Recently, I went to my mailbox and found a sticker that said “God Hates Fags.” What would drive someone to plaster that kind of message? Is that a way to win converts? No. It’s a way to spread fear and hate. Where is all this fear and hate coming from?

This year’s 2024 conference theme was “Strength In Unity: Embracing the Tapestry of Our Diversity, Cultivating Our Heritage, and Celebrating Our Multilingualism.” During the conference, participants were able to engage in numerous workshops, Spotlight Speaker sessions, and Keynote Speaker events covering various subjects relating to enhancing literacy skills, expanding multilingual and dual language programs, Asian language instruction, early childhood education, assessment methods, effective instructional approaches, policy advocacy, promoting racial equity, fostering family and community involvement, and exploring pathways for the State Seal of Biliteracy.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL), Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC), and Microsoft collaborated on a unique digital resource - the Asian Resource Hub. VAAMA was in attendance at the recent launch to gain a deeper insight about this incredible resource and to celebrate this great achievement.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was created by the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 in direct response to calls for racial and economic justice at the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. As the primary federal agency charged by Congress with enforcing laws against employment discrimination, the EEOC’s mission is to prevent and remedy unlawful employment discrimination and advance equal employment opportunity for all.

In recent years, Californians experienced a surge of hate activity. According to the California Department of Justice, the number of reported hate crimes is at a 10-year high, with much of the increase occurring within the past few years. Between 2020 and 2021, reported hate crimes increased by almost 33 percent. Other data sources portray similarly troubling patterns of hate activity. Nationwide, 53 percent of adults in the U.S. have reported that they experienced harassment online, and 32 percent of those adults reported that the harassment was due to their sexual orientation, religion, race or ethnicity, gender identity, or disability.

A Texas Mom, who is Vietnamese-American has been fighting for a year, accusing the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District of failing to take any action to punish racist crimes in which her two sons are victims.

Amid the holiday season, a coalition of mental health nonprofits in Orange County was joining forces to address the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health, particularly among people of color. This collaborative effort aimed to raise awareness about mental health issues, provide support, and combat the rising tide of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). A media event was hosted on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Pacific Electric Park in Santa Ana, California.

The California DOJ recently released a report that revealed hate crimes reported to law enforcement in California rose 20%, jumping from 1,763 in 2021 to 2,120 in 2022.

In a Friday, Oct. 13 Ethnic Media Services briefing, experts discussed the conflict’s roots, what it means for Jewish and Muslim U.S. communities confronting increased hate, and how inter-ethnic U.S. violence is deepening in response to the international violence.

Over the years, Asian and Vietnamese filmmakers have increasingly taken on the responsibility of portraying Asian characters and stories authentically, shedding light on the diverse and multifaceted nature of Asian identity, and the Viet Film Festival (VFF) has been a crucial channel that helps broadcast these creative works towards a broader audience, both in theatres and online.

Take a look at “20 Ideas for Action” to brainstorm ways your community can participate in United Against Hate Week.

Groundswell’s 2022 Orange County Hate Crime Report press conference on September 21, 2023, highlighted some urgent findings and calls for unity in community collaboration in combating hate in Orange County.

As a licensed clinical social worker, Paul Hoang encountered firsthand through his patients the many heartbreaking personal stories of their sufferings during and post-pandemic. He decided that treatments alone weren’t good enough. He wanted to take practical action to teach elders the many ways they can keep themselves safe and sane.

The City of Westminster commemorated a landmark civil rights court case on Tuesday with an intimate yet powerful reunion at Mendez Tribute Monument Park.

Among the primary goals of Groundswell's (formerly known as OC Human Relations) Youth & Education Programs are decreasing hate-motivated behavior and activity among youth within middle school and high schools and building skills in conflict resolution and restorative dialogue among youth. We know hate incidents are rising among this age group, stemming from social distancing, prolonged lockdown, and the current socio-political climate.

When I was asked to share my experience with discrimination, I was overwhelmed with emotion as I reflected on the numerous incidents that occurred during my childhood, while I was in school, and during my career. I always thought it was something that I did to provoke these reactions, however, I learned that racism is systemic, and I experienced it because I was Asian and/or different!

Since the pandemic started, I dedicated much of my time to addressing the community's mental health needs, organizing the food distribution operation, addressing the increased suicide and isolation in the community, providing personal outreach to seniors, to individuals that have reached our office, and shared their needs in the community.

If you meet a Vietnamese person, it’s more than likely there is six degrees of separation (or less) to a nail salon. For me, that degree of separation is one. My sister and I often reminisce about the memories of growing up in mom's nail salon and how those years shaped who we are today. Our jobs were simple and standard. Fill acetone bottles and pedicure tubs. Organize magazines and nail polish. Fold towels. Greet the clients with a smile and offer them water. Mom worked long hours so we spent a lot of time there.

As part of VAAMA's series highlighting organizations that make a significant impact in reducing hate and violence while fostering community healing through practical support services, we turn our spotlight to two organizations: Moving Forward Psychological Institute and Groundswell. These organizations have achieved substantial progress in providing social services and mental support to youth and seniors.

Poor mental health, suicidal thoughts are increasing- Overall, young people experiencing a level of trauma/distress that requires action.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021, in which the CDC disclosed alarming data that documented that rates of violence and worsening cases poor mental health, continued to rise among female and LGBQ+ adolescents.