Dear Friends,

The 1990 Institute is thrilled to announce our full-day, multifaceted Youth Symposium that will be held in the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday, September 6, 2025. Recognizing that youth thrive within a strong support network, this symposium titled “Roots and Wings: Celebrating Asian American Youth with the Power of Community” will unite youth (ages 14-21), their educators, and their parents in a shared mission to build a vibrant, resilient community. Through dynamic panel discussions, interactive breakout sessions, and cultural showcases, participants will gain fresh perspectives, practical insights, and a deeper commitment to personal and community growth. Register to join us at the College of San Mateo from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm PT on September 6.

Students will meet inspiring professionals from different fields, gaining real-world guidance to help shape their futures with confidence. Parents and guardians will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges their youth face – and how to support them through advocacy and open conversations. Educators will gain practical strategies and curriculum resources to bring Asian American studies into their classrooms and foster more inclusive learning spaces.

Scroll down to the Spotlight section to learn more.

In January, the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) announced the theme of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month for May 2025: “ A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience.” We have several resources for you to learn more about Asian America’s vibrant and diverse culture, our complex history in the United States, and the accomplishments and resilience of Asian American changemakers, past and present. See our Spotlight section below for suggested resources, and for more, visit Programs page, YouTube channel, Reference Library, Teachers Portal, and New Asian American Voices program.

AANHPI Heritage Month is a time to not only honor this rich heritage, but also to recognize and support nonprofit organizations that produce educational initiatives that deepen understanding and are working to be powerful catalysts for change. Please show your support with a donation of any size, and share our newsletters with your friends and family and encourage them to subscribe. Thank you.

Join us for a dynamic, multifaceted event to celebrate and support Asian American youth. This event is a space where students, parents, educators, and community members can connect, share, and learn from one another and is designed to be a step forward towards lasting change, connectivity, and community empowerment. Visit our website for details.

The shrinking giant: China’s youth in a graying nation

By Denise Yiran Zheng, PhD
 

China experienced its first population decline in 60 years in 2022 and was surpassed by India as the most populous country in 2023. Its population has continued to shrink due to falling birth rates. If current trends persist, China will have the largest population decline in the world, shrinking from over 1.4 billion to 786 million by 2100. Of particular concern is that a growing proportion of age groups are “dependent” (e.g., older adults) on care, while the working population is shrinking in size. China's population aged 60 and over reached 297 million in 2023, about 21% of its total population. About 17% of the U.S. population was 65 and over in 2020 according to the U.S. Census. By 2040, China’s retirement-age population will surpass the entire U.S. population. China’s aging population is putting pressure on pensions and healthcare. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences warned that the pension system will likely be depleted by 2035. This prompted experts to suggest employing more older adults to boost economic growth.

China's declining birth rate, driven by factors such as a falling marriage rate, reflects a global trend seen in nearly one-fifth of countries and regions that are experiencing “ultra-low” fertility rates (fewer than 1.4 births per woman). In response, China has changed its policies over time, moving from a one-child limit in 1979 to allowing two children in 2015 and three in 2021.

To cope with the combination of economic slowdown, aging population, and birth rate decline, the Chinese government raised the retirement age in 2024. With fewer working-age people, China is turning to advanced technologies like robotics and AI. AI can help the shrinking workforce by filling labor gaps. However, AI appears to be a double-edged sword for the workforce; it can meet labor needs, but can also displace people from jobs due to automation. 

The shrinking working population might seem contradictory to the high youth unemployment rate. While there are fewer workers overall, there are not enough jobs in fields that are appealing to the younger generation. China's urban unemployment rate for individuals aged 16 to 24, excluding students, remained high at 16.5% in March 2025. The underlying issue is that higher education graduates are struggling to find jobs that match their skills and expectations. A record high of 12.22 million students are graduating in 2025. In recent years, jobs that used to hire lots of graduates, like internet startups and education, have started shrinking, leaving many young people dependent on their parents or underemployed, working in jobs that do not fully use their skills and education. This is changing young people’s outlook on life and goes against what they have been told about how education would lead to a better future. To make a living, young people with master's degrees are working as waiters in a hot pot restaurant or delivery drivers. Unlike their parents, many are not willing to settle for jobs that are a mismatch with their qualifications. At the same time, China needs skilled workers and foresees a shortage of about 30 million workers in manufacturing by 2025.  

