Need Statement

The Northern California Tibetan community is over 1,500 strong and growing. Community organizers are often not able to find affordable venues for events that can accommodate the growing community.  Important events, such as Losar (Tibetan New Year) and July 6 (H.H. the Dalai Lama’s birthday) are sometimes held on different dates because of unavailability of space.  The language and performing arts classes have to turn away students because the classrooms are not large enough.  Families where both the parents work are scrambling to find childcare or after-school programs.  Retired elders feel restricted to their homes.  The community lacks a physical space where members can meet others, learn, teach, cook, worship, volunteer, and interact as a community. This was fine when the community consisted of only a handful of families, and everything was done informally at people’s homes.  However, now that the community has grown significantly, a community center with programs and services is imperative for the long-term wellness of Northern Californian Tibetans.

The capital campaign project team conducted a needs assessment of the community in 2007. They found that 95% of community members who completed a survey, felt having a community center was of utmost importance. This finding was again confirmed when the project convened a large town hall meeting in February 2008, soliciting feedback from the community on the community center project and types of programs needed. In addition to the needs assessment, surveys, and town hall meeting, both TANC and TCCNC project team members have held numerous meetings, given presentations, and engaged in discussions with community members.  The community’s support and buy-in of the project has been evident, and many community members have made generous financial contributions to express their support.

Click here for campaign video

Downloads:
Summary of Community Needs Assessment Study