EDGErs,
To say that we are facing extraordinary circumstances is an understatement. On a global scale, we find ourselves grappling with the rise of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate and violence, triggered by the domestic terrorist attack against Asian Americans in Atlanta earlier this month.
At a community level, we are seeing examples of good - and poor - leadership in the face of these challenges.
And as individuals, we are taking our temperatures - What does this mean? How is this different than other types of violence? How could I have been contributing? When I’ve been silent, how has it impacted different communities?
According to 2019 US Department of Justice data, 57% of hate crimes were motivated by race and ancestry alone. This is two-year-old data and I can’t help but wonder how this has unfortunately skyrocketed in recent months.
And it seems almost too simple, but what we allow is what will continue. We cannot call ourselves the leading young professionals and leaders group in California without addressing what is going on within our communities and how we are educating ourselves, amplifying AAPI voices, and actively dismantling racist processes and systems.
As we continue to listen, reflect, and identify ways to eradicate hate and its community impacts, we’re reading the articles below, which provide glimpses into the immense challenges faced by our AAPI community members.
I'm Asian, I'm Angry and I Count (link to donating at the bottom of article)
AAPI Leaders and CEOs Stand Up to Hate
The conversation doesn’t stop here. We’ll continue to work hard on supporting our young professionals and leaders in advancing change, and leveraging opportunities to elevate voices left out of important discussions. #EDGE4ALL
Taylor Toledo-Kearns
Metro EDGE Program Chair, 2021
