The Southeast Asian Community Center (SEACC), initially known as the Center for Southeast Asian Refugee Resettlement (CSEARR), was established in 1975 by leaders in the Southeast Asian community in the US. These leaders recognized the need for an organization to provide practical assistance to the thousands of Southeast Asians fleeing from Vietnam after the war and seeking refuge in the United States. Many of these Southeast Asians arrived in the US with little more than the clothes on their backs, lacking financial, cultural, and linguistic preparation for life in America. Although they were trained professionals and technicians with work experience in Asia, they often lacked English fluency and the educational credentials required for similar jobs in the US.
SEACC’s initial role, which continues to this day, was to advocate for services and citizenship on behalf of Southeast Asians in the United States. The organization also aimed to help the community transition and integrate into American society.
In its early years, SEACC worked closely with the US Office of Refugee Resettlement to assist refugees in transitioning to life in America. The organization provided support across various needs including housing, healthcare, English language training, job retraining, counseling, and employment. Initially focused on Southeast Asian refugees, SEACC later expanded its services to assist newer refugee communities from Cuba, Russia, Bosnia, and Haiti. From 1979-2006, SEACC helped tens of thousands of new immigrants resettle and adjust to their new homes in the US.
In the mid-1980s, SEACC began developing programs for small business entrepreneurship. Many Southeast Asian immigrants faced limited employment options in the US due to language barriers and lack of relevant training and work experience. As a result, more and more Southeast Asians expressed a desire to start their businesses. To support these aspiring entrepreneurs, SEACC, in partnership with the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Ford Foundation, began offering technical assistance and microloan programs for small businesses in the US. Through these programs, dozens of Southeast Asian immigrants in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area received loans and technical assistance to start new businesses.
SEACC CFL license number: 6050568
