New York Asian Women’s Center Celebrates 20 Years of Courage and Strength

By Shirley Lin
Special to AsianWeek

When the New York Asian Women’s Center hotline first went live in 1984, for six hours each week, its counselors had to store the phone inside the file cabinet of a public agency when they were not there. The NYAWC has stayed true to its grassroots origins in outreach and support, but today operates a 24-hour multilingual hotline, fielding over 3,000 calls a year.

The New York APA community celebrated a number of remarkable milestones at the NYAWC’s 20th anniversary gala on Oct. 8. Over 400 guests attended the fundraiser, themed “Rising from the Ashes,” at the TriBeCa Rooftop. The evening featured several prominent human rights activists: Kerry Kennedy Cuomo delivered the evening’s keynote address, and Mallika Dutt was honored with this year’s NYAWC Phoenix Award for her work in promoting awareness about domestic violence through popular culture.

The NYAWC, one of the first domestic violence groups in the nation to offer culturally accessible services to Asian women, has remained a pioneer in developing such services as its toll-free hotline, counseling and advocacy, children’s programs and network of emergency shelters. A staff of over 40 members, 100 volunteers and a 15-member board of directors currently runs the Center. It is the only organization that serves multiple Asian communities in New York City, and accommodates over 20 languages. About half of the Center’s clients are Chinese — reflecting its beginnings in Chinatown — approximately a quarter are South Asian, and the remainder come from Korean, Japanese and other populations in the area.

Phoenix Awardee Mallika Dutt was honored for her pioneering work on Asian women and domestic violence issues.

Asians are currently the fastest-growing population in New York City according to the 2000 census, and the Center estimates demand for services will only increase.

Already, the economic and social impact of Sept. 11 has stretched the resources of the NYAWC. In the month following the attacks last year, the number of hotline callers and requests for assistance doubled. Counselors cite loss of income and homes, a significant concern in the aftermath among immigrant communities, as common triggers of domestic abuse.

The NYAWC cancelled its fundraiser last November because of the concerted fundraising focus on disaster relief. Since about 80 percent of the Center’s support comes from government funds, pending local and national budget cuts are a source of great concern. New York State Senator Tom Duane, a guest at the gala, pledged to fight to sustain and perhaps increase funding for social services, but predicted that “those that need to sustain the level of funding in the next few years will have a very difficult job.”

Nevertheless, the Center has renewed its commitment to diversifying its services. In 1988, the NYAWC established Safe Apartments, a program that lodges women and children seeking emergency shelter for extended periods of time. The need for beds, however, quickly outstripped availability. Said De O’Connor, “We always have a waiting list.” The Center opened its second shelter earlier this year, expanding shelter capacity to 37 beds. The director hopes to complete a third safe house by November and open a fourth in 2003, bringing capacity to 65.

NYAWC board member Suzanne Groisser, a consultant on domestic violence and former member of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, is impressed by the skill and breadth of the services the Center has skillfully developed over the years, calling it a “model” for shelters nationwide. “Having a full-time housing specialist and children’s director, for example, is an integrated approach that’s creative and could be applied more broadly.”

This year’s gala netted over $40,000 through auctions, ticket sales, and public and private sponsorships. While the Center’s growth continues, its supporters believe the true sign of progress may be counterintuitive.

Pat Eng co-founded the center in 1982 while a student at the Hunter College School of Social Work, and served as its director until 1998. “We need to change the dynamics of relationships that allow violence to happen,” she said. “We need to say that violence is unacceptable…It would really be wonderful to see the day that there is no longer a need for the shelter.”