MINEOLA, NY (TIP): A press release from the Nassau County office of Asian American office says that it is “a government agency that uplifts and empowers the Asian American residents of Nassau County. The Office of Asian American Affairs (OAAA) strives to ensure that minority and underserved communities’ needs and concerns are heard. ”We serve as a liaison between the county government and its Asian population. Our mission is to advance and better the economic, employment, business and cultural opportunities for Asian American residents in Nassau County”, the release says. Detailing the services the OAAAA provides, it says, “We are the 311 and lifeline of Nassau County’s fastest-growing demographic – the Asian American community. We receive 100-150 calls weekly from constituents who depend on us to understand and have access to government policies and services. We have built the trust of our constituency due to our office staff’s ability to comprehend cultural nuances and provide language support. We analyze, identify and address emerging trends in the community, such as the rise of Anti-Asian sentiments during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are able to gather the pulse of the community through small focus groups, community leaders’ meetings, outreach events, exit polls and surveys, and our Constituent Tracking App (CTA). This app quantifies our data by recording the constituent concerns our office receives. By documenting these various inquiries, we hoped to accurately capture emerging trends, in real time, within the Asian community.”