Intergenerational group work and mask making in the Asian American community in a time of COVID-19 and COVID-19-related racism

ABSTRACT

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Americans faced multiple challenges due to COVID-19 and COVID-19 related racism. The Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia (KAAGP), in Pennsylvania, decided to work together to fight against COVID-19 from the earliest stages of the pandemic in 2020. Intergenerational group work by more than 350 volunteers empowered the Korean community and promoted public health through the process of making and donating face masks to the broader community. These efforts were transitioned to other marginalized communities that shared a mutual understanding: “We are in this (pandemic) together.” It became clear that the Asian American community needs more culturally nuanced services to be delivered by bicultural and bilingual social workers who understand group work and its potential benefits and impacts on ethnically diverse communities.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• intergenerational group work
• Asian community
• bias
• discrimination
• racism
• immigrants
• public health
• bicultural and bilingual social workers

Acknowledgments

I appreciate Dr. Sandra Malard for her critical reading of the manuscript and valuable suggestions. I also share my sincere appreciation for the -Dr. Dana Grossman Leeman who encouraged me to complete this article from the early phase. Through the interaction and mentorship with her, I have learned what academic humility means. I also thank Ms. Sharon Hartz, the president of the Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia (KAAGP), the KAAGP’s leadership, partnering organizations, and all the members for their hard work during the pandemic.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).