In response to the recent surge in AAPI-focused news coverage and anti-Asian hate crimes, VACCEB is actively educating and conducting outreach to our senior community members. Like many other social service organizations that serve a large Asian demographic, community consolidation occupies the forefront of our minds. Our elders’ response to racism directed at them has been heavily shaped by their assimilation narrative. This is particularly true for the East and Southeast Asians that VACCEB serves, who oftentimes view anti-Asian hate as an aberration and neglect the imperative to join in solidarity. 

We are taking every opportunity to underscore the importance of linking arms and fighting fragmentation. VACCEB strives to educate our seniors through multilingual flyers, where we raise awareness in the Asian community on their legal rights, remedies for hate crimes, prevention tips, and supporting resources. VACCEB’s goal is to reach out to 2,500 clients regularly with education and outreach information by distributing flyers and safety kits via our Mobile Meal Program (MMP), which serves 3,500+ low-income minorities on a bi-monthly basis.

As an organization that serves ethnically and racially diverse populations including Southeast and East Asian, Latino, and Habesha (Northeast African) groups, the Vietnamese American Community Center of the East Bay is committed to building a supportive, safe, and inclusive space. It is in our purview to ensure that those we serve are informed on current events and have opportunities to involve themselves in social developments and activism, especially during today’s prevailing anti-Asian sentiment and targeted violence.