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Leading By Example
The month of March is filled with juxtapositions between celebrations and reflections birthed by tragedies. It is in this month that we observe March 8th as International Women’s Day, celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women; yet at the same time across the globe, we watch brave Ukrainian women escaping with their young and their old or taking up arms fighting for their country. As we also commemorate the month of March as National Women’s History Month, we acknowledge the fact that throughout history, women have had to pay the ultimate price of wars waged by power-hungry men. I would be remiss to not mention that a year ago in March we experienced the horrific Atlanta spa shootings that led to the tragic deaths of eight AAPI women. It is always the mothers, grandmothers, wives, daughters, and sisters who will have to pick up the pieces of the shattered lives.
Although the Stop Asian hate movement have awakened the AAPI community to speak out against the hate crimes, we are still dealing with the fact that majority of the attacks against AAPI women are still occurring. We can’t talk about this issue only when another AAPI woman is brutally murdered. Whether or not it’s labeled a hate crime, let’s face it, with 74% of AAPI women reporting to have experienced racism and/or discrimination this past year, the results are a sobering reminder on the current state of safety for AAPI women in the US (National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum). There needs to be a long-term commitment from the community and from those in positions of power to direct resources to address the issues that AAPI women face.
AAPI Contribution: Sara Sadhwani
With March being Women's History Month and with the upcoming June and November elections around the corner, it's the perfect time to highlight an Asian American woman in Los Angeles County making great strides in this area. We'd like you to meet Professor Sara Sadhwani of La Canada --- a LA County resident, Assistant Professor of Politics at Pomona College specializing in American politics and race and ethnic politics, and most recently, a commissioner on the 2020 Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC) for the State.
Meet Genie Chough
In a safe, socially-distanced Q&A fashion, we will introduce you to a County leader whose work and words of wisdom may inspire you in your career development in the County. In this issue, we introduce you to Genie Chough, Chief Deputy Director of the Los Angeles County Child Support Services Department (CSSD)
Mental Health Matters: Mental Health Awareness Amongst AAPIs
Did you know that AAPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month both fall in May? In anticipation of this time of celebrating AAPI contributions and recognizing the importance of mental health, LACAAEA is actively working with the LA County Department of Mental Health and other community leaders to provide panels and workshops for the AAPI communities starting in May.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, suicide is the leading cause of death for young Asian Americans from ages 15 to 24. We are also the least likely of all racial groups in the nation to seek out mental health services due to various cultural factors. Mental illness is viewed as a weakness and as reflecting negatively on the entire household.
Many believe that it’s due to problematic upbringing, which puts the parents’ reputation at stake. The model minority image also adds overwhelming pressure on many AAPIs as they strive to uphold this image or risk being looked down on. Language is another obstacle to receiving help as 32.6% of AAPIs are not fluent in English. There is a lack of translated material and outreach efforts to spread awareness to AAPIs even though our communities desperately need all the help we can get.
LACAAEA will be kicking of virtual mental health workshops with a panel of guest speakers in May. Please be on the look out for an email notification from us for a date and time. We welcome you to spread the word to your family and friends and participate in this conversation with us to help improve the lives of our AAPI communities
LA County Arts and Creative Recovery & Support
In 2021, the Board of Supervisors announced a plan of allocating 22 million dollars from the federal American Rescue Act to serving the arts and cultural programs throughout LA County. Much of the funding will focus on areas impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic bringing recovery and revival to hard-hit sectors. This is especially important for minority groups and underserved residents not only because they were the ones most affected by the pandemic, but because the diverse cultures that make up LA County’s population is often preserved through artistic expressions. Below is a list of the programs that are receiving funding:
Arts Relief and Recovery Grants to Nonprofits and Individuals
Jobs for Artists and Creative Workers
Reopening Culture, Tourism, and Marketing Initiative
Creative Career Pathways for Youth
Arts Education Program for Vulnerable LA County Schools
As AAPI communities are finding their voices and becoming stronger through the pandemic, it is vital that we continue to learn and share our cultural heritage so that we can promote equity and diversity. AAPI receive less representation in the media and our contributions to society receive less recognition. We need to support our own arts and cultures so that our artists have the resources to thrive.
Much to Be Thankful For
This past October’s Filipino-American History month reminded me of my own experiences as an immigrant in the US, and the many reasons why I have so much to be thankful for. My family and I flew from Manila to LA during one hot summer to start a new life. That summer was also one of the saddest times in my life because I left some of my closest friends and family behind. However, despite the sorrow and obstacles I faced moving to a foreign country, our move was also an opportunity of a lifetime. I am now thankful for living in a country that has such a diverse community, lots of great attractions, opportunities to earn a living regardless of age and ethnicity, and advanced technological innovations. I am also thankful for the continued support from Asian communities and friends who help me overcome the challenges that come along as an Asian immigrant.
Meet Jackie Guevarra
In a safe, socially-distanced Q&A fashion, we will introduce you to a County leader whose work and words of wisdom may inspire you in your career development in the County. In this issue, we introduce you to Jackie Guevarra, Executive Director, Quality and Productivity Commission
A Celebration of Community: LA County Library’s Asian Pacific Resource Center
LA County Library is one of the largest library systems in the country, with 86 branches spanning over 3,000 square miles and within that vast system, there live four gems. LA County Library is home to four cultural resource centers educating, archiving, and serving communities of color: the American Indian, Asian Pacific, Black, and Chicano resource centers.
Yoshitomo Nara - Lost and Found
I’ve always been drawn to the Japanese pop art genre because of the colorful expression of the artists’ wild imaginations. So when I found out that Yoshitomo Nara’s paintings are on exhibit at LACMA, I knew I had to go see them. It turned out to be a trip to the Lost and Found of Forgotten Childhood Dreams.
How to Report a Hate Crime?
Esther Lim is a proud 2nd generation Korean-American who created booklets on How to Report a Hate Crime in 10 different languages for the LA and Orange County, New York City, Greater Bay, Saint Louis, Illinois, and Maine regions. She has printed and distributed over 93,000 physical copies of the booklets and is continuing to expand to more regions and languages.Her sole purpose of creating books on how to report a hate crime was to provide equity and break the concept of having a language barrier just to gain knowledge of resources that were already out there.
She believes there are different aspects in everyone’s lives where we see inequity and even in a small way, we can do something about it.
To find out how you can order copies or help make a financial contribution to distribute more books, go to https://www.hatecrimebook.com.