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Indian American Community Services (IACS)

A Conversation with Lalita Uppala, Executive Director

We had the opportunity to speak with Lalita Uppala, Executive Director of IACS (formally IAWW) this month to talk about the essential service they provide in King County and their partnership with TC.

How did you hear about Together Center and what made you want to join?

Lalita remembers first walking into the TC many years ago in the old strip-mall space. Her first impression was that the Together Center community was a postmodern version of what human services should be like. A unique space where different groups could come together, learn from one another and power each other.

From cultural navigation and language help, to medical, dental, and mental health services, each organization functioned as a different spoke of a whole wheel that created a thriving community. 

What do you want people to know about your mission?

IACS is about supporting vulnerable members of our community with critical programs and services like affordable housing, free legal services, health and wellness, culturally nuanced mental health support across all age groups, relief for small businesses, mentoring and employment coaching for women, developmental screening and therapy for toddlers, leadership for youth, gender identity and advocacy for community issues. Its about ensuring our community stays connected to each other and involved in civic matters. IACS work is informed and driven by the community. IACS is by, and for, the community.

Lalita Uppala, Executive Director, IACS

What services does IACS offer that you want to make sure people know about?

IACS is centered on providing services across all age groups for the different religious and linguistic groups of the Asian Indian community on mental health and wellness, leadership, developmental support, legal, small business, civic, and other community services and is equipped with all the services to create a thriving individual and family. IACS provides services including, but not limited, to legal, housing, immigration, citizenship, and voter registration. They also provide services for small business, including technical assistance, mentoring, and support.

What are you looking forward to about the new campus?

It is not just office spaces, but additional shared space to invite the community in for pop-up meetings, meals, and celebrations, which opens the doors to what Together Center can provide to the community. With the larger shared space IACS looks forward to bringing in the community once a week which will create connections and bring exposure to activities and services provided not just by IACS, but by all TC partner agencies. Lalita looks forward to a community space for all of the partner agencies to have pride in and use, to feel rooted to and belong.

They want to open up to the community, not just in time of dire need, but as an access point for the community through events or stopping by for tea or a visit. That way, if an individual loses a job or a spouse, or just needs help, they know there is a place they can get services.

You had mentioned previously that IACS would like to have a human services hub similar to Together Center in the South End. What makes the model appealing?

IACS efforts south of King County has identified to us the need to address basic and urgent services for our ageing adults, youth, women, families and small businesses as well as service workers. A community and gathering space similar to TC is much needed and would benefit the community.

Learn more out Indian American Community Services and the incredible work they do at iacswa.org.

 

 

 

Contact Us

info@togethercenter.org | 425-869-6699

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