Ben Wang, Director of Special Initiatives, presented on behalf of Asian Health Services at the Stop the Hate Funding Press Conference in San Francisco

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) awarded $14 million in state grants last week to community organizations committed to addressing hate against the Asian American Pacific Islander community, which has been plagued by racism and attacks since the pandemic began. As part of the historic $166.5 million API Equity Budget enacted last year, some of the funding is dedicated to providing resources and services to victims, while also strengthening violence prevention programs. Members of the AAPI community are celebrating because members have never seen this kind of state investment before and will highlight how they’ll use their funding.

CDSS selected AHS to serve as the Bay Area Regional Lead for the Stop the Hate Program. AHS will lead and support 20+ local nonprofit organizations to provide support and services to victims and survivors of hate incidents and hate crimes and their families and facilitate hate incident or hate crime prevention measures.

Who was present:
Asm Phil Ting, Supervisor Connie Chan, Supervisor Gordon Mar, representatives from Self Help for the Elderly, Community Youth Center, Chinatown Community Development Center, Chinese Progressive Association, Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, and AHS

Watch Ben Wang’s statement here: https://youtu.be/lrlfGNFxdfo