Hello & Welcome to the Imagine Belonging at Work Podcast brought to you by Rhodes Perry Consulting…I’m your host, Rhodes Perry.

Since the start of the Pandemic, anti-Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate has surged at an unprecedented rate in the U.S.

The previous Presidential Administration's racist and divisive language linked COVID-19 to AAPI communities, further exacerbating this surge.

DEI leaders like us play a critical role in raising awareness and taking workplace specific actions to support our AAPI colleagues. Yet, 3 years into the pandemic, far too many workplaces still remain silent.

Today, we will explore meaningful actions that we can take using our relative power privilege, along with actions our peers can take, to support our AAPI colleagues.

As you listen to this episode, I invite you to take a look back over the past 12 months and ask yourselves the following questions:

• What can I do to learn more about anti-AAPI hate, bias, and discrimination – particularly with how it shows up at work?

• How can I unlearn misconceptions and biases I may have about AAPI people and communities?

• "How can I support AAPI communities near me? Donations? Pro bono work? Attending community events?...in other words, what’s available to me?

• And lastly, "What will I do if I witness an act of hate, bias, or discrimination in my workplace, my community, or my family?

Seeking answers to these questions is an action you are uniquely situated to take – you are uniquely positioned to take this action even if it feels clumsy, imperfect, or incomplete. As you work to answer these questions, engaging in trusted conversations with those you have proximity to are perhaps some of the best ways to show up and support AAPI people right now.

To build up your knowledge, skills, and confidence, I am honored to share this conversation the Belonging Membership Community had with Lillian Tsai last May. If you’re not familiar with Lillian’s work, here’s a bit about her impressive background:

Lillian was born and raised in Malaysian Borneo to a former Davis Cup tennis player and a superintendent of Chinese schools. She is an award-winning consultant, facilitator, trainer, coach, and keynote speaker on cross-cultural fluency, intercultural communications, and diversity, equity and inclusion. She works with C level executives, DEI committees, conducts organizational assessments, team interventions, and specializes in coaching women, people of color, and leaders of diverse teams. Prior to starting her own company, TsaiComms LLC, in 2002, she spent 25 years in global high-tech marketing and communications which culminated in an expatriate assignment in Germany.

As some of you know, Lillian is a friend of our Belonging Membership Community and is a seasoned DEI thought leader.

Savor this insightful talk, and if you’re looking for ways to connect with inspiring leaders like Lillian, be sure to join the Belonging Membership Community – a community of leaders committed to advancing their DEI goals while practicing community care. Members have the unique opportunity to engage with our guests 1:1 after our podcast recordings where they can participate in a private Q&A session with our guest.

To learn more about the Belonging Membership Community, please visit: www.belongingmembershipcommunity.com

Everyday actions offered to the Belonging at Work Community:

1. Inform yourself about what anti-AAPI hatred is & why it is occurring.

2. Share safety tips to support your AAPI colleagues.

3. Issue a workplace statement denouncing anti-AAPI racism.

4. Support AAPI-owned businesses through supplier diversity efforts.

5. Donate to help respond to the surge in AAPI racism & xenophobia

Now, let’s jump into the conversation!