TO OUR SUPPORTERS, STAFF, THE STEM COMMUNITY, AND TO OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES,

We stand in solidarity and in grief with Asian-American and Asian-immigrant communities as we witness the horrifying anti-Asian violence taking place across the United States. These communities have endured thousands of racist attacks in the past year alone. Anti-Asian violence, while often unacknowledged, is not new; indeed, such violence has been present in the US for as long as people of Asian descent have been living here.

The work that lies ahead for Americans, for us, to build a safer, more equitable, and more just society is immense and difficult, but also urgent. At BEAM, we are determined to work within the STEM and education communities to take direct action: to support our Asian students, families, and staff; to educate ourselves and our constituents about the history of anti-Asian violence and discrimination and the current wave of hate crimes; to provide opportunities for all BEAM students to take their rightful place at the table.

TO OUR STUDENTS WE SAY:

We remain committed to helping you achieve your dreams in math and science and to celebrating those achievements with you.

We remain committed to centering the needs of our community, and to supporting our students, families, staff, and the broader STEM community in work that is explicitly antiracist and always seeking justice.

WHAT WE’RE WORKING ON:

This is just one part of a larger conversation we are having at BEAM about how to build a resilient and effective organization, and how to draw on many voices as we shape our practices. Here’s what we’re working on:

  • Understanding our mission and developing statements of organizational and programmatic values;

  • Strengthening summer staff training around issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion;

  • Making plans to discuss structural inequalities with our students across our programs;

  • Participating in a series of staff conversations about race and identity.

We will continue to report on our work in these areas in the coming months.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO LEARN MORE WITH THESE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

  • Report a hate incident or learn how you can help at Stop AAPI Hate. Read their most recent report on the uptick in anti-Asian violence here.

  • Discover how to amplify on-the-ground activism and organizing in Asian-American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander communities at Movement Hub.

  • Learn about the history of anti-Asian violence and discrimination in the US in this report from PBS and this article from the Washington Post.

  • Watch this 8-minute video about the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans.

  • Learn how to respond if you witness anti-Asian harassment or xenophobia with this virtual bystander intervention training.

  • Want to dive deeper? Check out this resource list to learn more and take action.