Malden Legislative Delegation Announces $85,000 in State Grants for Local AAPI Cultural Organizations

  Senator Jason Lewis and Representatives Kate Lipper- Garabedian, Paul Donato, and Steven Ultrino are pleased to announce that the AAPI Arts & Culture COVID-19 Recovery Program has awarded $85,000 to three cultural organizations in Malden. Recipients include Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi Academy which was awarded $45,000; Chinese Culture Connection which was awarded $35,000; and The Flavor Continues which was awarded $5,000.

  The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Arts & Culture COVID-19 Recovery Program was established and funded in the Fiscal Year 2022 state budget. This is a one-time program intended to provide financial assistance to AAPI arts and culture organizations across Massachusetts that have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

  “Our Asian American community is a vibrant and growing part of Malden and the Commonwealth, and they have been hit particularly hard by both the pandemic and anti-Asian hate,” said Senator Jason Lewis. “I’m thrilled to see these terrific arts and cultural organizations in Malden receiving this state assistance to help them recover from the pandemic and thrive.”

  “I am very excited to see critical funding going into Malden’s AAPI community,” said Representative Steven Ultrino. “Throughout the Commonwealth, Asian American communities have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and this investment into our AAPI cultural organizations will help support their important work in diverse cities like Malden. A tremendous congratulations to the three organizations in Malden who received funding from the grant!”

  “I’m thrilled to see three Malden organizations receive state grants through a Mass Cultural Council program that the legislature created last year to affirm the value that AAPI cultural institutions provide in enriching and advancing the Commonwealth and to acknowledge the particular toll of the pandemic on our AAPI neighbors, including the rise of anti-Asian hate and discrimination,” said Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, I’m honored to represent a District with such a vibrant AAPI community.”

  In total, 51 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) arts and culture organizations around the Commonwealth collectively have received $975,000 in pandemic assistance from this program.