InclusionAF

It’s been an incredible summer as I’ve been able to present my “Stand Your Ground” workshop on how to recognize and respond to anti-Asian microaggressions to employees at Digital River, Constellation, and Ascend.   In the coming months, I have the opportunity to present at Google, Publicis, and a number of other incredible companies whose leaders are willing to put their discomfort to the side in service of developing both Asian and non-Asian employees.   If you company and your Asian employee resource group are looking for an informative, thought-provoking, and deeply meaningful educational session, please reach out to me at af [at] inclusionaf [dot] com and let’s find time to discuss! Just because API heritage month is over doesn't mean the work stops or the conversations should halt! #inclusionaf #speaking #diversity #inclusion #belonging #dibs #equity #dei #deib #diversityandinclusion #inclusionanddiversity #representation #representationmatters #asian #asianamerican #asianamericans #aapi #panasian

This morning I had the privilege to be the keynote speaker for Constellation’s Asian American Resource Group (partnering with Constellation’s People of Color in IT interest group) and their celebration of AAPI heritage month. I delivered my Stand Your Ground workshop (through InclusionAF) to 53 people in person plus over 200 online - and I was so heartened to get real-time feedback and hear about the experiences of the participants. Many awkward moments were experienced (those of you who know me will not be surprised) and some profound learnings came out as a result. Heck of a day. Thanks to Julie Xia and the AARG for bringing me into Constellation and enabling this dialogue! #inclusionaf #speaking #diversity #inclusion #belonging #dibs #equity #dei #deib #diversityandinclusion #inclusionanddiversity #representation #representationmatters #ascend #ascendleadership #asian #asianamerican #asianamericans #aapi #panasian #microaggressions #awkward #awkwardness #growth #growthmindset #aarg #erg

Asian Americans are the least likely racial group to feel belonging, says the latest The Asian American Foundation STAATUS Index report. TAAF surveyed over 6,272 Americans to better understand how perceptions of AANHPIs evolve over time, calling us to take our responsibility to break the “STAATUS” quo to celebrate and advocate for our community beyond #AsianPacificAmericanHeritageMonth. Of those surveyed, only 38 percent report feeling like they belong in the United States, on social media and in their workplaces, schools and neighborhoods. Among the reasons include the continuing spate of hate and discrimination #AsianAmericans face (60 percent), despite public sentiment that it has gotten better. Only a third of Americans believe #AsianHate has increased, while nearly 1 in 3 Asian Americans reported having been called a racial slur. 29 percent said they have been verbally harassed in the past 12 months. And Asian Americans aren’t alone in thinking that hate has increased against their own group. 73 percent percent of Black Americans, 41 percent of Hispanic Americans and 61 percent of Asian Americans believe hate against their respective groups has increased in the past 12 months. And more Americans (43 percent) believe race relations has worsened in the past five years. Other reasons for not feeling like they belong include feeling like no one wants them in positions of power (37 percent) and different value systems (32 percent). TAAF also points to the persistent myths and caricatures often found in film, television, the news and social media. 58 percent report learning about Asians mainly through the news; and 36 percent, social media. This is made more alarming by the fact that many Americans lack personal relationships with Asian Americans (over a quarter), amidst the ongoing #AntiAsian rhetoric by those in positions of power that sow misplaced suspicion. The importance of a counternarrative is increasingly becoming clear, leading to suggestions that Asian American history be taught in school (41 percent), Asian American visibility be raised (41 percent) and that there needs to be more opportunities for interaction (39 percent). Read more: https://lnkd.in/g8v2rrEP #StandwithAsianAmericans

"Name a famous Asian American." Easy, right? Well, for 52% of the 6,000+ Americans surveyed, no one came to mind. And the one who came to mind the most was Jackie Chan. And he's Not. Even. American. Read more here from The Asian American Foundation's 2024 STAATUS Index: https://lnkd.in/gQdfau-v There's a reason we raise #visibility with these days and months that celebrate different cultures, demographics, and backgrounds. If we don't, then people continue to be under the radar. So for this year's #AAPIHeritageMonth, spread the word, learn more about #Asians and #AsianAmericans. Representation matters. #diveristy #equity #inclusion #belonging #racialequity #AsAm #asianamerican #asian #APAHM #pacificislanders #AAPI #DEI #DEIB #representation #culture

⚪The 8 white identities-- which one are YOU?⚪ Think critically, be reflective, and share your honest assessment. I created a graphic directly pulled from isabeau B.'s post (https://lnkd.in/gq5uwJK4), copied below: " 'there is a regime of whiteness, and there are action-oriented white identities. people who identify with whiteness are one of these. it's about time we build an ethnography of whiteness, since white people have been the ones writing about and governing others.' the 8 white identities by Barnor Hesse #1 white supremacist: preserves, names, and values white superiority #2 white voyeurism: would not challenge a white supremacist; desires non-whiteness because it is interesting, pleasurable; seeks to control the consumption and appropriation of non-whiteness; fascination with culture #3 white privilege: may critique white supremacy, but maintains a deep investment in questions of fairness/equality under the normalization of whiteness and white rule; sworn goal of 'diversity' #4 white benefit: sympathetic to a set of issues but only privately. Will not speak/act in solidarity publicly, because they are benefitting through whiteness in public #5 white confessional: some exposure of whiteness takes place, but as a way of being accountable to People of Color after; seek validation from People of Color #6 white critical: take on board critiques of whiteness and invest in exposing/marking the white regime; refuses to be complicit with the regime; whiteness speaking back to whiteness #7 white traitor: actively refuses complicity; names what is going on; intention is to subvert white authority and tell the truth at whatever cost; need them to dismantle institutions #8 white abolitionist: changes institutions; dismantling whiteness, and not allowing whiteness to reassert itself Barnor Hesse is associate professor in the department of African American Studies at northwestern university in illinois. his research and teaching interests are in the areas of Black Political Thought, Critical Theory and Critical Race Studies" #Antiracism #AntiracismEducation #AntiracistEducation #Antiracist #BlackLivesMatter #DefundThePolice [image description: a colorful circular mind map graphic detailing the 8 white identities as outlined above.] _____________________ Don't miss a post from me ----> ring my bell 🔔 and follow my hashtag #TheRealDrBatGuy🦇💜 "My Feminism will be Intersectional or it will be Bullshit" - Flavia Dzodan *My views are my own and do not reflect those of my employer* ~I do not condemn anyone’s right to protect their peace and safety through silence. Being outspoken can be dangerous for many people— your safety is paramount.~ All the links: https://linktr.ee/ShevaGuy