Dear Colleagues,
As spring blossoms around us and we see more vaccinations becoming available and an overall decline in COVID-19 cases, we are hopeful for a light at the end of the tunnel.
However, these have also been challenging times, underscored by racism, xenophobic rhetoric, and violence targeting communities of color, including a massive spike among our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals, families, and communities. We know that there are many more unreported cases than the nearly 3,800 hate incidents reported against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders from all 50 states over the past year.
I carry the names of the victims of the recent Atlanta shooting deep in my heart, 7 of who were women and 6 of whom were fellow women of Asian descent. It was not just a “bad day” for the victims who lost their lives.
As an organization committed to advancing racial equity and inclusion, we acknowledge that the roots of AAPI hate lie in the roots of racism. WABS condemns racism in all forms and we stand firm in our support of Asian American and Pacific Islanders – our students, families, educators, and community. WABS will continue our personal and collective learning and action to dismantle systemic racism. Below are further resources for reading, learning, and action.
