ASIA awarded 2 year grant from Cleveland Foundation

For immediate release
August 9, 2011

Press contact: Robin Nau (440) 554-6253; robin@asiaohio.org

ASIA receives grant from Cleveland Foundation to support New Americans

CLEVELAND – Asian Services In Action is pleased to announce a grant award of $127,820 from the Cleveland Foundation to support the New Americans Agricultural Project (NAAP).  This generous funding will enable ASIA to empower low-income newly arriving immigrants and refugees who face language and cultural barriers to harness their native agricultural skills to become self-sufficient.

NAAP represents the next stage of ASIA’s initiative to support individuals, families, and communities to move further along the path toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Participants will receive in-class and hands-on experience with Western farming practices, vocational ESOL, learn from production to distribution, gain knowledge about and engage in the region’s local food movement, farmer’s market and organic farming. Farmland for this project will be provided by Countryside Land Conservancy and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

The goals of NAAP are to remove barriers to enable individuals to better acculturate to the region, gain access to employment and economic opportunities, and build skills and knowledge that will ultimately help participants to be self-sufficient and to support their families.  The two-year project aims to enroll 100 individuals.

“We are very pleased to have the support of the Cleveland Foundation for this project.  NAAP offers us an opportunity to support new Americans while contributing to Cleveland’s growing local food scene,” said Michael Byun, ASIA Executive Director.

Asian Services In Action
Founded in 1995, Asian Services In Action’s mission is to empower Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Northeastern Ohio to access quality, culturally, and linguistically appropriate information and services.  ASIA serves over 8,000 people annually.

The Cleveland Foundation
Established in 1914, the Cleveland Foundation is the world’s first community foundation and the nation’s second-largest.  The foundation improves the lives of Greater Clevelanders now and for generations to come by building community endowment, addressing needs through grantmaking, and providing leadership on vital issues.

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