SEAMAAC’s 33rd Annual Board Meeting

Last night was SEAMAAC’s 33rd Annual Board Meeting and Dinner at Dim Sum House. Staff, board members, and a few guests celebrated the nonprofit’s accomplishments of 2016 working with and expanding their social services programs in South Philly. My friend and I were invited as guests.  Continue reading

Mifflin Square Park Cleanup with SEAMAAC

On Saturday March 25, I went out to South Philly to help clean up Mifflin Square Park with SEAMAAC. The park is located on the corner of 6th and Ritner in a diverse neighborhood home to many immigrants of Southeast Asian and Latino descent. SEAMAAC has plans to work with the neighborhood to build community ownership of the park through public events and infrastructure enhancements.

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Mandarin Interpretation with SEAMAAC

Remember my post about SEAMAAC earlier on my blog? On Monday night, I received a surprise email from Andy Toy, whom I interviewed last time, looking for Mandarin translators for a meeting with store owners in South Philly. At first I was hesitant about whether my limited Chinese skills were sufficient to do the job, but before I knew it, my friend signed us both up. Continue reading

Getting to know SEAMAAC

The Philadelphia Asian American community is quite tight knit and welcoming. Knowing one person or attending an event often leads to acquaintances and friendships with others who care about the same things you believe in. You soon find that you run into the same people at town halls or community events. That is how I got to know Andy Toy, who is the Development and Communications Director at SEAMAAC (Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition). I first ran into him at an Asian Masculinity discussion at Asian Arts Initiative two summers ago, then ran into him again at an Asian American Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) get together. Coincidentally, he also happens to be my cousin’s uncle! Inspired by his deep involvement in Philly and with Asian Americans, I contacted him to set up an informational interview on his career path and his work at SEAMAAC. Continue reading