Pa. State Senator Nikil Saval discusses local civic engagement with Asian Pacific Student Coalition

Penn’s Asian Pacific Student Coalition hosted State Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Pa.) on Oct. 30 for a discussion on his experience and work as a senator, the importance of civic engagement in Philadelphia, and Asian American representation and leadership in politics.

College senior and APSC Chair Taryn Flaherty moderated the event, asking State Sen. Saval questions about his background, career, and involvement in politics before transitioning to a question and answer segment. The event drew around 50 attendees, predominantly University students as well as several faculty, who later had the opportunity to speak directly with Saval. 

Throughout the conversation, Saval emphasized the importance of collaboration in politics to solve critical issues, saying that he defines himself through the coalitions he builds across parties and communities. He noted that a shared investment in solving the problems at hand can unite different groups of people who hold diverse beliefs.

“The important thing is to be organized, to find an issue that you care deeply about,” he said. “It puts you in the essential act of politics — you have to talk to strangers. You have to go to people that you don't know and talk to them about issues that are important to you and important to them, and find common ground.”

Saval also stressed that everyday people in Philadelphia, especially students at the University, have the unique opportunity to engage with local legislatures, which can address specific issues that often feel distant in the sphere of national politics. 

“Local politics is, in some ways, much more tangible and certainly just as important [as national politics],” Saval said. "I so deeply encourage investment in what's going on in Philly and what's going on in Pennsylvania, in part because you can change it. You can transform it, and you can see the results in your lifetime, in the span of years.”

Saval encouraged “young people in the Penn community” to get involved with local politics because he believes the University is an essential part of Philadelphia that impacts policies. 

“You live here, you learn here, you consume here, you contribute to what's going on in Philadelphia,” Saval said. “Seeing that narrative, seeing yourself as existing in a kind of framework is, I think, the important first step to knowing how you engage locally.”

The discussion also addressed the challenges the Asian American community faces in finding representation in politics. Saval noted broader inequities in housing and healthcare support, but also “unique exclusions” such as language barriers and blatant racism, as obstacles. Referencing his own career in politics representing the first Senatorial District in Pennsylvania, he offered strategies to transform local movements originating in Asian American communities into political power. 

During the Q&A, attendees asked for Saval’s perspective on the recent protests in opposition to 76ers arena legislation, referencing the No Arena PHL Coalition. Saval acknowledged the organization as an example of a powerful Asian American advocacy group making an impact on local politics. 

“I think it's important for me to be there to represent people, but it's also important for communities to be organized,” he said. “That is also a way to build political power. It's a way that makes it easier for someone like me to represent Asian communities.”

After the event, audience members lined up to speak to Saval individually. College first year Leo Ding said he appreciated the opportunity to engage in dialogue with Saval himself. 

“As someone who aspires to be a politician, and as an Asian American myself, I think it's very important for me to participate and learn more about different people's trajectory into politics, and also learn more about the problems facing Philadelphia,” Ding said.

Flaherty said that she was thrilled by the turnout, expressing her excitement at the level of interest in political engagement and in on-campus cultural groups like APSC. She emphasized the importance of Asian American representation in politics, especially during the upcoming election. 

“Our representation in politics should be to transform politics, to make space and make change for those who are historically excluded, like the Asian American community,” Flaherty said. “And so [this event] is kind of timely, because we're nearing the election, and [Senator Saval] is a voice in Philadelphia that is really prominent for a lot of us.”