Resources Available For Communities Affected by the Monterey Park Tragedy
The following are official statements and resources released from the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission and our partners in response to the tragic shooting at the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park.
Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission
Early Sunday morning, January 22nd, a series of texts alerted LA vs Hate staff to the horrific shootings of 20 people at a ballroom dance studio in Monterey Park. At that time, we did not know whether it was a hate crime. We did know that the community, majority Asian American, some recent immigrant newcomers, were receiving the news as a hate crime.
By mid-morning that Sunday, LA vs Hate Coordinator Terri Villa-McDowell, had organized a virtual community meeting, reaching out to local community based partner agencies, Federal and State response agencies, County departments, law enforcement and Commission on Human Relations staff. Robin Toma, the Commission’s Executive Director, co-facilitated a meeting the next day, Monday, with the community co-chairs Connie Chung-Joe, CEO of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-So Cal, Manju Kulkarni, Executive Director of AAPI Equity Alliance, and dozens of community and government agency representatives.
That first meeting was to discuss an immediate response: what did victims need; what could the agencies in this virtual meeting offer; how to address potential fraud as various GoFundMe pages were being planned. In the days ahead, LA vs Hate continued to join this community effort daily, then every other day, twice-weekly, and now biweekly meetings of this original group now numbering over 50 participants. Mr. Toma took lead in linking community agencies with the Sheriff’s Department; Mental Health Department; DA’s Victim’s Services, and Immigrant Services to ensure that victims received immediate care. Supervisor Solis’s staff were everywhere, responding to their constituent’s requests for assistance.
Meanwhile, the work of community outreach went to LA vs Hate’s Rapid Response Network Agencies. From the beginning AAPI Equity Alliance and AAAJ-So Cal took lead but other LA vs Hate partners took up various projects: Special Service for Groups (SSG) sent word to the other 13 Network partners to inform them on upcoming community outreach needs; TaskForce, LA vs Hate’s marketing firm, took lead in working with the Alhambra Chamber to promote solidarity messaging and translated several posters into Mandarin and Cantonese. SSG and Network partners attended vigils; healing events; and with TaskForce, sponsored a healing “Wishing Tree” intervention at Alhambra’s Lunar New Year Celebration, held two weeks after the shootings.
Commission staff continue to support the weekly gathering of collaborative partners. Discussions have now shifted to ensuring the 20 victims receive needed services and that witnesses to the shootings receive needed mental health services. Art-based healing interventions are being discussed and TaskForce will be in the lead. Outreach will continue with SSG and LA vs Hate community partners taking the lead in doing informative tabling at events and the collaborative action that responded to these horrific shootings will serve as a model for any future such incidents.
211LA is offering AAPI language services for community members who need assistance. Dial 211 to report acts of hate and be connected to resources and services in various Asian languages.
In support of the victims and those affected, a GoFundMe page has been created by Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Stop AAPI Hate, Asian Pacific Community Fund, The Asian American Foundation, and Chinatown Service Center. We encourage you to donate if possible or share the page with your network.
The AAPI Equity Alliance has issued a list of resources that communities and residents can refer to in response to this tragic event. Updated information will be added to this list as the situation continues developing and we invite you to share this list with anyone who may need it at this time.
The resource guide linked above is also available in other languages and we’ve listed them below.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL), the nation’s largest civil and legal rights organization, is responding to the massacre in Monterey Park, California.
Connie Chung Joe, CEO, AJSOCAL says today, ”Our hearts are shattered by the mass shooting last night in Monterey Park around the Lunar New Year Festival. What should have been a joyous weekend is now a tragic loss of lives at one of the most important and joyous holidays for our community.
We grieve for the unspeakable losses of families of those killed. And we pray for the victims who are injured. To them and all the community members and allies who were at the festival during the bloodshed, we know there is terrible trauma. To all our community members, although we don’t know yet the cause of the shootings, we join you in your grief and pain that this attack has happened in one of our major Asian American neighborhoods, so close to an event that celebrates our community.
As the day unfolds and you don’t know where to turn, please know you can reach someone 24/7 at LA vs Hate by calling 211 and us here at AJSOCAL for help in seven Asian languages.
To the leaders of our nation, despite repeated violence and harm that has been happening to Asian Americans, we are strong and resilient and will once again rise from this. But we implore you to act against gun violence and to keep us and all communities safe from these senseless massacres."
CALL FOR SAFE CONFIDENTIAL HELP IN ASIAN LANGUAGES
ENGLISH: 888.349.9695
普通话/广东话: 800.520.2356
한국어: 800.867.3640
TAGALOG: 855.300.2552
हिन्दी: 855.971.2552
ภาษาไทย: 800.914.9583
TIẾNG VIỆT: 714.477.2958
The Los Angeles County community is in shock and grief after a mass shooting Saturday night left 10 people dead and at least 10 more injured in Monterey Park.
The shooting took place near a Lunar New Year festival where many families gathered to enjoy the holiday festivities. This should have been a time of celebration but has become one of mourning.
Our hearts and thoughts are with the families and communities impacted by this horrific event.
It is important to be aware that incidents of gun violence and loss can affect both children and adults. The Los Angeles County Office of Education has put together the following resources to provide educators and parents support in talking to students about gun violence, their safety and their feelings. There are also resources to support adults who are experiencing emotional distress.
Resources for Schools and Families
School Violence Prevention: Guidelines for Administrators and Crisis Teams
Talking to Children about the Shooting (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Coping in the Aftermath of a Shooting (American Counseling Association)
Trauma and Disaster Mental Health (American Counseling Association)
Managing your distress in the aftermath of a shooting (American Psychological Association)
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers (Resources in multiple languages)
Stay safe,
Debra Duardo, M.S.W., Ed.D.
Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools
