To the AAPI-identified members of our UMBC community

The Office of Health Promotion (OHP) mourns the victims of the horrific shootings in Atlanta on March 16. These attacks are just the latest among a nationwide rise in violence, discrimination, and xenophobia directed towards members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community this past year. During a time of uncertainty, we know that these events can cause additional fear and anxiety in members of our UMBC community. 

Here at UMBC, we welcome people from all backgrounds. Specifically, the OHP’s team, which includes our professional and student staff, is firmly committed to promoting the safety and well-being of all students, regardless of their cultural background, race, or ethnicity. As we continue to reflect on this past year and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, remember that the words we use and the actions we take matter. Let’s continue to strive to create an inclusive campus that not only acknowledges and condemns violence, but also the discrimination and stereotyping that have negatively impacted communities throughout the country. Everyone deserves to feel safe in their home, community, and country.

To the AAPI-identified members of our UMBC community, the OHP staff stands in solidarity with you during this time, and always. We are listening. We value you. We support you.

If you would like to process this past week’s events, or any other experiences, with a professional, please contact the Counseling Center at 410-455-2472 between 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to make a virtual appointment. If you need support after hours, please call 410-455-3230. 

If you are in need of additional inclusion resources, we encourage you to contact the following UMBC offices:

• Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging (i3b)

i3b@umbc.edu

• Office of Equity and Inclusion

oei@umbc.edu

• Women’s Center

womenscenter@umbc.edu 

If you would like to take action, check out this list of action items and resources gathered by UMBC’s Asian & Asian American Faculty & Staff Council.