Houston, TX – Helping Our Youth (HOYna!) is shocked and saddened by the violent deaths of the 33 students and faculty at Virginia Tech, including that of the troubled college student purported to have committed the massacre. HOYna! joins the rest of the country in expressing condolences for those lost in this tragedy and for the families who grieve them, and wishing a speedy recovery for those who were injured.
HOYna! hopes that this tragic event will not result in a backlash against Asian/Pacific Islander American (APIA) students on campuses across the country, nor to any and all Americans of API ancestry. While the gunman was confirmed as Asian, there is no evidence that his race or ethnicity had a direct bearing on his actions. HOYna! emphasizes that this tragedy was the misguided act of a troubled individual and in no way reflects the feelings or position of the APIA ethnic community.
HOYna! Chair, Grace Rodriguez states, “The entire Asian American community is stunned by this tragic event and saddened by the losses and injuries of those at the Virginia Tech campus. Our student members are horrified that such a violent incident could occur on campus, in the trusted environs of an academic institution;
Rodriguez, former Community Liaison for Houston City Council Member Gordon Quan, further stresses, “In the aftermath, we also caution against stigmatizing an entire ethnic community. The Asian American community is all-too familiar with the negative impact of ethnic stigmatizing, and we hope that authorities will assure the future safety of all students and faculty there at Virginia Tech, as well as on all campuses across the country."
Helping Our Youth, now & always (HOYna!) is an Asian/Pacific Islander American (APIA)-founded youth advocacy organization based in the Greater Houston area of Texas. Its mission is to empower youth to express themselves, establish a voice in society, and positively contribute to their communities through fun and exciting arts, cultural, volunteer and civic engagement programs and events. HOYna! fosters greater academic and personal achievement among young people through ongoing skill development workshops, student conferences, and results-oriented leadership opportunities. HOYna! professional, volunteer and student member activities aim to strengthen unity and interaction among all youth, especially among diverse minority and APIA youth, and address and increase awareness of their specific issues, concerns, and needs.
To date, HOYna! has worked with over 4000 youth, mentors, performing artists, and like-minded organizations throughout Texas. HOYna! works tirelessly to ensure that youth voices and participation are welcome and respected as an essential part of the community dialogue. For more information on Helping Our Youth, please contact Grace Rodriguez at grace@hoyna.org or visit the website at http://www.hoyna.org.
