Why do we ask about race?

The United States is a country with many kinds of people from many places.  We gather information about race and ethnicity to understand our participants’ needs and serve everyone well. Your answer will not affect your eligibility in a program.   If you have any questions, please see the descriptions below or contact (215) 557-2626.

American Indian or Alaska Native. You are related to any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment. 

Asian. You are related to any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. 

Black or African American. You are related to any of the black racial groups of Africa. 

Hispanic or Latino. You are related to any Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term, “Spanish origin,” can be used in addition to “Hispanic or Latino.” 

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

White. You are related to any of the original peoples of Europe.

Middle Eastern or North African. You are a part of Arabic-speaking groups, such as Egyptian and Jordanian, or non-Arabic speaking groups, such as Iranian and Israeli. It also includes ethnic and transnational groups from the region, such as Assyrian and Kurdish.