Dallas Asian American Historical Society Selected as Anchor Partner for HOPE Program with Stop AAPI Hate and AAPI Equity Alliance

DALLAS, TX (January 16, 2026) — The Dallas Asian American Historical Society (DAAHS) is proud to announce that Dallas has been selected as a pilot site for the Healing Our People through Engagement (HOPE) Program, a community-centered initiative led by AAPI Equity Alliance and Stop AAPI Hate designed to address racial trauma, isolation, and the long-term mental health impacts of anti-Asian racism. The first Dallas cohort will begin in March 2026.  

Originally launched in Los Angeles County, the HOPE Program creates culturally grounded healing spaces where Asian American community members can process experiences of racism, reconnect with one another, and build collective resilience. The program responds to the sharp rise in anti-Asian hate and violence that escalated during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to affect communities nationwide.

The HOPE Program is grounded in the Psychology of Radical Healing Framework, which centers healing, connection, and collective well-being rather than solely focusing on coping or crisis response.

“At a time when programs for equity and inclusion have dramatically decreased in the state of Texas, spaces for radical healing are essential for our community not just to survive but to thrive,” said Amy Tran-Calhoun, Director of Community Engagement. 

The Dallas Asian American Historical Society will act as a community liaison and thought partner to the HOPE Program Team, providing local context around issues and needs and recruiting cohort members. 

“Anti-Asian racism in North Texas has taken many forms over generations, from exclusion and erasure to violence,” said Stephanie Drenka, co-founder of the Dallas Asian American Historical Society. “For too long, there have been few spaces where Asian Americans here could name that history, process its impact, and heal together. The HOPE Program creates space for that reckoning and recognizes that healing requires community, cultural understanding, and the courage to confront what we’ve endured.”To learn more about the HOPE Program Dallas pilot, contact info@dallasasianhistory.org.