SILVER2022

The SEAD Project

Growing social empowerment, for and by Southeast Asia Diaspora.

aka The Southeast Asian Diaspora Project   |   Minneapolis, MN   |  www.theseadproject.org

Mission

The SEAD Project (Southeast Asian Diaspora) is a creative social venture organization on a mission to reimagine diaspora development. SEAD is an accessible community hub that facilitates streamlined cultural workshops, peer-to-peer exchanges and resourceful knowledge-sharing for Southeast Asian locals and diaspora communities. Through safe and welcoming spaces, we hope to connect the disconnected and drive empowerment to plant the seeds of hope and possibility locally and globally.

Learn more: www.theseadproject.org

Ruling year info

2015

Co Executive Director, Partnerships & Development

Kaysone Syonesa

Co Executive Director, Programs & Operations

Jessica Eckerstorfer

Main address

1007 West Broadway Avenue The SEAD Project

Minneapolis, MN 55411 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

47-4088420

NTEE code info

Arts, Cultural Organizations - Multipurpose (A20)

Community, Neighborhood Development, Improvement (S20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

The SEAD Project started with the vision of a group of Southeast Asian young professionals who wanted to not only connect with their roots and heritage, but to think bigger and beyond preservation. We’re starting a diaspora movement. To rethink and reimagine and reshape what’s possible in sustainable community development and growth for a thriving community with a pivoted focus on empowering emerging Southeast Asian leaders, women and youth.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

SEA Roots Heritage & Language Program

The SEAD Project presents SEA Roots: Language Workshops - Hmong, Khmer, Lao, and Vietnamese language literacy workshops in 8 weeks; integrated with elements of culture and storytelling. Classes are led by a team of fluent and qualified Hmong, Khmer, Lao, and Vietnamese instructors.

Population(s) Served
People of Asian descent
Adults
Immigrants and migrants
Economically disadvantaged people
Artists and performers

We gather and amplify stories and space for Southeast Asian narratives to thrive, mobilize and heal through conversations, publications, and tools. We also offer public workshops on topic-specific areas related to SEA culture, history, social issues, etc.

Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Immigrants and migrants
Victims and oppressed people
Artists and performers
People of Southeast Asian descent

SEA Change Lab is a cohort-based program aimed at growing social empowerment and leadership development through storytelling in young people ages 18-25 with heritage roots from mainland Southeast Asia, including indigenous and ethnic groups from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. We center, support and guide our young people’s experiences using an interdisciplinary cross-cultural, cross-generational approach through arts and advocacy.

Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Economically disadvantaged people
Immigrants and migrants
Young adults
People of Southeast Asian descent

Policies & Priorities:
We believe that art will save us. Since the start of the pandemic, our work was cut out for us as we re-envisioned our role in the social change ecosystem. As storytellers, bridge builders, and disruptors in movements; we focused on the intersections of activism, narratives, political education, and most importantly art. SEAD is committed in our role as intersectional cultural organizers to educate, motivate, and activate folks on core issues that impact the voices, visibility, and self-determination of Southeast Asian diaspora communities and in solidarity with others fighting for equity and justice.

Population(s) Served
People of Southeast Asian descent
Artists and performers
Activists
Victims and oppressed people
Immigrants and migrants

Where we work

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

MISSION

Started in 2010, The SEAD Project (Southeast Asian Diaspora Development) is a creative social organization on a mission to be an accessible community hub that provides streamlined cross cultural workshops, exchanges and knowledge-sharing for Khmer, Hmong, Lao and Vietnamese diaspora communities. Through safe and welcoming spaces, we hope to drive empowerment to plant the seeds of hope and possibility, locally and globally. Since 2015, SEAD is a legally recognized 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Vientiane, Laos.

VISION

Empowering Southeast Asian diaspora communities, locally and globally.

Educational workshops, community conversations, cultural communications collateral, storytelling campaigns and community advocacy.

We're community architects. We have creative arts access, diverse and inclusive networks, in-house experts on communications, writing, community development, design-thinking, culture, public policy and more.

SEAD is the go-to hub for all community engagement, culturally-relevant storytelling and knowledge in Southeast Asian diaspora communities.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection

Financials

The SEAD Project
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

Subscribe

Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

The SEAD Project

Board of directors
as of 05/04/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Soua Christiansen

Eric Nguyen

Sopheak Neak

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 5/4/2022
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Multi-Racial/Multi-Ethnic (2+ races/ethnicities)
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Disability status
Decline to state

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Asian/Asian American
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Disability status
Decline to state

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 05/04/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.