Organization
Khmer Community of Seattle King County
The Khmer Community of Seattle King County (KCSKC) is a nonprofit that serves Khmer elders, youth and families in Seattle and King County, Washington.[1][2] It was founded in White Center in the early 1980s and calls itself the oldest Khmer-serving nonprofit in Washington State.[3] Its work spans social services, programs for elders and traditional Khmer dance and music for young people.[2]
History
After a decade of dormancy, KCSKC was reinstated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2018.[2] In the fall of 2019 its lease ended and its building was sold, and since then it has served the community without a building of its own.[3] During the COVID-19 pandemic it moved its youth dance program from in-person classes to direct services. It organized food distributions suited to the community, handed out personal protective equipment and held COVID-19 vaccination clinics.[2] The organization says the pandemic greatly increased its caseload and the number of families it served, and that it kept its youth programs going online.[3]
Programs
Khmer Amarak Performing Arts is the organization's free, all-ages, youth-focused program of traditional robam (dance) and pleng (music). Students learn Khmer classical and folk dance or play traditional Khmer instruments. They may perform at public events, festivals and Khmer New Year, though performing is not required.[2] The program runs almost all year, with breaks in slow seasons such as the start of the school year. Its largest event is the annual Khmer New Year show, and students keep practicing into the summer for invitations to perform elsewhere.[4] Each year KCSKC holds a public fundraiser built around the Khmer Amarak performers.[2]
For elders aged 55 and older, KCSKC runs the Khmer Senior Village and Khmer Caregiver Respite programs. They offer social gatherings and field trips, digital and technology classes, help finding resources, client advocacy and respite care. All elder programs are funded by the King County Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy.[2] Staff connect one-on-one with elders to build trust.[3] Young people meet elders through community workshops, volunteering and shared intergenerational programs.[2] The organization also runs cultural and outdoor programs for youth aged 4 to 25.[1]
Community
The organization states its mission as bridging the gap between elders and youth through cultural preservation and well-being.[3] Volunteers join events such as the garden work party held on September 22, 2024, at the High Point Juneau P-Patch in Seattle, with food, a raffle and family activities.[4]