Editor’s Note: The John A. Hartford Foundation is collaborating with ASA to advance equity in aging by supporting ASA RISE, a 20-week social justice and leadership program for rising leaders of color in aging, and via the development and dissemination of equity-related, partnership-based thought leadership through ASA’s Generations platform. This blog post is part of that series.
Mentee Perspective
October is Filipino American History Month. Filipino American history wasn’t taught in our schools, so as a second-generation immigrant, I learned our history from my community. Filipinos fought on behalf of the United States in WWII, but those veterans are still, to this day, fighting for benefits.
My grandfather, my Lolo, was a volunteer guard during WWII. His sister, my great aunt, was an integral part of my family’s migration story. She became a nurse and in the 1950s, planting her roots in Chicago at Cook County Hospital. This influenced my mom, also a nurse, to move to the United States during the post-1965 immigration wave.
My “why” in the field of aging was to honor my Lolo, who came to the United States later in life to help care for me as a child. Reciprocating, I became his secondary caregiver and with my background in social work, helped him navigate through his dementia diagnosis, and helped him access Medicaid benefits and in-home care. Whether it is in intergenerational relationships, as part of the care workforce, or in caregiving, I see themes of our Filipino values ingrained in the work we do as professionals in the aging sector.
The ASA RISE Program provided us a space to reflect on our histories, as well as to learn from the lived experience of our peers. I had the opportunity to be mentored by Michelle Matter, who also shares an identity as a Filipino American in the aging field. Her article, “Embracing Diversity Through a Multicultural Lens,” shared her story. I was excited to learn about her career path and her experience as a recent ASA RISE alum. I also learned about Michelle’s life as a mother and as a caregiver for her mother. This really resonated with me as a new mom learning to navigate the so-called work-life balance.
‘Michelle’s encouragement and advice helped me reflect more deeply upon my career.’
Michelle’s encouragement and advice helped me reflect more deeply upon my career. Our mentorship meetings taught me to be more intentional about building equity into my work, the importance of making connections, and how to take the steps to create my path. At the On Aging conference, I had the opportunity to listen to Michelle present with her team, and it inspired me to continue to challenge myself to share the impact of our work in the field.
Filipinos have a long history in the United States that is documented back as early as 1587, yet Filipinos (and immigrants of color in general) are still viewed as perpetual foreigners. Hate crimes affecting Asian Americans, including many older adults, increased at alarming rates during the pandemic, making movements such as Stop Asian Hate (also Stop AAPI Hate) necessary. The narrative of the immigrant as “other” or as a threat continues with alarming rhetoric in the current election.
This is why programs such as ASA RISE are so essential. ASA RISE is built with intention. It is a space that supports leaders of color to rise up, to feel seen and heard, to continue the fight for racial equity in solidarity, and to build meaningful connections growing together in our work. I have deep gratitude toward my mentor, Michelle, to ASA’s Patrice, Cynthia and Victoria, and to my fellow cohort of Catalysts.
In the 1960s, the Delano Manongs, Filipino organizers in the U.S. farm labor movement introduced the phrase “Isang Bagsak,” meaning “one fall.” This idea is that when one person in a community falls, all in the community fall. But, when one person rises, we all RISE together.
Mentor Perspective:
When Stacy asked me to co-write an article for Filipino American History Month, I was excited to support her idea but felt inadequate to share the history and contributions of Filipino Americans. For much of my life, I struggled with a disconnect from my Filipino heritage due to my mixed-race background. My grandfather immigrated from the Philippines to join the U.S. Navy, yet in an effort to assimilate and embrace an “Americanized” identity, my father did not share much about our cultural roots.
My first meaningful encounter with Filipino culture occurred while working for a California State legislator. My boss (Assemblymember Shirley Horton) introduced AB 420, a bill that allowed teachers to earn a credential in Filipino language instruction. As the only Filipino staff member, I was tasked with engaging with the Filipino community. People had an expectation that I should be familiar with the language, customs and food, and I often felt embarrassed for not being as connected as I should have been. Instead of taking the opportunity to learn, I felt so out of place that I couldn't fully embrace the experience.
Everything changed when I lost my father five years ago. At his celebration of life, the room was filled with Filipinos who brought food and shared stories about how my dad had touched their lives. Many of these individuals were strangers to me, and in that moment, I felt a profound sense of guilt for not loving my Filipino culture, realizing it was rich and vibrant—qualities I had overlooked during my upbringing.
‘Mentoring Stacy has been a significant part of my personal growth.’
As an ASA RISE Fellow, I have come to embrace my mixed-race identity and recognize the importance of being a diverse leader in the field of aging. Mentoring Stacy has been a significant part of my personal growth. Our conversations have become some of the most rewarding experiences of my professional journey. We found common ground in our shared experiences of balancing work and family life, as well as the challenges we face in advancing diversity and equity initiatives.
Through our meetings, Stacy ignited my curiosity about Filipino American culture and its history. I’ve explored stories of Filipino Veterans from World War II, the impact of Filipino leaders in the labor movement for better wages and working conditions, and discovered art, music, movies and cuisine beyond just lumpia and pancit.
Stacy also has helped me appreciate the significance of intergenerational relationships and the deep-rooted values within our community, including respect for elders and our collective responsibility to care for one another. These values not only enrich our cultural identity but also guide us in our professional lives and the impact we aspire to make.
Mentorship is not a one-way street, it’s a reciprocal relationship. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Stacy as we honor our heritage as Filipino American leaders in the field of aging.
Stacy Subida, MSW, LCSW is a supervisor at the Department of Family and Support Services, Senior Services Division, the City of Chicago’s Area Agency on Aging.
Michelle Matter, EdD, is director of Aging at the San Diego State University Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity, and an associate professor of Gerontology at MiraCosta College.
Photo caption: Stacy Subida and Michelle Matter at the On Aging conference in San Francisco this past spring.
