We are devastated by the violence being wrought on AAPI communities in Atlanta and around the country. We know that building community is one of the strongest ways to help everyone feel welcome and keep us all safe. We have been holding conversations in our classes and other activities where everyone can share what they’re experiencing, grieve together if they’d like, share resources, and identify new ways to support each other.
Our ongoing focus on equity as a key component of “creating sustainable communities” has never felt more relevant and important, as we also keep dealing with the devastation of the pandemic, and as the Derek Chauvin case for the murder of George Floyd gets underway, bringing to the fore once again all the trauma of the racial injustices from last spring and summer.
Here are some updated resources for learning, support, and action. We hope you will find them useful. Please join us as we wrap our arms around our AAPI and BIPOC students, colleagues, and partners and continue to learn how to create anti-racist, welcoming communities that are safe for all.
In partnership, solidarity, and love –
The SLS Team – Jenny, David, Jamie, Kris, Rebecca, Ruthie
RESOURCES FOR LEARNING, SUPPORT, AND ACTION
- Continue to educate yourself and others - see SLS's Anti-Racism Resource List (recently expanded), which includes resources for faculty on anti-racist pedagogy
- Support SLS's BIPOC-led and equity-focused partner organizations (also expanded)
- Participate in GT Asian American Pacific Islanders Heritage Month: The Office of Student Diversity Programs is hosting Georgia Tech's first-ever, large-scale, campus-wide, office-sponsored Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! There are a handful of workshops both online and in-person, speakers, presentations, snacks, and giveaways. Check the diversity programs website for a more detailed description of the program and make sure you RSVP on Engage.
- Georgia Tech students are encouraging everyone to:
- Sign on to this petition: U.S. Universities Must Take Action Against Anti-Asian Racism
- Support Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta's AAIP Awareness Initiatives
- Attend and encourage others to attend free bystander intervention training to stop anti-Asian and xenophobic harassment. Register here.
- Attend and encourage others to attend the last two "You, Me, & White Supremacy" webinar sessions on April 7 & 21; Register here.
- Share this platform for people to report hate crimes/incidents: www.standagainsthatred.org
- Help oppose the "China Initiative"
- Sign the petition to call on President Biden to end the unjust "China Initiative"
- Support the work of local non-profit, We Love BuHi:
- Visit welovebuhi.org to stay up to date and engaged with We Love BuHi events, projects, and initiatives
- Donate to We Love BuHi to support their mission of preserving the multicultural identity of Atlanta's Buford Highway
- Support Atlanta-based AAPI organizations - here are suggestions shared by two SLS partners:
- Center for Civic Innovation suggests supporting the Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta team:
- Sign on to the collective community statement to stand in solidarity to AAAJ as they develop a community-centered response. Sign HERE.
- Share the resources you can offer to the victims and their families, other impacted community members, and community organizations involved in crisis response. The resources you might offer can include, but are not limited to: mental health services (counseling, healing), other medical services, immigration legal services, interpretation or translation in Asian languages, victim advocacy/case management, assistance with fundraising for victims and their families, childcare, and/or food assistance. Share this link widely so others can add to their community offerings as well. Share resources.
- Partnership for Southern Equity suggests investing in these Atlanta-based AAPI organizations:
- Center for Civic Innovation suggests supporting the Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta team:
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