• Home
•  » Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism

by Kelly Weaver, MA, RYT, Resource & Referral Counselor, Project INTERFACE and Melissa Moses, PsyD candidate at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

Multiculturalism is defined by a variety of factors such as race, ethnic background, gender, and sexual orientation. Every person has at least one cultural identity. Our cultural backgrounds impact how we experience the world. The concept of multiculturalism is integrated throughout the Project INTERFACE website. The following organizations provide various types of support for a wide range of cultures.

NOTE: Choose a location before choosing a topic to limit results to organizations relevant to residents of that community.

Resource Organizations » Multiculturalism

22 listing(s), including 1 with hotlines and 3 offering support groups

In Massachusetts

Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence

Since 1987 the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence has worked with area social service organizations, institutions, and community leaders to end family violence and strengthen Asian families and communities. Our confidential 24 hour hotline is available for those who have questions, are confused, or are in emergency situations looking for a safe place to stay.

Asian American Civic Association

The Asian American Civic Association (AACA), operating since 1967, provides limited English speaking and economically disadvantaged people with education, occupational training and social services enabling them to realize lasting economic self-sufficiency. The Multi-Service Center at AACA provides assistance with immigration, housing, health insurance and primary care, food stamps, social security, home heating oil, income tax preparation, translation and interpretation, college application and financial aid forms, and information/referral.

Boston Asian: Youth Essential Services (YES)

The mission of Boston Asian: Youth Essential Services (YES) is to inspire Asian youth to discover and actualize their greatest potential.

This multi-service organization offers free services to Asian youth (ages 12-22) and their families living in the City of Boston, Malden and Quincy. Services offered include: youth development programs; alternative education program; prevention and intervention services; individual and family counseling; and youth leadership, social, and recreational activities. Services are offered in Chinese (four dialects) and Vietnamese.

Boston Language Institute

More than 55,000 students and professionals have studied English as a Second Language and over 140 foreign languages at the Boston Language Institute. Drawing on the Institute's TEFL Certificate Program, we employ the most modern methods in the field of language acquisition. Through the Communicative Method, which views each aspect of language learning -- grammar, conversation, reading and writing -- as a necessary support for the others, students learn new vocabulary and grammar while enhancing their English communication skills in a discussion-based and interactive class. Class themes focus on high-interest topics that present language in context and stimulate conversation. Translation and interpretation services are also available.

Catholic Charities, Community Interpreter Services

Community interpreter services (CIS) program recruits and trains interpreters to help bridge gaps in communication for limited English-proficient clients. We dispatch interpreters to state agencies, hospitals, schools, and businesses and provide document translation. The CIS network includes more than 100 trained, professional interpreters who, collectively, are fluent in over 70 languages.

Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology

This organization is an APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship training program and a post-doctoral fellowship program for psychology interns and fellows. The program's primary mission has always been and remains focused on training ethnic minority and other cross-cultural oriented psychologists to work with inner-city, low income and racially/ethnically diverse populations.

Generations After, Inc.

We are a nonprofit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts whose mission is to preserve the legacy of our parents and grandparents, who were Holocaust Survivors, through outreach, education, social events and interaction with Survivors and their descendants.

Haitian American Public Health Initiative

HAPHI was founded in 1989 by a group of Haitian-American health care professionals to address pressing public health issues confronting Boston's Haitian community. It is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing members of the Haitian-American community in Metro Boston with culturally and linguistically accessible information and services to improve their health and wellbeing.

Interfaith Family Resource Center, Jewish Family & Children's Services (JF&CS)

The Interfaith Family Resource Center invites interfaith couples and their families to join us in explorations of the unique issues that arise from differences in faith and traditions. We offer opportunities for participants from a wide range of backgrounds to meet, learn and share in a variety of comfortable, nonjudgmental forums. We provide a resource center, workshops, discussion groups, educational programs, panel presentations, speakers' bureau and personal and organizational consultations.

International Institute of Boston

The International Institute of Boston provides newcomers with direct and practical assistance in the form of English & literacy courses, Refugee Resettlement services, Citizenship Education, Economic Development, Employment Training & Placement, Legal Aid and Social Services.

Keshet Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender (GLBT)

Keshet seeks to create a fully welcoming and inclusive Jewish community for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) Jews in Greater Boston. Keshet develops leadership for change among GLBT Jews and allies to affect concrete changes in Jewish institutions' policies and cultures. Keshet also creates opportunities for GLBT Jews to come together, celebrate, and explore our Jewish identities in an affirming environment.

La Alianza Hispana

Since 1971, La Alianza Hispana has been an icon of Latino leadership. As a hub of social service delivery, advocacy, and education, our organization has changed lives and changed the landscape of community resources. We are committed to providing a wide range of culturally and linguistically appropriate services that meet the needs of Boston's Latino community. La Alianza is a results-oriented organization strategically focused on family support services, elder care programming, and workforce development and education. People and families are the heart of our work, and our impact is measured in the number of individuals and families who have: stabilized their lives, developed healthy parenting styles, are living independent, healthy lives, and have obtained sustainable employment. Although the majority of our program participants reside in Roxbury and Dorchester we also serve Latinos from surrounding Boston neighborhoods.

