The United Cambodian Association of Minnesota, Inc. (UCAM) is a non-profit,
mutual assistance association formed in January 1993 through the successful
merger of the Khmer Association of Minnesota and the Refugee and Immigrant
Resource Center. The merger resulted in a comprehensive organization that is
able to serve the community more effectively and efficiently by eliminating the
duplication of services and competition for funding. UCAM is the only human
service organization in Minnesota dedicated to meeting the social service and
other needs of the state's Cambodian immigrants and refugees.
The mission of UCAM is to promote health, social, economic and educational opportunities for Cambodians and other new Americans in Minnesota. Cambodians
comprise a voting majority of UCAM's Board of Directors and the Board
chair is Cambodian. Approximately 80% of UCAM's staff, including the Executive
Director, is Cambodian.
Volunteers include Cambodian
and non-Cambodian youth,
adults, and elders. They serve
as English and citizenship tutors,
Khmer arts and language
instructors, cultural celebration organizers, senior companions,
and mentors.
Each year, over 350 volunteers provide more than 10,000 hours of volunteering
services. UCAM provides its clients with skills, tools and knowledge necessary
to achieve long-term economic independence and successful social integration
into American society while fostering ethnic heritage and cultural preservation.
The five main areas of programming are Elders, Families, Youth, Health, and
Legal Services.
