By Finding aid prepared by Natalia Fernández and Daniel Loera
Title: IRCO Asian Family Center Records, 1981-2014
Predominant Dates: 1994-2005
ID: MSS AFC
Primary Creator: IRCO Asian Family Center
Extent: 4.0 cubic feet. More info below.
Arrangement: The Asian Family Center Records consist of seven series: 1. Administration, 1986-2013. 2. Community Outreach and Engagement, 1981-2014. 3. Education, 1994-2005. 4. Health, 1994-2008. 5. Youth and Families, 1994-2005. 6. Elders, 1989-2001. 7. Photo Albums and Scrapbook, 1995-1997.
Languages of Materials: English [eng]
The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) Asian Family Center (AFC) Records document programs, activities, and events sponsored by the AFC and its partnership with a multitude of organizations in the Portland-Metro area as well as Multnomah and Washington Counties. The collection includes the AFC's administrative records and documentation of the organization's community outreach and engagement activities. Other materials reflect the AFC's education, health, youth and families, and elder services. Also included are seven photo albums and a scrapbook reflecting a variety of events and community members.
The electronic files in this collection were digitized and returned to the donor. Reference access to the digital files in Series 1, Series 2, and Series 7 is available upon request.
The Asian Family Center (AFC) Records consists of administrative records, as well as records pertaining to the AFC’s community outreach and engagement activities, education initiatives, community health programs and research, various youth and family programs and services, and services for community elders. The AFC serves Asian and Pacific Islander communities predominantly in the Portland-Metro area and Multnomah and Washington Counties.
Various AFC programs, services, and initiatives are represented in the collection. Examples of the AFC’s community outreach and engagement activities are Asian Cultural Night, the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO), and Emergency Preparedness and Communications Profiles. Featured education initiatives include the Caring Community Project and SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) Schools. Health programs and research include health development plans and research on API communities’ health needs and issues, as well as documentation on partnerships with local health organizations. Youth and family programs and services represented include the Asian Youth Leadership Club, the Asian Youth Enrichment Program, Level 7 and Youth Investment, and the Youth Opportunity Program. Lastly, examples of services for community elders include the Washington County Aging and Veteran Services Strategic Planning Committee, as well as the Asian Pacific American Senior Coalition and Southeast Asian Elders Outreach programs.
Types of documents in the collection include grant applications, project files, correspondence, schedules, newspaper clippings, meeting agendas and minutes, contact lists, reports, correspondence, budgets, program descriptions, policies, requests for proposals, informational pamphlets, and partnership agreements. The AFC Records also contain seven photo albums and one scrapbook reflecting a variety of events and community members.
The electronic files in this collection were digitized and returned to the donor. Reference access to the digital files in Series 1, Series 2, and Series 7 is available upon request.
Established in 1994, the IRCO Asian Family Center was the very first culturally and linguistically specific one-stop community center focused on the diverse needs of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the Portland area. Guided by an advisory board and multilingual multicultural staff, the AFC ensures that its services reflect its local API cultures. The AFC's mission is to provide and promote culturally relevant services to API families and to contribute rich cultural values and unique experiences that enhance the overall quality of community life.
IRCO supports immigrants, refugees and mainstream community members to become self-sufficient. The organization strives in its programming, outreach, and education to foster understanding, compassion and communication between Oregon's established communities and newest arrivals.
More Extent Information: 4 cubic foot boxes; 44 digital files - 1.43 GB; 1000 photographs (in the digitized photo albums)
Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.
Acquisition Note: The IRCO Asian Family Center Records was donated to the Oregon Multicultural Archives in 2015.
Related Materials: This collection is a component of the Oregon Multicultural Archives (OMA). A related collection is the Asian Family Center Oral History Collection (OH 30) which includes interviews with AFC staff members. Also, the Office of Multicultural Affairs (RG 225) contains materials pertaining to a number of Oregon Asian community organizations.
Preferred Citation: IRCO Asian Family Center Records (MSS AFC), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
IRCO Asian Family Center
Asian Americans--Oregon.
Community organization--Oregon.
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (Portland, Or.)
Immigrants--Oregon--History.
Immigrants--Oregon--Portland.
IRCO Asian Family Center.
Oregon Multicultural Archives
Portland (Or.)
Born digital.
Digital images.