RACIAL EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND RESPECT (REDIR) STATEMENT

Contemporary Asian Theatre Scene (CATS) believes in using the arts as a means for supporting and encouraging diversity and engagement within our larger community. By actively embracing and celebrating diversity, we can truly leverage the overarching strengths we all bring forth. In a world that hosts people within an entire spectrum of beliefs, upbringings, and experiences, it is our role to acknowledge this humanity and how we can create programs that are inclusive. Through the power of storytelling and resource sharing, we believe that we can propel our society towards one that brings out the best in the communities we serve. 

Every person in CATS has a role in pushing our vision forward, and this will manifest in a variety of ways for each individual. We hereby commit to bringing to life our REDIR values through: 

Partnering With Our Community
Seek out partnerships with local community organizations to share best practices and collaborative opportunities to foster innovation and support individual and community-wide growth.  

Reassessing Practices
Actively seek out resources to inform the CATS team of shifting best practices in producing arts-focused programming for the community to always provide the best services possible.

Encouraging Participation
Provide a platform to empower underrepresented and underserved community members to tell their stories and share their cultural artifacts with the wider community.

Racial Justice
We will continue to be visible and stand against hate, violence, and injustice. We stand in strong support of movements, like Black Lives Matter, Stop AAPI Hate, Love Wins, and more. We also stand in solidarity with the LatinX, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ communities who face similar threats, violence, and harm. 

Through an appreciation and respect for our diverse community, we can make meaningful strides towards a society that works as a collective. The world has no room for hatred of any kind. Regardless of what someone looks like, who they love, or where they come from, there should always be space for everyone. We must confront prejudice and discrimination based on our immutable characteristics, be it implicit, explicit, present, or systemic.