Dorchester Organizing and Training Initiative: Development Without Displacement Campaign

Briefly describe the project for which you seek funding::

The Dorchester Organizing and Training Initiative (DOT-I) is a leadership development and organizing training program for Vietnamese American young adults (16-25) in Fields Corner, Dorchester. DOT-I provides leadership development and organizing training in a culturally specific frame, building participants toward engaging in organizing campaigns. Currently, one of the primary issues about which DOT-I is organizing is displacement and gentrification in the Fields Corner neighborhood. In the past year, the displacement without displacement campaign has grown, through a multiracial, intergenerational, multilingual group of organizing groups and resident activists, called Dorchester Not For Sale (DN4S). DOT-I is playing a leading role in the network, leading work around political education, outreach, and strategy. This campaign is continuing to grow and build a diverse base in the neighborhood to push back on city planning processes and intervening in upcoming development in the neighborhood while building grassroots leadership and power, especially of young adults. DOT-I is both leading in this network/organizing space, as well as developing youth and Vietnamese-specific strategies to engage and amplify the voices and demands of these constituencies.

Describe how your project aligns with our mission and guiding values:

DOT-I aligns deeply with the Grassroots Fund's mission. DOT-I believes in broad community engagement and deep leadership development of young adults as a way to organize toward systems change in the Vietnamese American community of Dorchester. DOT-I's work is both Vietnamese specific and place-based, and the group works with other multiracial groups working in the neighborhood. DOT-I organizers knock on doors, host community meetings, and sit at the table in coalition spaces to bring a young adult and Vietnamese American perspective into the conversation around development and displacement. DOT-I hopes the preserve and grow the neighborhood through this work.

Describe how young leaders (25 and under) participate in this project::

Young leaders are leading all parts of this program, with staff support. Young leaders in DOT-I are on a pathway of leadership development, coming in through an intensive six-month fellowship program, during which time they learn about community organizing, campaign development, racial justice, and grassroots leadership. After completing the fellowship, members have the opportunity to join the Organizing Committee and Steering Committee, which are both member-led spaces (all members under 30, majority of OC under 25), that grow the organizing work and shape the programmatic direction. Staff and AARW's organizational board (also majority under 30) take direction on this program from the leadership spaces.

Asian American Resource Workshop

42 Charles Street Suite D
Dorchester, MA 02122

6179428178

Primary Issue:

  • Land & Water

Started working in:

2013

Purpose:

The mission of the Asian American Resource Workshop is to work to build intergenerational, intersectional community power in the pan-Asian community of greater Boston. We are a member-led organization that works toward racial, social, and economic justice through arts and culture, political education, leadership development, and neighborhood and issue-based organizing. It strives to build a political home by amplifying our voices, sharing stories, weaving networks, and developing progressive Asian American leaders. AARW's flagship organizing program, the Dorchester Organizing and Training Initiative (DOT-I), is a leadership development, base building, and campaign organizing program for Vietnamese American young adults in the Dorchester neighborhood in Boston.

Community Size:

111,195

Does the group formally ask how core volunteers and decision makers self-identify across race/ethnicity, age, socio-economic level, education, etc?:

No

How many decision makers identify with the following socioeconomic status?:

If you have a website, what is the web address?:

http://www.aarw.org

Group Links:

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/aarw.boston