UWKC provides matching fund for CARE Project

In addition to the Department of Neighborhood’s $95,100 grant for CARE, the United Way of King County’s New Solutions Grant is also funding the CARE project up to $20,000.  The project will need  a projected total of $173,625 to be fully funded.  If we don’t receive the entire 173K, we’ll increase our volunteer matches and decrease some of our expenses. Since the beginning of September, the Advisory Committee has convened at least three times to brainstorm and discuss the trajectory of the project over the next several months.  The next steps are to form the Community Task Force and the Youth Action Team!!

VFA receives 95K to launch CARE project

During the past year, VFA has been busy developing a strategic research project for the Vietnamese community of Seattle. The Community Action Resarch and Empowerment (CARE) Project received $95,100 from the Department of Neighborhood to launch this project.  Of the 19 projects accepted for the Large Project Matching Fund, VFA scored 93%, the highest among this year’s grant recipients. An awards ceremony with Mayor Greg Nickels was held on Saturday, August 29 at the Greenwood Boys and Girls Club for all recipients.

Mayor Greg Nickels stand among the Large Project Fund recipients, including VFA’s Executive Director Vu Le and Board Member Thao Nguyen.

CARE is a participatory action research project, which will involve all aspects of the community, from youth to elders, families to business owners, and even those outside of the Vietnamese community.  Since its inception, the CARE project has received an overwhelming response of support for the general community, including the Somali Community Services, Catholic Community Services, Campana Quetzal, just to name a few.  Over 15 individuals, organizations and agencies contributed letters of support for VFA’s application to the Large Project Fund.

AC meeting marks VFA’s first community building project

CARE’s Advisory Committee, which involves 10-12 volunteers from various communities in Seattle, gathered for the first time at the VFA office last Wednesday to discuss responsibilities and strategies in forming the Community Task Force and Youth Action Team.  The research will approximately take 12-18 months to complete, while bearing the following goals for the Vietnamese community of Seattle:

1. Promote greater civic participation
2. Foster positive youth development
3. Provide an opportunity for integenerational collaboration
4. Develop a community based plan that is transferrable to other communities.

For additional information regarding VFA’s CARE project, please click here.