May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the diversity of our AAPI communities. We are especially in awe of AAPI community-based agencies who are not only continuing to provide culturally-specific services to meet survivors’ growing needs, but also adapting outreach to transform communities while maintaining social distance — virtual listening sessions, support calls, webinars, roundtables, and even anniversary galas are just a few of the creative forums we have participated in.
At the same time, we are saddened by the recent rise in anti-Asian racism and anti-immigrant sentiment and the impact this has had on survivors, organizations, and small businesses already feeling the immediate strain of the pandemic. As activists across the country rise up to push back against the scapegoating, we are reminded of Grace Lee Boggs’ wisdom: “You don’t choose the times you live in, but you do choose who you want to be. And you do choose how you think.”