Anti-Asian Racism Resources

Recent News

Read our Statement Against Violence and Xenophobia Faced by Asian Communities

Read our blog post Ways to help the Asian American Community in Atlanta, Georgia


MA Town Hall on Anti-Asian Racism

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled xenophobia and anti-Asian racism. But Asian Americans have experienced violence long before the pandemic. Join our town hall highlighting how the Asian American community in MA is organizing against racism and learn how to support our community during the pandemic.

Thursday, March 25th @6PM EST 

WATCH THE RECORDING  |  RESOURCE GUIDE

This event is sponsored by the APIs CAN – Asian Pacific Islanders Civic Action Network, Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), Asian Community Development Corporation, Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence, Asian Women for Health, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center – BCNC, CMAA – Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, Chinese Culture Connection, Chinese Progressive Association, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Asian American Commission, Greater Boston Legal Services – Asian Outreach Unit, Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition, Quincy Asian Resources, Inc., UMass Boston Institute for Asian American Studies, Vietnamese American Initiative for Development

Violence against Asians, Asian American racism, and xenophobia is not a new phenomenon. It has been part of American history for centuries, and we have seen it manifested against different Asian/American and Pacific Islander communities in many ways over the years. As the coronavirus pandemic escalates, we have seen more harassment, discrimination, and even violence directed at these communities.


AAC’s Community Action Guide

Staff at the Asian American Commission created this Community Action Guide to help the community respond to the rise in hate incidents against the AAPI community.

View Our Community Action Guide

Donate to the Asian Community Emergency Fund

Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC), in partnership with Chinese Progressive Association, Vietnamese American Initiative for Development, Asian American Resource Workshop, Greater Boston Legal Services’ Asian Outreach Unit, and Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association, launched the Asian Community Emergency Relief Fund for our community. The fund provides immediate and direct financial support to people in our community who have lost work and are having trouble meeting their basic needs, and may not be eligible for other public benefits.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FUND

Bystander Intervention Training

In response to the rise in Anti-Asian/American and xenophobic harassment, Hollaback! partnered with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC to adapt their free bystander intervention training to meet this moment.

Workshop Description

The one-hour, interactive training will teach you Hollaback!’s 5D’s of bystander intervention methodology. We’ll start by talking about the types of disrespect that Asian and Asian American folks are facing right now — from microaggressions to violence — using a tool we call the “spectrum of disrespect.” You’ll learn what to look for and the positive impact that bystander intervention has on individuals and communities. We’ll talk through five strategies for intervention: distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct; and how to prioritize your own safety while intervening. We’ll have time at the end for practice, and you’ll leave feeling more confident intervening the next time you see Anti-Asian/American harassment online or in person.

Sessions

Hollaback! provides free trainings each month to the public and customized training experiences for businesses, organizations, schools, and colleges. We use any revenue earned, combined with donations, to accelerate efforts to end harassment and provide free trainings to the general public.

Click here to view this month’s schedule & to sign up for a session.

Report a Hate Incident

Due to misinformation about COVID-19, we’ve seen a rise in hate incidents against the AAPI community across the country. We encourage those who have faced any verbal or physical harassment to report stories and incidents to StopAAPIHate.org or www.StandAgainstHatred.org. Please note that all personal information will be kept confidential.

Statewide

Report to your District Attorney

Nationwide Reporting

  • The Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation has been documenting hate crimes and hate incidents since 2017 | https://www.standagainsthatred.org/
    • Make a report.
      • Share something you’ve experienced or witnessed.
      • Translation for form made available in Chinese (Traditional & Simplified), Vietnamese, Korean.
    • Read stories.
  • StopAAPIHate: The Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University launched the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center on March 19, 2020.| https://stopaapihate.org/

Mental Health

Therapist Directory

APISAA Therapist Directory

Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island Therapists of Color Directory

Therapy for Essential Workers

  • Therapy Aid Coalition’s mission is to develop a national network of psychotherapists, capable of responding to crises that occur within the United States. By offering support, training and compensation to our psychotherapists, we are able to ensure those impacted by national crises receive prompt quality care and support.
  • Find a therapist
  • Find a free support group
  • If you are a provider and would like to be added to the directory click here.

API Healer Network and Therapy Resources List

  • This was compiled by National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, a Federation of LGBTQ Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Pacific Islanders Organizations.
  • This resource is: For anyone seeking mental, emotional, and/or spiritual support. Several of us offer sliding scale services because we want to make healing more widely available. Additionally, this resource is for healers and therapists of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to connect and be in community with one another.
  • Find a therapist or healer

Therapy for Muslims

  • Google Spreadsheet
  • This website connects Muslims to mental health providers and it has a great page with videos on coping mechanisms, resilience building, and other mental health tools.

Community Health Centers

Lowell Community Health Center

Lynn Community Health Center

  • https://www.lchcnet.org/services/behavioral-health
  • Lynn Community Health Center has 80 licensed behavioral health specialists, including psychiatric nurse clinical specialists, psychologists, mental health counselors, psychiatrists, and social workers. Our providers reflect the diversity of our community and speak many languages, including Spanish, Khmer, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic

Massachusetts Asians + Pacific Islanders (MAP) for Health

  • Website: https://www.maphealth.org/
  • Provides an inviting safe space where API LGBTQ+ youth can come together to find support, make friends, and learn how to lead healthy lives. They provide services like drop-in hours, peer leadership, resources and referrals through activities that focus on life skills, social skills, job skills, and health promotion.

