AACA
AACA
AACA
Founded in 1967 as a social club for Chinese immigrants, today AACA is one of Massashusetts’ largest, greenest, and most diverse workforce development agencies. In addition to job training, AACA offers ESOL classes, comprehensive social services, employment services, and a Mandarin-immersion daycare, while also publishing Sampan, New England’s only Chinese-English bilingual newspaper.
About the Organization:
organizational budget
$1 MILLION - $2 MILLION
existence for
31+ YEARS
Organization benefits AAPIs residing in the following state(s):
organizational budget
$1 MILLION - $2 MILLION
existence for
31+ YEARS
Organization benefits AAPIs residing in the following state(s):
The Issue:
Economically disadvantaged youth who have struggled to complete or continue their education have limited options to advance their careers and remove themselves from cycles of poverty. We are struggling to find job placements for students that are sustainable long term and that motivate them to succeed. Almost all of our students are currently placed in technical training programs or retail jobs, which are great sometimes, but they’re not for everyone one and they’re not very responsive to present and future industry needs. We need to create a space where non-traditional students and youth, and hone important skills to develop their careers.
The Solution:
AACA will establish a Youth Social Enterprise program for economically disadvantaged youth who live in Greater Boston, MA. In this program, students will work to create and deliver media outreach campaigns for local organizations and nonprofits. In doing so, the students will gain valuable skills and experience that might translate to a new career or spark an interest in returning to school. This program will leverage skills and knowledge about media that Youth already possess and use it to help them amplify voices within their communities.
