Kaiser to donate $300K to three organizations to combat anti-Asian and Pacific Islander hate

Kaiser Permanente has joined forces with a national nonprofit to donate $300,000 to three organizations as part of a newly established Stop Anti-Asian Hate and Violence Initiative launched this month.

Kaiser and Advancing Justice in Washington, D.C. established the initiative to support strategies aimed at preventing abuse against Asians and Asian Americans —from harmful rhetoric, hostility, and suspicion that they are carriers of COVID-19, to harassment and physical abuse — which have been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The initiative, Kaiser said, supports strategies aimed at preventing further racist acts, providing interventions, and promoting healing.

In Hawaii, the following three organizations will receive $100,000 each to further their work countering hate crimes, hate incidents and discrimination among Pacific Islanders:

>> We Are Oceania, a nonprofit which will create and offer acculturation training for service providers to learn how to better work with Micronesian individuals and families. Funding will also support the Youth Empowerment Services Center offering financial literacy, college prep and internship information.

>> Domestic Violence Action Center, which will conduct community outreach and education to increase awareness of violence against the women and children in the Compacts of Free Association community, which includes the Federated States of Micronesia, The Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau, as well as provide services to survivors.

>> Pacific Resources for Education and Learning will use the funds for research and data collection. The organization will survey the local Micronesian/Marshallese communities to determine education, health, and employment needs that can guide near and long-term policy work.

The three are among 33 selected nationwide that are working in communities that Kaiser Permanente serves.

“As a health care organization, we understand that it’s virtually impossible for people to achieve emotional or physical well-being when subjected to violence, racism, and other forms of discrimination,” said Dr. John Yang, president and medical director, Hawaii Permanente Medical Group, in a news release. “After witnessing the unacceptable increase in assaults, harassment, and hate crimes directed at people of Asian descent on the mainland and elsewhere, we’re grateful to partner with three local organizations working to uplift and support our inclusive communities.”