Organization

Cambodian American Literary Arts Association


The Cambodian American Literary Arts Association (CALAA) is a nonprofit in Lowell, Massachusetts, that supports writers of the Cambodian diaspora.[1] Its name is pronounced k'lah, like the Khmer word for tiger.[1]

History

A circle of Khmer writers and community organizers founded CALAA in 2017. Its first public program, a free writing workshop series for all ages called "Where We Come From," opened on July 29, 2017, at Middlesex Community College in Lowell. Founders Peuo Tuy, Sokunthary Svay and Tararith Kho led separate groups for children, teenagers and adults.[2][3] Global Education at Middlesex sponsored the series, with the Center for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.[2]

The organization names nine co-founders: Tararith Kho, Peuo Tuy, Joan Chun, Ida Keovimean Borin, Sokreinith Ten, Bunrith E. Sath, Sokunthary Svay, Monica Sok and Moniphal Bing. Peuo Tuy, a spoken-word poet, served as its first executive director.[4][5] CALAA received its federal tax exemption on January 10, 2018, effective from November 28, 2017, as a 501(c)(3) arts education organization.[6][7]

In October 2018 a subgrant from the Office for Victims of Crime brought CALAA into the Khmer Linguistic Access Program at the Center for Hope and Healing, a partnership that also includes Northeast Legal Aid.[6] Grants from the Lowell Cultural Council followed for each issue of its zine: $2,900 in December 2018 for the second issue, Genealogy Stories, and $2,720 in December 2019 for the third, Food and Identity. The Mass Cultural Council has also supported its projects.[8][6] In February 2019 the Lowell Sun covered CALAA's call for zine submissions, and that year it held workshops in New York and Lowell.[6][3]

The first official launch of The Stilt House moved online. The in-person launch at the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association was canceled, and the zine launched virtually on March 21, 2020.[9] That September CALAA received a $5,000 emergency award from the Literary Arts Emergency Fund.[6]

In February 2021 CALAA received $3,200 from the Lowell Cultural Council for the Monsoon Montage and Zine Project and $13,000 from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation for a series on racial equity and inclusion.[6][10] In 2023 the Saab Family Foundation funded a Youth Writing Workshop Program.[11] On March 21, 2025, CALAA held Khmer Literary Arts Day at the UMass Lowell South Campus, and the 2026 Cambodian American Literary Arts Festival was set for March 14, 2026, at Western Ave Studios in Lowell.[12][13]

Leadership has passed among the founders and later volunteers. Lena Sarunn was introduced as executive director in 2020 and signed for the organization as program director in 2021.[9][14] Sanary Phen served as president, and co-founder Joan Chun was named president in 2025.[10][12] Sanary Phen has said the organization grew from a wish to highlight Cambodian writers, both emerging and established.[10]

Publications

The Stilt House is CALAA's central work, a digital and print zine begun to keep alive the storytelling of the traditional Khmer home. In Cambodia, houses are raised on stilts above the earth, protected from the elements, and the zine takes the stilt house as a symbol of how Khmer memory, history and stories survive. Each issue gathers short stories, poetry, photographs, visual art, music, audio recordings and recipes.[15] CALAA also commissions new work from diaspora writers, and the food issue has been sold through Lowell booksellers.[13][16]

Three issues are documented, each edited by Christine Su:[6]

CALAA also publishes a yearly newsletter, Ahn & Sorsé (Read & Write), first issued in December 2020.[20] For Khmer New Year in April 2021 it commissioned four poems from community writers: "The Laughter of My People" by Princess Moon, "For My Khmer People on Khmer New Year" by Charlie Pheaktra, "New Year Musings" by Sanary Phen and "Revolution in Bloom" by Moleca Mich.[6][21]

Programs

CALAA's workshops and readings are free or low-cost, held in person in Lowell and online. In April 2018 Tararith Kho, Peuo Tuy, Mana Kheang and Nay Yen led its "Fun Stuff" workshops. In April 2019 chef Chakriya Un and poet Sokunthary Svay led "Herstories and Healing," a Khmer food and writing workshop in New York, and a genealogy storytelling workshop followed in May.[3] A Stilt House reading and open mic took place in July 2020.[22] A virtual writing program in fall 2022 and winter 2023 included sessions on voice with Sokunthary Svay, on reflection and rebirth with Princess Moon, and on music, memory and identity with Bradley DeMatteo.[13]

