Standing in Support of Our Asian Community: A Message from President Kalyn
Dear members of the NEC Community,
I write today to express deep sadness and shared outrage at Tuesday's appalling violence in Georgia. These horrific attacks occurred amidst a deeply troubling backdrop of increasing racism, bigotry, and violence directed at the Asian community. We join in mourning those lost.
That anti-Asian racism has pervaded our society for decades reflects our collective failure to identify, oppose, and systematically dismantle inequity, hate, and injustice. We simply must do better. We must each recommit ourselves to the care and support of one another, and to doing our part to make NEC a community grounded in equity, inclusion, and belonging.
And so we stand in support of our Asian students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, and commit to their safety, wellbeing, and success.
Because listening remains a critical first step, I would encourage you to join me in tuning in this coming Monday evening for the third in a current series of Perspectives Forums sharing the experiences of NEC students, faculty, and alumni. Led by violinist Jae Cosmos Lee '06 GD, Founding Member and President of A Far Cry, Monday’s conversation will continue to explore racial stereotyping of Asian and Asian Americans within the larger context of race relations in the United States. The previous two conversations in this series are also available here.
And finally, please know that NEC’s Office of Student Services and Health and Counseling Center teams are available for support. Their contact information, as well as a list of additional resources, follows this message.
Sincerely,
Andrea Kalyn
President
NEC Resources
Cultural Equity and Belonging
belonging@necmusic.edu
Stanford Thompson, Special Advisor to the President
stanford.thompson@necmusic.edu
Office of Student Services
student.services@necmusic.edu
Health and Counseling Center
+1 617-585-1284
Squire Paige, Director of Counseling Services
squire.paige@necmusic.edu
Report a student concern or incident
https://necmusic.edu/reporting-student-concern-or-incident
Report bias-related behavior
https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?NECMusic&layout_id=4
Greater Boston and national resources
Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence
ATASK is a nonprofit, community organization serving pan-Asian survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence in Greater Boston and cities throughout Massachusetts and New England.
https://www.atask.org/site/
The Asian American Commission (AAC)
The AAC is a permanent body dedicated to advocacy on behalf of Asian Americans throughout Massachusetts.
https://www.aacommission.org/resources/anti-asian-hate-resources/
The Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation
Documenting hate crimes and hate incidents, available in English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
https://www.standagainsthatred.org/