Asian Family Support Services of Austin

For?#NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, we’re resharing this post we made on the Indigenous history of colonization and resistance in Central TX. The history of colonization, assimilation, displacement and genocide are essential to understanding the violence experienced by Indigenous communities. Indigenous communities may find it hard to seek out support because they want to protect their community and fear furthering present racism, shame and blame brought about by colonization. Reclaiming traditional values and reflecting on relationships with all things is crucial to the work in ending violence against Indigenous people. The safety, joy and autonomy for Indigenous communities requires “the full restoration of Tribal sovereignty, reclamation of Indigenous belief systems, and fully funded resources for health care, housing, justice, and other rightful, basic necessities.” -National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center Swipe to read a few aspects of Indigenous history in Austin and Central TX ?? we hope you keep this in mind as you go into this next week! ?? Action items/reflection questions: — Can I set aside money each month for a recurring donation to an Indigenous organization? — What is the Indigenous history of the land I occupy? Can I find any Indigenous place names for locations or landmarks in my area? — What are the names of some prominent Indigenous people who currently live in my community? — What Native-led organizations and nonprofits operate in my area? — Are there Native-led demonstrations happening near me to protest Treaty Rights violations or projects threatening Native lands and lifeways? @strongheartsdv StrongHearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) is a safe, anonymous, and confidential domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives. ?? Resources: @redsalmonarts Alma de Mujer Center for Social Change @indigenouscultures @niwrc #Indigenous #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #NativeAmerican #Colonization?

Ahead of holiday season coming up next week, we wanted to reshare this short guide we made on navigating boundaries for anyone going home ?? Does setting boundaries make us selfish or bad children, partners or friends? What do we do when we are met with unwanted questions about relationships, career, our bodies, or when we question even coming home at all? The holidays can a hard time for some of us to gather with family or loved ones, especially if you’re a child of immigrant parents. Setting boundaries may clash with the stories of sacrifice you’ve heard and witnessed from your family. You might face expectations to fulfill others’ desires of what your life should look like, whether it’s your job, academic success, appearance, interests, or who you decide to share your life with. You may grapple with feelings of guilt and discomfort when wanting to advocate for what's best for your own wellbeing, needs and autonomy. It’s hard, intentional work to reflect on the harmful behaviors and patterns that we’ve seen passed down in our family. We will inevitably make mistakes and react in ways we aren’t proud of. We may feel lonely and discouraged in doing this work. That’s okay! You deserve grace, self compassion and tenderness in your learning. Your feelings are valid and it’s important to remind yourself that it’s not your job to fix an unhealthy dynamic but instead to take ownership of what healing looks like for yourself. We're sending love and empowerment to all our cycle breakers out there! ?? #Boundaries?#Holidays?#MentalHealth?#HealthyRelationships?#Relationships?#BoundarySetting

On Nov. 20, Transgender Day of Remembrance, we remember all the beautiful lives we have lost due to anti-transgender violence and hatred. Anti-transgender violence disproportionately impacts transgender women of color, particularly Black transgender women. We know that transphobia at the intersections of racism, sexism, sex worker and healthcare discrimination, bans on gender-affirming care, gun violence, poverty, disparate policing and incarceration has taken way too many lives. We want to honor and celebrate their lives, as we continue to work towards breaking cycles of violence and fighting for transgender liberation. We are leaning deeply on community care more than ever and honor this commitment to keeping each other safe. We hope you hold yourself with care and tenderness as we do this important work to show up for one another. If you or anyone you know needs support, AFSSA is here to support ALL survivors. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. 877-281-8371. Free, 24/7, available in any language. We have included a list of hotline numbers, clinics and community spaces to lean on as resources - please add any others in the comments! #TransgenderDayOfRemembrance #Trans #TransRights #TransEquality?

How do I establish boundaries in an Asian-American household? Simplified Chinese Translation ?? This original post was in collaboration with @asiansforsexpositivity who we are so grateful to have worked with on this! 边界不仅有助于与他人建立健康的关系，还增强了自爱和自尊的力量. 我们与 @asiansforsexpositivity 合作讨论如何在亚裔美国家庭中建立 边界。 尽 管 亚洲文化强调顺从和友好，但这并不总是能够带来与父母间的健康关. 在所有关系中，学习如何设定边界、建立关于自主性的健康沟通方式是非常重要的实践. Keep an eye out for more translated posts and please share with anyone you know! Language justice is survivor justice.

