The South Asian Network (SAN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides culturally and linguistically specific services to and advocacy on behalf of South Asians in Southern California, in the areas of healthcare access, gender-based violence, and civil rights/civic engagement. It was founded in 1990 to provide an open forum for people of South Asian origin to gather and discuss social, economic, and political issues affecting the community. SAN believes in self-sustaining communities who actively raise their voices, take leadership and challenge social injustices, both within and beyond the South Asian community.
Given the multiple identities of gender, sexuality, class, religion, ethnicity and language in the diverse South Asian communities, SAN commits to challenging multiple oppressions throughout all its efforts. Starting internally, SAN challenges biases within the South Asian community. Furthermore, SAN works externally to address broader social injustice and build alliances between South Asians and other communities in Southern California and nationally who struggle for long-term social change.
As the South Asian American community continues to grow, SAN is committed to challenging systems of oppression and inequality, building solidarities with other communities, and achieving economic, political, and human rights of all communities. Their vision is that everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, country of origin, gender, faith, or ability in the South Asian community be able to live a life of dignity, and provide a safe, healthy and financially secure future for themselves and their family. Their services include elder care support, case management support for victims of domestic violence, mental health support and therapy services, referral services for legal aid, U.S. citizenship application assistance, nonpartisan voter education, and COVID-19 relief.