A Message from Executive Director Jennifer Hanlon Wigon

Racism and misogyny are two of the foundational scourges of our society. For members of the Asian American Pacific Island community, they can intersect in a particularly insidious and violent manner.

Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue.

These are the women murdered in the recent Atlanta-area shootings––victims of hate centered on their race and gender. Due to the enormity of the violence in Atlanta, these victims will forever be remembered for the demographics they represent – Asian women. Nearly twenty percent of the guests at Women’s Lunch Place are AAPI. We recognize their individual strengths and struggles, as well as the unique contributions they make to our community.

Our nation has had ample opportunity to confront and rectify the systemic causes of racism and gender inequality. The growing violence targeting the AAPI community illustrates the ramifications of our failure, as we see news videos of Asian Americans being attacked on the street, punched, and thrown to the ground. We are worried for our family, friends, and co-workers. Are they safe on the T or running an errand?

At Women’s Lunch Place we recognize and work to repair the damage that racism and poverty inflict on women who come to us for hunger relief and critical services. Everyone deserves dignity, respect, and safety regardless of their gender, race, nationality, or sexual orientation.

These beliefs are fundamental values of Women’s Lunch Place. We must make them fundamental values of our nation.