Viola Tian

In this episode we are joined by Viola Tian, where she shares her journey from arriving in Canada at the age of 19 as a student in Queen's University, to becoming a leading advocate for anti-racism and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She discusses her work with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the U.S., highlighting bureaucratic challenges in achieving systemic change. Tian details her role in creating the Coalition Against Anti-Asian Racism Canada, focusing on education, policy advocacy, and community support. She emphasizes the need for nuanced approaches, addressing issues like online hate and funding cutbacks impacting Asian Canadian organizations. Tian also notes the importance of long-term education and the challenges of implementing DEI in corporate settings. Resources: Community Resilience Fund: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/bt/cc/fnd-en.aspx #blockhate Report: https://ywcacanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Block-Hate-Report-October-2022-corrected-1.pdf Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: https://www.eeoc.gov/ Canadian Human Rights Commission: https://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/en Canadian Race Relations Foundation: https://crrf-fcrr.ca/ Coalition Against Anti-Asian Racism Canada: https://crrf-fcrr.ca/coalition-against-anti-asian-racism-canada/ Online Harms Bill: https://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/en/bill/44-1/c-63 Bio: Viola Tian Viola has combined five years of comprehensive experience in public policy with expertise in health and social justice. Throughout her career, Viola has engaged in meaningful collaborations in policy development and strategy with a multitude of non-profits and government institutions, playing pivotal roles in both Canadian and US federal settings. Most notably, she established the first national, pan-Asian coalition in Canada. She holds a firm conviction that every citizen possesses the potential to influence policy change, provided they are equipped with the right knowledge in government relations and advocacy techniques.