The first clue that the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization’s Asian Family Center (AFC) open house was well-attended was the difficulty finding parking in the vicinity of 8040 N.E. Sandy Blvd. on a Friday afternoon in mid-May. I was running late, worried about missing opening remarks, when I suddenly realized that the presence of all those cars was a good thing.

With the help of AFC staff who were directing people to parking places — these folks think of everything — I made it to the center’s jam-packed community room right on time.

AFC board chair Chanpone Sinlapasai-Okamura and director Lee Po Cha welcomed guests to the new home of the Asian Family Center, which spent its first 18 years in a former morgue building about half the size of the new facility.

"I am honored to be standing before you all," said Sinlapasai-Okamura. "Each of you should be so proud of making a contribution to so many lives. I was a refugee, and this was an agency that made a difference."

Director Cha also expressed gratitude to those in attendance, especially the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Catholic Charities, Lutheran Family Services, and Meyer Memorial Trust. "You wanted to make a difference in the most vulnerable populations in our region," he said. "Thank you for your kindness."

The first of many dance performances was an ancient ritual dance, "White Tara," performed by Selina Shakya of Dance Mandal to bless the new building. The solemnity of dignified movement punctuated by stillness reminded those in attendance that while good humor and a light heart are essential, AFC is engaged in very serious work.

Story sharing by two people who have received help from the center came next.

Jessica Straub, a mother of 12, pointed out, "It’s difficult to ask for help, but the AFC made it comfortable and easy." When her family needed assistance with heating and electricity bills, she called the center and found "more help than I could imagine."

Speaking in Vietnamese, Tien Bui called attention to an AFC program that helps parents with children younger than five years old by assisting with health insurance, forms, phone calls, and school readiness. Happy that the new space is bigger, more comfortable, and conveniently located, Tien Bui hopes for the center’s continued growth.

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony followed. AFC board member Ronault L.S. "Polo" Catalani called up more than a dozen community leaders, city officials, and others for the symbolic ribbon cutting and talked about the importance of the center’s culturally specific services.

"This is not the only room we have," said Cha as he encouraged people to take a tour of the center’s new home. Many of us couldn’t tear ourselves away from a Polynesian youth dance, a traditional Hmong dance, a contemporary hip-hop Hmong dance, and a traditional Indian dance, including the AFC director, who remarked, "This is amazing. All our cultures are so rich. We look so alike, but are so not alike."

Those who were unable to attend the open house and take a guided tour with the warm and knowledgeable AFC staff are encouraged to visit the center and learn more about the many programs it offers, including: Community Health, Children and Parents Success (CAPS), Parent Child Development Services (PCDS), School Assistance for Refugee Newcomers (SAFRN), Social and Support Services for Educational Success (SSSES), Upward Bound TRIO (UBTRIO), Youth Gang Prevention Services (YGPS), Street-Level Gang Outreach (SGO), Family and Community Engagement Services (FACES), In School Program for Immigrant and Refugee Education (INSPIRE), Anti-Poverty Case Management, SUN Community Schools, and more.

Members of the community are always welcome at the Asian Family Center and the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization to learn more about the available programs. If possible, it’s greatly appreciated if visitors can call ahead to set a time to stop by. For more information, call (503) 235-9396 or visit <www.irco.org>.

You may not know — I didn’t — that very few AFC programs have the stipulation that people must be Asian to receive help. The Asian Family Center is here for everyone.