Saffron Circle’s 2009 grants totaled $7,000. Grants targeted emerging and established organizations serving Asians in the greater Boston area, and included support for both new and continuing projects. Saffron Circle hopes to raise awareness of the multifaceted needs of the Asian community in Massachusetts by recognizing the valuable work of these emerging and established agencies.

The recipients for 2009 were:

Asian Sisters Participating in Reaching Excellence, Boston

Founded in 2001 by a group of Asian American professional women, Asian Sisters Participating In Reaching Excellence (ASPIRE) is a Boston-based non-profit organization dedicated to helping Asian American high school and college girls overcome social and economic injustice by providing a strong base of professional and educational support. Its core programming includes the Youth Leadership Program, the annual Asian American Women in Leadership Conference, and the annual ASPIRE Outstanding Women of the Year Award. Recipient of a 2009 Saffron Circle grant in support of the Youth Leadership Program, which provides culturally competent and developmentally appropriate mentoring and leadership opportunities tailored to the cultural and developmental needs of 20 local Asian American high school girls.

MataHari: Eye of the Day, Boston

MataHari: Eye of the Day was created in 2002 for and by immigrants, activists of color and allies. Its mission is to provide strong advocacy, as well as opportunities for positive social action, focused on racial and national solidarity, migrant empowerment, survivor empowerment, anti-oppression and community centeredness. Matahari has two active projects: Trafficking Victims Outreach and Services Network and the South Asian Solidarity Network. Recipient of a 2009 Saffron Circle grant in general operating support of outreach, education, and advocacy for victims of human trafficking in the South Asian and Filipina communities.

Odaiko New England, Woburn

Founded in 1994, Odaiko New England 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 2009 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 2009 Saffron Circle grant in support of theBoston Refugee Youth Enrichment program, providing intensive, low-cost summer ESL programming and affiliated year-round tutoring and mentoring to 90 primarily Vietnamese and Afghani immigrant children.