Written By: Linda Novick O’Keefe, Common Threads Co-Founder & CEO
Earlier this week, eight people, including six Asian women, were murdered at three different spas in the Atlanta area. This heartbreaking incident was unfortunately another example of senseless violence and discrimination targeted at the Asian American & Pacific Islander community, something that has impacted this community for generations but has become a growing concern in recent months. Our Common Threads family is understandably shaken by these events and stands in solidarity and empathy with the AAPI community.
As an organization that predominantly reaches communities of color we know racism is a critical public health crisis. Studies have shown that race-based traumatic stress negatively impacts health and life expectancy, and we all must work together to create safer communities.
Many of us feel helpless in situations like these, and we wonder how we can best help. Whether it is raising your own awareness of the issues, donating funds or time, or personally making a commitment to speak out when we witness discrimination, we can all make a difference. As DEI facilitator Richard Butler recently shared with our team in a discussion on anti-racism, to be an anti-racist, we must be first responders. You will see we have shared several resources below, including articles, videos and virtual trainings and events.
As an organization, Common Threads will continue to raise awareness for social justice, work toward solutions to inspire change, and create safe spaces for children and families in our community. We appreciate our colleagues’ care and commitment to building safe, inclusive communities, and organizations that value and celebrate the world around us.
AAPI Resources (Report a Hate Crime: Stop AAPI Hate)
CELEBRATING APPI CULTURE
- 12 Ways to Enrich Kids’ Appreciation of Asian- Pacific American Culture (U.S. Department of Education)
- Asian Reflection on American Landscape (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- From the Civil War to Civil Rights: The many Ways Asian Americans Have Shaped the Country (Smithsonian Magazine)
- What to Watch: Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Edition (PBS)
MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION
- 41 AAPI Addiction and Mental Health Resources (Detox Local)
- Asian American Health Initiative
- Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
- Asian Mental Health Collective and Therapist Directory
BYSTANDER INTERVENTION
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice Chicago
- Hollaback! (also review Hollaback!’s 5 D’s to Bystander Intervention)
ARTICLES & VIDEOS
- 4 Things You Can Do to Combat Violence Against Asian Americans (article, Forge)
- 5 Books to Educate Yourself on Anti-Asian Racism in America (article, Zora)
- Addressing Anti-Asian Violence (panel discussion, Commonwealth Club of California)
- Anti-Asian Racism in the COVID Era (interview, Sundays with Vernā)
- Asian Identities and Health Disparities (presentation, NYU Langone Health)
- Bystander Intervention Resources (the 5 D’s) (article, Hollaback — also see bystander training opportunities above)
- Community Safety Webinar: Responding to Anti Asian Violence in the Japanese American Community (webinar, Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California)
- Condemning Anti-Asian Violence Requires More than Words (article, Teach for America)
- Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Help Others (article, Pepperdine University)
- COVID-19 Toolkit: Strategies to Defeat Asian American Racial Profiling and Xenophobia (OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates)
- Donating, Volunteering, Reporting Hate Incidents: Here’s How to Help Combat Anti-Asian Violence (article, TIME magazine)
- Examining the Current Escalation of Asian-American Racism (panel discussion, Penn Law)
- In This Together: Community Chats, Hate Crimes in the Age of COVID-19 (webinar, Chinese American Service League)
- NYC researcher weighs in on COVID, race, food justice & health in the Asian American community (Common Threads blog interview with Stella Yi Ph.D.)
- Stop the Hate: The rise in violence against Asian Americans (news special, ABC News)
- We are not a stereotype: Breaking down Asian Pacific American bias (Video series from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center)
AAPI ORGANIZATIONS, NEWS & EXPERTS
- AAPI Women Lead
- Act to Change (anti-bullying)
- Asian-Americans Advancing Justice
- Dear Asian Youth
- Liz Kleinrock: @TeachandTransform (Instagram)
- NBC Asian America
- Next Shark
- OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates
- Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
- Stop AAPI Hate
- Tony DelaRosa
Help us build our list of AAPI resources by emailing suggestions to hr@commonthreads.org.
About Common Threads
Common Threads is a national nonprofit that provides children and families cooking and nutrition education to encourage healthy habits that contribute to wellness. We equip under-resourced communities with information to make affordable, nutritious and appealing food choices wherever they live, work, learn, and play. We know that food is rooted in culture and tradition so we promote diversity in our lessons and recipes, encouraging our participants to celebrate the world around them. For more information on Common Threads, visit www.commonthreads.org, @CommonThreadsOrg (Instagram and Facebook) or @CommonThreadsUS on Twitter.
