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.

AAPI Vote 2018: Two Asian Americans elected to NY Senate

Kevin Thomas, left, and John Liu are the first Asian Americans to join New York's Senate.

ASAM NEWS

TAIWANESE AMERICAN John Liu beat out three challengers to win New York’s District 11 Senate seat, and Indian American attorney Kevin Thomas defeated Republican incumbent Kemp Hannon for the state’s District 6 Senate seat, reports HuffPost.
The two Democratic immigrants made history as the first Asian Americans elected to New York’s state senate.

Thomas told HuffPost he is “deeply honored, humbled and proud to be the first Indian American in the New York State Senate in U.S. history.”

The Massapequa Patch reported Hannon’s loss to Thomas as a “shocking upset.”

Asian Americans comprise about nine percent of New York’s population, with New York City being home to the largest population of Asian Americans of all the U.S. cities. Resonate reports that Liu is also the first Taiwan-born U.S. state senator.

Liu said to HuffPost, “It’s nice to be among the first, but we should have had Asian Americans in the state senate long ago.”

Liu immigrated to the U.S. at five years old and grew up in Flushing, Queens. He was a member of the New York City Council and the first Asian American to win citywide office. He also served as New York City’s first Asian American comptroller from 2010 to 2013.

“As with all people, the more Asian Americans understand the impact people have on government and the impact government has on people such as in matters of education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, the more Asian Americans will engage in this democracy that America is about,” said Liu.

Thomas, who immigrated to the U.S. at ten years old, was appointed to the New York State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in 2016. He is also known for his work as an attorney. He said that his experience defending student loan borrowers compelled him to run.

“When I saw what the Trump administration did to consumer protection, I knew I had to do something,” said Thomas. “I ran for office as my form of resistance. To do what I have always done, stand up for the little guy, to do what is right. As an Asian American, that is just who we are and those are the values my parents raised me with.

“I ran to represent everyone in my district and that is what I intend to do. But … I will certainly be bringing the issues of the Asian-American community to the state legislature.”

Democrat John Liu, who was born in Taiwan, won the District 11 state Senate seat on Tuesday, defeating three other challengers. Indian-American attorney Kevin Thomas, who immigrated to the U.S. when he was 10 years old, beat out Republican incumbent Kemp Hannon for the state’s District 6 Senate seat.

The wins are historic, as the pair are the very first Asian-Americans elected to New York’s state senate.

Thomas told HuffPost that he is “deeply honored, humbled and proud to be the first Indian-American in the the New York State Senate in U.S. History.”

Liu added that it’s about time.

“It’s nice to be among the first, but we should have had Asian-Americans in the state senate long ago,” he told HuffPost.

Asian Americans make up roughly 9 percent of the state’s population. New York City alone is home to the largest number of Asian Americans compared to all other U.S. cities.

Two Asian-Americans — Yuh-Line Niou (D) and Ron Kim (D) — serve in the New York State Assembly, but no politicians of Asian descent have served in the state senate prior.

Liu, who immigrated to the U.S. when he was 5 years old and grew up in Flushing, Queens, is no stranger to making history. Back in 2010, the Taiwanese-American was sworn in as New York City’s comptroller, making him the first Asian-American to occupy that role. Previously, he served as a city councilman, making him the first Asian-American to be elected to a citywide office.

“John Liu is a model for new immigrants,” John Park, president of the Korean American Community Empowerment Council said of Liu’s victory as comptroller at the time. “This is a new era.”

While Liu had made a bid for the mayoral seat, his campaign became the subject of scandal in 2013 when a federal investigation was launched into his fundraising. Liu was never charged, but his campaign treasurer Jenny Hou and a fundraiser Oliver Pan were convicted on formal wire fraud charges related to illegal donations.

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