Ahri Center, a fiscally sponsored project of Tides Center

Profile Current (Last updated: Jan 24, 2025 )

PROGRAMS

Building Leaders Organizing Our Movement (BLOOM)

BLOOM aims to build emerging youth leaders to transform Orange County through civic engagement, organizing, and advocacy by practicing wellness and cultural movement building. This is a five month paid program aimed to amplify youth voices while also developing their goal setting, coping skills, relationship building, and political awareness.

Budget
$180,000
Outcomes

Strengthen leadership skills through organizing and campaign management
Increased multicultural and multi-ethnic youth organizing by hosting community events with participation of over 100 community members
Increased civic participation and engagement and campaigns through a shared narrative
Advocate for wellness, cultural strategy, community education and mobilization
Learn how to bring resources such as health and education to their communities

Service Learning with Cal State Fullerton

Ahri is a community-based organization that works yearly with Cal State Fullerton’s Asian American Studies department for a general education class titled “Civic Engagement Through Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies” which introduces students to the purpose of AAPI studies while providing opportunities to develop cultural awareness and structured critical self-reflection while serving AAPI communities.

Budget
$30,000
Outcomes

Learn about Asian American Studies
Learn diverse ways to interact with community
Design social media campaigns
Research community-building
Advocate for issues and help people use their voice
Develop as a leader
Reflect on your life mission/vision

Civic Engagement and Voter Efforts

Ahri Center engages in year round civic engagement efforts and voter education. We aim to encourage young people to register to vote or re-register with their new address and become involved in local elections in Orange County.

Budget
$70,000
Outcomes

Teach and encourage students to register to vote or update their address
Debunk voter myths and emphasize the importance of voting
Create digestible information on local policies and government positions of the county
Educate voters on local, primary, and general elections

Education and Language Justice

In-language access to information and resources are essential to low-income communities. We strive to provide our materials, services, and trainings in at least three languages- English, Korean, and Spanish. Some of the workshops we provide are on topics such as Public Charge, Know your Rights, CA Dream Act, etc.

Budget
$60,000
Outcomes

Provide workshops in English, Korean, and Spanish
Information and digital resources in English, Korean, and Spanish
Workshops on Public Charge, Know Your Rights, CA Dream Act, etc

Tự Lực School for Organizing

VietRISE’s Tu Luc School for Organizing is an 8-week after-school program designed for Vietnamese American youth aged 14-18 who are interested in deepening their understanding of social justice, activism, and community organizing. Through workshops, discussions, and hands-on activities, participants will learn more about power structures, develop leadership skills, and discuss Vietnamese identity and community activism. This program focuses on civic engagement, highlights Vietnamese American history, and strengthens participants' connections to their cultural identity through language and cultural activities. Additionally, we provide paid civic engagement internships in the Fall for youth who have completed the 8-week program.

Budget
$10,000
Outcomes

Participants participated in event planning sessions and organized a community art event collectively with one another.

Participants learned about Vietnamese history, practiced speaking Vietnamese every week, and learned 20 new words related to the program goals.

Participants participated in a Political Tour of Little Saigon, visited major sites of significance, and learned key events that took place at each site that is related to the formation and transformation of Little Saigon, Orange County.

Participants built an analytical framework to understand how the Vietnamese American identity and our political position in Orange County has been shaped by multiple forces, both within and outside the community, by learning Viet Nam, Vietnamese American, and Vietnamese migration history.

Participants learned the principles of community organizing and skills related to community organizing, such as outreach, follow-up, and event planning.

Participants strengthened their sense of pride for their cultural identity.

CONTACT

Ahri Center, a fiscally sponsored project of Tides Center

14351 Euclid St
Unit 1M
Garden Grove, California 92843

Indigo Vu

indigo@vietrise.org

Phone: 7145895496

www.vietrise.org