This past week has been one of yet more pain, shock, and grief, with national news of senseless violence and hateful acts. We know that, since the start of the pandemic, acts of violence and discrimination against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community have increased at an alarming rate. A new report cites 3,795 anti-Asian attacks this past year alone. Nearly half of the reports received by Stop AAPI Hate were of incidents within California. The number of reported incidents represent only a fraction of the number of hate incidents that occur, and  more broadly to the injustices that the AAPI community faces every day.

First Place for Youth declared our firm support of racial justice principles last year in midst of the protests for black lives, and we expressly condemn anti-Asian racism and stand in solidarity with the AAPI community to amplify the voices to #StopAsianHate.

As an organization, we remain committed transforming into an equitable, anti-racist institution and live our values of diversity and inclusion, and we will continue to strive to ensure that our staff team and young people feel safe to fully express and celebrate the fullness of our identities. That is a call to action at both individual and community levels.

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