In Chinese culture, it is commonly expected for children to take care of their parents and sometimes grandparents. However, with a tough job market, how will the younger generation balance supporting their elders and supporting themselves? This remains a major challenge as China pursues long-term prosperity.

Meet the heart of the 1990 Institute – our Board Officers and Committee Chairs. These 10 leaders, along with our other Board members and staff, power our mission to educate, empower, and elevate communities. See our full leadership team.

Curated News

Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month has only grown in 5 decades | AP News  What started as just one week in May in 1977 has evolved over the decades into a monthlong tribute of events in cities big and small that is not just about showcasing festive fare like food and fashion, but hard subjects like social justice. Learn more about the history of AANHPI Heritage Month in the 1990 Institute’s short video.

Review: A new history of Chinese immigration gives voice to the forgotten | The Washington Post  “Michael Luo wisely puts the human experience at the center of his book, ensuring that ‘Strangers in the Land’ never devolves into mere 19th-century political history. In the process, he restores a voice to the forgotten men and women who endured endless broadsides in their adoption of a new country.” See the 1990 Institute’s resources in Spotlight below to learn more about the obstacles Asian American immigrants faced in their new homeland.

Over 25% of people in the U.S. say Chinese Americans are a threat | NBC News  The report also found that 40% of Americans believe Asian Americans are more loyal to their countries of origin than the U.S. – doubling since 2021. Read the full report conducted by The Asian American Foundation.

Daniel Dae Kim becomes first AAPI Tony nominee for Lead Actor in a Play; record 7 Asian acting bids | Gold Derby  Kim was recognized for his performance in the revival of David Henry Hwang’s “Yellow Face." Costar Francis Jue was nominated for Featured Actor in a Play. Plus: In historic first, 5 Filipino Americans earn Tony Award nominations | Rappler  Nicole Scherzinger (“Sunset Boulevard"), Conrad Ricamora (“Oh, Mary!”), Darren Criss and Clint Ramos (“Maybe Happy Ending”), and Marco Paguia (“Buena Vista Social Club”) all received nominations this year. 

Vietnamese American families talk about leaving Saigon under the cover of night | NBC News  “It was pandemonium,” one refugee said, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. “Everybody just grabbed and just ran to the ships.”

The last boats without crippling tariffs from China are arriving. The countdown to shortages and higher prices has begun | CNN Business  Cargo on ships from China loaded after April 9 will carry with them the 145% tariff President Donald Trump slapped on goods from that nation last month. Those goods will arrive in May, but there will be fewer ships carrying less cargo. For many importers, it is too expensive to do business with China.

How Trump’s 145% China tariffs could crush American small businesses: ‘There’s no facility here that makes what we need’ | CNN  While businesses of all sizes are impacted by tariffs, smaller operations are more exposed. Plus: Chinatowns feel the impact of Trump's tariffs | NPR  Among the many businesses impacted by the tariffs are businesses in this country's Chinatowns. Many rely on Chinese imports.

Detained Chinese immigrants carved their anguish into a wall a century ago. Those words inspired a ballet | Dance | The Guardian  Oakland Ballet Company takes on a harrowing chapter of U.S.-Chinese history with a piece about Angel Island, “the Ellis Island of the west,” where detainees carved over 200 poems onto the walls.

Why translating Chinese food names into English is ‘an impossible task’ | CNN  To answer why translating the names of these foods is so tricky, one needs to look at China’s long culinary history, which has layered many dishes with stories and imagery.

Nearly 1 in 5 NYC students are Asian American. Just 8% of teachers are. | Chalkbeat  New York City’s gap reflects national trends. Staffers who share the specific racial or ethnic background of their students may be better able to forge connections that benefit kids academically and emotionally.

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