Welcome back to our monthly newsletter! This month we’re shining a light on CERI’s Stop the Hate program, which is our work to help protect and support community members in the face of hate crimes.

From 2019 to 2022 hate crime offenses on Asians increased by 197%, and here at CERI many of our elders, adults, and young people felt the fear and stress from the threat of these racist attacks. CERI joined a collaboration of 21 organizations in the Bay Area, led by Asian Health Services, that are developing community-based solutions to addressing and preventing violence.

We work directly with those impacted by racial violence, providing trauma-informed mental health care through one-on-one and group therapy. But violence prevention is also interwoven with all that we do here. We spoke to Irazema Guerrero Meléndez, CERI Mental Health Specialist and a Stop the Hate Program Coordinator for the past year.

Thank you Irazema, for your beautiful words and your deep commitment to this work. Please help us give Irazema a big CONGRATULATIONS, as she is graduating with an MSW degree for Clinical Social Work from Smith College this August!

We are so sad that means her internship at CERI has concluded - but we know we will continue to see her here and in the community. Her hope is to continue working with BIPOC, immigrant and refugee communities, as she connects with her indigenous ancestry and weaves in mindfulness practices and earth-based rituals to support our collective healing.

Thank you Irazema for your immense contributions to CERI, always so full of love, heart, and justice. We wish you the best on your next steps.

We also want to thank and highlight CERI’s two wonderful staff members, Bibek and Claudia, who are also part of the Stop the Hate team and will continue to keep the work strong.

Bibek Timalsina is a Mental Health Specialist (ASW #118537), holding a graduate degree in community mental health from California State University, East Bay. Originally from Nepal, Bibek's journey in social work began with a Bachelor's degree in social work from his home country. He has experience working with South Asian communities, serving as a community worker and addressing diverse mental health needs. Bibek is deeply committed to continuous learning and professional development. His practice is characterized by a focus on advocacy, empathy, and cultural humility. He is passionate about assisting individuals and communities on their journeys to recovery and resilience, emphasizing the importance of destigmatizing mental health issues. Bibek believes in applying culturally adapted therapeutic methods.

Claudia Lam (she/they) is an immigrant from Hong Kong who has been living on Ohlone Land (the Bay Area) since their late teens. In her therapeutic practice, Claudia supports clients in exploring their internal landscapes while addressing the impact of structural violence. They believe in the interconnectedness of all forms of oppression and are dedicated to building solidarity and resistance towards collective liberation within their practice.

Claudia feels deeply honored to walk alongside her clients, getting to know their brilliance, identities, and life experiences. They are committed to holding their clients' pain and traumas while also anchoring in their joys, hopes, dreams, and desires. Outside of work, Claudia enjoys spending time with her dog, being in the water, dancing, and connecting with her loved ones over delicious food.