DotHouse Health Behavioral Health Department

  • Website: http://www.dorchesterhouse.org/services/behavioral_health.html
  • Provides comprehensive mental health care services with respect and compassion for each individual’s health and wellbeing. The staff of the Behavioral health Department is ethnically and racially diverse and we offer services in English, French, Kikongo, Lingola, Spanish and Vietnamese to patients between the ages of 4 to 70.

Healing Spaces / Support Groups

Asian American Healing Space

  • Once a month, they  share in a guided meditation, reflective reading, and community healing space to reflect on our own identities and challenges in this time: how are we feeling, how do we show up in community, and how can we support and uplift each other? This space is for anyone who identifies as Asian American and is looking for a sacred space to come home and connect with self. Come sit and breathe with them.
  • Every 4th Sunday evening of the month. @8 – 10 PM EST. 
  • Sign up or check out the dates here.

Yellow Glitter Sparkles

  • Yellow Glitter Sparkles is a monthly support group, bringing together queer Asians in a safe, no-judgment environment to share stories, struggles, laughter, and tears with each other. We start off with a short mindfulness exercise and then get into our group discussion. Each month explores different topics shared by our members.
  • Tickets and spaces are limited to ensure all attendees have ample time to share – RSVP in advance.
  • Sign up or check out the dates here.

Asian Immigrants and Students Wellness and Support

  • In response to the recent events of racism against Asian immigrants in America, Cathay Psychological Institute decided to put together a monthly event in 2021 that’s free for anyone who would like to join, learn and support one another. This resource is accessible to any Asian immigrant who needs mental and emotional support, or just a little pick me up.
  • Sessions are monitored and facilitated by Dr. John (Kailei) Zhang, a licensed psychologist and founder of Cathay Psychological Institute in California. What you will discuss: racism, stress management, psychological well-being, culture and community adaptation, life events, career transition, and answering your questions!
  • Sign up or check out the dates here.

AAPI Substance Abuse Resources

  • National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA): A private, nonprofit organization that promotes prevention, education and support for Asian Americans and their families whose lives have been affected by substance abuse.
  • SAMHSA – A variety of AAPI substance abuse resources, data, and support.
  • BIPOC Only Recovery Dharma: A virtual support group for all POC in recovery that is inspired by Buddhist techniques.
  • YMSM + LGBT Center of Excellence: This organization delivers culturally-responsive and evidence-based prevention and treatment services for minority lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations dealing with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.
  • This list was gathered by Detox Local. Call their help line for drug and alcohol detoxes at 866-315-7061

Online Resources

Help Lines

National Suicide Hotline

  • 800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line

  • Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor

The Trevor Helpline – Specifically for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender youth and young adults

  • 866-488-7386

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline

  • 1-800-950-6264

Asian American Suicide – Prevention Asian LifeNet Hotline (24 hours)

  • 1-877-990-8585 (Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Fujianese are offered)

Detox Local Help Line

  • 866-315-7061

Read, Watch & Listen

Articles & Books

  • The Making of Asian America by Erika Lee
  • A New History of Asian America by Shelley Sang-Hee Lee
  • Unraveling the “Model Minority” Stereotype: Listening to Asian American Youth by Stacey J. Lee
  • The Chinese in America by Iris Chang
  • Asian American Dreams by Helen Zia
  • The Last Boat of Shanghai by Helen Zia
  • American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
  • Asian Americans in Politics by Andrew Aoki and Okiyoshi Takeda
  • The Body Papers by Grace Talusan
  • Unsettled: Cambodian Refugees in the New York City Hyperghetto by Eric Tang

Videos, Shows & Films

Podcasts

  • Dear Asian Americans
    • Dear Asian Americans is a podcast for and by Asian Americans, focusing on authentic storytelling rooted in origin, identity, and legacy. Host Jerry Won brings on guests from diverse backgrounds and career paths to celebrate, support, and inspire the Asian American community. 
  • Misfortune Cookies
    • A homemade podcast where Asian Americans can share their mental health stories. Our goal is to de-stigmatize mental health for Asian Americans and create a space where we listen to each other and help process life’s misfortunes.
  • Asian Enough
    • From the Los Angeles Times, “Asian Enough” is a podcast about being Asian American — the joys, the complications and everything in between. In each episode, hosts Jen Yamato, Johana Bhuiyan, Tracy Brown and Suhauna Hussain of the Times invite special guests to share personal stories and unpack identity on their own terms. They explore the vast diaspora across cultures, backgrounds and generations, and try to expand the ways in which being Asian American is defined.
  • Self Evident: Asian America’s Stories
    • Self Evident challenges the narratives of where we come from, where we belong, and where we’re going — by telling Asian America’s stories. With host Cathy Erway, we present reported narratives, personal stories, and community conversations that tackle today’s tough questions about identity, cultural change, and nationhood.
  • Asian American History 101 
    • Asian American History 101 is a podcast co-hosted by Gen and Ted Lai, a daughter and father team. The podcast will entertain and educate people as Gen and Ted dive into the vast history of Asian Americans from their contributions to their struggles to their triumphs.
  • How Are The Atlanta Shootings Reverberating Among AAPIs In The Commonwealth? (WBUR)
  • What The Georgia Shootings Reveal About Anti-Asian Racism In The U.S. (WBUR)

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