Latino Health Institute

The Latin American Health Institute (LHI) is New England's premier community-based public health organization, serving annually over 30,000 Latin American families and individuals through more than 60 direct care programs, and an additional 5,000 healthcare professionals, para-professionals, and institutions through education, technical assistance, fiscal sponsorship, program oversight, and consulting.

New American Services, Jewish Family & Children's Services (JF&CS)

New American Services assists refugees during their initial adjustment and provides ongoing support in helping individuals and families adapt to a new culture, obtain citizenship and build a connection to the Jewish community. The programs include: Refugee Resettlement Program, First Friends, Russian Community Services, Citizenship Assistance Program and Russian Teen Program.

New Bostonians

The purpose of the Office of New Bostonians is to strengthen the ability of immigrants and the diverse cultural and linguistic communities of which they are a part to fully participate in the economic, civic, social and cultural life of the City of Boston.

Queer Asian Pacific Alliance

Founded in 1979, QAPA, formerly AMALGM, is the oldest Asian queer organization in the United States. QAPA is committed to providing a supportive social, political, and educational environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage (this is inclusive of A/PIs, A/PI Americans and those who are of mixed A/PI heritage) in the Boston and New England area. We currently have over 200 active members in the New England area, plus many more ex-members spread around the world.

Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (RIAC)

RIAC provides cultural and linguistically appropriate services to refugees, asylees and immigrants in the greater Boston Area such as interpretation services, domestic violence prevention, resettlement and placement programs and citizenship programs.

Saheli

Saheli, Friendship for South Asian Women is a group dedicated to helping South Asian women in Boston and surrounding areas. Saheli provides friendship, support, guidance and resources in the areas of career and economic empowerment, physical and mental health, legal and immigration issues, support for families, and social and cultural volunteer opportunities.

Second Generation Connections and Resources

Second Generation Connections and Resources provides a setting for discussion and learning, as well as a location to seek helpful resources. Second Generation Connections and Resources provides an ongoing supportive/educational discussion group for children of Holocaust survivors. Discussion group topics include: sharing, learning and understanding about your family's or relative's experiences, understanding the impact of family experiences on yourself, your personal experiences and your life, learning from historical perspectives, informing and teaching the next generation, dealing with any concerns or needs you may have, and seeking helpful resources and information.

Selected Patient Information in Asian Languages (SPIRAL)

SPIRAL is a joint initiative between Tufts Health Science Library and South Cove Community Health Center. SPIRAL aims to increase access to Asian-language health information for consumers and health care providers. The SPIRAL web site is a collection of links to Asian-language patient care documents that have been created by authoritative sources and are freely available on the World Wide Web. Links are organized by topic and language.

Yesodot

Yesodot's mission is to maximize the potential and build community foundations ("yesodot" is Hebrew for foundations) for children and young adults with disabilities in the metro Boston area. Yesodot welcomes Jewish and interfaith families. Yesodot is a family-centered and family-directed support program that provides a varied menu of services and programs to families whose loved ones have developmental, physical, learning or other disabilities. These services and programs include: parent and sibling support, family recreational outings, education workshops, programs for young people transitioning from high school, and information on assistive technology. Its accessible website includes listings of programs and upcoming events, online discussion groups to connect with other families, and a wide variety of information and resources on disabilities.

Outside Massachusetts

National Native Children's Trauma Center

The mission of the National Native Childhood Trauma Center is to address high rates of traumatic stress amongst American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children by working under the guidance of U.S. tribal nations in implementing, adapting and evaluating trauma interventions. This work requires understanding, respect and honoring of tribal sovereignty, specific community needs and the use of traditional healing practices. The goals of the Center are to significantly increase and disseminate the number of culturally-relevant, evidence-based interventions for use with AI/AN children (particularly interventions to be delivered in schools) and disseminate these interventions nationally, both on and off reservations and within NCTSN; develop a network of culturally competent, trained educators, mental health providers, and law enforcement personnel who can meet the needs of AI/AN children who experience traumatic stress; and increase the amount of research detailing the processes through which AI/AN children experience and cope with traumatic stress.

BACK TO TOP

Additional Sources of Information

Cultural Competency in Health Care. A list of resources about providing culturally compentent health care. From the Massachusetts Network of Information Providers for People with Disabilities (MNIP).

Publications

List of books, articles and other publications on Multiculturalism.

36th Annual National Suicide Prevention Week, September 5th - 11th, 2010. See Families, Community Systems and Suicide, from the American Association of Suicidology.

In Crisis?
Click here

Need a referral? Call us at 617-332-3666 x 411.

Tools for Providers

Site Map

Can't find what you need or need a referral to a mental health practitioner?
Call 617-332-3666 x 411

The work of Project INTERFACE is supported in part by the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Project (MCPAP).