<article class="content"> <p>Hello Neighbors,</p><p>We are in living in a time when tragedy hits often but that doesn&#8217;t lessen the anger and sadness each time precious lives are lost due to gun violence, racism, bigotry, xenophobia and hatred.</p><p>I’ve seen many messages of fear and rage, solidarity and pain about the shootings in Atlanta last week. The violence and fear that’s on the rise against Asian Americans is terrifying, and the effects are far reaching.</p><p>I’ve reached out to members of our community who are Asian or Asian Americans to show our respect and support, and yet I know this is not enough. We continue to keep our line of communication open to anyone in our community who has been impacted by this event or by other acts of bias, discrimination, racial profiling and harassment.</p><p>Hello Neighbor will be turning four at the end of April. Four years of living and building my vision to create a more welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant community for our newest neighbors. Last week&#8217;s hateful, senseless violence is antithesis to this vision. It also serves as an impactful reminder that <strong>it has never been more vital to protect and support the AAPI community and all discriminated people in this country.</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/21/demonstrators-rally-across-the-us-against-violence-targeting-asian-americans-.html">With rallies happening across the country</a>, I know there are many difficult conversations happening where parents are deciding how to talk to their children about what is going on. Part of being in the Hello Neighbor community is upstanding. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-race-the-talk/with-anti-asian-hate-in-u-s-rising-parents-grapple-over-whether-to-talk-to-their-children-idUSKBN2BI1BS">In this Reuters article</a>, Dr. Michi Fu, a Los Angeles-based psychologist and professor, said it is natural for parents to try to hold off discussing difficult topics “because they feel like they don’t have the right tools or they feel like they have to say something perfect.” She goes on to say, “If our caregivers can just role model by speaking up, that can send a very clear message.”</p><p>I don&#8217;t often put out an ask to our community, but this month I am going to. Please speak up. <strong>Speak up when you see injustice, speak up to teach your children and the children in your life to show them how to speak up.</strong> This is important and it&#8217;s too important to let it go, push it aside, say it&#8217;s an isolated incident or it&#8217;s not your place.</p><p>We continue to do everything we can. The Hello Neighbor team of staff, interpreters, volunteers, mentors and so many others knows that “Darkness cannot drive out drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that” as said by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.</p><p><strong>Here is our commitment:</strong> In Pittsburgh and across Allegheny County, we continue to support refugees and immigrants and show them that they are not alone. Nationally, we continue to facilitate a greater conversation about belonging and forming more inclusive communities. One way that is happening is through the <strong><a href="https://www.neighbornetwork.io/2021-convening-registration">2021 Hello Neighbor Network Convening</a> happening April 13th-15th.</strong> We welcome you to attend, it&#8217;s free, and the conversations will be meaningful and impactful giving you a lot to think about and act upon. Because that is what we do at Hello Neighbor. <strong>We think, we care deeply, and then we act.</strong></p><p>Thank you for being here, and for reading this. I can&#8217;t fully express the gratitude I feel looking back on the past four years. We have built this community together and I thank you for the part you have played. And we are just getting started!</p><p>Stay well, be kind, and know that “you are a very special person. There is only one like you in the whole world. There&#8217;s never been anyone exactly like you before, and there will never be again. Only you. And people can like you exactly as you are.” (One of my favorites from Mr. Rogers)</p><p><br>With gratitude,<br><br><strong>Sloane Davidson</strong><br>Founder &amp; CEO<br>Hello Neighbor</p> <div class="taglist"> </div>