History & Mission

The Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (VietAID) was founded in 1994 by community leaders and residents who believed that a community development corporation could provide comprehensive economic development programs and services to alleviate poverty and advance civic participation in the Fields Corner Vietnamese community of Dorchester. VietAID sits in the heart of a multicultural neighborhood and provides accessible, affordable services to the Fields Corner community. Some of our services include a preschool, after school, summer camp, youth leadership program, first time home buyers courses. Originally founded by Vietnamese refugees and immigrants, VietAID was built with a vision to alleviate poverty and foster a strong community. Today, located in the Vietnamese American Community Center, VietAID continues to do so, offering services to a wide range of community members. Specifically for the Vietnamese diaspora in Dorchester, VietAID provides bilingual services (e.g., Âu Cơ Preschool) and opportunities to celebrate Vietnamese culture and tradition (e.g. Tết, the Vietnamese New Year celebration).

VietAID’s mission is to build a strong Vietnamese American community and a vibrant Fields Corner through the following measures: promoting civic engagement and community building; developing affordable housing and commercial space; providing small business technical assistance and micro-enterprise development; and offering high-quality child care services.