Speaking out in support of our Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community
As the Office of Arts and Culture, we know that hateful acts of violence are perpetrated against many of the communities we serve every day, and all of these acts of violence should be denounced.
Last year in the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture, we released a statement in support of our Black communities, in support of justice, and in support of anti-racist policies. With the recent hate crimes against the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) community, racism, misogyny, and violence against sex workers that we’ve seen transpire, we feel it’s important to revisit that statement as part of our ongoing efforts to listen, change, and denounce the cisgender white terrorism that exists in our city and in our country.
As a public agency, it is our job to equitably serve our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists, organizations, and community members, who are doing incredible work to make our city not only safer, but a place where they can thrive.
As we reflect the voices of Boston’s artist community and the inequities deeply embedded in our city, we also acknowledge that articulating our support of specific communities and condemning white supremacy in moments of profound tragedy is barely scratching the surface. We see and are subject to the many ways that structural racism, sexism, and ableism come together to inflict complex harms, discrimination, and hate. This requires more from us and from city government to center and operate from a deep understanding of intersectionality.
As the Office of Arts and Culture, we know that hateful acts of violence are perpetrated against many of the communities we serve every day, and all of these acts of violence should be denounced. Furthermore, we strive to communicate our values and celebrate our communities in moments of joy rather than only speaking out in times of tragedy. We will continue to provide ongoing updates on how our office is working toward building antiracist and equity-driven values and frameworks into our policies and programs. While we are committed to being truly equitable in all areas of our work, we are only at the beginning. We also believe that statements, policies, relationships, and investments matter, but have more impact when done together.
We stand by our words from 2020 — that we “urge all of our cultural organizations, institutions, and spaces to consider their role in upholding inequitable policies and ask that we all recommit to action.” Please take actionable steps to show your support for our AAPI communities. Some resources and organizations to support are below.
Show Your Support
Show Your Support- Asian American Association of Boston
- Asian American Civic Association
- Asian American Commission
- Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts (AALAM)
- Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP)
- Asian American Resource Workshop
- Asian American Studies Program at UMass Boston
- Asian American Women’s Political Initiative
- Asian Community Development Corporation
- Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK)
- Asian Women for Health
- Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF)
- Boston Asian Youth Essential Service
- Boston Chinatown Atlas
- Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center - Pao Arts Center
- Boston Korean Adoptees, Inc (BKA)
- Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell (CMAA)
- Castle Square Tenants Organization (CSTO)
- Center for Asian American Studies (CAAS) at UMass Lowell
- Chinatown Access
- The Chinatown Coalition (TCC)
- Chinatown Land Trust (CLT)
- Chinatown Main Streets
- Chinatown Neighborhood Council
- Chinatown Residents Association (CRA)
- Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association - New England (CCBA)
- Chinese Historical Society of New England (CHSNE)
- Chinese Progressive Association
- Families with Children from China - New England (FCCNE)
- Friends of the Chinatown Library (FOCL)
- The Genki Spark
- Greater Boston Chinese Cultural Association
- Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center (GBCGAC)
- Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition (GMAAC)
- Heart of Dinner
- Institute for Asian American Studies (IAAS) at UMass Boston
- Korean Cultural Society of Boston
- Kwong Kow Chinese School
- Massachusetts Asian + Pacific Islanders for Health
- National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
- National Association of Asian American Professionals Boston
- National Organization of Asians and Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence
- National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
- Nova Boston
- Pao Arts Center
- Queer Asian Pacific-Islander Alliance (QAPA)
- Quincy Asian Resources, Inc.
- Red Canary Song
- Rice Sticks and Tea Asian Food Pantry
- Sampan Newspaper
- South Cove Community Health Center (SCCHC)
- Southeast Asian Coalition Massachusetts (SEAMA)
- Vietnamese American Civic Association
- Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (VietAID)