Organization
Cambodian-American Community of Oregon (CACO)
សហគមន៍ខ្មែរអាមេរិចនៃរដ្ឋអូរីហ្គិន
The Cambodian-American Community of Oregon (CACO; សហគមន៍ខ្មែរអាមេរិចនៃរដ្ឋអូរីហ្គិន) is a volunteer-run Cambodian American nonprofit in Beaverton, Oregon.[1] It brings together Cambodian Americans and friends of the community in Oregon and southwest Washington. Through community empowerment and volunteer organizing, it works to preserve the Khmer language, Cambodian arts and culture, and Cambodian history.[2]
History
CACO was founded in 1989 to support Cambodian American survivors and refugees of the Khmer Rouge.[1] It is registered in Oregon as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.[2]
In April 2018 Oregon proclaimed the month Cambodian-American Heritage Month and a Memorial for the Cambodian Genocide. The City of Beaverton made its own proclamation declaring April Cambodian-American Heritage Month, and CACO and its board thanked Mayor Denny Doyle for it. On April 26, 2018, CACO received the Asian Reporter Foundation's 2018 Exemplary Community Volunteer Award.[3]
On March 16, 2024, the community mourned the loss of Choy Sokharo, a CACO leader who served as Lok Ajarn at Wat Dhammarangsey in West Linn, Oregon.[3]
Programs
CACO runs a Khmer language school.[4] In 2019 its Khmer classes met every Saturday except holidays from March 2 to June 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, in the former Beaverton City Hall building at 4755 SW Griffith Drive.[3]
The organization also holds cultural events and organizes community camping trips. At its 2018 camping event, the Khmer community carried on a tradition of gathering outdoors that had lasted more than 20 years.[3]
See also
- Cambodian American Community of Oregon Oral History Project
- Wat Dhammarangsey (Oregon)
- All organizations
References
Sources
- National CAO directory