My relationship with modern technology is complicated. I was born in the Philippines in 1987, where we were a few years behind the US in terms of technology. We mostly used mainframe computers and PCs for the wealthy, while the US already had laptops and cell phones. However, the establishment of the Department of Science and Technology in the Philippines in the year I was born led to significant technological advancements. Many Filipino engineers and scientists dedicated their lives to research and development, bringing advanced technology to the Philippines.

In one year, I saw two influential men in my life pass away. The first was my long-time mentor, David Bradley, and the second was my father, who passed away on December 24, 2022 at 7:45am. For those who know me and my relationship with my father, this is complicated.

"Let us lower our voices, let the clever and flippant remarks yield to the thoughtful and the discerning ones, let's put our heads and hearts together to formulate a budget that raises people up, for beyond these walls, there are lives to be saved. There is work to be done. The young, and the old, the infirm, await our decisions."

That was a prayer by the late State Senator David Bradley, who passed away on Saturday morning of Feb 19, 2022. That was during the daily opening prayer of the senate session. Here was a man whose mission permeated everything he did and not once wavered, even his very prayer.

As we get ready to celebrate Independence Day as a nation this weekend, it made me think about the word freedom and just what it means to me personally. Over the last year and a half, we have seen the entire world argue about the balance of freedom and social responsibility. During that time, the majority of us saw liberties we often took for granted become precious - the ability to travel, socialize with others, touch each other’s faces, and for some, the freedom to go to work without fear of dying.

And now, amidst this pandemic, Higher Ground is championing the Community Schools strategy as an answer to ameliorating the consequences. Simultaneously, we are building a technology that we hope will empower our youth to navigate their social and emotional needs. None of this would be possible without the support of several community members such as Dr. Dan Ranieri of La Frontera, Arizona Serve, former Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, Kristel Foster, Social Venture Partners, and Dr. Trujillo of TUSD. As a small organization that just recently suffered through a financial crisis brought about by the changes in Arizona's behavioral health system, we should have been a casualty of this pandemic. Yet, here we are, powered by our faith and the investment of many community members.

To unravel the complexities of anti-Asian sentiment in the US, we must first look at the systems and cultural tapestry that highlight the need for this conversation.

Yesterday a historical marker in the US happened with regards to the conversation around racism. While arguments continue to happen whether this conviction is about racism or about a police officer who crossed training lines, or whether this was indeed justice or if it was influenced by the media narrative and politics, the point has been made - conversations about racism continue to be polarizing. Racism is a multi-faceted and complex subject that is full of emotions and history.

This month is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. So I thought it would be appropriate to make a follow-up post regarding the issue of anti-Asian sentiment.