Dear Friend,
It is Day 4 of SEARAC’s Week of Giving fundraiser to support our work and to honor the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian refugee resettlement in the United States. Thank you to all who have donated so far; we invite others in our network to join this movement to build community power and healing.
SEARAC’s California team has been working tirelessly with our partners across the state to develop a model K-12 curriculum that uplifts the history, identity, and experiences of Southeast Asian Americans. Now, we are overjoyed to introduce these completed curriculum modules at conferences across the state, where SEAA students like Candice Phan shared how important it is for our community members to see themselves in their education.
“History has always been my favorite subject,” Candice shared, “but I have to say that whenever we got to the portion of the curriculum regarding the Vietnam War, or anything regarding Asian American history… it was a short paragraph. A couple of sentences.” And we know from SEARAC’s research that when students don’t see themselves reflected in what they’re learning, it contributes to feelings of isolation, experiences of bullying, and invisibility. But SEARAC is ensuring that Californians of all backgrounds learn about the Southeast Asian American experience and we are fighting for SEAAs’ right to be seen.
Intergenerational solutions – like the model curriculum we developed with support and feedback from SEAAs of all ages – make our communities stronger. That’s why the unique, vibrant illustration designed for SEARAC by artist Nha Hoang feels so perfect for this moment. Nha shared that she was thinking about generations of different families who share a history of displacement as she created this piece. I love how this illustration reflects the joy, hope, and power in our communities, which are more important now than ever. You can learn more about Nha at her website or by reading our interview with her here.
Intergenerational solutions – like the model curriculum we developed with support and feedback from SEAAs of all ages – make our communities stronger. That’s why the unique, vibrant illustration designed for SEARAC by artist Nha Hoang feels so perfect for this moment. Nha shared that she was thinking about generations of different families who share a history of displacement as she created this piece. I love how this illustration reflects the joy, hope, and power in our communities, which are more important now than ever. You can learn more about Nha at her website or by reading our interview with her here.
Mandy Diêc
California Deputy Director
SEARAC