VERB 2003 Grassroots Partners

Profile: Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. was established in 1976, making it one of the first Cambodian Buddhist temples in the country. Located just outside of our nation's capital, the Temple has been providing spiritual and counseling support to Cambodian families for over twenty-five years.

Program Support: With support from VERB, Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. will enhance their Youth Cultural Program (YCP). Two major activities, dance and art, will be supported with VERB funding.

Organizational Development Support: To build their capacity, Cambodian Buddhist Society, Inc. will use VERB funding to strengthen their board, hire an accounting consultant, have two board trainings, and establish better ties with other organizations throughout the country.

Fiscal Agent: United Refugee Services of Wisconsin
312 North 3rd Street
Madison, WI 53713
Contact Person: Mr. ThajYing Lee, Executive Director (thajyinglee@tds.net)

Profile: Khmer Association of Wisconsin, Inc. is a volunteer-based MAA founded in 1996 to provide a variety of social and economic development services to the Cambodian community in the Stoughton area. The organization wishes to become a more organized and effective MAA.

Program Support: Funding from VERB will be used to hire a part-time coordinator/trainer for their Community Gardens Program, hire a teacher and pay for supplies for two Children's Summer Camps, and provide speakers and activities for the Senior Meals Program.

Organizational Development Support: With support from VERB, Khmer Association of Wisconsin, Inc. will build the capacity of their board, develop their organizational structure and policies, install a computerized bookkeeping system, and purchase two computers and software.

Profile: The Khmer Buddhist Society, Inc.(KBSI), which grew out of KAGT (Khmer Aid Group of the Triad, an MAA), was founded in 1989 to serve members of the Cambodian, Laotian, Thai and Vietnamese communities of the Piedmont. KBSI also assists Montagnard and Hmong communities through AmeriCorps and other programs.

Program Support: With support from VERB, KBSI will work with partner agencies to provide counseling, advice and workshops to their community. They will also provide interpreter training and certification, engage a legal consultant for work with the community, provide seminars about health and human service resources, host a series of multi-cultural trainings, and have writing contests twice a year with scholarships as awards.

Organizational Development Support: Funding from VERB will be used to set up a multicultural Southeast Asian American youth advisory Board, set up workshops in grant writing and program development, develop goals and guidelines for development, contract with a financial consultant.

Profile: The San Jose Cambodian Buddhist Society (SJCBS) was founded in 1986 to respond to the needs of the Cambodian communities of San Jose and the South Bay of Northern California.

Program Support: Support from VERB will help SJCBS address intergenerational conflicts within the Cambodian community, language barriers, and access to job opportunities. VERB funding will be used to implement an after-school or weekend sports program for youth, and support the continuation of a weekly Khmer language class.

Organizational Development Support: VERB funding will be used to purchase computers, train board members in computer literacy, pay for a database program, and enroll FBO leaders in ESL classes at a local college.

Profile: The Hmong First Baptist Church was founded in 1982 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was the first Baptist church formed under the Southern Baptist denomination by and for the Hmong people in the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area.

Program Support: Support from VERB will enable the church to implement a basic financial skills training program for adolescents and adults. Based on the church's experience, few community members know how to read basic financial statements.

Organizational Development Support: VERB funding will be use to rent office space, and purchase computers, software and supplies.

Profile: The Hmong-Lao Assistance Association, Inc. was founded in 1991 to provide assistance to the Hmong and Lao communities in the Central and Southern Piedmont regions of North Carolina.

Program Support: Support from VERB will help HMLAA find new directors to serve on the board, improve their capacity, as well as communicate more effectively with local, state, and federal agencies.

Organizational Development Support: VERB funding will be used to hire a coordinator and community liaison, sub-contractor, equipment purchases, webpage construction, conferences, workshops and trainings.

Profile: The Lao Family Community of Stockton was founded in 1980 and began providing social services to the Hmong and other Southeast Asian communities of Stockton in 1985.

Program Support: Support from VERB will help LFCS work with youth on issues of gangs and crime. LFCS will also use VERB funds to focus on depression among community members, to promote access to health care, and to help people gain access to living-wage jobs and transition from welfare to work. VERB funding will be used to partially fund a full-time staff position.

Organizational Development Support: VERB funding will pay for computer-related staff training and consultation, help LFCS coordinate and manage its database system, and help introduce the position of Program Manager to supervise program staff and coordinate ongoing training.

Profile: WUCMAA is a coalition that links together 16 MAAs from across the state of Wisconsin. WUCMAA has no paid staff. Its administration is being handled through the La Crosse Area Hmong Mutual Assistance Association. WUCMAA's Board of Directors is made up of the presidents and executive directors of the 16 member agencies.

