from individuals can become part of narratives that staff prepare for legislators to use in debates or speeches.
Personal stories can be powerful. They often provide rich detail about how policies and laws affect individuals and families. When stories illustrate the harmful effects of policies, they can help foster empathy—even among political opponents “across the aisle.” Stories shared directly with legislators or their staff can be particularly effective, especially when multiple constituents describe similar experiences.
As a researcher, I am trained to consider different forms of evidence and to examine issues from multiple perspectives. Narratives play an important role as a form of evidence. But for those who are not easily persuaded by stories from “just a few individuals,” numerical data serve an important complementary purpose.
Numbers add context to stories by answering questions such as: How many people are affected by a policy? How long do its negative effects last? When advocates combine compelling personal narratives with data showing how many people are impacted—especially when the numbers are large—legislators are more likely to pay attention.
This is why surveys, polls, and focus groups are also important forms of civic participation. When political organizations, research groups, or market research firms conduct surveys, they are trying to measure people’s opinions and experiences in the aggregate. As the saying goes, there is power in numbers. Participating in surveys, polls, and discussions is one way to combat the invisibility of our community that Ms. Triggiano highlights in her article.
Here is one way you can contribute to raising awareness about the Filipino community.
In support of the Rizal Center’s initiatives related to health care, elder support, and the production of knowledge about and for our community, I am working with undergraduate students to collect information about how older adults use health-related technologies.
We are seeking survey participants who are:
• 50 years of age or older
• Family members of individuals who are 50+ **
• Non-relative caregivers of persons who are 50+ *
Flyers with information about how to participate are available at the Rizal Center. Individuals who respond to the survey will be entered into a drawing for one of two $100 gift cards.
My team is also hiring an outreach–community research worker to assist with the study, and we are looking for students interested in gaining research experience. If you are interested, please contact me directly at aebreo@umich.edu.
This survey is part of the Filipino American Intergenerational Research (FAIR) Initiative, which has been underway for several years. I look forward to sharing more about FAIR in a future article.
Angela Ebreo is currently a program evaluation specialist and a researcher at the University of Michigan’s Marsal Family School of Education. In addition to the elder health technology project mentioned in this article, she is collaborating on a historical research project that is examining connections between the University of Michigan and public health initiatives in the Philippines during the early decades of the 20th century. She is a former Chicagoland resident, having worked for UIC’s Institute for Research on Race & Public Policy for several years. At UIC, she was a member of the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Asian Americans, which worked to establish Asian American Studies (now Global Asian Studies) and the Asian American Resource and Cultural Center. Even though she no longer resides in Chicago, she continues to support the Rizal Center, CIRCAPintig, and other Filipino and Asian-serving organizations. She earned her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Northridge and holds a master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
If you are adding info to my blurb for the newsletter, here is the correct info for those 2 groups.
Caregiver message
* Are you a non-relative caregiver for a Filipinx senior? Pls participate in a survey about seniors and patient portals. Click this link to access the survey.
Respondents’ names will be entered into a drawing for one of two $100 gift cards. Survey is part of the Filipino American Intergenerational Research (FAIR) Project. For info – email Dr. Ebreo (aebreo@umich.edu).
Family member message
**Are you a close family member of a Filipinx adult aged 50+? Pls participate in a survey about older adults and patient portals. Click this link to access the survey.
Respondents’ names will be entered into a drawing for one of two $100 gift cards. Survey is part of the Filipino American Intergenerational Research (FAIR) Project. For info – email Dr. Ebreo (aebreo@umich.edu).
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