Asian American Cultural & Community Center

GMAACC is rooted in the direct stories and experiences of the AAPI community in Greater Malden and beyond. The Asian American Cultural and Community Center offers a place to set down our roots and nourish the wide-ranging programs and activities, from building AAPI youth and community power to advocating for bilingual voting rights, and offering culturally relevant activities and performances.

Moreover, this center will not only bolster existing programs, but also offer the possibility of providing vital services such as wrap-around family support, after-school programs, early childhood education, job training, art classes, culturally sensitive mental health assistance, legal services, and more.

As a long-time resident of Malden for over 10 years, I've seen how the lack of a community space for Asian Americans has left our community feeling scattered. Having the Asian American Community and Cultural Center in Malden would finally give us a home, a place where our experiences and voices are acknowledged. We would finally have the opportunity to stand together, support one another, and build a stronger community.

- Cheuk Leung Kwong

In Fall 2024, residents and community members of all ages came together at our Mid-Autumn Festival Community Celebration to envision their dreams for the Asian American Cultural and Community Center. Facilitated by local artists and GMAACC youth, community members engaged in a participatory public art piece, sharing their dreams of a space with access to learning about Asian American history, more dedicated arts and cultural programming, as well as the creation of an essential space for community members to meet and gather.

We are excited to bring these collective dreams to life and cultivate a space that reflects our community’s vision and supports meaningful action.

“I have lived in Malden my whole life, and as a high school student, I have dedicated over 200 hours volunteering because I love my community. One of the biggest challenges I see is how divided our community feels, especially across different generations. When we are divided, we become isolated, each of us thinking we have to handle our struggles in silence. But it does not have to be this way – when we come together, we can listen and learn from one another, and we may realize how much we share. We need a space to do this. We need a community center to finally hold space with one another.”