AAPI Heritage Month Anti-Bias Guide

Racism against Asian American and Pacific Islanders have increased at alarming rates, largely in part to COVID and the pandemic.  

One of the ways we can do our part to Stop Asian Hate, is teaching our kids what makes this diverse culture so special and vital to the landscape of our society.  

While this action may seem simple, is transformatively powerful. 

It's very hard to hate something we know. And it's nearly impossible to be ignorant when we've beheld the beauty of another's culture. 

And not only that, this effect will ripple out. Because you did the work, your children will be able to advocate for themselves and for others in the face of hatred and injustice because they know better. And truly know - not just forced PC-culture, but a true felt appreciation for the world of difference around them. 

This 👆🏽 is how we change the world 🌎 and our AAPI History Month Guide is here to support you in doing this  transformative work: 

Put together by our amazing team of educators from the AAPI community, this guide includes:

• 🎑 an opening ceremony with custom e-book to help your children understand what AAPI Month is and the cultures we are celebrating 
• 📣 scripts + phrasing suggestions for parents so you can explain complex concepts around AAPI in a child-friendly and culturally-respectful way 
• 📚 an extensive books & movies database
• 🧑🏽‍🔬 8 jam-packed and easy-to-execute expansion guides covering different learning pillars and filled with activities, videos, games, STEM projects and more! 

It's perfect for families who want to raise culturally-aware littles who advocate for themselves, for others, and the diversity that makes our world such a beautiful place. 

Whether you have 20 minutes on Tuesday or two hours on a Saturday, this guide will support your family in having the conversations that create change. 

ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO CREATED THIS GUIDE

MEI-YIN NG

Mei-Yin Ng is a certified Montessori Teacher, Mandarin teacher and professional dancer of Chinese descent born in Malaysia. Ms. Ng has received fourteen years of training in both Chinese language and the performing arts, studying at Kwang-Si Dance Troupe (Malaysia), New York Chinese Cultural Center (USA) and the Central University of Nationalities (China).  She received her extended training in Western Contemporary dance at the Merce Cunningham Dance Studio (USA), and her early childhood training from the West Side Montessori School Teacher Education Program. 

Ms. Ng has worked with leading institutions to educate and promote Chinese language and Chinese cultural arts. In addition to having taught Mandarin classes and dance workshops, she has also led cultural events, performances and family events for many different organizations, including:

The New York Children’s Museum, The China Institute, ArtsConnection, The New York Chinese Cultural Center, Families with Children from China, Children of China Pediatrics Foundation, and various public and private schools in NYC. 

For eleven years, she has been involved in the federally-funded research project DELLTA (Developing English Language Literacy Through the Arts) with ArtsConnection.  Her leadership in this program was recognized with Arts Connection’s Janklow Award for Excellency in Arts Education. Ms. Ng was the head Mandarin teacher for the Science, Lanuage and Arts School, a French and Mandarin immersion school in Brooklyn, NY (2011-2018); Head Mandarin teacher, early childhood classroom teacher and dance teacher at WeGrow, NY ( 2018-2020), before joining the Village: The Wholehearted School in 2020.
  
Always cheerful and positive, Ms. Ng is wonderful at encouraging children as they learn to speak a new language.

RAKSHA MUTHUKUMAR

Raksha Muthukumar is a technologist, organizer, and storyteller. She has been a community organizer from the age of 15 and has participated in grassroots movement work in Canada, North Carolina, and India. Her advocacy work ranges from the field of sex positivity to labor organizing to police abolition. Raksha currently resides in Brooklyn with her 3 pet rats, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. Learn more about Raksha at her website, www.raksha.gay.