The 2021 series on racial equity and inclusion held six workshops, led by Tararith Kho, Monica Sok, Sanary Phen, Sabrina Im, the 2Khmerican Sisters and Dr. Thy Phu. On October 23, 2021, a panel on racism, anti-Blackness and colorism in the Khmer community brought together Silong Chhun, Vichtcha Kong, Princess Moon and Sokunthary Svay.[23][10] A companion project, with the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association and the Cambodian American Student Association at UMass Lowell, published Khmer translations of racial justice vocabulary.[24]

The Youth Writing Workshop Program presented Poetry and Pizza, led by Joan Chun, at Roberto Clemente (Pailin) Park in Lowell on October 22, 2023.[11] Khmer Literary Arts Day in 2025 was organized with Dr. Christine Su of the UMass Lowell Department of History. Bunkong Tuon led a fiction workshop, Chanda Ouk Wolf spoke on children's literature, Chath pierSath on poetry and Sanary Phen on memoir.[12] The Cambodian American Literary Arts Festival, which CALAA calls its largest public event, was planned for 2026 as a free public event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.[13][25]

CALAA keeps a Cambodian writers book list with the Lowell Book Company and runs a "What Are You Reading" series, in which community members talk about the books they choose. In 2023 it issued a children's book list for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.[26][27][28]

Community

CALAA writes for and with Khmer families in Greater Lowell and writers across the diaspora, children, teenagers and adults alike.[2][1] Its programs encourage literary growth, storytelling and conversation across cultures and generations.[1] Its zines have gathered survivors' and descendants' family histories, genealogies and foodways, and its programs bring people together through writing, poetry, art and food.[18][19][16] Membership is open to all.[29] Volunteers serve on committees for social media, outreach, The Stilt House, volunteer recruitment, fundraising and grant writing, volunteers sign an application and consent form, and board seats for vice president and directors have been open.[30] Donations are accepted online and by check made out to the organization.[31]

UMass Lowell has been a partner from the start: its Center for Asian American Studies co-sponsored the first workshops, its Department of History hosted Khmer Literary Arts Day, and the Cambodian Student Association at UMass Lowell joined in Khmer New Year programs and translation work.[2][12][6][24] The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association of Greater Lowell hosted the 2018 Apsara in New York reading and was to host the 2020 zine launch.[32][9] Other supporters include the Center for Hope and Healing, Northeast Legal Aid, the Lowell and Mass Cultural Councils, the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, the Literary Arts Emergency Fund, the Saab Family Foundation, the Lowell Book Company, lala books, Writing the Land, the Clemente Park Committee and Lowell Community Health Center.[8][26][16]

Leadership (2025)

Officers and directors listed in the federal filing for fiscal year 2025.[7]

  • Lena Sarunn, Treasurer
  • Ellen Proeung, Clerk
  • Chris Miller, Director
  • Laura Ly, Director
  • Sovicheth Boun, Director

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 CALAA: About and mission
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 CALAA: Where We Come From workshops
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 CALAA: Workshops and readings
  4. ↑ CALAA: Staff and founders
  5. ↑ Wikipedia: Peuo Tuy
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 CALAA: News and events
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: CALAA filings
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 CALAA: Supporters and donors
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 CALAA: Virtual launch of The Stilt House Zine
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Greater Lowell Community Foundation: grants lift up Cambodian voices
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 CALAA: Youth Writing Workshop Program
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 richardhowe.com: Khmer Literary Arts Day
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 CALAA home
  14. ↑ City of Lowell: Clemente Park letter of support
  15. ↑ CALAA: The Stilt House Zine
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Khmer Post USA: Coffee Club at lala books
  17. ↑ CALAA: The Stilt House, Pheap Thon
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 CALAA: The Stilt House, Genealogy Stories
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 CALAA: The Stilt House, Food and Identity
  20. ↑ CALAA: Ahn & Sorsé newsletter
  21. ↑ CALAA: Khmer New Year poems 2021
  22. ↑ CALAA: Stilt House reading and open mic
  23. ↑ CALAA: Community dialogue and workshop series
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 CALAA: Black Lives Matter Khmer translations
  25. ↑ CALAA: Cambodian American Literary Arts Festival 2026
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 CALAA: Cambodian writers book list
  27. ↑ CALAA: What Are You Reading
  28. ↑ CALAA: AANHPI Heritage Month children's book list
  29. ↑ CALAA: Membership
  30. ↑ CALAA: Get involved
  31. ↑ CALAA: Donate
  32. ↑ CALAA: Apsara in New York reading

Sources

Retrieved from "https://dev.khmerconnection.com/w/index.php?title=Cambodian_American_Literary_Arts_Association&oldid=8833"
This page was last edited on 2 October 2026, at 01:35.