Who We Are
The Asian Canadian Educators Network's mission is to fight against racism, and serve as the voice for advocacy on educational issues and concerns related to Asian Canadians.
Addressing Asian Hate:
Response to the Atlanta Shootings
We have added a page on our website dedicated to reflections and responses to the shootings.
Addressing Asian Hate: Responding to the Atlanta Shootings
ACENet, March 19, 2021
The tragic loss of precious Asian lives in Atlanta, USA was an act of Asian hate. The Asian Canadian Educators Network (ACENet) mourns with the victims’ families, the senseless murders of eight innocent lives, of which most were Asian women. Asian hate cannot be tolerated and must be combatted.
Though we are torn by the hurt and loss of these murdered victims, we are now even more committed to combat anti-Asian racism. Many Asian Canadians are suffering with grief and sorrow as well as living in fear. Together, we are calling on all Canadians to speak up, speak out and to #StopAsianHate.
These victims were killed because of racism. We pay tribute and honour them by listing their names:
Daoyou Feng: 44-year-old
Hyun Jung Grant, 51-year-old
Suncha Kim, 69-year-old
Soon Chung Park, 74-year-old
Xiaojie Tan, 49-year-old
Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33-year-old
Yong Ae Yue, 63-year-old
Paul Andre Michels, 54-year-old
Elcias R. Hernández-Ortiz, 30, injured
This act of Asian hate can traumatize Asian students, educators and families. We encourage individuals who are experiencing trauma due to these events, to seek support from organizations below:
Hong Fook | WoodGreen | Kids Help Phone | CAMH
Rallying in Solidarity
The month of March has seen an increase in horrific acts of violence against the Asian and Pacific Islanders communities. In response, organisations and communities across North America have come together to rally in solidarity against Asian racism. Rallies occurred in cities across Canada: Winnipeg, Calgary, Toronto, Coquitlam, Victoria, and Vancouver.
ACENet is proud to have joined Toronto's rally.
A Step In The Right Direction!
We are proud to say that ACENet's President, Kien Luu, and Curriculum and Teaching Chair, Melvin Lowe, were writers involved in creating the ETFO & TDSB Anti-Asian resource! Our Member-at-Large, Gen Ling Chang, had the honour of launching the resource during an online event on February 9, 2021.
The creation of this resource shows a shift in the recognization of and willingness to address anti-Asian racism in the education system in Ontario. This is a huge step in the right direction. We hope this resource will equip and support TDSB educators with the information required to teach anti-Asian racism. ACENet will provide workshops and webinars to help educators unpack the ETFO & TDSB resource.
"Anti-Asian racism and discrimination is not a new phenomenon. It has deep social, political and institutional roots in Canada’s history. The outbreak of COVID-19 has seen an increase in racist violence towards Asians and people of Asian descent and has affected the health, well-being and safety of educators, students, families and communities in which we serve. It is a timely and necessary event to raise awareness, confront and push for action in addressing issues of discrimination that Asian communities and people of Asian descent living in Ontario.
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) have collaborated to develop a resource entitled, Addressing Anti-Asian Racism: A Resource for Educators. With a focus on utilizing an equity and anti-oppressive framework, this resource supports members in deepening their own knowledge, re-designing curriculum, shifting classroom conditions and creating school spaces to address anti-Asian racism during COVID-19 and beyond.
Multi-faceted in its content, the resource provides learnings on historical and current manifestations of discrimination specifically and uniquely experienced by Asian communities, centres Black lives and Indigenous voices in the fight against racism and takes up an intersectional approach in recognizing the diversity and complexity of identities."
- The Elementary Teacher's Federation of Ontario:
Building a Just Society
Click the picture or use the following link to access the resource: https://www.etfo.ca/BuildingAJustSociety/EquityResources/Pages/Anti-AsianRacism.aspx
The Model Minority Myth
The Model Minority Myth is one of the most pervasive forms of racism that erases differences among individuals, perpetuates stereotypes, and is often used as a wedge to divide races. Cathy Park Hong, author of "Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning," touches on the concept of Model Minority and its effects.
This video is an excerpt from the Yale University's Benjamin and Barbara Lecture Series featuring Cathy Park Hong and Maurice Samuels, October 7, 2020: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f96pIOPOSsw.
