CACF’s teach-in focused on unpacking how racism is a public health crisis, including for our diverse Asian American communities in New York. Asian American children and families -- similar to all children and families -- cannot lead safe and healthy lives unless we tackle the real issues we face of poverty, overcrowded housing, and we build health and education systems that make the effort to support us and not render us as invisible and dismiss our lived experiences. We must focus on the social determinants of health that underlie the crises we see today. These inequities are a function of racist systems, which have been laid glaringly bare by COVID-19. In attendance were Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Senator John Liu, and Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon.
Speakers included:
Kavita Mehra (Sakhi for South Asian Women)
Erick Agarijo (Korean American Family Service Center)
Stella Yi (Center for the Study of Asian American Health, NYU)
Carlyn Cowen (Chinese-American Planning Council)
Mon Yuck Yu (Academy of Medical & Public Health Services)
Khamarin Nhan (Mekong NYC)