BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya Brakins Consulting & Psychological Services, LLCThe African American Child Wellness Institute, Inc. There is an African proverb that goes: “One should not go hunting when one’s house is on fire.” When there is a fire, things around us become difficult to see, and the bellows of smoke make Read more…
Art Blume Hello, everyone, my hopes that you and your families remain well. The challenges of COVID-19 to us and to our people are immense. It is not a secret nor is it unexpected that the pandemic is disproportionately impacting the people that Division 45 serves and advocates for, and Read more…
Yolanda E. Garcia I wrote this column during the first week of March while alternately scanning my email for notification that upcoming travel might be canceled due to precautions regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). I thought about what is happening in our society and how viral threat and panic about shortages Read more…
Doris F. Chang, Task Force Chair and Member-at-Large (Asian American Slate) The COVID-19 global pandemic has triggered long-standing racial fears of Asian Americans as a disease-carrying “yellow peril,” resulting in widespread increases of harassment and violence towards Asian Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) across the country. Many members of Read more…
Keoshia Harris Greetings Division 45 Family! The year of 2020 was envisioned to encompass times of celebration, renewal, reconnection, and new beginnings. This vision quickly changed as the pandemic began to spread and devastate families across the world. At that moment, I knew the year of 2020 would change our Read more…
by Linda E. Guzman and Terrill Taylor, Campus Representative Student Leaders This academic semester is atypical and bittersweet for many graduating students. As students were finishing up their last semester of studies and preparing for their next steps, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Suddenly, apart from the typical stressors of school, Read more…
Malini Basdeo Within my Trinidadian family, it is believed that it takes a whole community to heal one person’s pain. In this way, each member of the community plays a role in caring for the larger group. In the midst of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the concept of healing as a Read more…
Joseph E. Trimble and Josephine Tan On May 13, 2020 we lost a great warrior for leadership, equity, and diversity. The outpouring of shock and sadness from so many people showed how many lives Jean Lau Chin had touched, and how greatly admired and loved she was, not only for Read more…
Jeffery Scott Mio President Art Blume asked at the Midwinter Meeting how the presidential rotation was established and why it had not been codified into the by-laws. I had put this question out to the past presidents. While we do not know why this was not placed into the by-laws, Read more…
Carissa Dwiwardani It is with a heavy heart that I write this introduction to the Spring 2020 FOCUS and reflect on what a difficult season it has been. First, a global pandemic, followed by increasing instances of xenophobia against Asian Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders, and the disproportionate adverse impact Read more…