Lao Senior Outreach is one of the local nonprofit organizations in this year’s Communities Rise Capacity Building cohort. We have been delighted to have them join us in both the cohort and our grant writing clinic this year. As dedicated community members working to improve the health and well-being of the Southeast Asian community and preserve their cultural knowledge, their services are specifically tailored for the Lao community, which has been a growing and vital part of the larger Northwest diverse community over the past 50 years.
This inspiring organization was founded during a challenging time when Sirichanh Sisavatdy, the committed founder and Executive Director, was deeply affected by the heartbreaking loss of many seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sirichanh felt profound sadness at this loss and was painfully aware that this also meant losing cherished oral histories and cultural traditions that were part of her community. After caring for her dad during his final years, she became aware of how isolated he had become with age and the importance of trusted caregivers to help bridge that gap back to the community.
As a child, Sirichanh developed a deep connection with seniors, often joining them in the kitchen to soak up their rich wisdom and traditions. Later, she became part of the Befriended program, where she had a beautiful opportunity to live with a senior and help her by cooking meals. Every two weeks, a nurse would visit, and they were always surprised by the senior’s improved health – her nails and hair were stronger, her disposition was more positive, and she had a new spark for life. Sirichanh and her friend loved walking and spending quality time together. They both became better people because of each other. Sirichanh also encouraged her friend to leave the house often and stay connected with the community. This friendship had a deep influence on Sirichanh, inspiring her to run a marathon to raise money in her friend’s memory and even name her eldest daughter after her close friend.
Sirichanh was motivated to make a change and wasted no time addressing the problem. She had previously helped run the Census, and she observed how isolated seniors were when she visited them. She noticed they were eager to show her their albums and share their stories with her. So when the pandemic hit, Sirichanh was dedicated to helping the seniors in her community who were feeling the effects of the increased isolation and loneliness. She quickly reached out to local programs, sought advice, and started organizing cultural family activities to support their social, mental, and physical well-being. Her genuine passion for helping seniors feel more connected and her deep appreciation for their worth and contributions are evident. Sirichanh works hard to create a welcoming environment where everyone feels included and valued. Although a large number of her Seniors are from the Lao community, she is delighted to welcome some Thai and African American friends who join them for fun, enriching adventures, like trips to Mount Rainier, train rides, and local explorations.
Many non-English-speaking seniors from the Lao community often lack the necessary translation support in current services. This means a loved one must drive seniors long distances to attend activities, creating significant barriers for many in Sirichanh’s community. As a marginalized and underrepresented group and with many family members needing to work full-time, there is a greater need for more personalized outreach and transportation. Lao Senior Outreach ensures that seniors in the community can access this consistent, culturally relevant programming.
The majority of the seniors Sirichanh cares for are refugees, and they see one another as extended family. Their shared background from a distant homeland serves to strengthen their special bond and desire to preserve their treasured wisdom and stories. Lao Senior Outreach truly embraces getting to know each of the Seniors in her program. Sirichanh loves discovering their unique talents and celebrating their diverse abilities. Whether it’s a 75- or 82-year-old khene player or someone with a gift for singing or playing an instrument, she ensures that they value their unique talents and creates culturally relevant activities that match their passions. She is dedicated to organizing activities that genuinely connect with who they are and what they love. This caring approach helps them feel more connected, reduces loneliness, and fosters a strong sense of community and joy. Some seniors are skilled at making rice wine, while others are talented chefs in their own right. To honor their culinary skills and celebrate traditional foods, she thoughtfully created a class just for them. As the Culture Bearers of tradition, she appreciates the richness of what they have to share with the larger community.
These treasured traditions support the entire community. The list is long of the many heartfelt ways they help weave old traditions into the fabric of a rapidly changing world, allowing the younger generation to feel connected, cared for, and fortified in culturally meaningful ways.
Lao Senior Community Outreach also recognizes the importance of bridging the digital divide by working with the City of Seattle Technology Matching Fund. She is engaging students from the UW to help teach her seniors new technology.
Sirichanh is on a mission to create a space that expands and enriches the services she offers.
“Seniors shouldn’t be set on a shelf to collect dust. We are working on establishing a facility to gather regularly, once a week, for consistency and sustainability, to foster a sense of belonging among those who meet more than once or twice a month. We have created a winter program because it’s more challenging to get them out due to the cold, and we will run a program in 2024 similar to a Senior daycare. We exercise, play games, do arts and crafts, and have a meal. We would like to see more consistency for regular meetings. We are currently seeking a sustainable grant that would enable us to meet at least once a week.”
Seniors play a vital role in preserving Lao traditions, balancing grief, loss, celebration, oral history, and arts. Baci Sukhouane is a blessing ceremony performed on various occasions, including the entry into a new home, weddings, graduations, the birth of a child, birthdays, and other special events. The literal translation of Sukhouane, is calling the holy spirit and angels to dwell in the space to give the hosts, guests, and families blessings. These ceremonies are administered by the elders, who serve as masters of ceremonies and act as spiritual healers, while other seniors gather to provide support for the event. In Lao culture, elders are revered as repositories of wisdom and cultural bearers. It is an honor to be in their presence and company where they lead events. The standing motto is “Empowering Aging with Care and Compassion, Embracing Generations in Celebrating Heritage, Enriching Lives.” These supports weave traditions into a changing world, keeping younger generations connected and cared for.
While this work is deeply rewarding, Sirichanh is also exhausted, as many nonprofit Executive Directors are. She is juggling many roles with very little rest. Sirichanh acknowledges the numerous challenges of running a nonprofit. She highlights that, particularly in today’s socio-political climate, having a peer support group can be highly beneficial. It provides nonprofit leaders a chance to connect, exchange ideas, and remind each other that they are not alone on this path. This heartfelt need led her to Communities Rise. After applying for the 2024 capacity building program, she patiently waited until her acceptance this year. We now have the fantastic opportunity to support Sirichanh in her inspiring efforts. Her experience has been truly enriching, thanks to the network of organizations and the personalized coaching she’s received. As a cohort member, she’s directly connected with five other organizations facing similar challenges and can tap into their wisdom and experience in navigating the non-profit sector. She receives priority access to our fundraising and grant writing clinics, which is especially beneficial since she’s currently seeking funding to create a Program Manager position that will free up her energy and focus to secure a permanent location for the expanded services she intends to offer to Seniors.
“It’s nice to be able to tap into the outside world with other people who are doing the same thing,” Sirichanh says. “It’s nice to know who to turn to if we are experiencing something we don’t know what to do with. You can speak with your advisory board, but it’s great to expand that circle, especially as a new ED.
“Coming together as a group to discuss roles and leadership is very important. It’s always good to check in with a larger support group to determine what you like or dislike as an organization and how you want to move forward.
“Communities Rise has been right on time when I have needed support. When I was rushing to get support with grant writing, [Capacity Building Program Manager] Khyree helped me find the resource I needed.
We are thrilled to uplift Lao Senior Outreach and the fantastic work they are doing in the community to create a legacy of care and love for our Senior population.”
-Shalom Cook
Co-Executive Director, Capacity Building