InterIm CDA Denounces Anti-Asian Violence
We, at InterIm CDA, are deeply saddened to hear of the horrific events in Atlanta, GA that left 8 people murdered including 6 members of the Asian Pacific Island community. Our deepest condolences to the victims’ families and friends.
As attacks on the API community increase, we need to highlight the depth of white supremacy and racism that humanized the shooter as “having a bad day” while framing the massage parlors as “temptation” to “eliminate”. This sexualization of Asian women is even more abhorrent in the light of the recent Stop AAPI Hate report that more than twice as many women are victims than men. We stand against misogyny and the stigma of earning a living in massage parlors. We respect all forms of work that our community engages in.
We want to lift up the sentiments aptly expressed by our sister organizations:
If you experience or witness a hate crime, please contact our friends at CISC and tell them about it by calling or emailing as follows:
Cantonese-粵語/English: (425) 240-5825
Mandarin-普通话/English: (206) 393-2110
Russian/English: (425) 326-9497
Spanish-Español/English: (425) 598-5436
Vietnamese/English: (206) 235-4372
Email: antihb@cisc-seattle.org
If you are in need of mental health support, please contact ACRS: (206) 695-7600.
We, as a social justice organization, need to support our Brown and Black brothers and sisters. We need to unite the ‘beloved community’ against all forms of violence, white supremacy and xenophobia.
Once again, our deepest condolences to these victims’ families and friends.
InterIm CDA - Uncle Bob's Place Virtual Groundbreaking Event 2/25/2021
Thank you to everyone who spoke at and attended the recent Uncle Bob’s Place Virtual Groundbreaking Event!
Please enjoy the video from the event.
InterIm CDA - Holiday Gift Bags to Residents!
In the beginning of the year, InterIm began grocery deliveries to low-income senior residents and their families once a week to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. It began with a GoFundMe page and weekly volunteers from all over the Seattle area, and then turned into a partnership between InterIm, other non-profit organizations that were also participating in grocery deliveries, and Asian Counseling and Referral Services' food bank.
For the holidays, we decided to get together to offer gift cards to grocery stores Uwajimaya, Safeway, or Viet-Wah, depending on the residents' choice. To go along with the gift cards, we put together a gift bag with freshly baked cookies, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, and tea bags.
Enjoy these pictures of some of the InterIm team that put the holiday gift bags together!
Carmen Hom (Employment Navigation Coordinator), Vincent Kwan (Employment Navigation Manager), Derek Lum (Equitable Development Policy Analyst) assembling gift bags for various buildings
Freshly baked cookies with tags that included ingredients!
Tom Im (Deputy Director) on his way to make his delivery
Carol Xie (Resource Development & Marketing Manager)
Another batch on their way out!
Alec Mac (Employment Navigation Assistant) wheeling boxes of gift bags out
Each bag was hand delivered to each resident - they were pleasantly surprised and thrilled to receive their bags!
InterIm CDA - Laptops Provided to Low Income and Homeless Communities
Through the King County "Digital Equity for Adults with Barriers to Access and Services" grant, the Employment Navigation team at InterIm was able to secure over 100 laptops to support seniors, limited-English proficient, unemployed, and/or homeless individuals, and an additional 22 hotspots for those that did not have access to internet.
Abby Frias (Sustainability & Education Coordinator), Carmen Hom (Employment Navigation Coordinator), Silver Ly (Housing Stability Case Manager), Lizzy Baskerville (Environmental Design & Sustainability Manager), Alec Mac (Employment Navigation Assistant), Vincent Kwan (Employment Navigation Manager), Carol Xie (Resource Development & Marketing Manager), Renae Figuriera (Family Navigator) on the day of laptop delivery
The grant was approved for 21 organizations across the county, including InterIm CDA. The purpose of the grant was to provide individuals and/or families with digital services to "navigate online resources for health, economic, or other basic needs" who would otherwise not have access to them in an effort to help recover from the vast impacts of COVID-19 (King County).
Alec & Vincent organizing laptops to be delivered to residents
On the morning of December 16, 2020, InterIm staff gathered and formed teams of two to deliver laptops to different apartment buildings to residents that were approved to receive one. Upon arrival, the recipients were told in advance of our scheduled arrival time and signed off to confirm receipt of their new device(s), accepting with gratitude.
Vincent, socially distanced, instructing staff on laptop deliveries and assigning everyone to teams of two
Digital Literacy flyers, with both English and Chinese, that were given to the residents to go along with their laptops
Lizzy organizing and prepping the laptops to be delivered to Rex Apartments' residents
Silver and Renae finishing up their deliveries - they even got to support local restaurant, Tai Tung!
Carol and Lizzy preparing for their last delivery of the day.
