California State Library Awards More than $5 Million in Grants to Ethnic Media Outlets
Funds will be used to raise awareness of services for survivors of hate crimes and incidents
[Sacramento, Calif.] – The State of California has awarded $5,078,055 in grants to 46 ethnic media outlets and organizations serving communities that are historically vulnerable to hate incidents and hate crimes.
A joint venture of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs and the California State Library, the grant program aims to build public awareness of the Stop the Hate Program administered by the California Department of Social Services, which provides support and services to victims and survivors of hate incidents and hate crimes and works to prevent hate crimes or incidents from happening in the first place.
“Crimes targeting victims because of their race or ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender or a disability have no place in the state of California,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “These grants will increase awareness of the valuable services provided by the Stop the Hate Program, reduce stigma surrounding the reporting of hate incidents, and promote community healing.”
“The California Asian American & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (API Caucus) and I pushed for these funds to help strengthen California’s more than 350 ethnic media outlets,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting, D-San Francisco. “We’re looking forward to subsequent grant awards being even more helpful to more ethnic media outlets around the state.”
Funding for this grant program was provided as part of the Asian and Pacific Islander Equity Budget, a three-year investment of $166.5 million to fund critical resources and services in response to the sharp rise in hate incidents and hate crimes.
In addition to the $110 million for programs by the Department of Social Services, the API Equity Budget included $10 million in grants for ethnic media outlets to conduct effective, innovative, and culturally competent outreach and education to Asian, Pacific Islander and other populations impacted by hate crimes and incidents. The State Library will award an additional $5 million in grants to ethnic media outlets in subsequent fiscal years.
“The primary job of government is to ensure public safety, and our Asian American Pacific Islander communities continue to suffer from an unacceptable and distressing increase in hate crimes committed against our family members and neighbors,” said State Senator Dr. Richard Pan, who chairs the API Caucus. “We are thankful for the Governor’s support of these critical public safety investments to combat this rise in crimes against our AAPI communities, and excited for the partnership with media outlets to help stop the hate.”
The grants will fund specialized reporters, fellowships, and internships at ethnic media outlets, news briefings and roundtables, digital and social media content, community gatherings and partnerships with grassroots organizations and Community Based Organizations. Grantees include media outlets and organizations serving California’s Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latino, Black, Native American and LGBTQ+ communities.
