Saffron Circle’s 2008 grants totaled $16,000 and ranged in size from $1,000 to $5,000. We were able to give more than our first year’s amount of $15,000 thanks to a generous match from Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy. Grants targeted emerging and established organizations serving Asians in the greater Boston area, and included support for both new and continuing projects.

The recipients for 2008 were:

Asian Center of Merrimack Valley, Lawrence

Founded in 1987, Asian Center of Merrimack Valley’s mission is to help Asian families become active members of the larger community, with a particular focus on the critical needs of Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees and immigrants moving into the area. ACMV provides childcare, language classes, cultural education, citizenship and community empowerment education and referrals to outside resources. Recipient of a 2008 Saffron Circle grant in support of the Community Empowerment Program, enabling Asian citizens in the Merrimack Valley to become active and engaged voters and community advocates.

Chinese Progressive Association, Boston

The Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) is a 30 year-old grassroots community organization of more than one thousand members which works for full equality and empowerment of the Greater Boston Chinese community, to improve living and working conditions, and to involve people in decision-making. CPA serves over 3,000 individuals per year through programs that work to stabilize the working class residential core of Chinatown and to continue the neighborhood’s role as a social, cultural, economic and political center for the community. Recipient of a 2008 Saffron Circle grant in support of the We Shall Not Be Moved! Exhibit at W/Y Gallery, using art to focus on housing and gentrification issues faced by Asians in Chinatown and other parts of the world.

Massachusetts Asian and Pacific Islanders (MAP) for Health, Boston

MAP for Health, formerly Massachusetts Asian AIDS Prevention Project, was founded in 1993 with the mission to promote health, HIV and sexuality awareness, and access to care through community building, education, advocacy and capacity building/technical assistance. MAP’s social justice work is based on the principles and practice of confronting racism, and focuses on Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander health disparities, and their systemic and root causes. Recipient of a 2008 Saffron Circle grant in support of the Boston Community-Based Asian Research Effort (B-CARE) Coalition, supporting further research on health disparities and issues of access to health care in the Asian community.

MataHari: Eye of the Day, Boston

MataHari: Eye of the Day was created in 2002 for and by immigrants, activists of color and allies to practice and give strong voice to models of advocacy, social action & transformation that arise from foundations of racial & national solidarity, migrant empowerment, survivor empowerment, anti-oppression and community centeredness. Matahari has two active projects: Trafficking Victims Outreach and Services (TVOS) Network and the South Asian Solidarity Network (SASN). Recipient of a 2008 Saffron Circle grant in support of outreach, education, and advocacy for victims of human trafficking and community-building in the South Asian and Filipina communities.

Nepali Rights and Resources Alliance, Somerville

The Nepali Rights and Resources Alliance formed in 2007 as a coalition of elected leaders of several Nepali local hill tribe ethnic groups and the Greater Boston Nepali Community (GBNC) to coordinate outreach to the Greater Boston Nepali immigrant community regarding available public health related resources. The group has continued to meet to maintain the communication about resources, distribute information about opportunities, and increase the group’s outreach organization. The Alliance currently is considering the steps necessary to join the Massachusetts Mutual Assistance Association. Recipient of a 2008 Saffron Circle grant in support of the Nepali Patients’ Rights and Cultural Awareness Brochures Project, ensuring a higher quality of health care to Nepalis by providing culturally appropriate information and resources to community members and service providers.

Odaiko New England, Arlington

Founded in 1994, Odaiko New England (ONE) celebrates the art of kumi-daiko – Japanese ensemble drumming. Continuing the taiko tradition in an American context that is informed by the Asian American experience, the diverse staff of ONE reaches diverse communities locally and nationally through school shows, festivals, intensive multi-week residencies, workshops and classes, and its Massachusetts Young Audiences lecture demonstration program. Recipient of a 2008 Saffron Circle grant in support of expanding the Asian American Youth Enrichment Through Taiko project, teaching local youth music, life skills, and respect for other cultures through in-school and after-school Japanese taiko drumming classes.

Phillips Brooks House Association, Cambridge

Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) is a century-old, student-run, staff-supported 501(c)(3) community service organization that engages 1,600 student volunteers in more than 70 social service programs each year.
Among these programs, PBHA’s Summer Urban Program is a network of 11 vibrant summer day camps serving more than 700 low-income and minority children in Cambridge, Chinatown, Dorchester, Mission Hill, Roxbury, Somerville, South Boston, and the South End. Recipient of a 2008 Saffron Circle grant in support of the Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment (BRYE) Summer Camp, providing intensive, low-cost ESL programming to Vietnamese immigrant children and placement in affiliated academic-year tutoring and mentoring programs.