Statement of Solidarity #AAPI
April 4, 2021
The Northern California Association of Kodály Educators stands in solidarity with the Asian American & Pacific Islander American communities here in Northern California and across the country. We stand against hate, bias, racism, and violence. Racism, in all of its forms, will not be tolerated in our communities. We work to identify, interrupt, and dismantle racism wherever we find it.
We recognize the diversity of experiences contained under the Asian American and Pacific Islander umbrella. We acknowledge that this term itself is imperfect and that racism shows up in many forms across these diverse communities. As an organization of music educators, we must continuously work towards equity and inclusion for all students in our classrooms, schools, and communities.
We are committed to elevating the voices of people of color in our workshops and events, highlighting diverse perspectives, and embed this in our work. We invite anyone interested in joining us in this work to get in touch--please email info@ncake.org.
We invite you to join us in this work, and we offer resources below that support our community.
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April 9th “NCAKE Social in Solidarity with AAPI members and friends”
On April 9th, NCAKE dedicated the monthly social event to members of the AAPI community. This was a safe space for the community to gather, pause, support and show solidarity.
Our message: to our AAPI members and friends, you are welcome to share your stories, experiences, how you see us being able to support you, or just join us to be together. We are here for you. To our allies, you are welcome to listen to our AAPI community members, and investigate how you can take actions.
April 10th Workshop “What's in it for M.E.?”
On April 10th, NCAKE welcomed Dr. Miriam B. Factora as our Spring workshop clinician. Dr. Factora shared relevant topics in supporting our AAPI students - how we can better make cultural connections in music education. All proceeds from this April 10th workshop are to be donated to the following organizations dedicated to education and supporting AAPI communities in the Bay Area and beyond.
Donations from April's workshop are to be split between:
The Association of Chinese Teachers
Compassion in Oakland
Learning for Justice
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For those seeking resources and materials to help yourself, your students and your community, please see the list below. This list is not complete and serves as just a starting point in the work that must be done to stop AAPI hate.
General Resources
Stop AAPI Hate
Guide for Bystander Intervention - Hollaback!
PBS Asian Americans Series
Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Video Series
Resources for Educators and the Classroom
Learning for Justice-Formerly Teaching Tolerance
Addressing Anti-Asian Bias
After Atlanta: Teaching About Asian American Identity and History
Responding to Anti-Asian Violence and Georgia Shootings
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
How to teach kids to talk about taboo topics
Young, Proud and Sun-jee - A Children’s Book on fighting anti-Asian racism during Covid-19
Articles
Statement of Solidarity #BLM
June 5, 2020
Our hearts and minds are heavy this week as we grapple with the loss of still more Black lives to racist violence and police brutality. We feel deeply the losses of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbury, Breonna Taylor, and countless others, and we grieve for their families and communities. We also know that, while this feels immediate now, these latest incidents are only a few in our country’s long history of systemic racism and racist violence. Black lives matter, but for so many Americans, that is not their lived experience.
As educators, we are heartbroken to know that many of our students inhabit a world where they and their families experience discrimination and fear every day. We are committed to doing our part to dismantle racial injustice and provide a better future for all of our children.
As music educators, we understand the power of music to inspire, to comfort, to unify, and to bring about change. John Lewis, civil rights hero and U.S. Congressman, said that “Without music the civil rights movement would have been like a bird without wings.” We also know that not all music is a force for positive change, and we are committed to understanding and changing our repertoire and our practices when they are harmful. (For more information: Songs With a Questionable Past; Decolonizing the Music Room; NEA EdJustice: Black Lives Matter at School).
As Kodály-trained music educators, we sing with the hope: “...that music made together may one day heal mankind.” We know that raising our voices in song is only part of the essential work to be done, and that this work must begin in our own hearts, homes, and classrooms. We are committed to elevating the voices of people of color in our workshops and events, highlighting diverse perspectives, and beginning this vital conversation. Our first step is the creation of an NCAKE Equity & Inclusion Committee; if you are interested in joining this committee, please email info@ncake.org.
We hope to support our membership as we explore our own biases, commit to making a change, and work actively to dismantle systems of oppression in our own classrooms, schools, and beyond.
“Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on 'til victory is won”
In solidarity,
NCAKE Board