May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Month. This May, Balanced You celebrates the significant contributions the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities have made in our region. We encourage all employees to learn more about the rich cultural heritage within the AAPI community.
With a dramatic rise in anti-Asian hate crimes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize the undue stress that has been placed on AAPI communities. Balanced You stands in solidarity with all AAPI people and recognizes the resiliency and strength that lies within community. In the event that you are seeking additional support, we want to extend collective care and well-being resources to those who may need them. Below is a list of events as well as mental health and community care resources.
Spaces for community, connection, and celebration
Celebration and connection are an essential part of well-being. We would like to acknowledge the API affinity group for providing a space of shared connection and community building for King County employees. Below is the full list of virtual events the API Affinity group will be hosting. For more information on Affinity Groups, visit King County Affinity Groups.
Hawai’i: More than your vacation destination
- Thursday, May 20, 2021
- 11:30 AM-12:30 PM
Join us to learn more about the history of Hawai’i, its people, and why it’s not all sunshine and rainbows in the 50th State. Most of Hawaiian history is passed down orally through stories and Native Hawaiians typically refer to this as “Talk Story”. This session will be an opportunity for us to talk story about Hawai’i through the eyes and hearts of two Native Hawaiians. We hope to open your minds to the place that our Native Hawaiians call home, despite many of them living the mainland for most of their lives. We’ll dive into the history of Hawai’i as well as some of the different perspectives Native Hawaiians have compared to visitors of the islands.
For more information, please send the API Leadership an email!
API Leaders: Past, Present, and Future
- Friday, May 21, 2021
- 1 – 1:30 PM
Watch this on KCTV Livestream. The Legislative Branch will send out a YouTube or Vimeo link after the airing.
API and Latinx Lunch & Learn
- Monday, May 24, 2021
- 12-1 PM
For more information, please send the API Leadership an email!
The Stories of US: Asian and Asian American Voices
- Tuesday, May 25, 2021
- 11:30 AM-1 PM
Even though the Asian continent is made up of 48 countries, we only refer to a few as being “Asian” in the US. With so much diversity in geography, cultures, history, physical traits, food, language, and spirituality, we can’t be defined as a monolithic group of Eastern people or persons. During this event, we will celebrate our individual stories and selves while coming together as a community. Join us as we discuss our stories as Asian and Asian Americans – the Stories of US!
For more information, please send the API Leadership an email!
Cooking Show and Discussion
- Thursday, May 27, 2021
- 12:30-1:30 PM
For more information, please send the API Leadership an email!
Self-care and Collective Care tips and resources
Self-care is the act of attending to one’s own needs. Collective-care, or community-care, is the act of supporting others in meeting their needs and asking others to support you in meeting yours, building upon the notion that together we are stronger than we are apart. Both are important aspects of reducing stress and increasing resiliency.
Examples of self- and collective-care include:
- Reaching out to friends and/or family
- Ensuring you are nourished, hydrated, and rested
- Attending virtual church, mosque, or temple
- Practicing spirituality
- Meditating alone or with an online group
- Speaking with your current mental health providers
- Engaging in physical activity
- Dancing or singing
- Setting boundaries and taking alone time
- Making space for any act that relieves your stress and improves your resiliency
Mental Health resources for AAPI Community
- Mental Health America: Background Information
- Asian Mental Health Project
- National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
- Asian, Pacific Islander, and South Asian American (APISAA) Therapist Directory
- South Asian Mental Health Initiative Network
- South Asian Therapists
- Asian Counseling and Referral Service: Hope and opportunity in over 40 languages and dialects
Questions? Contact BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov