SEAMAAC, Inc.

Founded in 1984, the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Associations Coalition, Inc. (SEAMAAC) has over 2 decades of experience serving and advocating for refugees, immigrants, and asylees in the Greater Philadelphia area. Our mission is to support immigrants, refugees, and their families as they seek access to opportunities, which would advance the condition of their lives in the United States. SEAMAAC continues to bring issues affecting immigrants/refugees to the forefront for policy makers and other health and social service agencies. SEAMAAC currently maintains programs in translation, ESL, job training, youth programs, elderly programs, truancy prevention and health (prenatal care, Hepatitis B, HIV, lead poisoning, tobacco). Annually SEAMAAC serves approximately 1,500 immigrants, refugees and asylees. We reach another 6,000 individuals from the immigrant and refugee communities, through our outreach work and various special events such as community and health fairs throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area.

Our Work and Values Statement

SEAMAAC affirms that immigrants and refugees are the foundation of the United States’ prosperity and freedoms. SEAMAAC works to create a society where the contributions of immigrants and refugees are valued and appreciated. SEAMAAC believes that the rich resources and skills of immigrants and refugees strengthen the cultural tapestry that is the United States of America.

SEAMAAC collaborates with local and national agencies to increase the accessibility to educational and heath services, as well as to improve these services to immigrants and refugees. We also partner with local and national agencies, and community members and organizers to protect immigrant and refugee rights. SEAMAAC works with immigrant and refugee communities to increase their visibility and voice to policy makers. We are committed to our partnership with the immigrant and refugee communities, as well as hiring staff that reflects the experiences of these communities.

SEAMAAC acknowledges the challenges immigrants and refugees have faced in order to attain social and economic resources, as well as seek freedom from war, tyranny, and oppression. Our work and mission seek to recapture the resilient spirit and strengths of immigrants and refugees to adapt, survive, and flourish in the United States. SEAMAAC also recognizes that despite their determination to succeed, immigrants and refugees face racism, debilitating poverty, and overwhelming disparities in the areas of education and health services. Therefore, it is also SEAMAAC’s mission to advocate for as well as to help build stronger communities that will help immigrants and refugees maintain their self-determination in the pursuit of obtaining a better quality of life.