API Chaya: Nonprofit Directs Services to Seattle’s Minority Communities

There’s no shortage of fanfare that bestows Seattle; the most current, Forbes naming it 2015’s top city for Most Jobs. There are also accolades for Fastest Growing City and America’s Coolest City which has led to a dramatic, record-breaking rise in the city’s population. As the city grows to new heights, its immigrant and minority population is skyrocketing at record pace. As the new waves of immigrants comingle with the existing minority communities, there are ripples of discord, leading to a tsunami of problem areas too often covered-up by their culture’s stigma of shame and patriarchal regime. Those suffering, primarily women, are often left silent until outreach efforts provide information and safe havens.

A Seattle-based nonprofit organization that works with and advocates for minorities finds a way to reach those that need help. API Chaya formed in 2011 when the South Asian social services center, Chaya, merged with the Asian Pacific Islander Women and Family Safety Center. It provides direct services to Asian, Pacific Islander and South Asian survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual violence by educating and empowering survivors to take action and bring change. Earlier this year, it hosted a community forum on the powerful documentary INDIA’S DAUGHTER, following the candlelight vigil and dialogues the organization hosted in 2013 after the crime. 

API Chaya volunteers at a candlelight vigil 

Many of its clients find API Chaya through word-of-mouth, confidential hotline, referrals from law enforcement/agencies but often, API Chaya will make its way to its clients by visiting temples and mosques to help those shrouded in silence and shame. “The highest number of clients we see are from the South Asian community,” says Didi Manhas Saluja, board president for API Chaya.  Didi and I met last month in a Seattle Green Lake neighborhood coffee shop and she gave good insight on the people API Chaya helps. “Some of the women we help are affluent and professional while others are bound to their husband’s Visa immigration status but unable to legally work themselves,” Saluja continued. Second most served client group is the Filipino community and though the rate of violence doesn’t differ much across communities, the same value of not marrying an individual but rather the entire village is constant across its clients. When marriage is perceived as a village then the shame when things go wrong is not just felt by the women but also her relatives, family and overarching community.

Volunteers hold support signs

API Chaya uses linguistically-relevant, trained advocates in many diverse programs such as Peaceful Families Taskforce, Queer Network Project, and Jaago,( which raises awareness of sexual assault in South Asian communities) to help domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking survivors. Another layer to the trained advocates is the nationally-recognized program, Natural Helpers. Saluja says that this additional support level is key in engaging community members to be leaders and help survivors demystify issues and talk about them in an open, safe environment. Natural Helpers undergo rigorous training in order to engage and help community. Many staff, leaders and community members come together annually for the popular API Chaya Annual Dinner and Auction. Surpassing last year’s attendance record, 2015 attracted over 600+ supporters for the fundraising event.

API Chaya 2015 Annual Auction

API Chaya is led by a nine-person all volunteer board, 18 paid positions and the tireless effort of volunteers. They participate and offer events in almost all aspects of Seattle minority communities. From movie screenings, to panels on human trafficking, to candlelight vigils, to campaigning for equal rights, API Chaya is there to support and empower the community. But like most nonprofits, Saluja is quick to point out that API Chaya plans to remain a viable community organization by building their financial sustainability.  They rely on private donations and government grants to help Seattle’s burgeoning minority community. If you can help, please donate here.