Sunday, February 27, 2022

New York state awards $10 million to AAPI community to combat virus and hate


New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announces $10 million to the Asian American community.

The State of New York is awarding $10 million to Asian American organizations that were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and surge of anti-Asian hate. It is the largest investment in the Asian American community in New York history.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on so many vulnerable and marginalized communities across New York State,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul Feb. 20. “The Asian American community was especially hard hit, not only by the virus, but by an increase in hate and violent crimes."

"With this $10 million in funding, we are sending a strong message that hate has no home here, and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our sisters and brothers in the Asian American community. My administration is laser focused on continuing to help communities that have for too long been forgotten, not only as we recover from this pandemic, but for years to come,” said Hochul.

The funding, allocated in the FY 2021-22 budget, will be distributed to community-based groups through the Asian American Federation (AAF), the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), and the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), as well as other organizations. 

There will be a focus on community programs and providers that bring services and supportive programs directly to New York's Asian American communities. 

 "With the tragedies that our community has experienced since the start of the pandemic, and painfully so over the last few months, many Asian Americans are fearful for their own lives when stepping out of their homes<" said Executive Director of the Asian American Federation Jo-Ann Yoo.

"Governor Hochul’s leadership shows that our voice is not going unheard as we ask for support to overcome this trauma.”

The award was announced as New York's Asian American community was still reeling from the brutal fatal stabbing of Christina Lee and Michelle Go's death from being pushed into the path of an oncoming subway train.

Hate attacks against New York City's AAPI have risen 361% last year, according to NYPD data. 

The Asian American Federation (AAF) will receive a total of $6.8 million in funding intended to reinforce the community support offered by a network of organizations that have witnessed a sudden increase in demand for services due to the pandemic. AAF will direct the funding to 59 community organizations listed below that provide direct services, case management, and mental health support that serve Asian New Yorkers throughout New York State. 

In addition, the New York State Assembly is directing $1.4 million in Legislative aid to another 40 organizations that serve a wide array of communities in New York. 

“The AAPI community has been the target of relentless hatred, bigotry, and violence for the last two years, and we desperately need resources that would address the root cause of these attacks," said New York state Sen. John Liu.

"While we are grateful to see the implementation of last year’s $10 million budget allocation, the siege against Asian Americans continues unabated, as does our need for additional resources," said Liu. "We must address a range of needs such as community safety, services for youth and senior citizens, mental health support for Asian New Yorkers, and the implementation of AAPI curriculum in public schools.”

The following organizations will receive aid from AAF:
  • A Place for Kids
  • Academy of Medical & Public Health Services
  • Adhikaar for Human Rights and Social Justice
  • Arab American Association of New York
  • Arab-American Family Support Center
  • Asian American Arts Alliance
  • Asian American Community Empowerment
  • Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
  • Asian Americans for Equality
  • Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs
  • Bridges From Borders
  • Brooklyn Chinese-American Association
  • Brooklyn Community Improvement Association
  • Burmese Community Services
  • Caribbean Equality Project
  • Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans
  • Chhaya Community Development Corporation
  • Chinatown Partnership LDC
  • Chinatown YMCA
  • Chinese American IPA
  • Chinese American Social Services Center
  • Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association
  • Chinese Progressive Association
  • Chinese-American Family Alliance for Mental Health
  • CMP
  • Council of Peoples Organization
  • Damayan Migrant Workers Association
  • Desis Rising Up and Moving
  • Garden of Hope
  • Hamilton-Madison House
  • Homecrest Community Services
  • Immigrant Social Services
  • India Home
  • Jahajee Sisters
  • Japanese American Association of New York
  • Japanese American Social Services, Inc.
  • Karen Society of Buffalo
  • Korean American Family Service Center
  • Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York
  • Laal NYC
  • Mekong Center NYC
  • Midtown Utica Community Center
  • Migrant Center
  • MinKwon Center
  • Refugees Helping Refugees
  • Sakhi for South Asian Women
  • Sapna NYC
  • Sikh Coalition
  • South Asian Council for Social Service
  • South Asian Youth Action
  • Turning Point for Women and Families
  • United Chinese Association of Brooklyn
  • Womankind (formerly NYAWC)
  • Women for Afghan Women
  • YWCA of Queens
The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families will receive over $1 million, and they will be partnering with a host of organizations -- including Apex for Youth, the Arab American Family Support Center, Asian Americans for Equality, Chinese-American Planning Council, South Asian Youth Action! Korean American Family Service Center, MinKwon Center for Community Action, and Mekong NYC -- to enhance youth and young adult services targeting Asian American communities by focusing on social emotional development and mental well-being.

Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung, Co-Executive Directors of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families said: "Through this crisis intervention funding, CACF with eight of our organizations have collaboratively developed a curriculum to support young people’s healthy sense of self, community connection and belonging, and self-agency.”

The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), a social services organization that creates positive social change, will receive almost $700,000 to help empower Asian American, immigrant, and low-income communities in New York City by ensuring they have equitable access to the resources and opportunities needed to thrive. 

The funding will support CPC’s culturally competent, linguistically appropriate community services and programs to improve the social determinants of health for children, youth, students, families, and seniors. Through this initiative, they will expand public access to resources, expand workforce service, enhance wrap-around case management and expand early childhood development.

 “Our Asian American communities are facing a crisis of anti-Asian hatred and violence. We are frightened. We are angry," said 
Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou. 
"This is a great start, but we can and must do better. I urge my colleagues in Albany to support additional resources our community so desperately needs."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.


No comments:

Post a Comment