Since 1987, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Asian Center has welcomed Asian refugee immigrants newly arrived in greater Lawrence with food, shelter, clothing, medical attention, interpretive services, legal services, in-home ESL tutoring, and counseling. In 1997, the Center noticed a trend among Asian youth to quit school as early as the fifth grade, join gangs, and in some instances fall into drugs and prostitution. "We have observed Cambodian and Vietnamese youth, totally Americanized and achieving very good literacy skills, become ashamed of their parents, their culture, their language and their poverty, causing them to abandon their homes and families."

The Center's response has been to reach out to the parents who, because it takes longer for them than for their children to adjust to our new culture and language, have virtually lost control of their teenage children. Its program, "Bridging Cultures" uses lectures, role-playing, interviews and discussions, to affirm parents' native culture and history while encouraging literacy and improved communicataion skills with their children.

Several years ago the Center also began an early-adolescent youth group where some of the alienated teens could meet peers who have opted for lifestyles free of gangs and drugs, and engage in community projects to reinforce sound decision-making and a sense of responsibility for actions. The Center needs funds to continue these programs.