Our next Deshi Voices meeting is THIS Wednesday - FREE SNACKS will be provided ?? This month's discussion will center differences and similarities in the experiences of first-generation and second-generation Bangladeshis in the US. Thank you so much to?@abetterforce?for collaborating with us in creating discussion guides. We are so grateful to continue expanding on the meaningful conversations we’ve been able to have on what it means to be Bangladeshi in America and how restrictive gender roles have contributed to violence within our communities ???? These conversations are where change happens and ripples out in the communities we are a part of and care about. Hope to see you there! Please RSVP at the link in the graphic ?? When: Nov 20th @ 6:30-8:00 pm Where: University Hills Branch, Austin Public Library: 4721 Loyola Ln, Austin, TX 78723

??Food is how we care for each other?? We are sharing quotes from a recent read, Nourishing Resistance: Stories of Food, Protest, and Mutual Aid. “Food can be a holder of particularly impactful experiences - times and places in which we’ve loved and lost so much thereby re(affirming) our dedication to mending the world.” — Cindy Barukh Milstein How does food connect you to resistance, care, and community? #Food #CommunityCare #Resistance?

Last set of glam and joy from Silk Road! ?? Thank you so much everyone for showing up for us and our mission of serving Asian and immigrant survivors. We do this by being in community and sharing why we do this work to collectively break cycles of violence. Thank you to our amazing staff for making this event possible and to all our community members, volunteers and donors for coming out to support and celebrate the work we do every day. Thank you to our wonderful performers, Nagavalli and Jenn! A special thanks to our 2024 Silk Road Gala Host Committee: Lila & David Brolsma, Co-Chairs Anita & Dr. Thiru Lakshman, Co-Chairs Vandana & Harish Agarawal · Tosha Chang · Ronald Cheng · Sandy Eapen · Samira & Joydeep Ghosh · Hon. Sean Hassan · Lily Huang · Lesley Varghese & Dr. Harry Thomas · Marshall Thompson · Helen & John Wormington Thank you to Tri D Photography for the wonderful photos ?? #SilkRoad #Gala #Survivor #AAPI

Barriers for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Survivors in Spanish??? Todos merecen tener acceso a la ayuda y a los recursos que necesiten. Sin embargo, las barreras lingüísticas hacen más difíciles para los sobrevivientes con dominio limitado del inglés (LEP), sordos, sordociegos, y dificultades auditivas para que reciban apoyo. Aquí en AFSSA nos preocupamos no solo por reducir las barreras lingüísticas a través del trabajo de prevención y divulgación, sino también empoderar a los sobrevivientes como expertos en sus propias vidas, y al final, asegurarnos de que se sientan comprendidos e informados sobre sus opciones y derechos. Nuestra línea directa las 24 horas es gratuita, confidencial y disponible en todos los idiomas, así que no dude en comunicarse con nosotros. The SAFE Alliance exists to stop abuse for everyone by serving the survivors of child abuse, sexual assault and exploitation, and domestic violence. -24-hour SAFEline: 512-267-7233 -Textline: 737-888-7233 Hope Alliance assists those whose lives have been affected by family and sexual violence by providing safety and services -24-hour HOPEline: 1-800-460-7233 Texas RioGrande Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to residents in 68 Southwest Texas counties -833-329-8752 #LEP #Survivor #Accessibility

A little bit of joy and glam to start the week ?? Thank you so much everyone for showing up for us and our mission of serving Asian and immigrant survivors. We do this by being in community and sharing why we do this work to collectively break cycles of violence. Thank you to our amazing staff for making this event possible and to all our community members, volunteers and donors for coming out to support and celebrate the work we do every day. Congrats once again to: Joy Authur and Dr. Saima Jehangir, our Lotus Award winners Mona Kafeel, Volunteer of the Year Thank you to our wonderful emcee, Cindy Lo! A special thanks to our 2024 Silk Road Gala Host Committee: Lila & David Brolsma, Co-Chairs Anita & Dr. Thiru Lakshman, Co-Chairs Vandana & Harish Agarawal · Tosha Chang · Ronald Cheng · Sandy Eapen · Samira & Joydeep Ghosh · Hon. Sean Hassan · Lily Huang · Lesley Varghese & Dr. Harry Thomas · Marshall Thompson · Helen & John Wormington We couldn't do this without you. As bell hooks said, “Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.” ?? Thank you to Tri D Photography for the wonderful photos ?? more photos to come! #SilkRoad?#Gala?#Survivor?#AAPI

“Seeing my parents grow up in a world that didn’t love them makes me want to create a world that would love them back, and love me too.” Our digital outreach advocate spoke at our Silk Road Gala sharing what brings her to the movement. “When my mom was growing up in Nanjing, her mom would give the best pieces of pork belly to her brother…My dad says, ‘My brother was always the handsome one’ and I watch him leave the dinner table before I can see him cry. And when I cry, my dad asks me to walk away so he doesn’t have to see my face. This is what brings me to this movement.” Thank you everyone once again for showing up for Asian survivors of violence and abuse at Silk Road and every single day. This work is important, needed and life-giving and we all come into the anti-violence movement with our own guiding lights. “Whatever brings you to this movement, your mom, your dad, your grandparents, your sibling, your partner, your friend, yourself, whatever is your guiding light, the hearth of the home you build, I want you to hold them close tonight. That we survive by loving each other harder than the world could tell us we didn’t belong.” What brings you to this movement? ?? #Survivor #DomesticViolence #SexualAssault #AAPI?