Dear Aim High Community Member,

On behalf of Aim High, I am writing today to extend support to members of our community who identify as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) in the wake of increased xenophobia and violent hate crimes including but not limited to Tuesday’s unspeakable tragedy in Atlanta.

This week, Stop AAPI Hate reported 3,800 incidents of hate over the last year fueled by racist speech and blame for COVID-19. Nearly half of these incidents took place in California. Asian hate crimes in the Bay Area and nationally have incited fear, stress, and anxiety for the AAPI community. Reports estimate that 1 in 4 Asian youth have been the targets of racism. This is unconscionable and unacceptable.

No one should have to walk their neighborhood streets in fear of being attacked. No child should feel unsafe at school.

Aim High stands in solidarity with and in service to our AAPI students, graduates, families and teachers in communities across California and beyond. To our AAPI families: we see you, grieve with you, and stand with you.

Aim High teachers this summer will create spaces for all of our students to feel safe, confident and free to be their whole selves. I encourage everyone in our community to join our educators and get involved. To start, here are some organizations fighting for

Asian American rights:

• Stop AAPI Hate
• Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center series, “We Are Not a Stereotype”
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice
• The Asian American Racial Justice Toolkit
• Bystander Intervention Trainings for Anti-Asian & Xenophobic Harassment
• Compassion in Oakland

I am grateful for the commitment of our teachers as we strive to build a more just, inclusive, compassionate and kind world. It is this commitment that gives us hope for better days ahead. We are stronger when we stand together.

In solidarity,

Alec Lee
Aim High Co-founder and Executive Director