Alec during the middle of a delivery
We are working hard to provide services and resources for the communities that we serve, especially during these times. We are confident that the laptops and hotspots that were delivered will help their recipients in their journey to finding employment and other resources, which is now more important than ever.
Thank you to all our supporters that continue to support our work!
InterIm CDA solidarity statement
InterIm Community Development Association (ICDA) stands in solidarity with this weekend's protests around Black Lives Matter and with every black community seeking justice around the criminal justice system and other matters. The recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Nina Pop have brought our country's profound anti-blackness into full view. These incidences have caused us to reflect upon the anti-blackness that exists within our own community.
We are committed to the fight for true equity in every measure of life for the Black community. As a broad Asian and Pacific Islander community, we have benefitted from the civil rights struggles and other efforts of the African American community. In the early fights of the 20th century to protect and preserve our neighborhood, the Black community stood by us when we needed help. As an organization rooted in the Chinatown International District, we recognize that there has been a long history of black residents and business owners as being an integral part of our community. This was part of the work that Uncle Bob did with the Gang of Four. Currently, many black people live in or visit the CID daily. We must never forget this.
We will do work to reckon with our anti-blackness, as an organization and in our community advocacy. We are committed to fighting Institutional Racism and fighting for Racial Equity, as well as following racial justice principals in our Internal and Program work in all area's, including Homelessness Prevention, Housing Development, WILD Youth, Resident Services, Policy and Advocacy, The Danny Woo Garden, Employment Navigation, and Food Security.
Finally, we encourage everybody to donate to Black Lives Matter: https://blacklivesseattle.org/bail-fund/. We encourage you to do what is possible in your personal capacity.
Response to Anti-Asian Aggression - 91.3 KBCS
Response to Anti-Asian Aggression
April 20, 2020 - 1:19 pm
Earlier this month, anti-Asian stickers were posted throughout Seattle’s Chinatown International District. Seattle Police said the people posting them are likely associated with a white supremacist hate group.
KBCS spoke with Pradeepta Upadhyay, Executive Director of InterIm Community Development Association about the community’s response to this incident. To listen, click here.
Our response to COVID-19
The world has changed, as the crisis continues, we are committed to serve the most vulnerable in our community. We are working hard so low-income people of color, including refugee and immigrant individuals, seniors and families have the latest information on COVID-19. As an organization that works with 13 different language groups, we ensure that our clients understand how to stay safe, why we need to stay at home and not visit elders which for many refugee and immigrant cultures is very difficult. We are determined to emerge from this pandemic, stronger, more resilient and committed to serve our community!
Housing Services and Homelessness Prevention
While staff are not providing in-person services, we are actively working to make sure that clients have access to employment opportunities, food and utility assistance and other financial supports during this health emergency. We are committed to ensuring that our clients at risk for and currently homelessness have access to resources and rapid connections to stable housing. We are committed to continue the vital provision of rental assistance, landlord mediation, and eviction prevention services to help our clients maintain a safe place to call home.
Wilderness Inner-City Leadership Development
Our team is in constant contact with youth and has directed their families to resources as needed as well as delivering groceries. Moving forward, the spring quarter of programming will be remote. While this represents a serious challenge, we believe that continuing the program in any capacity is important to our youth's emotional and intellectual well-being. While the format and platform are still being determined, we are planning on starting our spring quarter in late April or early May.
Set for Success
We want our elders to know that we care! Since March 16, 400 seniors and residents have received groceries. Enduring this pandemic will take a lot more than just food delivery. Emotional support is essential. We stay connected over WeChat or by phone with as many seniors as possible. This way, information is shared over a network of people, and most importantly, help them to feel like they are not alone.
Danny Woo Community Garden
We are focusing on the health and well-being of the elder gardeners and other neighbors in need. We help with grocery delivery and encourage our residents to walk through the Garden. In response to increased food insecurity with the onset of the Covid-19 crisis, we are ramping up our food production to donate to the ACRS Food Bank and neighbors in need. While our Children's Garden program is cancelled, we are providing families with DIY curriculum to explore and enjoy the garden. https://www.dannywoogarden.org/childrens-garden1.html
Employment Navigator
We are providing clients with job search information and helping them with their job applications. We are assisting job seekers with resume building, cover letters, and mock interviews as well as clothing. We are assisting clients in filling out unemployment forms and other resources.
Real Estate Development
To help residents understand King County Public Health guidance for personal safety during Covid-19, ICDA has posted the guidelines in different languages in our 5 buildings. InterIm CDA is not issuing any legal notices to our tenants. They have been given rent, utility, and food assistance as well as information to other resources. Both management companies are working with InterIm to coordinate meal and supply delivery free of charge to residents in need. To support small business in our mixed used buildings, ICDA has issued full rent concessions for April and will evaluate options for May.