Marin middle schoolers will see more support this year on how to be inclusive and compassionate toward fellow classmates — particularly those of Asian or Pacific Islander descent.
The 30-member teen board of Beyond Differences, a San Rafael-based nonprofit, is reaching out to Marin middle schools as part of a new program called “Stand up for AAPI Youth During Covid.”
The program, launched last week, aims to offset slurs and bigotry against Asian Americans, who are being stigmatized and blamed for the coronavirus pandemic.
“The stereotypes are used to pit people against each other,” said Beyond Differences teen board member Chiqui Diaz of San Rafael High School. “It takes away from the problem of systemic racism overall.”
Teen board member Alex Paloglou, a senior at San Rafael High School, said the work of Beyond Differences can make a cultural shift, especially because it starts with students in middle school.
“I think it is super important to learn about other cultures, religion and identity because it helps individuals connect on a deeper level, which inherently builds empathy for one another,” Paloglou said. “Especially in today’s climate where there is a lot of hate, it is very important to be empathetic and understanding of other people’s backgrounds.”
Beyond Differences founder Laura Talmus said the “Stand Up” program adds new lesson plans focused on AAPI youth to the nonprofit’s core curriculum, Know Your Classmates. The curriculum, which is free to schools, is used in Marin and in 6,000 schools across the nation, according to Beyond Differences spokesperson Barbara Zamost.
Marin middle school teachers are invited to incorporate the new lesson plans, Talmus said. They can also participate in the annual “Know Your Classmates Day” on Oct. 23.
“Instead of marginalizing another group of students who feel disempowered or that they do not belong, our strategy is to go positive and lift up all students to become leaders and to spread awareness and complete acceptance and inclusion,” Talmus said.
Marin schools have less than 10% of students of Asian descent, according to Zamost. But Talmus said the lessons of inclusiveness and compassion can work for all children — particularly in middle school, when students are anxious about where they fit in with others.
“Kids need to feel respect for who they are,” Talmus said. “When we see injustice against one population, we speak out even louder.”
The teen board members, who previously used to visit schools to talk to students — before the pandemic kept everyone home — hope they can find other ways to ease social isolation of the Asian American students.
“It is important to stand up for AAPI classmates because many people are putting the blame on Asian Americans and pushing hate onto them,” Paloglou said. “This is not OK and something that is not tolerable.”
Diaz was one of the teen board members who helped write the two new lesson plans about Asian American and Pacific Islander youth. She said bigotry was rampant at her school before the pandemic — although it was mostly against Black, Latino or ethnic groups other than Asian Americans.
The pandemic may have changed those targets, but not the hate, she said.
“Before the pandemic, there were a lot of incidents at school — slurs, the “n” word, and friends experiencing microaggressions and racism,” she said.
Beyond Differences, which has organized numerous public programs in Marin since its founding more than 10 years ago, is partnering with Community Youth Center of San Francisco in the “Stand Up for AAPI Youth” campaign.
Mary Jane Burke, Marin County superintendent of schools, said she is encouraging all Marin schools to participate.
“Marin County is so fortunate to be the home of this amazing organization that is empowering youth leaders globally,” Burke said. “Through their ‘Know Your Classmates,’ ‘No One Eats Alone’ and ‘Be Kind Online’ programs, student leaders teach their younger peers about the importance of inclusion, kindness, empathy and standing up for one another. ”
More information is online at beyonddifferences.org.
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Marin nonprofit joins fight against Asian American bigotry - Marin Independent Journal
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