community outreach programs

• Serves as educational resource on Asian culture, art, and tradition to surrounding communities to promote better understanding and harmonious relations with other community members to help eliminate discrimination and prejudice caused by misinformation and incorrect perceptions: (A) Establish a speaker’s bureau composed of AAWA members from different Asian countries who can provide the surrounding communities with information on an Asian country’s culture, art and traditions; (B) Schedule visits to different schools (primary and secondary), colleges and universities for presentations on Asian countries’ culture, art and traditions;

• Invite the community to AAWA meetings where presentations on different Asian countries are the main topics; or learn from different experts from the community on specific health topics.

• Provide from the AAWA membership, experienced mentors for the Asian or minority women in the community on how to achieve career objectives, break the glass ceiling and help to overcome discrimination and prejudice in the workplace against women and minorities;

• Serve as a resource for information and referrals for jobless Asian and minority women on possible job openings through networking plus training in interviewing skills to help overcome an Asian woman’s tendencies of self-effacement and shyness;

• Provide scholarships from fund raising events with preference for deserving Asian and minority women to provide help with college costs for books, computer software, etc. The AAWA Student Scholarship Fund has been established at the State College of Florida through the SCF Foundation. The first recipient (2013) was a single, Hispanic woman with 2 children under 18. Scholarships have been awarded since 2013.

• Raise funds for local charities such as the Food Bank of Manatee County, SPARCC (Safe Place & Rape Crisis Center) through the annual Orchid Benefit Ball with Asian ethnic dances or Asian fashion shows which provide a better understanding of Asian culture, art and traditions. An explanation on the significance of each number is made available to the audience during the program.

• Provide evaluation and referrals to training resources on how to improve English-speaking, writing, and communication skills, where needed.