TO: Campus Community
FR: Jerlena Griffin-Desta, Ph.D., Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Dear Campus Community:
Sunday, January 22, 2023 marked the official beginning of Lunar New Year, Year of the Rabbit and the Cat, one of the most celebrated holidays across all of Asia. The night before, a gunman entered the Star Ballroom Dance Studio in Monterey Park and senselessly killed 11 people, and injured numerous others.
Traumatic events like this can affect us in different ways and at different times. That’s why the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, along with the Asian Pacific Islander American Faculty and Staff Association, are inviting members of the community to come together to share, listen, console, and support one another. Please join the conversation during one or both of these discussions:
A Zoom gathering will occur on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, 6:00 p.m. Link: https://SonomaState.zoom.us/j/81102066419
An in-person gathering will occur on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, 12:00 p.m. at the HUB, Student Center. Light refreshments will be available.
Interim President Mike Lee will provide additional comments about this incident in our monthly NomaNews publication, which will be released tomorrow, January 24. These discussions are opportunities to share your experiences and deeply listen to how such incidents impact members of our community. I also want to remind you of the support offered to students by Counseling and Psychological Services at (707)-664-2153 or by emailing caps@sonoma.edu. For faculty and staff, support is available through our Employee Assistance Program, LifeMatters by Empathia.