February 2024: Fighting for Safety & Building Belonging
TAAF’s NYC safety study reveals alarming anti-Asian violence. Celebrate Lunar New Year with the new graphic novel "Fighting to Belong!" for youth education.
Dear Friends,
From the TAAF family to yours, we wish you a happy and prosperous Lunar Year!
Earlier this morning, we released our new Asian American Perspectives: New York City Safety Study, a survey focused on understanding safety and empowerment of Asian American New Yorkers. The results were astounding: 1 in 5 Asian American New Yorkers has been physically assaulted because of their race in the last 12 months! It’s a painful reminder that even though the media has moved on, it remains an everyday reality for Asian Americans. This survey brings into sharp focus the need to immediately address the unsafe reality for Asian American, while continuing to drive towards longer term solutions that make New York City safe for all residents. I invite you to read the report below and work together to identify solutions to help create a permanent, irrevocable sense of belonging for all.
When TAAF launched, we committed to creating a better future for our community and our country, and no one embodied that vision better than Angela Chao. Angela was a founding member of TAAF and co-chair of our Advisory Council. We commemorate the life of this beloved business and community leader, philanthropist and friend and extend our deepest sympathies to the Chao family. Angela’s warmth, kindness and infectious energy will live on in our work for decades to come.
In solidarity,
Norman Chen
CEO, The Asian American Foundation
ANTI-HATE
Shedding light on state of safety in NYC
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Today,TAAF released Asian American Perspectives: New York City Safety Study, a report examining the safety of Asian American residents of New York City.
The survey includes a representative sample of 1,000 NYC-based Asian American respondents, age 16 to 82. The sobering new data reveals an urgent and ongoing need for robust programming that counters hate and promotes long-term belonging for Asian Americans. Some of the most alarming stats include:
- 1 in 5 Asian Americans have been physically assaulted in the last 12 months.
- Over half of NYC’s Asian American population reported being insulted, harassed, threatened, or physically attacked in the past 12 months because of their race and ethnicity.
- 54% who experienced a hate incident did not report the experience to anyone.
- 75% of respondents fear being targeted as Asian Americans, and change their habits and behaviors as a result.
- 83% of Asian American women note public safety as a major concern in NYC; 72% of men say the same.
- 67% of respondents said that better relations with police were necessary to help New York’s AANHPI community feel safer in the city.
The report also uncovered an eagerness for the Asian American community to receive information or training on how to report hate incidents, what to expect when reporting, and how to safely intervene as a witness to an anti-Asian hate incident, with 64% of respondents saying yes. Thanks to our NYC Anti-Hate Collaborative, bystander training and resources are available in multiple languages and culturally appropriate. Learn more here!
Read the NYC State of Safety Survey!
EDUCATION
Fighting to Belong! helps readers understand how AANHPI stories are interwoven within American history
In February, Fighting to Belong! A History of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Vol. 1 was released everywhere books are sold! Fighting to Belong! shares an important and dynamic part of American history in an engaging comic book format aimed at children aged 8-13.
Fighting to Belong! comes at a critical time. TAAF’s 2023 STAATUS Index uncovered that three of 10 Americans are unable to name a historical event/policy related to Asian Americans. And while organizations across the country fight tirelessly to pass mandates to teach this history in the classroom, they don’t have the curriculum or supplemental reading options to bring the mandates to life.
Volume I, the first in a three-part series, follows four middle school protagonists and their guide Kenji on an amazing journey through time to learn about key events in AANHPI history, from the ‘Manilamen’ in New Orleans to the Gold Rush in California. Included in the graphic novel are activities that parents and community groups can use to delve into specific topics discussed in the book, as well as a comprehensive curriculum guide created by The Asian American Education Project that educators can implement in their classrooms.
Fighting to Belong! is written by bestselling comics writer Amy Chu (Wonder Woman, Deadpool, Ant-Man, Iron Man) and Alexander Chang and illustrated by award-winning artist Louie Chin. The book is presented by The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) and Third State Books in association with Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change (LAAUNCH) and The Asian American Education Project.
Then, on February 8, over 500+ friends and families came together for the launch of Fighting to Belong! and to celebrate Lunar New Year in Brooklyn. The event featured a comic book-drawing workshop, lion dancing performance, and book signing with the authors at Hana House. We are grateful to our partners at JPMorgan Chase and NextShark for their support in making this special event possible. We can’t wait for you to see Volume 2 of Fighting to Belong! later this fall!
Get your copy of Fighting to Belong!
Partner Spotlight
TAAF is honored to build with incredible community partners with the support of our AAPI Giving Challenge partners.
Each month we highlight the impact of their work and support of our grantees.
Meet our partners by clicking the image below to learn more about their work.
Adhikaar organizes low-income workers and impacted community members to promote social justice and human rights. As part of the TAAF NYC Anti-Hate Collaborative, Adhikaar has assisted thousands of individuals and families by providing bystander training, self-defense training, mental health workshops, and more.
Amazon joined the AAPI Giving Challenge as a founding partner to support and amplify AAPI voices through networking and community-building opportunities, and to celebrate creators and artists in the AAPI community.
Convenings
TAAF in Community
