ABOUT US

Historical Background

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 can 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.