Community Justice Spotlight: Cambodian Mutual Assistance Agency (CMAA)

Issues:

Economic stability, coalition building, education, public health, safety and healing

Description:

CMAA started as a part of the Indochinese Refugee Foundation, helping to resettle in Lowell, MA, Cambodian and other Southeast Asian refugees displaced by the war and genocide in Indochina. Since then, Lowell has become home to the second-largest population of Cambodian refugees in the US (who comprise more than a quarter of the city’s population), as well as many other immigrant communities. The organization has continued to support and advocate for those who struggle with the effects of the war and a hasty resettlement in the US.

With a team of first, 1.5, and second generation community members from Lowell, CMAA offers programs ranging from a Khmer language classes to voter outreach to first time home buyer support.

We’re highlighting CMAA’s work because it demonstrates the interconnectedness between issues and addresses the challenges of building coalitions across generational, cultural, and language barriers — all while healing a community recovering from the trauma of war and fighting to thrive in America.

Link to Website: http://www.cmaalowell.org/wp/

Other Resources:

Video of CMAA’s highlights of 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMPEHbVbWUo

Yearbook of after school program: http://bit.ly/CMAAyearbook2017