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Yesterday, we learned the jury found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all charges – second degree murder, third degree murder, and second degree manslaughter, for the death of George Floyd. He faces up to 40 years in prison, and we eagerly await what his sentence will actually be. Will it be the…
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忍 the character commonly translated to mean “to persevere”. But it also means to endure, tolerate, and conceal. It is considered a virtue in Chinese & Japanese cultures. 忍者 – a person who perseveres – also means ninja. I am angry. I don’t get angry very often. In fact, I almost never get angry because…
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Anti-Asian violence and discrimination has been on the rise throughout the pandemic; and we must all stand up and speak up against it. These incidents are antithetical to the values we continue to claim we hold as a country. Tuesday’s senseless murders of eight individuals are only the most recent tragedy amongst too many. Feelings…
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This is usually a time of celebrations for many of our Asian American friends, as many get ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year on February 12th, welcoming the year of the Ox. Unfortunately, there has been a chain of recent attacks on Asian Americans, and specifically elderly Asian Americans, across the country. These attacks…
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It has been a heavy four years for many in our community, and sometimes we don’t feel the full weight of something until it is released. I hope you feel a tad lighter in the recent days – not because our work is done, but because we know the work we are doing will be…
Read MoreMeet VISIONS new Innovations Manager, Lawrence Alexander
Currently, I am the Innovations Manager at VISIONS, working to amplify the historic work that VISIONS has done by finding more compelling methods to communicate the VISIONS model and to engage newer audiences. I am also a lead search consultant at Carney Sandoe. Previously, I worked in education for 15 years, in higher education and…
Read MoreOn yesterday’s events in Washington, DC
While yesterday’s events at our nation’s capital were upsetting and heartbreaking, I also feel more motivated than ever to advance the vital work we tackle each day. As Dr. Val states “we [at VISIONS] work to develop on-going relationships over time to address the structures that create lack of equitable contact in concert with creating…
Read MoreFrom Elika’s Desk: 2020 in Review
Dear VISIONaries, 2020 was a challenging year, and left me humbled on several occasions. In March, the uncertainty of the global shutdown was stressful, and initially, we were not sure what it would mean and how it would impact this organization. I wondered how creative we had to be to maintain our fiscal health, how…
Read MorePost election message from Elika
VISIONS wishes to congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the projected winners of the 2020 Presidential Election, with more people in the US than ever voting at this election than ever before. We also recognize the significance of Kamala Harris as VP Elect, who will become the first Black woman and the first Asian…
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Author: Valerie Batts, Ph.D. In this newly revised article, Dr. Valerie Batts offers personal reflections on and responses to the social history of oppression and racially-motivated violence in the United States. “Is Reconciliation Possible” examines, both in the U.S. and South Africa, the concept of covert and systemic “modern racism” and outlines a model for combating…
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