Stop AAPI Hate

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The Maryland Art Education Association, as a part of the National Art Education Association, condemns the recent hate, violence, and anti-Asian sentiments. We concur with the National Art Education Association Asian Art and Culture Interest Group’s statement shared below:

The National Art Education Association (NAEA) Asian Art and Culture Interest Group (AACIG) conveys our deepest condolences to the families and communities of the victims of the Atlanta-area spa shootings that took place on March 16, 2021. We also firmly stand with those who have been harmed by recent anti-Asian violence and crimes, such as a 91-year-old Asian man being shoved to the ground in Oakland, California, and an 84-year-old Thai immigrant killed during his morning walk in San Francisco. According to a Stop AAPI Hate national report, Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders were targeted in nearly 3,800 hate crimes in the past year due to the COVID-19 global crisis. Therefore, AACIG condemns any verbal and physical assaults and online harassments against Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities. We also denounce any kinds of violence, discrimination, and stereotypes related to racism, xenophobia, nativism, and misogyny in our educational systems and society. AACIG calls on all NAEA members to actively resist ill-informed and biased perspectives about Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders. AACIG further urges all NAEA members and our arts education communities to continue to uphold our organizational values of equity, diversity, and inclusion in their curricula and schools during this difficult and challenging moment in our history.

The page links to many excellent resources.

Again, we must be better and do more. The Maryland Art Education Association remains committed - in words and in action - to promote social justice in arts education throughout Maryland.

We will continue our work, strengthening our Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion (ED&I) focus on Thursday, April 1 at 4:30-6:30 p.m. at our meeting for all MAEA members. Please contact us through mdarted@gmail.com to receive login information for the online meeting.

Thank you for the work you do.