Adding to the Curriculum: "... Asian Pacific American history has been poorly represented or excluded from our K-12 education system ... and it's time for that to change...".

• Author: Mintz, Amy
• Position: EDUCATION

FEAR AND ANXIETY around the coronavirus outbreak have provoked a backlash against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, with one-third of Asian Americans indicating they fear for their safety. Since the pandemic began, there has been a significant increase in anti-Asian discrimination and hate crimes--68% of the latter have been against females.

In response, eGirl Power, a nonprofit organization, has launched an AAPI Initiative to "educate, empower, and elevate" females and unite efforts with the broader community to #StopAsianHate. As part of the initiative, girls learn about AAPI history, the many cultures that collectively comprise AAPI, and female role models who have contributed to our country. These girls also have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and share personal experiences and stories to empower one another.

They also receive mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for leadership development, career exploration, and self-empowerment. eGirl Power believes the best way to fight discrimination is through education because at the core of Asian hate and all forms of racism is ignorance.

The organization has launched a letter writing campaign to support and promote efforts to teach AAPI history in schools, allowing individuals and organizations to express why they think this is essential to combat anti-Asian discrimination.

Students at all levels--elementary school, junior high and high school, college--are encouraged to participate. Adults are invited to help with this initiative as well, with opportunities for corporate volunteering for groups of employees to attend Town Hall meetings to learn more about how the nonprofit organization empowers AAPI girls to lead in this task and then partake in the letter writing campaign.

The letters are being sent to Rep. Grace Meng (D.-N.Y.)-who had her COVID-19 Hate Crimes Bill signed into law by Pres. Joe Biden--to support her efforts to introduce legislation to teach AAPI history in schools. "For generations," she says, "Asian Pacific American history has been poorly represented or excluded from our K-12 education system ... and it's time for that to change as we work to combat the current rise in anti-Asian attacks related to COVID-19."

The letter writing campaign came about when Michelle, a middle school student who entered eighth grade this fall, started a petition in response to a hate incident that occurred at her school in which a student was spit...