Greater Boston Legal Services, Asian Outreach Center

Using a movement lawyering model, the Asian Outreach Center (AOC) at Greater Boston Legal Services is the primary hub for Asian Americans in Massachusetts to address legal needs and build community power. AOC uses a creative multi-faceted and community-based approach to fight structural racism and mobilize Asian Americans. Deeply embedded in the community, AOC offers community-based intake. We also support statewide and regional Asian American networks, community organizing, and legislative advocacy while also dedicating significant time to direct services and litigation to resolve community needs.

AOC represents individuals and groups in cases involving immigration, housing, deportation, workers’ rights, access to public benefits, and anti-Asian violence. In collaboration with community organizers, our major projects currently include representing Southeast Asian refugees and immigrants to stop deportations; representing tenants fighting displacement in Chinatown and Dorchester; educating nail salon workers of their rights; creating greater language access for Asian immigrants in areas such as voting, education, and public housing; strengthening access to services for under-resourced small businesses to support community stabilization; and upholding undocumented immigrants’ rights. We recognize that empowering people and communities is critical to building effective cross-cultural and multiracial social justice movements.