We would like to extend our condolences to the victims, survivors’ families and impacted community members of the mass shootings that struck California this past week. Within 44 hours in Monterey Park, Half Moon Bay, and Oakland, three shooting incidents claimed innocent lives.
We are mortified by these incidents and the pervasiveness of gun violence in our neighborhoods, state and nation. These atrocities not only inflict distrust and inconsolable pain, and we recognize that among immigrants and communities of color where there have been other traumas, those most vulnerable are disproportionately impacted during these moments.
We know well that these types of shocking events can lead to post-traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and grief in victims, bystanders, family members and within communities near and far.
Over the past week, the individual and collective efforts of our statewide workforce, most especially our Asian Pacific Family Center, are swiftly responding to the immediate needs of our schools, local businesses, and other service providers impacted in Monterey Park, Alhambra, and the surrounding communities.
We reaffirm our commitment to providing culturally respectful trauma-informed care to those grieving and affected, as well as supporting our employees through this devastating period. Part of these efforts include community-led dialogues around combatting stigmas related to mental illness, holding safe spaces to hold dialogues, and advancing community-defined approaches to holistic healing for our clients and employees.
Whether celebrating the Lunar New Year, working alongside fellow farmworkers or watching the production of a music video, everyone deserves to be safe and free from gun violence.
