Open Doors for Multicultural Families is excited to announce a significant milestone in the journey toward realizing the Multicultural Village, a mixed-use development in partnership with Mercy Housing Northwest. This innovative project will bring affordable housing and vital wrap-around services to King County, creating a welcoming and inclusive community for individuals of all abilities and cultural backgrounds.
Mercy Housing Northwest, our esteemed partner in this endeavor, has successfully secured funding for the affordable housing component of the Multicultural Village. This achievement paves the way for the development of 237 affordable apartments, with an impressive 20% of the units being built for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, ensuring that families from diverse backgrounds have a stable and supportive place to call home.
Open Doors is now focusing on the next critical phase: securing funding for the wrap-around services that will make the Multicultural Village a true hub of opportunity and support. Our capital campaign aims to raise $5 million to build and equip the Family Resource Center and Early Learning Center, as well as cover essential supplies needed to transition and expand our programming into our new home.
“The Multicultural Village is a visionary project that prioritizes the voices of those it serves, ensuring an inclusive design,” said Ginger Kwan, Executive Director of Open Doors for Multicultural Families. “While we’re encouraged by the progress made so far, we need our community to come together to bring this vision to life.”
The Family Resource Center will be the heart of the Multicultural Village, offering an array of services to support individuals and families across all ages, abilities, and cultural backgrounds. Designed with accessibility and inclusivity in mind, the Center will feature:
Assistive Technology Lab: Empowering individuals with disabilities to explore and utilize both high tech and low tech tools for greater independence.
Movement and Music Room: Providing space for physical activity, therapy, and creative expression.
Multimedia/Recording Studio: A resource for storytelling, advocacy, and skill-building.
Teen Community Space: A dedicated area for youth to connect, learn, and grow.
Art Studio: Fostering creativity and self-expression.
Sensory Room: A calming environment tailored for individuals with sensory sensitivities.
Prayer Room: Honoring the diverse spiritual practices of our community.
Commercial Kitchen: Supporting cultural cooking classes, community meals, and small business opportunities.
These unique spaces, along with meeting rooms and program offices, will ensure that families receive the comprehensive support they need to thrive, in a community of their design.
In addition, an Early Learning Center will further enhance the Village’s impact by offering culturally and linguistically responsive education for young children, laying the foundation for lifelong success. Early learning care often fails to meet the needs of children with disabilities, as it is frequently under-resourced and not staffed to provide the specialized support these children require.
We would like to thank our partners who have already committed to supporting this project: King County, Kuni Foundation, The Starry Night Foundation, and SYL Foundation.
To learn more about the campaign or donate, please visit Opendoorswa.org or contact Andea Kassa, Director of Development at Andreak@opendoorswa.org
Open Doors for Multicultural Families is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit in the United States, EIN #27-1206272.
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