Program Support: Support from VERB will enable WUCMAA to implement a Leadership Enhancement Training (LET). LET will maximize the capabilities of WUCMAA's Board of Directors to secure funding for statewide programs, strengthen their civic engagement work, and improve their leadership capacity.

Organizational Development Support: VERB funding will be used to hire consultants to conduct an internal/external organizational assessment, and conduct long-term strategic planning.

Profile: Grace Lao Lutheran Church has been providing ministry outreach and social services to the Laotian refugee population of Contra Costa County for nearly fifteen years. Between 1992 and 1999, the congregation more than doubled its size, growing from about one hundred to over two hundred members. Over half of the church members are Laotian and more than half of the Laotian members are youth.

Program Support: VERB funding will be used to develop youth enrichment programs in the following areas: (1) academic/college preparation, (2) leadership and self-esteem building through counseling, academic advising, and role-models, and (3) arts/recreational exploration opportunities. VERB funds will support staff and other costs.

Organizational Development Support: Funding will be used to build and participate in coalitions with other organizations, train staff, and hire organizational development consultants.

Profile: The Khmu¹ Federation International, Inc. improves collaboration and coordination among Khmu community members, and facilitates the sharing of information and resources.

Program Support: With support from VERB, KFI will address community needs including literacy, cultural preservation, and economic development.

Organizational Development Support: VERB funding will be used to hire a consultant to help with KFI's strategic plan, provide training for members, improve general organizational capacity, enhance coordination of activities with other organizations, and optimize technological support.

¹ Khmu are ethnic minority people from the highlands of Laos.

Fiscal Agent: Opportunity West
3720 Barrett Avenue
Richmond, CA 94805
Phone: 510/236-5812
Fax: 510/236-5815
Contact Person: Ms. Cheryl Maier, Executive Director (opportunitywest@sbcglobal.net)

Profile: The United Laotian Community Development, Inc. (ULCD) was founded in 1994 to help the Laotian community in the East Bay area of Northern California gain access to social services.

Program Support: With support from VERB, ULCD will participate in the planning, development, and implementation of health care, employment, housing, educational, and other services accessible to the Laotian community.

Organizational Development Support: VERB funding will be used to improve ULCD's organizational capacity in the area of leadership training, civic engagement, and resource development. The funding will also pay for consultants to assist the organization in developing their short- and long-term strategic plan, and their sustainability plan.

Profile: The Buddhist Youth Scout Association is a Vietnamese faith-based organization that was founded in Washington, DC in 1978. The organization provides services to Vietnamese youth and elders.

Program Support: With support from VERB, BYSA would like to enhance its current programs to better meet the needs of Vietnamese youth and elders. VERB funding will be used to hire translators, recruit volunteers, help pay for transportation costs, provide stipends for volunteers, create more activities for youth, and buy camping equipment and other supplies.

Organizational Development Support: VERB funding will be used to pay utility bills, and buy overhead projectors and other supplies.

Profile: ICAN was founded in April 2000 by members of the Lieu Quan Temple (a.ka. Lieu Quan Buddhist Cultural Center) in San Jose, California. ICAN is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the welfare of underprivileged children and the homeless by building stronger communities and effective support networks and services.

Program Support: With support from VERB, ICAN will strengthen their internal and external capacity, and improve their programs for at-risk youth, specifically, the community education programs (e.g. parenting seminars, childcare workshops, etc.), tutoring programs and ESL classes.

Organizational Development Support: VERB funding will pay for a part time Program Manager/bookkeeper, pay for staff and volunteers' development courses, rent and utilities, a computer and software and other supplies.

Fiscal Agent: Immigrant Resettlement & Cultural Center, Inc. (IRCC)
420/422 Park Avenue San Jose, CA 95110 Phone: 408/971-7878
Fax: 408/971-7882
Website: www.irccsj.com
Att: Mr. Loc Vu (ircc@irccsj.com)

Profile: Nhom Tinh Thuong (Love Support Group for Juvenile Delinquents) (NTT) was started in 1995 by twenty volunteers and members of the An Lac Temple. NTT organizes five times a year to visit the Vietnamese juvenile delinquents at the Juvenile County of Santa Clara. They also fundraise to help the temple and homeless people.

Program Support: Support from VERB will enable NTT to file for 501(c)3 status and enhance their social services capacity.

Organizational Development Support: Funding from VERB will help pay for workshops where parents can discuss issues regarding their children. It will also pay for gifts for the parents during the holidays, pay staff, and pay for more Vietnamese classes.