Dear Friends,

For the past year, there has been an alarming rise in violence, harassment and hate directed at members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community throughout the country. The tragic killings in Atlanta, as well as recent incidents close to my home in San Jose and San Francisco targeting Asian Americans are a stark reminder of what ignorance, racism and xenophobia can lead to if left unchallenged.

Art of the Heart stands in solidarity with the AAPI community and condemns systemic hatred, misogyny, and violence. Stereotypes such as the “model minority” myth and the fetishization of Asian and Asian American women dehumanize our AAPI staff and family members and only serve to further division and inequality. Unfortunately, these racist conceptions are a continuation of a long history of anti-Asian sentiment in the United States.

To help foster healing and promote awareness, we have collected the following performances of works composed by AAPI composers. Please share the playlist with others who may be impacted during this trying time.

• The Stream Flows | Bright Sheng | Performed by Pei-Chun Tsai | WATCH HERE

• Spiral | Chinary Ung | WATCH HERE

• Violin Concerto No. 3 | Isang Yun | Performed by Vera Beths (soloist) | WATCH HERE

• Prayer and Blessing | Tan Dun | WATCH HERE

• Rain Coming | Toru Takemitsu | WATCH HERE

Watch the full playlist HERE

For more resources and to donate, click HERE

This is a troubling time, but it’s also a period of awakening. Individuals are standing up, demanding to be heard. Stop AAPI Hate and Asian Americans Advancing Justice are raising awareness by tracking and documenting hate crime incidents against Asian Americans. We encourage you to look into these resources and appreciate your partnership as we continue to work together towards fostering a community of inclusivity, equity, and belonging.

In solidarity,

Max Amend

Founder & Executive Director

Art of the Heart

All In One

• https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OinO5eX4catRDTTuVf7PEjVg2NNj5-J4h_bWD67-AAk/edit#

• https://www.afsc.org/blogs/news-and-commentary/standing-to-anti-asian-racism

Donate

• https://www.marieclaire.com/politics/a35866266/how-to-support-asian-american-community-organizations/

• https://robbreport.com/lifestyle/news/where-to-donate-to-help-the-asian-community-1234602489/

• https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate

News Articles

• https://www.kcrw.com/news/shows/press-play-with-madeleine-brand/stop-aapi-hate-coronavirus-tech-edu-gap-malibu-shootings

• https://www.electronicbeats.net/anti-asian-racism-in-the-music-industry/

• https://www.kalw.org/show/your-call/2021-03-24/stop-aapi-hate-community-solidarity-historical-context

• https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/after-atlanta-spa-shootings-anti-asian-violence/85-ab3edd98-c0f8-4034-afb2-10fe69adae56

• https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/recent-violence-asian-americans-highlights-need-better-tracking-report-rcna393

• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/atlanta-area-shootings-leave-8-dead-many-of-asian-descent

• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/the-long-history-of-racism-against-asian-americans-in-the-u-s

Hate Crime Reporting

• https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/get-help-now

• https://www.standagainsthatred.org/

• https://stopaapihate.org/

Mental Health

• https://www.asianmhc.org/

• https://southasiantherapists.org/

• https://www.naapimha.org/

• https://aahiinfo.org/

• https://www.apiahf.org/

• https://aapaonline.org/